4 ms·

Kinda curious how this compares to something like the Drop Alt, which seems to have the same feature set for $100 less: https://drop.com/buy/drop-alt-mechanica

Kinda curious how this compares to something like the Drop Alt, which seems to have the same feature set for $100 less: https://drop.com/buy/drop-alt-mechanical-keyboard https://drop.com/buy/drop-alt-mechanical-keyboard

jefurii 5y ago
For one, with System76 I can at least look at the damn thing without having to create a friggin' account.
- _jal 5y ago
  Try https://drop.com/buy/drop-alt-mechanical-keyboard?mode=guest_open https://drop.com/buy/drop-alt-mechanical-keyboard?mode=guest... It is stupid legacy from before they pivoted, not sure why they still do that.
eigenspace 5y ago
This website won't even let me look at a high-res photo of the keyboard or see specs without signing up. What is wrong with these people?
sascha_sl 5y ago
The Alt is essentially dead for this price point, not that is was ever particularly good. The stabilizers in particular is something Drop never got right. The GMMK Pro is the current disruptive force on the market, alongside boards that are entering semi-permanent stock like the Novelkeys NK65 or the KBDfans KBD67 Lite. At this price point, and in a few other ways, this board from System76 is a joke. All the modifier keys are non-standard size (more in the pool of exotic), probably avoid putting any stabilizers on the thing. And that weird indent on the Tab key. This smells like designing the keyboard according to Keycap availability. Pretty sure you can find those exact caps on Aliexpress for 40-50 dollars. The keycap profile is a super weird choice. I love DSA and XDA (this is XDA), but they're not exactly a good experience out of the box for someone who has been working on Cherry or OEM. If you want a board with this layout, check out the GMMK Pro or ID80. The ID80 in particular requires that you buy parts yourself, but that's worth it just for the keycap availability. Both also support QMK.
- CarelessExpert 5y ago
  > The Alt is essentially dead for this price point, not that is was ever particularly good. The stabilizers in particular is something Drop never got right. Yeah, I've certainly heard complaints about the stabs (not like you can't address that, but you certainly shouldn't have to). Maybe I should've rephrased my question as: What differentiates the System76 from its competitors (of which the Alt is an example). The space of: 1. TKL 2. QMK programmable 3. Aluminum block chassis 4. LED lighting Is pretty well-occupied and a $300 price point is right up there at the top of the segment. Add in all the downsides you mention and I just can't imagine buying this thing.
  - sascha_sl 5y ago
    If you add in Keycaps and Switches, $300 is pretty average to low end for an alu case board with a PCB that supports VIA/QMK. Most QMK capable boards are custom after all. BTW, TKL generally refers to boards that have a nav cluster and arrow keys in a layout similar to a full size. The boards discussed here are all 75% or 65% (difference being function row).
- dddw 5y ago
  Being dabbling in custom keyboards a while now, and these were exactly my thoughts as well.

jefurii 5y ago

For one, with System76 I can at least look at the damn thing without having to create a friggin' account.

_jal 5y ago
Try https://drop.com/buy/drop-alt-mechanical-keyboard?mode=guest_open https://drop.com/buy/drop-alt-mechanical-keyboard?mode=guest... It is stupid legacy from before they pivoted, not sure why they still do that.

eigenspace 5y ago

This website won't even let me look at a high-res photo of the keyboard or see specs without signing up. What is wrong with these people?

sascha_sl 5y ago

The Alt is essentially dead for this price point, not that is was ever particularly good. The stabilizers in particular is something Drop never got right. The GMMK Pro is the current disruptive force on the market, alongside boards that are entering semi-permanent stock like the Novelkeys NK65 or the KBDfans KBD67 Lite. At this price point, and in a few other ways, this board from System76 is a joke. All the modifier keys are non-standard size (more in the pool of exotic), probably avoid putting any stabilizers on the thing. And that weird indent on the Tab key. This smells like designing the keyboard according to Keycap availability. Pretty sure you can find those exact caps on Aliexpress for 40-50 dollars. The keycap profile is a super weird choice. I love DSA and XDA (this is XDA), but they're not exactly a good experience out of the box for someone who has been working on Cherry or OEM. If you want a board with this layout, check out the GMMK Pro or ID80. The ID80 in particular requires that you buy parts yourself, but that's worth it just for the keycap availability. Both also support QMK.

CarelessExpert 5y ago
> The Alt is essentially dead for this price point, not that is was ever particularly good. The stabilizers in particular is something Drop never got right. Yeah, I've certainly heard complaints about the stabs (not like you can't address that, but you certainly shouldn't have to). Maybe I should've rephrased my question as: What differentiates the System76 from its competitors (of which the Alt is an example). The space of: 1. TKL 2. QMK programmable 3. Aluminum block chassis 4. LED lighting Is pretty well-occupied and a $300 price point is right up there at the top of the segment. Add in all the downsides you mention and I just can't imagine buying this thing.
- sascha_sl 5y ago
  If you add in Keycaps and Switches, $300 is pretty average to low end for an alu case board with a PCB that supports VIA/QMK. Most QMK capable boards are custom after all. BTW, TKL generally refers to boards that have a nav cluster and arrow keys in a layout similar to a full size. The boards discussed here are all 75% or 65% (difference being function row).
dddw 5y ago
Being dabbling in custom keyboards a while now, and these were exactly my thoughts as well.