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New Beam Spring Keyboards

modelfkeyboards.com

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Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#91

Post by sleepybrett »

ModelFKeyboards wrote: post #49

Hello, project coordinator here. If you haven’t been following the project recently, I am happy to report that more than 7,000 Brand New Model F and Beam Spring keyboards have shipped since 2019, and the very first Round 2 classic style Beam Spring B104 keyboards started shipping this month, as noted here. If you want to see current comments about the project, please do check out the recent user feedback on the curre…

It would have been nice if you had let your early customers know that they bought garbage controllers with insanely painful firmware installs (and listen i build fpv drones and other keyboards, i know how to flash firmware, yours was something special) that there are new controllers that can be purchased to replace them, perhaps even at a discount for being a beta tester.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#92

Post by ModelFKeyboards »

zamadatix wrote: post #70
ModelFKeyboards wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All it means is you have to follow the instructions to set it up; it doesn't come working out of the box. Yes, it's legal to sell products that require setup and are only partially assembled out of the box. Think of a more extreme example like a backyard swing set for kids that comes all packed up in a box. The keyboard is guaranteed to work after you follow the setup, and you can send an email for help if you are st…

This isn't saying "you have to do some assembly" it's saying "random parts may be broken and that's your problem to solve however you can". If the "g" key is broken it might be as simple as needing to pop the key in/out or it might be as complex as a defect in the board/just plain broken key you need to go source a replacement for yourself. It's very vague because it's saying any fixes are on the buyer, not just some…

Yes, that's actually step 2 in the manual - check everything and email me if something broke in shipping. I get emails when things break so people do follow the manual! The manual was significantly updated recently.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#93

Post by ModelFKeyboards »

ndiddy wrote: post #87
ModelFKeyboards wrote: post #49

Hello, project coordinator here. If you haven’t been following the project recently, I am happy to report that more than 7,000 Brand New Model F and Beam Spring keyboards have shipped since 2019, and the very first Round 2 classic style Beam Spring B104 keyboards started shipping this month, as noted here. If you want to see current comments about the project, please do check out the recent user feedback on the curre…

Thank you for posting your side of the story. This is the first time I've ever posted anything publicly about modelfkeyboards. If you're dealing with some sort of targeted harassment campaign, that's obviously horrible. My sources for information are assisting my brother getting his keyboard he bought from you up and running, and talking with people I trust online. At least at the time my brother bought his keyboard,…

Thanks for your feedback, but what you are saying is not at all representative of the feedback I received after thousands of back and forth emails over the years. Thanks to the updated manual and firmware process, those who have never used a Model F before tell me they were able to easily set everything up and it works fine.

Having to adjust more springs because there are more possible keys that need to be set up on the larger layout keyboards does not mean that QC has gotten worse over time. That's just because there are more keys on the keyboard that it's more likely that at least one or more springs need adjustment.

The most common setup step is just adjusting springs and reinstalling a key if it doesn't click the first time you install it.

The warranty includes replacements for parts because the user replaces the parts like keycaps, springs etc. if they are broken. I just mail the parts for free as part of the warranty. My post that you replied to notes that a full mail-in warranty service would not be sustainable, so there is no real way I can offer a labor service. The manual emphasizes that I can't offer free labor to set up or maintain each keyboard; following the manual will give everyone a 100% working keyboard.

This is not a kit for tinkerers; it's for folks who have a buy it for life mentality and are not afraid to use tweezers and a key puller to reseat something over the coming decades. If you follow the manual, your keyboard will be working 100%, but you do have to adjust the springs and keys and go through the setup instructions. I explained why it's not feasible to offer increased service.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#94

Post by ModelFKeyboards »

globular-toast wrote: post #68

Do they have to look like this and use up way more desk space than normal keyboards, or is it part of the "aesthetic"?

There are ultra compact modern design keyboards also available, that are the smallest possible designs that can accommodate what's needed for these old switch designs.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#95

Post by zbikowski »

rbanffy wrote: post #11

In the meantime, I would remind the people who would like to experience a vintage keyboard to take a look at the Unicomp model M keyboards. They are not Model Fs or beam spring, but are rock solid, reliable, and sensibly priced considering their quality.

