Why do most low-end keyboards have the same ugly font on their caps?

[Rad]

I always see the same ugly font on Pok3r keyboards and other entry level mechs. I'd link a picture, but I just ate.

Is there some kind of patent issue with key cap fonts and the font in question is cheap? What gives?

Just because you don't want to spend a lot of money doesn't mean you should have to deal with dry heaving every time you look at your fingers.

[nmur]

I think they're trying to tap into the g4m3r market by having futuristic/technical looking fonts

most people seem to discover mechs through gaming related media

[Rad]

I think they're trying to tap into the g4m3r market by having futuristic/technical looking fonts

most people seem to discover mechs through gaming related media

Yeah I go to my local robot shops, and it's all Corsair and Razer. Flashing lights everywhere. They should make a keyboard that makes noises. I want to hear a clown horn every time I press a key.

[jacobolus]

You can get a better looking keyboard from the 80s for about $30–40 shipped on ebay, plus another $5 for an adapter.

[Coreda]

Bank Gothic isn't ugly per se. The Poker 3 though has non-center align legends unlike the previous versions, which don't suit it at all. Haven't seen the typeface used for other boards.

[kekman]

I always see the same ugly font on Pok3r keyboards and other entry level mechs. I always see ugly fonts on all keyboards

blanks master race

[effectiveduck]

The fonts could be cheaper to licence.

[Rad]

I always see the same ugly font on Pok3r keyboards and other entry level mechs. I always see ugly fonts on all keyboards

blanks master race

I use blanks too. Sometimes I see boards that have some caps with white font and other caps with black font. Two different font colors on the same board. Whaaaat?

[appleonama]

Gaymer aesthetics bro gotta look MLG ESPORTs

[alexjd99]

r u even 1337? if u wur a 1337 g4m3r u wud get y the fonts luk k001

[klennkellon]

What? You don't want your keyboard to look like a prop from a 1970's sci-fi porno parody film?

[alexjd99]

What? You don't want your keyboard to look like a prop from a 1970's sci-fi porno parody film?

My keyboards are props from '70's sci-fi porno parodies

get on my level

[klennkellon]

What? You don't want your keyboard to look like a prop from a 1970's sci-fi porno parody film?

My keyboards are props from '70's sci-fi porno parodies

get on my level

mine was more than just a prop in one of those.

[Rad]

What? You don't want your keyboard to look like a prop from a 1970's sci-fi porno parody film?

My keyboards are props from '70's sci-fi porno parodies

get on my level

mine was more than just a prop in one of those.

Talk about a dirty keyboard.

[kekman]

antique value!

[klennkellon]

**RARE** Vintage CLICKY IBM keyboard used in 1970 thriller "NAZI LOVE ISLAND" $499

[rowdy]

Maybe they have realised that the majority of mechanical keyboards go to keyboard enthusiasts, who usually swap keycaps anyway.

So why spend extra money on keycaps and raise the price of a keyboard if you're just going to remove the keycaps anyway.

Put cheaper keycaps on, brings the price of the keyboard down.

[saxophone]

Same fonts are used cause they use the same OEM to produce the caps.

[Bromono]

Same reason why people put ugly ass decals and spoilers on their car.

They think it looks cool (Some even think it will make the car faster / type faster)

Classy > l33t / d0pe

IMO

But clacks do make you type faster. proven fact. so don't even. Because I cant even.

[y11971alex]

Lack of creativity can be thought of as a form of ugliness too, such as the sans-serif fonts used by IBM on all their keyboards to date.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

I always see the same ugly font on Pok3r keyboards and other entry level mechs. I'd link a picture, but I just ate.

Is there some kind of patent issue with key cap fonts and the font in question is cheap? What gives?

Just because you don't want to spend a lot of money doesn't mean you should have to deal with dry heaving every time you look at your fingers.

I think most boards at truly entry level are judged to be used by gamers and not professionals and they like that odd look.   That said you really think the font on the pok3r is ugly? I think it's fairly normal honestly.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8wjW-Or1jg8/maxresdefault.jpg  (Stock pok3r)

What i consider ugly gamer fonts is something like this.

