MiTo Canvas XDA - New Set on Massdrop

[KHAANNN]

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set

Sets like these really make me resent using a custom layout (1.75/1.25/1.25/1.25 arrows on an 60% layout)

The set is beyond incredible, I will probably look for an alternative layout and keyboard that I can use with this set, likely one that resembles old apple keyboards

Edit: https://mitormk.wordpress.com/

[pixelpusher]

That yellow is the sex and I sure wish he would include it on the base set or in the color mods somehow.  Maybe an accent kit with yellow ESC and Enter?

Hey, I just noticed the colors would go well with my avatar!!

[KHAANNN]

Indeed incredible, I guess a 1800 could go well with this set, using that single yellow keycap

Colors always confuse me, so making due with the base colors might be a good option too

I just noticed the F/J alternatives are scooped, yet, the numpad 5 alternative looks like it's bumped/underlined, wonder what the homing situation is

[CMYK]

Seems incredible.  Nice colors, options, and with an interesting profile.  I see no mention of GMK, or Signature Plastics.  Who is actually manufacturing this set?

[Elrick]

Nice combo of Beige with Cool Gray, Love this already  .

PLUS all PBT as well : )  What's not to like here?

Perfectly customized for any keyboard layout and using a new XDA profile as well.  Hope this is offered soon, for us key-cap addicts because it already has been planned for several keyboards here in Convict Town  .

[Arallu]

..

[Photekq]

Going to have to enter this for elder furthark alone.

[dante]

You kids have it too good these days.  In my day we would be fapping over paper thin SP DCS, and we LIKED it.

[KHAANNN]

Seems incredible.  Nice colors, options, and with an interesting profile.  I see no mention of GMK, or Signature Plastics.  Who is actually manufacturing this set.

First XDA buy that I know of is: https://www.keyclack.com/product-category/group-buys/xda-milestone/ https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=85828.0

The above set is also extreme like the MiTo's version, there are some unique things there, and they also included 1.75/1.25 arrows, but things were barely below my tipping point, the multitude of options messed me up, also for this set, the left/top aligned legends were just incredible, yet they only existed for the sub options, in a way, the MiTo's set feels like the next iteration of the Milestone

I'm guessing XDA is from a Manufacturer in China that is not well known yet

Edit: The Milestone was really unappreciated, it certainly deserved more love, but I guess, these days, we prefer Massdrop

[zslane]

I like the shape and texture of these XDA caps, but that's pretty much the only thing I like, I'm sorry to say.

[JDragon]

I think these will look great with the M65 or the Exent for a retro vibe.

[Niomosy]

Looks like I'll try XDA another time.

[Elrick]

You kids have it too good these days.  In my day we would be fapping over paper thin SP DCS, and we LIKED it.

OOOOooohhh yeah, just as I pick myself up and shove my walking frame around to confront this generation's spoiled excesses, like having such a variety in key-caps.

In my day we were lucky to even have such a thing as a keyboard let alone allowed to think about buying any key-caps for it.  If there were no key-caps you still had to press the switches with your worn out fingertips and pray how lucky we were for having this.

The DCS was the most sought after profile (it was the ONLY one available) and WE loved it  .

This generation of spoiled kids never had it so good, all they can do now is pick which key-cap set to fill out any of their keyboards.

[Elrick]

Edit: The Milestone was really unappreciated, it certainly deserved more love, but I guess, these days, we prefer Massdrop

MassDrop has proven to be reliable that's all, if you go with some newbie which has never run a Group Buy before or some dodgy rip off artist then you might never see your money again.

People go with what's comfortable, MD has delivered heaps of key-cap sets already and at any time before the caps are even shipped to them for distribution, you can get your money refunded.

The ONLY other people I trust with my money would be CTRL/ALT and that's about it.  It's a very narrow field of trust thus far and well worth the effort because it always delivers  .

[Elrick]

Coming Thursday. "Note: The Massdrop x Mito Canvas XDA Custom Keycap Set will be available starting January 19th at 6 a.m. PT."

Damn that's quick, only another two days from now  .

Really looking forward to this one, time to fill out some strange layout keyboards that no other Group Buy can even offer.

[anorak]

I like the shape and texture of these XDA caps. And it has a norde kit!  I am not sure about the font... The symols are cool but the letters...
Anyway, I will throw my money at this.

