Massdrop x Input Club K-Type Keyboard

Discussion in 'Geek Cave: Computers, Tablets, HT, Phones, Games' started by purr1n, Jan 14, 2018.

  1. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    Damn, a Google search brought me here as I'm looking for this keyboard to put a fancy set of 7bit HoneyB keycaps on.

    As you can see in my profile I have quite a bunch of keyboards, some of them exclusive Kickstarters and Crowd Supplies that are still on order.

    If you don't like it anymore feel free to send it over my way Marvey!
     
  2. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I have the stock stabilizers on mine and they're not good.

    I still primarily use my topre.
     
  3. lac29

    lac29 Acquaintance

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    I'm more of a fan of 60% and 65% layouts. To me the layout is the most important aspect of the keyboard, not the switches or case or lighting or keycaps. That's why I opted for a Whitefox instead of the K-Type. I don't think I can go back to anything more than a 75% layout although I may try the Kira that will eventually come out.
     
  4. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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  5. lac29

    lac29 Acquaintance

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    If you get the chance you should try some of the other layouts. The common split backspace so that the \ | key is the backspace key and the backspace is split into two 1 unit keys is really nice. And I came into it thinking it was a silly thing and that the standard/default key layout would be the best and most comfortable. It turns out that having backspace slightly closer makes a lot bigger ergonomic difference for me than I had initially expected. It's dramatically more comfortable and for all my future custom kb buys I will be opting for this specific split backspace option.
     
  6. g_mr_p

    g_mr_p New

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    Good to see keyboard talk around here. Been in it for some time, have a couple decent ones.

    [​IMG]

    Home: 75% build, Winkeyless PCB in a KBD75 case, switches are Ergo Clears (lubricated, 55g springs). Custom layout with UNIX Ctrl placement, Left Alt and Tab swapped, Backspace split and swapped with Backslash, function/macro keys, etc.

    [​IMG]

    Work: Hypersphere'd Novatouch TKL in a Norbauer case. Keycaps look stupid, just took a handful of what wasn't used on the home 'board and threw it at this one.

    EDIT: I'm a dope. Disregard this.
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2018
  7. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Are we like ADD sufferers and into odd things like audio, watches, cameras, mechanical keyboards...I have never found a group of people that are all into the same type of things. I am sure there are a few ham radio guys in here too (not myself as I can't take up another hobby that it that expensive).

    Anyway...ignore me...continue posting about this wonderful mechanical keyboard in this thread as I type on my Cooler Master CM Storm with Cherry Brown keys and SA keycaps.
     
  8. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    Found myself a K-Type with Halo Clears but it wasn't cheap!
    Figured the clears would be a good choice as my WhiteFox has Hako Trues.
    Meanwhile I'm prtimarily using the Leopold FC660C and these Topres could indeed be named the Stax of switches.
    You should try them out Marvey, Leopold, HHKB and Topre are all good brand choices for these switches.
    You can even have an RGB one with the Topre Realforce RGB which has variable force switches as well. And nice, clean RGB lighting. Have one sitting right here as well.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I've never used a Topre board before. I am enjoying the K-type with the Clears. A little bit more effort than am I used to and I love bugging the shit outta all my neighbors at work.
     
  10. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    Topre is supersmooth yet still tactile. The Rolls of switches.
    For bugging the neighbors get an IBM model F with buckling spring, much more effective. ;)
    Won’t make any friends with that one for sure. =)
    They make them new, look for Model F Labs. I have an F77 on order.
     
  11. g_mr_p

    g_mr_p New

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    If anyone's into buckling spring action but no longer has a computer with a PS/2 port (so, most people on Earth), foremost in the discussion is probably Unicomp. The company has been manufacturing these keyboards for over 20 years, having inherited the rights to the buckling spring mechanism directly from its origin (IBM --> Lexmark --> Unicomp).

    Their offerings are cheap and primitive (relatively speaking), but mostly by design. I purchased one when I first got into mechs and had some problems with rollover/ghosting (not relevant to normal use, but causes problems with some key-combination-intensive applications).
    Still, good nostalgic fun to slam out a few paragraphs and bask in the infernal twanging.
     
  12. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    Yep, Unicomp does model M, Model F labs does Model F. Different switches.

    Some fun kickstarters to empty your wallets:
    https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/
    https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/665701421/the-most-accurate-and-versatile-gaming-mouse-ever
     
  13. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    Keyboard searches now point to SBAF? That's pretty funny.

