6 ms·

This looks fantastic! A thought-experiment that may interest you coming from someone (me) who already has happily spent several hundreds of dollars on mechanic

This looks fantastic! A thought-experiment that may interest you coming from someone (me) who already has happily spent several hundreds of dollars on mechanical keyboards and uses them every single day: Let's imagine the keyboard could be bought today as-is with a simple "Buy Now" button and price was no concern. The two main reasons I would _still_ hesitate to hit that button are: 1. I absolutely and undoubtedly need to know what it SOUNDS and FEELS like. Is it linear, tactile, clicky? How much? I turned my speakers to max because I assumed you'd have some audio-track running but to no avail. Did I miss something? 2. I wish there was a 'blank' version with zero typography anywhere. Just all black. I touch-type and have not looked at my keyboard in 15 years.

aemerson_ 4y ago
Agreed, acoustics are SO important. Once I am happy with how the prototype sounds I will update the website with a typing text.
- interleave 4y ago
  Fantastic, yes, thank you in advance. I can't imagine the work that already went into the design. Anecdotally, I love that low, guttural 'clŪCK' sound that Cherry MX Clears make.
bravoetch 4y ago
The site describes the switches as similar to reds. Linear, no tactile bump, silent.
- interleave 4y ago
  Thank so much, that covers the feel – I wish there was sound ;)
  - ghostbrainalpha 4y ago
    Changing out to your preferred switches with the sound and pressure you want is pretty easy with mechanical keyboards. You just need to make sure and get low profile ones to go with this board. I suggest dropping $20 on a sample pack to find your perfect switch. They are also great to keep on your desk to fidget with. https://drop.com/buy/assorted-mechanical-mx-switches-sampler-pack https://drop.com/buy/assorted-mechanical-mx-switches-sampler...
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
freedomben 4y ago
> 2. I wish there was a 'blank' version with zero typography anywhere. Just all black. I touch-type and have not looked at my keyboard in 15 years. If you don't look at it, why do you care if it has typography? (that's an honest question, not a rhetorical point dressed up as a question)
- mcbuilder 4y ago
  I'm guessing it's simple aesthetics, but also there is no lettering to "wear" (not really an issue with quality keycaps), and you can rebind keys without being "wrong". I've used blank keyboards over the years and the lack of printed keycaps is a look all its own.
- NavinF 4y ago
  leet cred, I assume
- adolph 4y ago
  I've covered up certain logos in my line of sight while working to reduce visual distraction. I'm not as confident about my touchtype confidence that I could do it for the keys. This podcast talks a bit about the visual system's role in focus: https://hubermanlab.com/dr-emily-balcetis-tools-for-setting-and-achieving-goals/ https://hubermanlab.com/dr-emily-balcetis-tools-for-setting-...
- interleave 4y ago
  Good question. I honestly don't know. First, John Maeda had written about this idea of a computer keyboard being more like a (musical) instrument than a tool.[^1] That always stuck with me. Second, in itself, a keyboard is a complex object residing in my space. To me, the letters add visual noise. It's just a low hum, not a loud screech. But I would buy the blank version. [^1]: https://johnmaeda.medium.com/thoughts-on-leading-a-remote-design-team-dfca6ebad8f9 https://johnmaeda.medium.com/thoughts-on-leading-a-remote-de...
