Keyboards and Open-Source
cullmann.io
Keyboards and Open-Source
1–10 of 36 posts
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#2I wish it were easy to get custom keycaps. I couldn't find anything that fits my keyboard so I bought a few different sets and mutilated the best candidate with a mini drill. Not very economical, nor does the result look that clean. And, well, effort.
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#3I wish it were easy to get custom keycaps. I couldn't find anything that fits my keyboard so I bought a few different sets and mutilated the best candidate with a mini drill. Not very economical, nor does the result look that clean. And, well, effort.
What kindof keyboard do you have such that it doesn't fit keycaps?
Even the niche datcyl manuforms will support cheap keycaps (even if they might not be compatible with high-profile keycaps).
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#4I wish it were easy to get custom keycaps. I couldn't find anything that fits my keyboard so I bought a few different sets and mutilated the best candidate with a mini drill. Not very economical, nor does the result look that clean. And, well, effort.
What kindof keyboard do you have such that it doesn't fit keycaps? Even the niche datcyl manuforms will support cheap keycaps (even if they might not be compatible with high-profile keycaps).
I made my own with 16.5 mm key spacing. And it uses low profile switches and needs very low profile caps due to the way I mounted the top plate. I didn't feel like the usual way of mounting a plate would be rigid enough with my tight spacing; there'd be very little material between the switches. So my plate is on top of the switch body, with circular holes for the stems.
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#5For those who are on the fence, looking at the mechanical keyboards and wondering if they are that great, I've been there and contemplated the idea of building one for a few years.
It's a rabbit hole, and the cost can easily pile up, not even talking about the time spent studying all the possible mods and brands and styles, but at the end the satisfaction is there and I think that my custom keyboard is built to last a decade or more.
Using it for typing code, prose or instant messaging is a delight. The type of experience is similar to what you get when driving a luxury car or wearing tailor made clothes, it feels good.
The base board I used is the GMMK pro, not the best choice if I had to do it again, I had to heavily mod it to achieve the sound profile I wanted and it is still a bit stiff.
I'd recommend buying something a bit pricier, built from small companies in the US or South Korea, those are in my opinion the most advanced design at the moment.
I used lubed Gateron Black Silent for the switches, very happy with the result, smooth, quiet with a bassy sound.
MT3 is in my opinion a very good choice for the keycaps profile, sculpted and retro, I used the Susuwatari from Drop.
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#6For those who are on the fence, looking at the mechanical keyboards and wondering if they are that great, I've been there and contemplated the idea of building one for a few years. It's a rabbit hole, and the cost can easily pile up, not even talking about the time spent studying all the possible mods and brands and styles, but at the end the satisfaction is there and I think that my custom keyboard is built to last…
I had a phase of seeking mechanical keyboards. But I felt like it's a downgrade for me, and whenever I voiced my concerns, people would just tell me I got the wrong switch, I have to do this mod, or buy this expensive keyboard and then it will be amazing. But it never did. I went back to a scissor switch keyboard and I love it. I even like some membrane keyboards, such as dell kb-522 or even cheapo ones like Logitech K120.
I don't like the feel of mechanical keyboards. Tall keys, tall keyboards and especially long travel time are a bug for me, not a feature. My style of typing, I don't like to spend a long time on each key, so the less travel time, the better. I actually enjoyed Macbook butterfly keyboard. Yes, I know mech keyboard proponents will tell me I am doing it wrong, that on a mechanical keyboard you don't have to bottom out, but that felt like an extra challenge to find the actuation point on each key.
I have to say however I enjoyed the feel of low profile (Kailh Choc) blue switches. It was a good balance between fun of mechanical keyboards and relatively low profile keys of non-mech keyboards.
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#7For those who are on the fence, looking at the mechanical keyboards and wondering if they are that great, I've been there and contemplated the idea of building one for a few years. It's a rabbit hole, and the cost can easily pile up, not even talking about the time spent studying all the possible mods and brands and styles, but at the end the satisfaction is there and I think that my custom keyboard is built to last…
I had a phase of seeking mechanical keyboards. But I felt like it's a downgrade for me, and whenever I voiced my concerns, people would just tell me I got the wrong switch, I have to do this mod, or buy this expensive keyboard and then it will be amazing. But it never did. I went back to a scissor switch keyboard and I love it. I even like some membrane keyboards, such as dell kb-522 or even cheapo ones like Logitech…
A lot of people seem to be using low profile switches nowadays actually. But you do you; everyone has their own taste. Personally I love my mechanical ergo keyboard.
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#8For those who are on the fence, looking at the mechanical keyboards and wondering if they are that great, I've been there and contemplated the idea of building one for a few years. It's a rabbit hole, and the cost can easily pile up, not even talking about the time spent studying all the possible mods and brands and styles, but at the end the satisfaction is there and I think that my custom keyboard is built to last…
I had a phase of seeking mechanical keyboards. But I felt like it's a downgrade for me, and whenever I voiced my concerns, people would just tell me I got the wrong switch, I have to do this mod, or buy this expensive keyboard and then it will be amazing. But it never did. I went back to a scissor switch keyboard and I love it. I even like some membrane keyboards, such as dell kb-522 or even cheapo ones like Logitech…
I tried a few mechanical keyboard and I was not convinced by the sound and feel.
I used an obscure but well made low profile scissor keyboard for 15 years and I was quite happy with it.
But this is nothing compared to what I built last summer.
I also don't like long travel so I added specific mods to have shorter travel, with two small O rings inside the keycap, I also added weights inside the keycaps to improve the feel.
Tall keycaps are not an issue for me as long as the angle of the keyboard is well designed to avoid fatigue.
But there are options for low profile switches and keycaps, and they can be modded and improved just as cherry style switches.
Japanese keyboard like Topre are also known to use a complete different tech for switches that can be very satisfying (but full plastic)
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#9I'm currently looking for a split, wireless ( bluetooth or not ), QMK compatible firmware keyboard that doesn't cost over $300. Or alternatively, an existing one that has an alternative open firmware option.
It seems like something that checks all of these boxes just isn't available.
Re: Keyboards and Open-Source
#10For those who are on the fence, looking at the mechanical keyboards and wondering if they are that great, I've been there and contemplated the idea of building one for a few years. It's a rabbit hole, and the cost can easily pile up, not even talking about the time spent studying all the possible mods and brands and styles, but at the end the satisfaction is there and I think that my custom keyboard is built to last…
> It's a rabbit hole
This is my issue. I really want a mechanical keyboard, but the amount of choice is insane, and the price difference between different ones are insane.
Sadly these days it's hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to products.
All of this, and I have very basic requirements too (at least I think so). 70% keyboard layout, needs to be somewhat quiet, and I don't really want to pay an arm and a leg. Is there not a website where I can filter from many different keyboards so I can short-list what suits me best? I've not found any. The only places where I've been able to find quality information are Reddit and other similar communities, but they contain a barage of information and it's hard to find anything useful.
edit: I'd really like to not have to build it myself.