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I don't find the displays particularly interesting or useful on an entire keyboard. What is interesting is they're using hall effect (magnetic) sensors, which

I don't find the displays particularly interesting or useful on an entire keyboard. What is interesting is they're using hall effect (magnetic) sensors, which have a vastly longer life than normal mechanical switches. That isn't new either, the Dreamcast had them way back in the day, and today Wooting sells keyboard with the same tech. This enables some very useful gaming features. First, you can adjust the initial actuation point, so the keyboard registers a much lighter press, resulting in faster effective response times. Like Wooting, it goes all the way down to 0.1mm. Second and probably more importantly, it supports rapid trigger, meaning the key instantly releases the instant you start to lift up your finger, and then it doesn't have a set actuation point so the key doesn't need to lift up most of the way before you can press it down again. This allows for much, MUCH more responsive controls which is a noticeable advantage in eSports games and some rapid-clicker games like Osu. Thirdly and not very important at all, Wooting supports analog controls, so you can play driving games with your keyboard, or adjust your movement speed in a shooter. There are all kinds of issues with support in games, though, and it's unclear if the Flux supports it at all. The problem with Wooting is it's expensive; the keyboard costs $175. These magnetic switches need to get down to a more reasonable pricepoint. And the problem with the Flux keyboard is, well, it's even more expensive. Starts at $299 in the kickstarter phase, and will retail at $450. I do find it encouraging to see more manufacturers using magnetic switches, and hope prices come down at the low end quickly. They're just plain better.

Majromax 4y ago
> These magnetic switches need to get down to a more reasonable pricepoint. I think that's close to an inherent problem with the bill of materials. Taking a look at DigiKey, the cheapest in-stock linear hall effect sensor that I see still runs about $0.40 apiece in large quantity. Turning that into a usable keyswitch requires at least two more magnets, and I'm sure the assembly isn't particularly easy. Without some great cost reduction in hall effect sensors, I think a magnetic-switch keyboard will always be more expensive than a mechanical-switch keyboard, which will be more expensive than a rubber dome keyboard.
- hendersoon 4y ago
  That assumes there are no discounts to be had by partnering with large companies making switches, doesn't it? Wooting partnered with Gateron to build their Lekker hall-effect switches. I would be very surprised if their BOM for switches alone on the 104-key model was $125 given it retails for $195-- and that includes 104 keycaps, the case, cable, packaging, controller board, etc. No doubt they're considerably more expensive than regular mechanical switches, but it's unclear how much of that expense comes from their being pretty rare right now and not benefiting from economies of scale. That's my hope, at any rate, because again-- they're just plain better.

Majromax 4y ago

> These magnetic switches need to get down to a more reasonable pricepoint. I think that's close to an inherent problem with the bill of materials. Taking a look at DigiKey, the cheapest in-stock linear hall effect sensor that I see still runs about $0.40 apiece in large quantity. Turning that into a usable keyswitch requires at least two more magnets, and I'm sure the assembly isn't particularly easy. Without some great cost reduction in hall effect sensors, I think a magnetic-switch keyboard will always be more expensive than a mechanical-switch keyboard, which will be more expensive than a rubber dome keyboard.

hendersoon 4y ago
That assumes there are no discounts to be had by partnering with large companies making switches, doesn't it? Wooting partnered with Gateron to build their Lekker hall-effect switches. I would be very surprised if their BOM for switches alone on the 104-key model was $125 given it retails for $195-- and that includes 104 keycaps, the case, cable, packaging, controller board, etc. No doubt they're considerably more expensive than regular mechanical switches, but it's unclear how much of that expense comes from their being pretty rare right now and not benefiting from economies of scale. That's my hope, at any rate, because again-- they're just plain better.