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Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

electronicmaterialsoffice.com

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Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#151

Post by allenc »

I've built about 10 mechanical keyboards so far, including a bunch of split ergo ones and low profile variants too. From that, I know the layout matters a lot, as well as the switches themselves; the programability and other features to me are nice but ultimately can be worked around.

I'm curious about the switches you're using. On the tech specs it says: "Dual steel arm scissor switch w/ retention spring, 40gf actuation force"

Are they custom switches then? If so, are they most similar to current Magic Keyboard switch feel, or something Choc or MX low profile, or their own thing altogether?

Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#152

Post by naikrovek »

Andrew6rant wrote: post #147
naikrovek wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

fingerprint sensor is easily done. Touch ID-compatible fingerprint sensor from someone other than Apple is not possible as I understand it.

I just linked you a post with a Touch ID-compatible mechanical keycap. Reverse-engineered from the Apple Magic Keyboard and requires a donor board, though

“requires a donor [Apple Magic] keyboard” is not the same as a third party making a Touch ID-compatible sensor. That’s Apple making a Touch ID-compatible sensor and a third party taking it out and putting it in another keyboard.

This does not qualify as a third party Touch ID compatible keyboard.

Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#153

Post by aemerson_ »

ethersteeds wrote: post #42

This looks beautiful. While obviously a Mac keyboard, to what extent is it compatible with Linux? Will there be documentation of its features beyond a standard Bluetooth HID, such that users could potentially develop software that utilizes the speaker and haptic feedback mechanisms?

It is fully compatible with Linux with respect to typing, volume control and so on.

The firmware source code will be published publicly on Github in the future, as our other keyboard (Altar I) is: https://github.com/electronicmaterialsoffice/firmware-altar-.... Anyone is welcome to play around with it.

Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#154

Post by internetter »

aemerson_ wrote: post #86
mistersquid wrote: post #41

The promo website is something to behold and by itself is sufficient reason to chuck a buck at the possibility of Altar II coming into existence. Thank you, good luck, and looking forward!

Thank you so much! A genuinely silly amount of time went into the website. If you'll indulge me for a moment, because I never get to talk about this stuff: the corner radii of the cards on the site are actually "squircles" rather than perfect rounded corners. To me this is much more pleasing to the eye. The squircles are achieved by creating a PNG mask which is then 9-sliced and expanded to mask off the edge of the c…

also see https://caniuse.com/?search=squircle (though no gradient border)

Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#155

Post by StilesCrisis »

LoganDark wrote: post #132
swingboy wrote: post #97

Great looking keyboard but why are the numbers on the number keys so large? They stick out like a sore thumb.

Agreed, I love a lot of the design but the unnecessary "quirkiness" in aspects like this are a bit of a turn-off.

Same. Feels like the project takes plenty of risks in other ways and should have played it safe with aesthetic design.

Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#156

Post by aemerson_ »

dmhmr wrote: post #120

Love what you did, the dedication for 2 years to launch this is awesome. Apple keyboards are near-horrific IMO so you are filling an important niche for sure. I know it is a silly complaint in the mech KB space but the price compared to something like a Keychron K3 makes this a no-go for my preferences. The K3 is very close to what I'd consider suitable as a daily driver at work. Thank you for including audio of the…

Thank you, and what you say is completely fair. The Keychron K3 is an excellent keyboard and certainly gets the job done for many people. I would actually argue Altar II is excellent value at $249, especially when you consider the materials, special components, and scale we are at.

Altar II is quite a quiet keyboard, and there is a special sandwich of materials specifically designed to make it as quiet as possible.

The built-in speaker is interesting. Really it's just there because it's fun, and its nice to get the odd bleep or chime when your keyboard connects or begins charging.

Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#157

Post by notpushkin »

naikrovek wrote: post #152
Andrew6rant wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just linked you a post with a Touch ID-compatible mechanical keycap. Reverse-engineered from the Apple Magic Keyboard and requires a donor board, though

“requires a donor [Apple Magic] keyboard” is not the same as a third party making a Touch ID-compatible sensor. That’s Apple making a Touch ID-compatible sensor and a third party taking it out and putting it in another keyboard. This does not qualify as a third party Touch ID compatible keyboard.

Yeah, but it’s a third party mechanical keyboard with a Touch ID sensor.

I suppose if one came across a pile of old / broken Magic keyboards, they could extract a bunch of Touch ID sensors and sell those to a keyboard manufacturer (or in their own keyboard). This does not scale, obviously, but including it as an option could work.

Re: Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

#158

Post by StilesCrisis »

Is there any way to prop it up so it doesn't lay flat against the table?

I have round foam adhesive dots stuck to the bottom of my current Apple keyboards. It works, but it's an obvious deficiency in the design. Every other keyboard on the market has tilt.

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