[MiTo]

A couple kits have been re-organized and a major new kit was introduced, please let me know what you think!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1572895

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1572747

 

[Twinguin]

I like it. I guess I'm hooked :-)

[KHAANNN]

From the first moment I saw left aligned legends on XDA Keycaps, I loved them, so Betas seems like dilution in a world filled with center aligned spherical keycaps, but since not everyone is diluted at the same levels, I understand that some people want them (I hope they are those who didn't experience the SP culture to their fullest and just starting this hobby, otherwise they are committing a crime)

The Yellow Esc is a nice addition, I wonder how the base set looks with just the Yellow Esc, or Yellow Esc + Green Enter

For me, the 1! spacing was eye-catching, the initial g/j's didn't catch my eye

I couldn't notice any other difference in the kits, I guess it's because I hoped for 1.75/1.25 arrows and they weren't there

[pixelpusher]

A couple kits have been re-organized and a major new kit was introduced, please let me know what you think!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1572895

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1572747

Love the yellow escape!  My first thought when I saw the set is how beautiful it could look with a yellow escape and possibly a yellow Enter.  The yellow just looks so perfect with this set.  Maybe you could drop the yellow from the mods and put it in an "accent" pack instead, along with some accent OS and Enter keys?

[KHAANNN]

Today's the big day I guess, homing keycaps are flat/normal and scooped on XDA right?

[romevi]

I'm...a fan.

[Elrick]

19th is the Starting Mark here  .

Just can't wait to see what's all on offer, shall be gaping my poor wallet yet again here on MD.

[Elrick]

It's ON like Donkey Kong;

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set

[KHAANNN]

None of my weird layouts go along with the simplicity/beauty of this set, having 1.75/1.25 arrows as in the original Milestone GB would've been nice, as far as I gather, XDA is pretty agile, but oh well

I'm continually looking for a compact / good looking ~65%-ish keyboard to go along with the set, not missing the Rama 65 GB would've been a solution, this version of the Red Scarf: https://world.taobao.com/item/521123137875.htm?fromSite=main&spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-3817085419.55.zADO6D - with beefy edges looks like an ideal candidate, but sadly, this version didn't make it to prime time, it only exists in taobao - The Clueboard is also a good candidate

Basic Text + Text Mods + Tsangan + Wozniak is currently what I'm leaning towards

Anyway, this stage of GB's/Drop's is always a struggle for me

[skuko]

i like this very much, seems like the perfect opportunity to try out XDA profile.

also: holy ****, 1740+ orders already, kinda exploded!

[chuckdee]

None of my weird layouts go along with the simplicity/beauty of this set, having 1.75/1.25 arrows as in the original Milestone GB would've been nice, as far as I gather, XDA is pretty agile, but oh well

I'm continually looking for a compact / good looking ~65%-ish keyboard to go along with the set, not missing the Rama 65 GB would've been a solution, this version of the Red Scarf: https://world.taobao.com/item/521123137875.htm?fromSite=main&spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-3817085419.55.zADO6D - with beefy edges looks like an ideal candidate, but sadly, this version didn't make it to prime time, it only exists in taobao - The Clueboard is also a good candidate

Basic Text + Text Mods + Tsangan + Wozniak is currently what I'm leaning towards

Anyway, this stage of GB's/Drop's is always a struggle for me

One of the reasons that I like the GMK drops better... everything is already in it, rather than trying to create a construct out of the sets available.

But yeah, I'm in on this.

[zslane]

I really want to like this set. But the icons are as inscrutable as they are innovative, and the cool gray with warm beige just clashes to my eyes. I think if the modifiers were a light brown instead of a cool gray, I could put up with the icons.

[Elrick]

I really want to like this set. But the icons are as inscrutable as they are innovative, and the cool gray with warm beige just clashes to my eyes. I think if the modifiers were a light brown instead of a cool gray, I could put up with the icons.

The pics provided are never a good, solid point in understanding what the actual colours will be.

This is like buying in the OLD days of Geekhack, no one knows for sure what they will look like but the anticipation is enormous  .

Always looking forward to another Group Buy for Key-caps, especially when it involves PBT.  I'm into this big time.

[nubbinator]

I really want to like this set. But the icons are as inscrutable as they are innovative, and the cool gray with warm beige just clashes to my eyes. I think if the modifiers were a light brown instead of a cool gray, I could put up with the icons.

