Thoughts on Plum Keyboard on Massdrop?

[Dihedral]

Here it is. What do you guys think? Personally, I don't like the look but the form is nice.

Aargh posted in wrong section... reported to mods so they can move it...

[SpAmRaY]

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/plum-keyboard?mode=guest_open

At one time I really wanted one of these keyboards but now I'm not sure.

[Joey Quinn]

I like the layout but I probably won't be getting one.

[Dihedral]

That plum plate is just not nice. And the caps look like $10 HP ones.

updating OP with guest mode link.

[Dgsbllx]

Why isn't the plum keyboard available in plum?

[Dihedral]

Why isn't the plum keyboard available in plum?

Because the plate is already plum and it would look painful.

[Dgsbllx]

Looks more red to me. I don't think you can have enough plum? 

[Dihedral]

Looks more red to me. I don't think you can have enough plum? 

[SpAmRaY]

Why isn't the plum keyboard available in plum?

Because the plate is already plum and it would look painful.

What plate? That is a red PCB.

[Dihedral]

Why isn't the plum keyboard available in plum?

Because the plate is already plum and it would look painful.

What plate? That is a red PCB.

Is it? To my (fairly untrained) eyes it looks very plate-y. Reminiscent of that Rosewill.

[SpAmRaY]

Why isn't the plum keyboard available in plum?

Because the plate is already plum and it would look painful.

What plate? That is a red PCB.

Is it? To my (fairly untrained) eyes it looks very plate-y. Reminiscent of that Rosewill.

I've never seen a plate that had traces.

[Dihedral]

Why isn't the plum keyboard available in plum?

Because the plate is already plum and it would look painful.

What plate? That is a red PCB.

Is it? To my (fairly untrained) eyes it looks very plate-y. Reminiscent of that Rosewill.

I've never seen a plate that had traces.

(Attachment Link)

Ah so I see. Just under the A key.

Regardless, these guys used a dirty keyboard for their product shots. Come on lads!

[SL89]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

[Dihedral]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

[SpAmRaY]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/

[Dihedral]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/

That's strange. I always assumed the TK was a full size board. Never noticed it was an MTK.

[SpAmRaY]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/

That's strange. I always assumed the TK was a full size board. Never noticed it was an MTK.

Nobody says MTK but you so thats kind of weird but anyway, the CM XT is the full size board.

[Dihedral]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/

That's strange. I always assumed the TK was a full size board. Never noticed it was an MTK.

Nobody says MTK but you so thats kind of weird but anyway, the CM XT is the full size board.

Yep. It might be weird to use MTK but can you think of a better term? Right now it seems the nomenclature is 'Keyboard with the numpad and the arrow keys in the same block'. We need something to refer to this form factor. 80% is an option but not particularly descriptive.

[Firebolt1914]

This keyboard is basically a crummier CM TK, yet I believe it's slightly cheaper.

[Moralless]

This keyboard is basically a crummier CM TK, yet I believe it's slightly cheaper.

If I were to get a board with a form factor like this, I'd prefer the plum over the TK since this uses a standard bottom row by the looks of it.

[Firebolt1914]

This keyboard is basically a crummier CM TK, yet I believe it's slightly cheaper.

If I were to get a board with a form factor like this, I'd prefer the plum over the TK since this uses a standard bottom row by the looks of it.

Both layouts are a bit wonky, but I'd much rather have a plate than no plate. I think that's one of the deciding factors for me.

[Nai_Calus]

It's actually not a bad concept, but the execution...

- Hideous red PCB
- Ugly cheap-looking case that looks jankier than the one on a 15 dollar Wal-Mart rubberdome
- People seem to hate PCB mount.

On the pro side, PCB mount means if you want to mod switches on it you don't need to do any desoldering, and standard layout means you can replace the keys as long as you stick with something that matches the ugly PCB.

...OK, if I actually needed to save space, I'd probably get one because I use the numberpad all the time(Alt codes and number entry), but I don't need to save space and by the time you slap on shipping and CA sales tax this is almost a hundred bucks for ugly.

[SpAmRaY]

It's actually not a bad concept, but the execution...

