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Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

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Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#101

Post by patsplat »

gregsadetsky wrote: post #62

Sort of tangent - but I've always thought there would be physical stores in big cities (like NYC, where I am) where I could try a number of different keyboards and keys since it's such a tactile experience. But there seems to be no stores like this? So... is everyone ordering keys and keyboards, returning them, trying others, etc.? I know there are key switch samplers... is that it? Thanks

There’s the NYC Mechanical Keyboard Meetup if you would like to see and try different builds. Most people will let you try their builds.

https://nyckeyboardmeetup.com/

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#102

Post by harrall »

pluskid wrote: post #76
gregsadetsky wrote: post #62

Sort of tangent - but I've always thought there would be physical stores in big cities (like NYC, where I am) where I could try a number of different keyboards and keys since it's such a tactile experience. But there seems to be no stores like this? So... is everyone ordering keys and keyboards, returning them, trying others, etc.? I know there are key switch samplers... is that it? Thanks

Yeah, this is a US issue. If you go to Tokyo or Taipei, you will find physical stores in cities with many different kind of mechanical keyboards.

Not a US issue. A store near me has mechanical keyboards.

Definitely a some-areas-issue.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#103

Post by dd8601fn »

prmoustache wrote: post #77
gregsadetsky wrote: post #62

Sort of tangent - but I've always thought there would be physical stores in big cities (like NYC, where I am) where I could try a number of different keyboards and keys since it's such a tactile experience. But there seems to be no stores like this? So... is everyone ordering keys and keyboards, returning them, trying others, etc.? I know there are key switch samplers... is that it? Thanks

It is such a niche market that even in a big city it doesn't make much sense to have physical shop dedicated to it. Most people into it are into custom dwsign and color, it would be impossible to stock everything and people would just go to the shop trying the keys and layout then order cheaper online to have the exact combo they want.

I don't even need to touch every configuration of all the things. I just want a place I can press a row of each switch type from all the vendors.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#104

Post by ricktdotorg »

harrall wrote: post #102
pluskid wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, this is a US issue. If you go to Tokyo or Taipei, you will find physical stores in cities with many different kind of mechanical keyboards.

Not a US issue. A store near me has mechanical keyboards. Definitely a some-areas-issue.

i would love to know more about this.

i live in the largest city on the west coast of the USA and the only stores i've found where i can press keyboards is Office Depot and the like, and at least in the stores that i have visited, they have not had mechanicals.

even when Frys was around, i don't remember them having keyboards out and about.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#105

Post by RestartKernel »

gregsadetsky wrote: post #85
intrasight wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love to visit a Tokyo store with mechanical keyboards! My solution is to buy a mech keyboard from some well respected vendor and try it out. I return the vast majority.

ok wow - https://maps.app.goo.gl/6mxrDe8H9e4u1ru38 (in Tokyo) yeah, that's what'd I want!

I've been there, but it definitely felt like more of an enthusiast experience. Someone who's just looking into getting their first mechanical keyboard would do better at a larger shop stocked with cheaper keyboards and a greater variety of common switch types.

That being said, the shop is located in a surprisingly quiet area, surrounded by other small enthusiast shops. I especially liked "High Beam" a few stores down, which specialises in handheld PCs.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#106

Post by majormajor »

ricktdotorg wrote: post #104
harrall wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not a US issue. A store near me has mechanical keyboards. Definitely a some-areas-issue.

i would love to know more about this. i live in the largest city on the west coast of the USA and the only stores i've found where i can press keyboards is Office Depot and the like, and at least in the stores that i have visited, they have not had mechanicals. even when Frys was around, i don't remember them having keyboards out and about.

Microcenter is probably the most consistent place. Not a huge selection, but some of the maintstream ones, to get a feel for switches on Keychron and some of the other big brands. Depending on where exactly you are, it's likely +/- 30min of an hour drive, which is only sorta "far" in US terms.

Frys predated the "mainstream" mechanical keyboard boom. If they were still around I'm sure they'd have even more (they were always larger stores).

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#107

Post by oezi »

intrasight wrote: post #84
pluskid wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, this is a US issue. If you go to Tokyo or Taipei, you will find physical stores in cities with many different kind of mechanical keyboards.

I would love to visit a Tokyo store with mechanical keyboards! My solution is to buy a mech keyboard from some well respected vendor and try it out. I return the vast majority.

If in Sydney: https://maps.app.goo.gl/q9symY7GrNh8GRNe8

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#108

Post by harrall »

ricktdotorg wrote: post #104
harrall wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not a US issue. A store near me has mechanical keyboards. Definitely a some-areas-issue.

i would love to know more about this. i live in the largest city on the west coast of the USA and the only stores i've found where i can press keyboards is Office Depot and the like, and at least in the stores that i have visited, they have not had mechanicals. even when Frys was around, i don't remember them having keyboards out and about.

Old Fry’s had a lot of keyboards.

The Fry’s that shut down was a shell of its former shelf.

If you’re in LA, Microcenter has mechanical keyboards.

They also have a whole rotating robotic wall of 3D filament that works like a physical jukebox.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#109

Post by pluskid »

LAC-Tech wrote: post #89
pluskid wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, this is a US issue. If you go to Tokyo or Taipei, you will find physical stores in cities with many different kind of mechanical keyboards.

Where in Taipei? I have been there a few times, so you can be specific.

I'm not sure if there are better shops, but I've been to Syntrend Creative Park and they have a floor with all kinds of gadgets, including various keyboards. There are mechanical keyboards to try out (IIRC there are for example ducky keyboards), and they are also selling some good keycap sets.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#110

Post by Nursie »

vladvasiliu wrote: post #24
lamasery wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd consider another Keychron (my first mechanical since a couple of AT and PS/2 Model M and variant devices I had years and years ago) and I like some stuff about it and definitely like the price, but would look for a model with a few differences next time and probably skip Keychron if I couldn't get all of these fixed in one of their boards: 1 - Longer battery life (I have a bluetooth + plug-in model). The battery…

I have a K2, and you can lock the lights with some key combination I don't remember and am too lazy to look up.

Same on my K8. It’s holding down something and the light buttons.

It’s a godsend, all I want is dim-ish blue lights, but I’d keep coming back to it doing rainbow patterns and flashes that I’m sure some people love but I find really distracting.

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