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/7911/RZBWU_11.JPG  (Razer BlackWidow)

Or

http://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_328860_1.jpg  AULA Demon King



That said i can't really consider the pok3r an entry level board either.  Entry level is like CM QFR,Spyder Noppoo,Ganss etc.  It may not quite be endgame for most but it's definitely not an entry level board either.

Someone already mentioned earlier also it may be due to cost since several use the same OEM for caps and most know people will likely replace the keycaps anyways in the long run.

[Rad]

It's called ninja font or something? Booooo.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

It's called ninja font or something? Booooo.

On the pok3r or the Razer/AULA boards?

The pok3r is bank gothic i believe (Which i don't mind though i will admit i prefer the look of the font on my Realforce)

The Razer/AULA though ...hurt my eyes.

[FoxWolf1]

Ehh, appearance is just a personal preference. Not everyone likes the same things, and that's fine.

Also, not everyone obsesses over the appearance of their keyboard the way many "enthusiasts" do. Some buyers care more about price and capabilities/features than looks, and if they don't care, the companies that cater to them will just use whatever caps the cheapest OEM has on hand.

[chyros]

I'm fine with most simple non-serif fonts. Chicony used a pretty nice one, Key Tronic's was pretty ugly.

Everything is better than that revolting font on the AEK and AEKII (and they're not even placed correctly Oo ).

[appleonama]

Ugliest font to date is the black widow

[chyros]

Ugliest font to date is the black widow

Everything Razer make is vulgar and tasteless xD .

[klennkellon]

Ugliest font to date is the black widow

Everything Razer make is vulgar and tasteless xD .

the first generation black widow was my first mechanical board, I have a soft spot for it 

[piemancoder]

We need a comic sans keycap set. Everyone would love that, right?

[klennkellon]

We need a comic sans keycap set. Everyone would love that, right?

[xtrafrood]

I'm probably not going to purchase a keyboard that looks like it could be used as a stencil for keyboard graffiti.

keyboard graffiti.. I think my life is missing keyboard graffiti..


This is not a stencil.

[kekman]

I'm probably not going to purchase a keyboard that looks like it could be used as a stencil for keyboard graffiti.

keyboard graffiti.. I think my life is missing keyboard graffiti..

Show Image

This is not a stencil.

it's modern art, go sell it for 10,000,000 on ebay

[rowdy]

We need a comic sans keycap set. Everyone would love that, right?

Show Image

This is a thing!

Looks too much like Comic Sans at smaller sizes though.

[kekman]

I'm pretty sure the Deck Hassium uses Papyrus

[Fiery]

I personally like the Pok3r font, But the "gamer" fonts on the razer are atrocious. And the LED's just make them a million times worse. 

Blanks just look nicer in my opinion.

*EDIT* Why do you consider the Pok3r a entry level mech keyboard?

[xtrafrood]

I'm probably not going to purchase a keyboard that looks like it could be used as a stencil for keyboard graffiti.

keyboard graffiti.. I think my life is missing keyboard graffiti..

Show Image

This is not a stencil.

it's modern art, go sell it for 10,000,000 on ebay

If that keyboard was mine I would keep it in a glass case! :p

[appleonama]

Ugliest font to date is the black widow

Everything Razer make is vulgar and tasteless xD .

the first generation black widow was my first mechanical board, I have a soft spot for it 

Reported I will have no sympathy for razer lovers

[chyros]

I prefer legends that make no sense to blank caps tbh. Makes it even more mysterious, especially on weird layouts. Terminal keyboards are cool like that.

Or legends that are just plain weird. Like that "URINE" key on the hospital keyboard that got posted a while back.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

I prefer legends that make no sense to blank caps tbh. Makes it even more mysterious, especially on weird layouts. Terminal keyboards are cool like that.

Or legends that are just plain weird. Like that "URINE" key on the hospital keyboard that got posted a while back.

The only reason i like blanks on some of my boards and the very stealth look of the Realforce is it's beyond comical watching my wife try to type.

[Rad]

I'm probably not going to purchase a keyboard that looks like it could be used as a stencil for keyboard graffiti.

keyboard graffiti.. I think my life is missing keyboard graffiti..

Show Image

This is not a stencil.