- Hideous red PCB
- Ugly cheap-looking case that looks jankier than the one on a 15 dollar Wal-Mart rubberdome
- People seem to hate PCB mount.

On the pro side, PCB mount means if you want to mod switches on it you don't need to do any desoldering, and standard layout means you can replace the keys as long as you stick with something that matches the ugly PCB.

...OK, if I actually needed to save space, I'd probably get one because I use the numberpad all the time(Alt codes and number entry), but I don't need to save space and by the time you slap on shipping and CA sales tax this is almost a hundred bucks for ugly.

There are plenty of people who like PCB mount.

[neverused]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/

That's strange. I always assumed the TK was a full size board. Never noticed it was an MTK.

Nobody says MTK but you so thats kind of weird but anyway, the CM XT is the full size board.

Yep. It might be weird to use MTK but can you think of a better term? Right now it seems the nomenclature is 'Keyboard with the numpad and the arrow keys in the same block'. We need something to refer to this form factor. 80% is an option but not particularly descriptive.

NCL? Navigation cluster-less. It's not pretty, nor would I use it but it does somewhat file the TKL convention.

[naasfu]

I really dislike the rounded bezel and those goofy looking windowed caps.

[Nai_Calus]

There are plenty of people who like PCB mount.

Are there? I just see a lot of hate for it. Maybe it's one of those things where the people who like it just don't complain on forums about it.  Between most boards seeming to be  platemount and the people I've seen diss it on the internet I assumed it was widely disliked. 

[pro_LAPSE]

Paying more than 50$ for a PCB mounted switch? Not to add that the keycaps and case are textured hideously... Honestly who would get something like this? What is the reason behind it when you can get plate mounted cherry switches for 20$ more elsewhere!? goodness me, its like a moneysaving board except theres no savings involved.

[Dihedral]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/

That's strange. I always assumed the TK was a full size board. Never noticed it was an MTK.

Nobody says MTK but you so thats kind of weird but anyway, the CM XT is the full size board.

Yep. It might be weird to use MTK but can you think of a better term? Right now it seems the nomenclature is 'Keyboard with the numpad and the arrow keys in the same block'. We need something to refer to this form factor. 80% is an option but not particularly descriptive.

NCL? Navigation cluster-less. It's not pretty, nor would I use it but it does somewhat file the TKL convention.

Maybe, but it does have a nav cluster, it's just merged with the numpad.

[Oobly]

That plum plate is just not nice. And the caps look like $10 HP ones.

updating OP with guest mode link.

It's good board for the price if you like that form factor. Sure, it's "only" PCB mount, but it's a high quality dual layer PCB which means it doesn't flex much and as long as it has decent support from the case it won't feel much different from a plate mount. Also, it's easier to open the switches

The keycaps are thick Cherry profile POM, some of the best available, IMHO, and very rare. Certainly better than 90% of caps that come stock on other "better" brand boards like Filco and Ducky. The keycaps for Ivan's Pitch Black PBT (thick blank Cherry profile PBT and dyesub black on black PBT, Round 3 PBT) Group Buy are being made by PLUM: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50935.msg1583000#msg1583000

I'd be all over it like white on rice if I liked the form factor, but I never use a numpad so a TKL suits me more.

[CommonCurt]

I really dislike the rounded bezel .

+1

Same reason I don't like the case on the KBParadise V80.

[neverused]

Interesting form factor (the first keyboard i seriously looked at was the CM one with a similar layout)

Which one was that? I don't know of any CM MTK (Merged Ten Key) designs.

http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/quickfiretk/

That's strange. I always assumed the TK was a full size board. Never noticed it was an MTK.

Nobody says MTK but you so thats kind of weird but anyway, the CM XT is the full size board.

Yep. It might be weird to use MTK but can you think of a better term? Right now it seems the nomenclature is 'Keyboard with the numpad and the arrow keys in the same block'. We need something to refer to this form factor. 80% is an option but not particularly descriptive.

NCL? Navigation cluster-less. It's not pretty, nor would I use it but it does somewhat file the TKL convention.

Maybe, but it does have a nav cluster, it's just merged with the numpad.

It's on a function layer, that would be like saying the hhkb has a navigation cluster.