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I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

electronicmaterialsoffice.com

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Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#41

Post by qhwudbebd »

qhwudbebd wrote: post #36

Looks great and I'll keep my eyes peeled for when you launch. Rotary encoder is an interesting idea. (Presumably reporting a key-press for each click left and right?) I know you're only at prototype stage, but visually I'd say the giant numbers are a bit jarring, and having some but not all of the Fxx labels displaced from centre on the function keys depending on whether there's a symbol there too looks a bit strange…

Another example: the :/; key looks visually sensible because they nicely balanced and compatible sizes. The +/= key looks super strange because = is HUGE and + is tiny.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#42

Post by Gualdrapo »

Got a MX Keys keyboard from Logitech and, for better or for worse, it's been so good that it set a standard for me regarding keyboards.

While I was considering it saw some other Logitech keyboards that had a knob for volume control/etcetera, which I feel like it would be a much more sane approach regarding the low profile aspect than this 'rotary encoder' thing. Also, as someone said, some lateral buttons would've been awesome.

I like this design (though I feel like the typography choice was terribly unfortunate) and I can see the appeal for the low profile. But also agree that home/end/pgup/pgdown keys are a must.

Though for some reason when I tried the Bluetooth connection with the Mx keys it had a noticeable lag for each key press, versus the instant response with the propietary wireless connection with the dongle. However the usb-c alternative connection with this one seems like it's a great thing to have.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#44

Post by Festro »

tauntz wrote: post #34
Festro wrote: post #2

Looks really nice BUT: There's a split between what people online post pics of on fancy desktop setups and what people prefer to use as their daily driver. Minimal keyboards are for minimalists, and people who like to show of their setups. Just like desktop vanity posts typically have speakers, yet everyone uses headphones. Anecdotally there was a post recently on some PC subreddit asking what keyboard people preferr…

> Only people who didn't WFH much, or didn't have jobs involving any data entry at all could do without a numpad. I'm (mostly) a software dev for 15+ years and I've never felt the need for a numpad. I'm curious now - have I been really lucky that none of my gigs have ever involved any substantial numerical data entry? Do other devs have to constantly do that so it justifies the larger keyboard (which is off-center an…

I do technical marketing (SEO, ads, analytics) and if I am ever in a spreadsheet I gravitate to the numpad for any numerical data entry. It's like touch-typing, superior way of doing it once you've learnt. No need to use shift for simple calculations, one-handed number typing, using my left hand to tab into the next cell, etc.

Customer services teams take down phone numbers and enter financial info better with a numpad. Finance teams use numpads constantly.

WFH is just about the people more likely to develop a preference because they're often buying their own desktop that they then use for work because it's more comfortable than a laptop. Working in an office you're likelier to use what's provided. Personally I use a keyboard of my own at the office and at home on WFH days. Both with numpads. Perhaps 1% of my day might involve the numpad but I'm not going to ditch the convenience for vanity.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#45

Post by unsafecast »

dcminter wrote: post #10

Very pretty. I'm tempted. Will it work properly on Linux via bluetooth? E.g. I have a very nice mechanical keyboard from Keychron but over bluetooth it does something weird so that a hack [1] to use it in Mac mode is necessary and some key combos still don't work right for me. On a similar note, if its firmware needs an update will I be able to do that from Linux? It's a hard life being a Windows/Mac hater :D [1] htt…

> but over bluetooth it does something weird so that a hack [1] to use it in Mac mode is necessary and some key combos still don't work right for me.

I have one too and it does it over USB as well. Though keyboard shortcuts work fine for me, USB or not.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#46

Post by kerblang »

Web site advice: The spinning graphic is cool but it's very hard to get a decent look at the whole thing. I even tried clicking to pause it. It seems like all the pictures are partial or moving.

As the keyboard goes: As others have noted, it would be really nice to see this design approach taken to a more full-sized standard keyboard. I think it's necessary to have some kind of tactile thing between function keys - a gap, a bump, something.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#47

Post by rcarmo »

I have been evaluating low-profile Bluetooth keyboards (I use Apple and Logitech K380s) and like the idea, but am not a fan of the number key typography or the apparent lack of a slant (my thumbs seem likely to rest on the bottom edge rather than a key, but I don’t like handrests - maybe this is supposed to be used with one).

Another thing I can point out is that all of my Bluetooth keyboards support three devices for some reason (and yes, I do have some of them paired to three machines).

That said, I would love something like this, but with a (60%) Planck layout. I don’t mind the lack of keys at all, and actually wish for less as long as I can run QMK/ZMK (which is a great feature to see).

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#48

Post by DoingIsLearning »

This comment section is full of people complaining about a 70% keyboard not being a full-size keyboard, but that is what makes it a 70% keyboard.

If it doens't fit your preferences or use-case then you are not the customer but it seems bizarre to focus so much on the sizing.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#49

Post by dcminter »

tauntz wrote: post #34
Festro wrote: post #2

Looks really nice BUT: There's a split between what people online post pics of on fancy desktop setups and what people prefer to use as their daily driver. Minimal keyboards are for minimalists, and people who like to show of their setups. Just like desktop vanity posts typically have speakers, yet everyone uses headphones. Anecdotally there was a post recently on some PC subreddit asking what keyboard people preferr…

> Only people who didn't WFH much, or didn't have jobs involving any data entry at all could do without a numpad. I'm (mostly) a software dev for 15+ years and I've never felt the need for a numpad. I'm curious now - have I been really lucky that none of my gigs have ever involved any substantial numerical data entry? Do other devs have to constantly do that so it justifies the larger keyboard (which is off-center an…

I've a notion that gamers like the numpad? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I once worked for a company making keyboard training software for bank data entry staff so I still use it if I have it (having become extremely fast using it) but I can't say I miss it when it's not there and as a 99% development user I prefer and own a mechanical keyboard without it.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#50

Post by andrew918277 »

I really like the design, the form of the keys and the rotary encoder. Also that you can switch between Bluetooth and USB is very nice. The materials look really high quality, i love it.

I would have bought it outright if it was available.

Do you have an estimated time when it will be released and what the price would be?

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