  - adastra22 4y ago
    Sounds like Das Keyboard: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-ultimate/ https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-ultimate/
barrenko 4y ago
I hate to tell you - and this is a common "theme" on HN - but you are probably not the target audience.
- interleave 4y ago
  Oh, interesting! You might totally be right. I honestly thought I was the target audience, given I have bought mech keyboards, use them all day and want to buy more. So, in my book, I'm a real prospect but, yeah, maybe there's an even smaller niche.
  - papertokyo 4y ago
    I've never bought a mechanical keyboard but I'm a designer and the aesthetics + promise of a more tactile experience has me interested. I don't have a lot of comparison points or references beyond "MacBook butterfly keyboard gross, magic keyboard good".
- Naracion 4y ago
  The creator of the keyboard literally posted this to ask for feedback from HN users. I'm pretty sure in this instance HN users _are_ the target audience--or at least part of it. In any case, feedback is helpful at this stage (and is sought by OP).
LeifCarrotson 4y ago
Down in tech specs it says the switches are Kailh Chocolate Low Profile Reds, which are a reasonably common linear switch. Also, OP, you've got a typo in those same specs: OS support is listed as "Apple MacOS 12 (Monteray) and up". That should be Monterey with an E. I'm a bit curious why the keyboard requires MacOS 12 or Windows 10, and doesn't list Linux support...it's an HID device. Just about anything will work, right? I assume it's configured out of the box with CONFIG_ZMK_HID_CONSUMER_REPORT_USAGES_FULL, and not _BASIC, to get the RGB and encoder to work...but again, this is a keyboard. Why wouldn't it work?
- gus_massa 4y ago
  A few years ago here in Argentina, the "free" keyboard with your desktop computer was usually a Spanish-LatinoAmerica 101-keyboard. You have the "Ñ" key, but the "><" key was missing. One solution was to install a special unofficial device driver downloaded from a page I can't find now. Perhaps this keyboard need some special configuration.
- bashinator 4y ago
  There's likely a toggle switch to configure command/option vs. window/alt - I've seen that on other high-end keyboards. With linux you can use either depending on how you like to keybind.
- Bud 4y ago
  As long as we're being picky, it's also "macOS", no capital M, and not "MacOS".
- smrtinsert 4y ago
  Same question, the command iconography is a turn off. I'm a mixed owner and prefer peripherals that flawlessly work on both.
- ebastler 4y ago
  I think that's mostly a "I tested it with these OS so I can guarantee it works" thing - ZMK should work with pretty much anything out there as long as it can do HID over Bluetooth.
opan 4y ago
Looks like the switches are chocs. You can get blank caps from mkultra.click.
antioppressor 4y ago
1. Does that matter? Most mechanical keyboards slowly nuke your fingers' cartilages and will make your fingers ache, since they don't have proper attenuation, hence they are rubbish. Yet people use them like it's some kind of miracle, when a cheapo 15 dollar keyboard provides better feel while typing and longevity for your fingers.