    I believe that they have some of the original production machinery, which is why their products are essentially unchanged nostalgia products (i.e. cases are still huge and rounded). Source: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Unicomp
     
  14. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    f**k input club for having such total shit documentation for the configurator.

    I finally had a little bit of time to fire up the configurator today and I was extra motivated due to my Jelly Key inferno keys arriving. Due to the 100% lack of documentation on what the hell you can do in there, I had to experiment a bunch. I ended up spending 30 minutes decrypting the scripting language used for the backlighting just so I could get only that one key to pulse between red and orange and back. The results look kind of cool in person. I don't like the super nerd keyboards but with the LEDs as dimmed as I can get them, the single artisan key, and the single pulsing backlight, I actually am really liking this thing.


    IMG_1403.jpg
     
  15. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    I wanted to post something for @Lyer25 (or anyone else) who is looking for a cheap(-ish) taste of mechanical keyboards.

    I use an Ajazz AK33 with my laptop at home, these are < $30 on ebay.
    Micro-review:
    (+) Super compact layout, so you get the most useful 82 keys (BIG keys) in a very small space.
    (+) Reasonable feel, better than cheap rubber dome types, although not on par with better quality mechanicals
    (+) Backlight and RGB options available, if you care; USB+Bluetooth version also available for more $$
    (-) Some keys in odd places. Like Del. Also Ins needs Fn+Del.
    (-) Without any gap between keys, hard(er) to hit F-keys by feel 100% accurately.
    (-) Moderately noisy as its a clicky type (perhaps there is a silent version out there?)
    TL;DR: it's decent for the money if you need something for a small desk, or to throw in a bag.

    I also have a Razer Blackwidow Tournament Edition (87 key) on the big PC. You can find these fairly cheap used.
    IIRC this uses blue clones. The feel is more solid, and layout/spacing are better than the AJAZZ - but it's much bigger, heavier and more expensive so not really a fair comparison. Horses for courses.

    At the office I'm using a standard Maltron L90 (Cherry MX Black) which was the only thing that has so far kept my RSI at bay permanently. Also loved the discontinued Truly Ergonomic 227 / 229* but that wasn't cheap either, and felt like a compromise ergomically compared to the Maltron.

    * with Cherry MX Blue, naturally (the observant reader might start to notice a pattern in my preferences...)
     
  16. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    Seems like a great choice to me. I've always loved Model Ms since my days working on mainframes. Still have a PS2 version connected to my home server. For my PC I have a Cooler Master with Cherry Blues and I am quite happy with it. Looking for another one to use with my laptop, think I am going to give Topre a try.
     
  17. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    The clicky Model M's buckling springs are a very different design (and feel) from MX (blues or other), the only thing they have in common is that they make an audible click. For clcky I very much pefer buckling spring over any MX clicky switch. I'd say second would be Kaihl Box Thick Click Jades for me.

    Topre's are tactile, like MX brown are tactile but again a totally different design from MX and using rubber domes with springs which gives a very smooth tactility. IMO the best tactile there is over any MX switch though I think MX Zilents are pretty nice as well.

    That doesn't mean I don't like MX switches, in fact my favorite switch type is linear and the MX Tealios are the switches I like most. But linear switches won't be to everyones taste I guess, most people like some kind of tactility, clicky or not. Still have to try Nixies but these vintage switches go for over $5 a pop these days.

    I used Topre for a while before I realised I prefer linear and will sell off my 5 Topres soon. But sadly I see you live across the pond. If anyone in Europe or the UK is interested though, feel free to shoot me a PM.
     
  18. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    Oof I'm late in finding this thread.

    I'd preordered the Whitefox with Kailh Speed Copper from IC, and was awaiting its arrival to test it and see how much I liked it. Thought I'd get a Nightfox but all were sold out by the time I received the white.

    So I bought a Whitefox kit with Hako Trues. It was fun soldering all the switches (it's been awhile since I got much time to do hardware). Only to find out that I hated the switches; a part of the reason is that I felt like I had to punch them with my fingers, like playing piano. (This from someone who learned to type in junior high school on a mechanical typewriter).

    I bought another Whitefox kit with freshly-arrived speed copper switches, and loaned the one with the Hako switches to a coworker, who ended up buying it.

    So home and work both have Whitefoxes with speed coppers. I'll prolly get a Topre 60% one day, just to try it.

    edit: corrected "blackfox" to "nightfox"
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2018

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