What is the best NEW mechanical keyboard feature?

[potatobot]

What do you think is the best NEW mechanical keyboard feature?

Alu case in different colors?
RGB leds? 
Underglow? 
Modular switches? 
removable switch top capable plates?   



anything you can think of, please tell us!

[tribade]

I think one of the coolest new things are the Novatouch Topre stems that are compatible with MX keycaps.  Pretty cool invention. 

Other than that underglow and the new lighting options with diffusers in cases, etc. are pretty exciting.  Even though they aren't all my style. 

[AMongoose]

Full programability is neato

[algernon]

Open source firmware - though that's not all that new. However, a palm key is reasonably new. Both of these are awesome.

RGB, underglow, modular switches and relegendables are a bit meh, imo.

[exime]

As someone who loves the color spectrum, I think RGB is the best new feature.  It's so prrrtyyy.

[Findecanor]

I also love colours. Without them the world would be black and white and greyscale and that would be dull.

I do like how Omron and Kailh have made key switches with backlight in the middle of keys instead of the top-centred bullsith. There is also less to none of lightbleed in-between switches.
Topre could have done the same, but they opted to make theirs exactly like Cherry MX instead: top/centre and embraced lightbleed that is brighter than the legends...

I do however like that doubleshot-moulded keys for backlighting are getting more common.

RGB can be useful, especially when you have different colours set up (profiles) for different games.
Something I have yet to see in a keyboard is the colour temperature change depending on the time of day.

[fohat.digs]

I love beige keyboards but native USB and Windows keys are nice.

Metal cases would be great if they weren't so expensive. In fact, the more metal the better, all around.

[Frenky]

I can't wait to see how the upcoming Das Q is going to come out with their new 'cloud connected' tech. I also really like the Filco Convertible 2 that can connect to multiple boxes and you can switch between them using the fn+# key. I don't know how new that is but sounds awesome to me!

[y11971alex]

Plug/play is nice.

[zslane]

Best NEW feature: Adjustable actuation points.

Best RECENT feature: Topre switches with MX-compatible stems.

[potatobot]

Glad to hear your inputs guys keep them coming 

[captsis]

More of a suggestion: GIVE ME USB-C CONTROLLERS/KEYBOARDS DAMN IT!

[kasakka]

However, a palm key is reasonably new

What is this?

[potatobot]

More of a suggestion: GIVE ME USB-C CONTROLLERS/KEYBOARDS DAMN IT!

Why?

However, a palm key is reasonably new

What is this?

keyboard captains please help

[captsis]

They're smaller, more durable, and reversible (!!)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Capnmycraw]

New backlit Topres with MX compatible stems.

[algernon]

However, a palm key is reasonably new

What is this?

A palm key is a key you press with the part of your hand below the thumb. You can see a prime example of it on the keyboard.io model 01, but I've seen them in a couple of custom split boards too, recently. Haven't tried it yet, but I have great plans for putting them to good use.

[Findecanor]

They're smaller, more durable, and reversible (!!)

Cables for USB Type C need to be much thicker because there are 16 wires + shield, instead of just 4.
And the keyboard protocol is going to use only 4.

There are also 24 pins in the connector instead of just 4. Plus a chip in the cable for identification of what it is capable of.
... And then there is the jungle of Chinese cables that don't follow the standard and will fry your devices.

[AMongoose]

They're smaller, more durable, and reversible (!!)

Cables for USB Type C need to be much thicker because there are 16 wires + shield, instead of just 4.
And the keyboard protocol is going to use only 4.

There are also 24 pins in the connector instead of just 4. Plus a chip in the cable for identification of what it is capable of.
... And then there is the jungle of Chinese cables that don't follow the standard and will fry your devices.

yeah but they are more durable and reversible.

[captsis]

They're smaller, more durable, and reversible (!!)

Cables for USB Type C need to be much thicker because there are 16 wires + shield, instead of just 4.
And the keyboard protocol is going to use only 4.

There are also 24 pins in the connector instead of just 4. Plus a chip in the cable for identification of what it is capable of.
... And then there is the jungle of Chinese cables that don't follow the standard and will fry your devices.

yeah but they are more durable and reversible.

Its what keyboards crave!

[potatobot]

Aren't they more prone to wearing out the port?

[Spopepro]

So I don't know if a couple of years is "new" still, but I haven't seen it widely implemented yet.