I agree with your sentiment (Unicomp is a much more reliable company than other commenters seem to suggest Model F Labs to be...). That said, the Unicomp New Model M does not have N-key rollover, so I had to return mine back when. Unfortunate, because I really do like the buckling spring feel! (typed from Realforce R3S)

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#96

Post by __s »

ihateolives wrote: post #60
__s wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had to switch to low force choc couple years ago over tendon pain. Ended up on totem for day to day & bad wings for travel. 20g silent nocturnal switches. Silencing mechanism also gives bottom out a rubber feel, worth it just for that

20g? How do you use it? I'm light typist, I'm not hammering on keys at all and even 32g is too nervous for me, I can't rest my fingers on keyboard without typing a novel. Can't imagine 20g keys.

You get used to it quickly. Low force useful for combos

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#97

Post by sleepybrett »

sleepybrett wrote: post #90
ModelFKeyboards wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The manual was redone recently - folks tell me now that they were new to these keyboards but were able to easily follow along the manual to set up their keyboard.

Well I should revisit then, I was pretty early in the process but the docs initial provided were utter dogshit. Would have been nice if you had sent out even an email to your customers to let them know.

I just went and looked at your manual: https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/manual/#10

This is still dogshit. This document is poorly formatted, is your intent to make the website look like it was written in the era when the original keyboards were introduced?

Pay a designer/tech writer/information architect and get the job done.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#98

Post by zamadatix »

ModelFKeyboards wrote: post #92
zamadatix wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't saying "you have to do some assembly" it's saying "random parts may be broken and that's your problem to solve however you can". If the "g" key is broken it might be as simple as needing to pop the key in/out or it might be as complex as a defect in the board/just plain broken key you need to go source a replacement for yourself. It's very vague because it's saying any fixes are on the buyer, not just some…

Yes, that's actually step 2 in the manual - check everything and email me if something broke in shipping. I get emails when things break so people do follow the manual! The manual was significantly updated recently.

If it's in the manual that's great, the problem is with what's on the purchase page though.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#99

Post by TwoFerMaggie »

ndiddy wrote: post #89
Blackthorn wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a real shame that the world standardized on MX and ALPS has been left in the dust.

I think it's because ALPS stopped making keyswitches when rubber domes completely took over the market in the early 2000s, and Cherry kept making MX switches. When the mechanical keyboard market started back up in the early 2010s, Cherry was there and ALPS wasn't. I agree it's a shame. I think we've seen clicky switches become a niche and most of the market switch to linear switches mainly because MX style clicky swi…

> At least Matias still makes modern ALPS style switches, they're one of the best clicky options available today.

Would be great if they don't have chatter issues.. I'm typing on my third matias and all three started chattering after some use. Their quiet switches are the best tactile ones I've ever tried. Sound so nice too.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#100

Post by larossmann »

ndiddy wrote: post #85
ndiddy wrote: post #27

Note that Ellipse/modelfkeyboards is notorious in the keyboard community for poor quality control and support. The keyboards often come misaligned or damaged in shipping, and it's up to you to fix them. I'm not sure about their beam spring keyboards, but their Model F keyboards come without keycaps installed, meaning that the keys haven't even been tested to actuate properly before the keyboard is shipped. If you hav…

At about the same time ModelFKeyboards posted his comment here, somebody created a new account on that wiki, then removed much of the negative information on the page and replaced it with similar wording to the comment (including deleting a scan of the warranty policy for "DMCA reasons"). This was what the page looked like at the time I made my comment: https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Model_F_Labs&old...…

>At about the same time ModelFKeyboards posted his comment here, somebody created a new account on that wiki, then removed much of the negative information on the page and replaced it with similar wording to the comment (including deleting a scan of the warranty policy for "DMCA reasons").

I appreciate the alert, thank you my friend.

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