I'm not really sure I'd call it innovative.  The colors are also pretty much a rehash of other sets already done or custom made by people:

[KHAANNN]

From my point of view, "XDA Milestone" was innovative with the usage of left-aligned legends on spherical keycaps, it's not that it hasn't been done before, but in my opinion, "XDA Milestone" did it right

However, "XDA Milestone" seriously lacked consistency, it was like a native SP set in terms of consistency, legends/modifiers seemingly had different sizes, alphas were left-aligned, modifiers were center aligned

MiTo's "Canvas XDA" seems very consistent, even more consistent than the examples nubbinator provided

My criticism is modifier selection, instead of repeating some modifiers in multiple sets (for example the 1.75u shift), more/unique modifiers could've been added

[Elrick]

My criticism is modifier selection, instead of repeating some modifiers in multiple sets (for example the 1.75u shift), more/unique modifiers could've been added

Maybe MiTo can still provide the modified sets as you requested.  Remembered Matt3o did that as well right up until the last few days of the MD Group Buy with one of  his designs.

Once it ended everything was sent off including the revised edition for manufacture.  Don't know if MD will operate like that again, worth a try though.

[KHAANNN]

It did happen once with MD too, Tomb3ry was able to add alternative homing keycaps in the middle of a GB

However, I feel like the 1.75/1.25 arrows are a bit selfish if only I request it, I know that there are other people who use arrows like that on an 60%, for example the KBParadise V60 has a mode to set the right modifiers to be arrows - tho - I have no idea how many people actually want/need it

It's also impossible to remove a modifier keycap once it's added, so repetitions will be repetitions, maybe there is a logic behind them that I didn't notice, basically I'm going with the flow, instead of bugging the gb runner with requests

Who knows, we might see more alternatives if/when the drop is repeated

[zslane]

I really want to like this set. But the icons are as inscrutable as they are innovative, and the cool gray with warm beige just clashes to my eyes. I think if the modifiers were a light brown instead of a cool gray, I could put up with the icons.

I'm not really sure I'd call it innovative.

Well, you'll notice that I only used the word innovative in regards to the icons.

I agree that many of the other elements have been done before, like the narrow lowercase font and corner legends, but I think Apple did it better because their font wasn't so heavy, which made it more legible. As much as I loved the AEKII back when I owned one in 1990, I'm not into that style anymore. I don't long for the return of lowercase corner legends. I like the normal centered legends in the Betas kit much more.

[a_ak57]

From my point of view, "XDA Milestone" was innovative with the usage of left-aligned legends on spherical keycaps, it's not that it hasn't been done before, but in my opinion, "XDA Milestone" did it right

However, "XDA Milestone" seriously lacked consistency, it was like a native SP set in terms of consistency, legends/modifiers seemingly had different sizes, alphas were left-aligned, modifiers were center aligned

MiTo's "Canvas XDA" seems very consistent, even more consistent than the examples nubbinator provided

My criticism is modifier selection, instead of repeating some modifiers in multiple sets (for example the 1.75u shift), more/unique modifiers could've been added

Are you thinking of a different set or one of the specialty alpha kits?  The standard alphas on XDA Milestone are centered; in general it's essentially XDA Granite.

[KHAANNN]

Yes, this: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=85828.msg2313002#msg2313002

[myoung34]

I joined the XDA canvas drop but bought the ortho kit. Ended up building a JD40. Hoping I can find someone that wants to get rid of some of their 1.25u/1.75u extras.
There were complaints that in order to fit it to custom layouts you ended up having to buy addons you didn't really need

[lolkey]

These ended up coming out interesting, to say the last. Seems like an entirely different thickness to the font, opposed to what was shown and people who bought are whining in the discussion now. So glad I bailed last second on buying because of the price. There are also quite a few screw ups if you inspected them. For instance, the G is positioned incorrectly when compared to the render. Some of the number symbols look like dye blotches, like the percentage sign. Whoever did the dye on these did a really bad job, unless he specifically requested them to be done like this.

I hope he figures it for his next batch and gets them closer to the render, or maybe switch to a better dye guy, as I'd love to grab a set if he can replicate the render font.

Render:



Actual:

[KHAANNN]

Very interesting, thanks for the review

[lolkey]

Very interesting, thanks for the review

I don't actually have them. They posted pictures in the comments of the purchase thread. There is some discussion there about whether it's going to be fixed or not:

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk

[romevi]

Oh, wow. That dye job is pretty bad.

[Robotical]

Dang. Glad I canceled at the last moment. That dye sub is awful.

[Kavik]

Is this what the final product looks like? From the discussion, it sounds as if the initial samples MiTo received had these problems, but that was a couple weeks ago before the drop's shipdate.