aemerson_ 4y ago

Agreed, acoustics are SO important. Once I am happy with how the prototype sounds I will update the website with a typing text.

interleave 4y ago
Fantastic, yes, thank you in advance. I can't imagine the work that already went into the design. Anecdotally, I love that low, guttural 'clŪCK' sound that Cherry MX Clears make.

bravoetch 4y ago

The site describes the switches as similar to reds. Linear, no tactile bump, silent.

interleave 4y ago
Thank so much, that covers the feel – I wish there was sound ;)
- ghostbrainalpha 4y ago
  Changing out to your preferred switches with the sound and pressure you want is pretty easy with mechanical keyboards. You just need to make sure and get low profile ones to go with this board. I suggest dropping $20 on a sample pack to find your perfect switch. They are also great to keep on your desk to fidget with. https://drop.com/buy/assorted-mechanical-mx-switches-sampler-pack https://drop.com/buy/assorted-mechanical-mx-switches-sampler...
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

freedomben 4y ago

> 2. I wish there was a 'blank' version with zero typography anywhere. Just all black. I touch-type and have not looked at my keyboard in 15 years. If you don't look at it, why do you care if it has typography? (that's an honest question, not a rhetorical point dressed up as a question)

mcbuilder 4y ago
I'm guessing it's simple aesthetics, but also there is no lettering to "wear" (not really an issue with quality keycaps), and you can rebind keys without being "wrong". I've used blank keyboards over the years and the lack of printed keycaps is a look all its own.
NavinF 4y ago
leet cred, I assume
adolph 4y ago
I've covered up certain logos in my line of sight while working to reduce visual distraction. I'm not as confident about my touchtype confidence that I could do it for the keys. This podcast talks a bit about the visual system's role in focus: https://hubermanlab.com/dr-emily-balcetis-tools-for-setting-and-achieving-goals/ https://hubermanlab.com/dr-emily-balcetis-tools-for-setting-...
interleave 4y ago
Good question. I honestly don't know. First, John Maeda had written about this idea of a computer keyboard being more like a (musical) instrument than a tool.[^1] That always stuck with me. Second, in itself, a keyboard is a complex object residing in my space. To me, the letters add visual noise. It's just a low hum, not a loud screech. But I would buy the blank version. [^1]: https://johnmaeda.medium.com/thoughts-on-leading-a-remote-design-team-dfca6ebad8f9 https://johnmaeda.medium.com/thoughts-on-leading-a-remote-de...
- adastra22 4y ago
  Sounds like Das Keyboard: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-ultimate/ https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-ultimate/

barrenko 4y ago

I hate to tell you - and this is a common "theme" on HN - but you are probably not the target audience.

interleave 4y ago
Oh, interesting! You might totally be right. I honestly thought I was the target audience, given I have bought mech keyboards, use them all day and want to buy more. So, in my book, I'm a real prospect but, yeah, maybe there's an even smaller niche.
- papertokyo 4y ago
  I've never bought a mechanical keyboard but I'm a designer and the aesthetics + promise of a more tactile experience has me interested. I don't have a lot of comparison points or references beyond "MacBook butterfly keyboard gross, magic keyboard good".
Naracion 4y ago
The creator of the keyboard literally posted this to ask for feedback from HN users. I'm pretty sure in this instance HN users _are_ the target audience--or at least part of it. In any case, feedback is helpful at this stage (and is sought by OP).

LeifCarrotson 4y ago

Down in tech specs it says the switches are Kailh Chocolate Low Profile Reds, which are a reasonably common linear switch. Also, OP, you've got a typo in those same specs: OS support is listed as "Apple MacOS 12 (Monteray) and up". That should be Monterey with an E. I'm a bit curious why the keyboard requires MacOS 12 or Windows 10, and doesn't list Linux support...it's an HID device. Just about anything will work, right? I assume it's configured out of the box with CONFIG_ZMK_HID_CONSUMER_REPORT_USAGES_FULL, and not _BASIC, to get the RGB and encoder to work...but again, this is a keyboard. Why wouldn't it work?

gus_massa 4y ago
A few years ago here in Argentina, the "free" keyboard with your desktop computer was usually a Spanish-LatinoAmerica 101-keyboard. You have the "Ñ" key, but the "><" key was missing. One solution was to install a special unofficial device driver downloaded from a page I can't find now. Perhaps this keyboard need some special configuration.
bashinator 4y ago
There's likely a toggle switch to configure command/option vs. window/alt - I've seen that on other high-end keyboards. With linux you can use either depending on how you like to keybind.
Bud 4y ago
As long as we're being picky, it's also "macOS", no capital M, and not "MacOS".
smrtinsert 4y ago
Same question, the command iconography is a turn off. I'm a mixed owner and prefer peripherals that flawlessly work on both.
ebastler 4y ago
I think that's mostly a "I tested it with these OS so I can guarantee it works" thing - ZMK should work with pretty much anything out there as long as it can do HID over Bluetooth.

opan 4y ago

Looks like the switches are chocs. You can get blank caps from mkultra.click.

antioppressor 4y ago

1. Does that matter? Most mechanical keyboards slowly nuke your fingers' cartilages and will make your fingers ache, since they don't have proper attenuation, hence they are rubbish. Yet people use them like it's some kind of miracle, when a cheapo 15 dollar keyboard provides better feel while typing and longevity for your fingers.