Using LUFA to program boards is way cool. If you haven't used it, LUFA allows for your microcontroller to report as a generic/text printer and to "flash" a new layout you just load the hex in a text editor and hit print. It couldn't be easier or more fool proof to load new firmware even for inexperienced users. I wish more custom boards would use LUFA.

[potatobot]

So I don't know if a couple of years is "new" still, but I haven't seen it widely implemented yet.

Using LUFA to program boards is way cool. If you haven't used it, LUFA allows for your microcontroller to report as a generic/text printer and to "flash" a new layout you just load the hex in a text editor and hit print. It couldn't be easier or more fool proof to load new firmware even for inexperienced users. I wish more custom boards would use LUFA.

This feature would be of much use to myself 

Which keyboards offer's this feature? The only keyboard i tried flashing with new firmware is my VA87 which was tricky especially when chinese instructions come into play.

[AMongoose]

Aren't they more prone to wearing out the port?

No, they are more durable.

[captsis]

Aren't they more prone to wearing out the port?

No, they are more durable.

I cant tell if your /s or not

[fohat.digs]

You can see a prime example of it on the keyboard.io model 01

That looks magnificent.

If I had the spare cash I would love to try one of those.

[potatobot]

Aren't they more prone to wearing out the port?

No, they are more durable.

I suppose it be great, its been difficult to source some usb mini type b's in my town these days

[davkol]

Cheap PBT doubleshots are a huge improvement in the common market.

[Digit]

how new does new need to be before you consider it new?

since keyboards have been around for a while (thinking back to early typewriters), i'm going to just list some of my fave features.

• columnar key arrangement to follow fingers, not following typewriter convention.
• curved not flat.
• fully split
• thumbs getting more action than a space bar.
• programmable.
• libre designs.

led under-lighting, i dont crave, thinking it just vanity more than of any practical benefit... though, i've imagined potential with programmability, i've yet to see implementation that proves me wrong on that.

now i'm sure there are some innovations that still exist only in my mind... so they're even more new than new.
such as

• adjustable key weighting
• adjustable key heights
• adjustable bite point heights
• wearable keyboard thigh pads - would likely need to be very shallow profile
• wearable in-pocket keyboard - would likely need to be very shallow profile

those "adjustable" items there, imagine if also programable.   .... can you picture the bling?  think, like a car with those absurd hydrolics jumping and dancing around... then imagine your keys jumping around to a similar array of pattern possiblities as seen with led programming...  wheeee...  erm, ahem, i mean... it'd be very useful for practical reasons.   ;|

[davkol]

• columnar key arrangement to follow fingers, not following typewriter convention.
• curved not flat.
• fully split
• thumbs getting more action than a space bar.

Patented by IBM in the 1960s. That's not really new.

[tp4tissue]

Romer G is obviously the most innovative item..

Everything else is mostly aesthetic, and very crude..

You guys think aluminum cases look cool,  but it's actually the dumbest thing to be making on CNC.. straight lines all around, oooo chamfer.. hahahahahaha..   Out of the endless possibilities and geometries, you guys pay $300-400 for straight lines..


All of the iterations so far are Equivalent to nailing a crude table together with 2-by-4's ..

[potatobot]

how new does new need to be before you consider it new?

I should fix that sorry,

Being more specific to new technology/innovations done to the mechanical keyboard over the past 10 years (which is roughly the span of time it started to return to the spotlight). 

Romer G is obviously the most innovative item..

Everything else is mostly aesthetic, and very crude..

You guys think aluminum cases look cool,  but it's actually the dumbest thing to be making on CNC.. straight lines all around, oooo chamfer.. hahahahahaha..   Out of the endless possibilities and geometries, you guys pay $300-400 for straight lines..


All of the iterations so far are Equivalent to nailing a crude table together with 2-by-4's ..

Yeah, I agree. Paying $300-400 for simple looking case design is just plain nuts. Im more concerned about new innovations regarding switches/stabilization/controllers etc.

Having tested the G-romer, it was an OKAY switch for me coz i do like gateron browns. But my issue is with keycap compatibility.

[keyladding]

Sub $40 mechanical keyboards.

[tp4tissue]

Sub $40 mechanical keyboards.

Hhaahhahahaha....  maybe next year we'll go sub $20,  that'd be kind of amazing..

But ah...   the OEMs probably are charging ~ $15-30 per board @ bulk prices which the importers flip for $60-100


The main OEMs in China have a huge system for RECYCLED Ic-chips / capacitors/ resistors / plastics..

It's certainly do-able.