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Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

keymacs.com

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Re: Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

#41

Post by duped »

xondono wrote: post #27
duped wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bulk of it is the custom keycaps (a keycap run is seriously expensive, especially if you're using weird key sizes), the enclosure, and the switches. They're probably being hosed by their suppliers too, since I can't imagine they have the money to invest in serious volume. That said the board looks seriously under-engineered. It's a bit ridiculous to invest so much in high quality switches and an enclosure built l…

I’m not that sure. Nowadays you can get runs on the cheap, that’s why group buys are even possible in the DIY community. The fully machined aluminum case probably plays a part in there too.

The fact you need group buys at all is evidence to how expensive it is. There really aren't that many places you can go for quality either.

Re: Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

#43

Post by alpaca128 »

xondono wrote: post #30

I see a lot of red flags here. They claim it’s “over-engineered”, but it looks like the opposite. The cheaping out: 1) 2 layer board with two modules (one of them a DIY arduino board). Given the price tag they could have spent $2 in going 4 layers and add some ground planes. 2) Charging extra for N-key rollover? Seriously? Who though that would look good? 3) No cable? The overspending: 1) Fully machined two part case…

> Why would I care to add a brushed look to an internal part?

The custom keyboard community includes people who indeed care about such details. Also it's not unusual to get no cable with such kits; Custom cables are popular too.

I'm not sure how this compares to known brands in that price range as I'm not exactly an expert in case manufacturing, but I've seen designs that I find more appealing.

Re: Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

#44

Post by jerlam »

xondono wrote: post #30

I see a lot of red flags here. They claim it’s “over-engineered”, but it looks like the opposite. The cheaping out: 1) 2 layer board with two modules (one of them a DIY arduino board). Given the price tag they could have spent $2 in going 4 layers and add some ground planes. 2) Charging extra for N-key rollover? Seriously? Who though that would look good? 3) No cable? The overspending: 1) Fully machined two part case…

"Custom" meant to me that the item was customized for the user.

Here it's being used to mean that the item was customized for the manufacturer, which is completely different. Any color of keycaps you want as long as they're black, no printing available on the non-querty keys, but six types of switches.

Also bad if I need any spare parts, because they're nonstandard, and would be hard to source and expensive.

These are more like exotic cars than working tools.

Re: Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

#46

Post by lispm »

User23 wrote: post #31

I’ve been looking for a modern space cadet keyboard, but this isn’t it. For one the space bar is way bigger than it ought to be and that reclaimed space should have at a bare minimum comfortably thumb accessible control and meta keys. Or whatever you want to progr As it is my thumb has to travel all the way to my pinky just to hit the first modifier key. If you’re calling your board keymacs it should have exceptional…

It's not a space cadet keyboard. It's a 'copy' of the Symbolics Lisp Machine keyboard from the mid 80s.

https://keymacs.com/img/gh/symbolics-vs-keymacs-720px.jpg

It's a newer version of the early 80s keyboard from Symbolics:

https://webwit.nl/input/misc/symbolics1.jpg

The Symbolics computers used an editor called Zmacs.

Re: Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

#48

Post by rbanffy »

guenthert wrote: post #35

Uh, Unicomp offers Symbolics-Style key caps for their (mini) Model-M. Not quite the same, but saves you some $800 or so.

Do they? I saw they have an APL version, but I don't think there is anything like a Symbolics (such as the "Squid Game" keys)

Re: Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

#49

Post by rbanffy »

tgbugs wrote: post #45

For comparison there is the Hyper-7 r3 which is a very large keyboard, but has some similarities in layout [0]. https://groupbuys.mechboards.co.uk/shop/hyper-7-keyboard-r3/

Wow!

It's excessive in every single aspect. I'd prefer it to have a plastic shell around all that aluminum, but, even as it is, I want it.

I don't even have the desk space to put it, but, still, I want it.

Re: Keymacs: Modern Symbolics-Style Keyboard

#50

Post by tomcatfish »

psanford wrote: post #37

While this is intriguing, it takes quite a lot out of the original charm of the spacecadet keyboard. All the mathematical symbols, the roman numberals, the thumbs up/down keys are what make the spacecadet so much fun. If you just want to throw a lot of modifier keys on a keyboard, you could come up with a better layout than this.

I hopped into this thread praying for a spacecadet remake I could buy now that I have some spare money. I was sad and confused to see that this keyboard did not have all the fun symbols on the caps.

Quick edit: FWIW, I'm not knocking the keyboard, I just have no attachment to the Symbolics board and was hoping this was a poorly labeled post talking about the spacecadet instead.

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