[Vigrith]

Last word on it has been that Mito's working with XDA to improve their dye-sub lines.

[KHAANNN]

Those alphas really doesn't make much sense considering this was possible long ago: http://imgur.com/a/7ig9X

XDA'ers certainly can go thin

[romevi]

Is this what the final product looks like? From the discussion, it sounds as if the initial samples MiTo received had these problems, but that was a couple weeks ago before the drop's shipdate.

Last word on it has been that Mito's working with XDA to improve their dye-sub lines.

I clicked on the link and looked up the source. Seems these are just production samples and the final sets haven't been made yet. However, MiTo seemed pleased with them, which worries me. I wasn't in the GB, but I hoped to nab a set later on. I hope they can be made thinner.

[thelaughingman]

Is this what the final product looks like? From the discussion, it sounds as if the initial samples MiTo received had these problems, but that was a couple weeks ago before the drop's shipdate.

Last word on it has been that Mito's working with XDA to improve their dye-sub lines.

I clicked on the link and looked up the source. Seems these are just production samples and the final sets haven't been made yet. However, MiTo seemed pleased with them, which worries me. I wasn't in the GB, but I hoped to nab a set later on. I hope they can be made thinner.

here is MiTo's latest update https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1712648

tl,dr: he updated the files and the next round of sample should be as close to the render as possible.

[pomk]

Is this what the final product looks like? From the discussion, it sounds as if the initial samples MiTo received had these problems, but that was a couple weeks ago before the drop's shipdate.

Last word on it has been that Mito's working with XDA to improve their dye-sub lines.

I clicked on the link and looked up the source. Seems these are just production samples and the final sets haven't been made yet. However, MiTo seemed pleased with them, which worries me. I wasn't in the GB, but I hoped to nab a set later on. I hope they can be made thinner.

here is MiTo's latest update https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1712648

tl,dr: he updated the files and the next round of sample should be as close to the render as possible.

Where did he say that the next round would already be 'as close as possible'? This is just a second attempt and there will likely be a third one before we can expect to get 'as close to the render as possible'.

I would accept color difference of <2 delta e and sizing, positioning and thickness variance of 0,05mm in respect to the render as 'close to the render'. Achieving such accuracy is bound to require a third attempt as long as the process at the manufacturers end is not fully known to the designer.

It is a completely different question whether they are going to pursue getting the product match closely with render, but I'm hopeful as the first abomination was not accepted.

[thelaughingman]

Is this what the final product looks like? From the discussion, it sounds as if the initial samples MiTo received had these problems, but that was a couple weeks ago before the drop's shipdate.

Last word on it has been that Mito's working with XDA to improve their dye-sub lines.

I clicked on the link and looked up the source. Seems these are just production samples and the final sets haven't been made yet. However, MiTo seemed pleased with them, which worries me. I wasn't in the GB, but I hoped to nab a set later on. I hope they can be made thinner.

here is MiTo's latest update https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1712648

tl,dr: he updated the files and the next round of sample should be as close to the render as possible.

Where did he say that the next round would already be 'as close as possible'? This is just a second attempt and there will likely be a third one before we can expect to get 'as close to the render as possible'.

It's a "TL;DR", OK? Did I put a quotation anywhere to make you think that I was quoting MiTo's words? Jesus H Christ people these days.

[pomk]

Is this what the final product looks like? From the discussion, it sounds as if the initial samples MiTo received had these problems, but that was a couple weeks ago before the drop's shipdate.

Last word on it has been that Mito's working with XDA to improve their dye-sub lines.

I clicked on the link and looked up the source. Seems these are just production samples and the final sets haven't been made yet. However, MiTo seemed pleased with them, which worries me. I wasn't in the GB, but I hoped to nab a set later on. I hope they can be made thinner.

here is MiTo's latest update https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-canvas-xda-custom-keycap-set/talk/1712648

tl,dr: he updated the files and the next round of sample should be as close to the render as possible.

Where did he say that the next round would already be 'as close as possible'? This is just a second attempt and there will likely be a third one before we can expect to get 'as close to the render as possible'.

It's a "TL;DR", OK? Did I put a quotation anywhere to make you think that I was quoting MiTo's words? Jesus H Christ people these days.

Jesus H Christ indeed. I have no idea why one would not write accurately after a tl,dr tag, god. A better "tl,dr" would have been: Mito has made some changes and thinks that the next samples are going to be better. Why you would put words in Mito's mouth is beyond me. At least put a 'in my opinion' before spouting nonsense.