Surf Skate the web!

[xtrafrood]

I'm probably not going to purchase a keyboard that looks like it could be used as a stencil for keyboard graffiti.

keyboard graffiti.. I think my life is missing keyboard graffiti..

Show Image

This is not a stencil.

Surf Skate the web!

huehue

[falkentyne]

Because the same OEM often makes the keycaps for several manufacturers.  Thus the same font is used

[Red October]

I think they're trying to tap into the g4m3r market by having futuristic/technical looking fonts

most people seem to discover mechs through gaming related media

Yeah I go to my local robot shops, and it's all Corsair and Razer. Flashing lights everywhere. They should make a keyboard that makes noises. I want to hear a clown horn every time I press a key.

My IBM 6112884 has a beeper in it that can be set to "stupid-loud" if you want using the keyboard to be a tortuous exercise.  Uncomfortably loud even with my Beyerdynamic headset on.
I for one miss the days when, if you wanted a product to look "Hi-tech", you slapped OCR-A or Westminster on it and called it a day.

[ileben]

Personally I find the stock Pok3r font just as atrocious as the one on Razer. They are both targetting the gamer audience very clearly.

EDIT: It's even called "Pok3r" and not Poker. Come on...

[saxophone]

Wow that AULA is sooooooo FAKE.

A real AULA looks something like http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AULA-Professional-Gaming-Keyboard-Black-Mechanical-Keyboard-87-Keys-Red-Switch-With-Multimedia-USB-Wired-Laptop/32626501622.html **** like a Daemonic Aegis ready to deflect the beams of suns blinding light from your moms basement at any moment.

[piemancoder]

Wow that AULA is sooooooo FAKE.

A real AULA looks something like http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AULA-Professional-Gaming-Keyboard-Black-Mechanical-Keyboard-87-Keys-Red-Switch-With-Multimedia-USB-Wired-Laptop/32626501622.html **** like a Daemonic Aegis ready to deflect the beams of suns blinding light from your moms basement at any moment.

My eyes hurt.

[ander]

Flashing lights everywhere... They should make a keyboard that makes noises. I want to hear a clown horn every time I press a key.

LOL—hawnk hawnk!

The fonts could be cheaper to licence.

But then why not use some of the nicer fonts with GPL or GNU free-use licences?

What? You don't want your keyboard to look like a prop from a 1970's sci-fi porno parody film?

How many subsequent retro sci-fi porn videos have they inspired? That's what I want to know.

To answer the OP: Maybe they doll up these boards to distract people from how mediocre they are as, you know, input devices.

[Rad]

Wow that AULA is sooooooo FAKE.

A real AULA looks something like http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AULA-Professional-Gaming-Keyboard-Black-Mechanical-Keyboard-87-Keys-Red-Switch-With-Multimedia-USB-Wired-Laptop/32626501622.html **** like a Daemonic Aegis ready to deflect the beams of suns blinding light from your moms basement at any moment.

That's one of the classiest, subtle keyboards I've ever seen. I like that two people can use it at once. You know, for when that happens.

[ika]

Wow that AULA is sooooooo FAKE.

A real AULA looks something like http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AULA-Professional-Gaming-Keyboard-Black-Mechanical-Keyboard-87-Keys-Red-Switch-With-Multimedia-USB-Wired-Laptop/32626501622.html **** like a Daemonic Aegis ready to deflect the beams of suns blinding light from your moms basement at any moment.

That's one of the classiest, subtle keyboards I've ever seen. I like that two people can use it at once. You know, for when that happens.

****, two player co-op used to be the best. you must be young.

[Rad]

Wow that AULA is sooooooo FAKE.

A real AULA looks something like http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AULA-Professional-Gaming-Keyboard-Black-Mechanical-Keyboard-87-Keys-Red-Switch-With-Multimedia-USB-Wired-Laptop/32626501622.html **** like a Daemonic Aegis ready to deflect the beams of suns blinding light from your moms basement at any moment.

That's one of the classiest, subtle keyboards I've ever seen. I like that two people can use it at once. You know, for when that happens.

****, two player co-op used to be the best. you must be young.

Back in my day, a keyboard only cost a nickel.