Keyboard Builders' Digest / Editorial
Behind the scenes #157
Keyboard projects, quick news, in the mailbox, meetups, new vendors and discount codes!
Published March 2, 2024
Hey, what's up everyone!
Welcome back for another weekly recap and behind-the-scenes write-up.
If you are new to kbd.news, you can read how this started out and what this is all about nowadays. If you like what you see, subscribe to the newsletter (free) and donate some bucks to keep this otherwise free and ad-free project alive.
Posts I thought are worth sharing
- This week I tested the Kemove K98 1980, a fully built three-mode wireless hotswap mechanical keyboard with 1800 layout.
- Vladimir Glushkov's Soroka is a DIY-friendly 40% keyboard with customizable panels.
- Juha Kauppinen shared his Cygnus, a 36-key handwired project with keywell.
- The Choose Your Own Adventure Ortho (or CYOA) is a Pro Micro compatible ortholinear PCB by STHLM kb – with lots of snap-off parts.
- The Gigapad is a wireless macropad designed by Eric Pietrowicz.
- Sporewoh is back with yet another monoblock split pocket keyboard: the $5(!) idawgz32.
- 3D printed sculpted and tented keycaps by ze_or.
- Tanto 40, designed by Mangokitty, is the little 40% brother of the Katana60. Files to be shared later(?).
- Transport case for the ULP-Dactyl by jonbohz (github).
- Tapico Typer. Built around a 60% Kemove keyboard it's still WIP, but looks dope. And btw just learned about the distraction-free writer community's r/writerDeck sub – with lots of DIY abominations. :)
- Shark revamped his trackpoint page, trying to answer the question "what first-party IBM (and related companies such as Unicomp and Lenovo) TrackPoint or other integrated pointing device keyboards are out there?" Includes many different types of keyboards, e.g. the IBM CANPOS he and I got earlier.
Keyboard art
I'm quite immune to group buys and am not a big fan of most novelty keycaps in general, but Switchlab's Habitat somehow resonates with me (I probably only noticed this because Han offered a 5% discount for you):
- Swept Corne by Mycelius. Small run PCB, resin printed KLP Lamé keycaps, custom case in clear resin.
- Akuma with flame-treated copper weight.
Donations
- No new donors.
- Thanks to my awesome regular supporters and everyone who helped this project thus far.
For all the donation options check out the donation page!
In the mailbox
I've already mentioned this shop but I'm not sure everyone is familiar with Apos. Their main focus is audio stuff but are expanding to mechanical keyboards, even if that part is a bit hidden on their site at the moment.
Anyway, they sent me: a high profile Whitefox Eclipse, Bob Ross deskmat :D, and KDS Splatter keycap set (dye-sub) – already featured in the K98 review.
The screwless Eclipse with magnetic gasket-mounted design is a real beast. A hefty slab of aluminum, weighing 2.4kg. :D Review hopefully next week.
In addition, I bought a nice Toshiba T3200 from the '80s, with the cool orange gas plasma display.
Meetup database
Some upcoming and recently added events in the meetup database:
Upcoming
- Mechanical Keyboards Lyon #2, March 2.
- Keeb Market Tokyo, March 2.
Recently added
- Mechanische Keyboards München, April 5, München, Germany
As always, this meetup database is both a calendar and an archive so feel free to send me upcoming events or even ones from the recent past to make this collection as comprehensive as possible.
Vendors & Discounts
I went through the coupons, removing some incactive ones. Feel free to use the KBDNEWS discount code at 136 keyboard shops now!
New shops and updates to the database of keyboard vendors this week:
- Mekibo offered you a 5% discount (KBDNEWS).
- Just like Switchlab (Singapore) (5% off too).
- Matias EU added – I learned that Matias has an EU distributor.
- Added: MOKB Store (Vietnam), KeyBay (Toronto).
I continue checking who's alive and kicking, contacting each shop listed in the database. Finished shops with names starting with M-Q this week (sort of).
Some vendors marked as closed in this round of attempt to make the list up to date: Mythic Cables, NOESC, Nomkeys, Project Keyboard.
Nomkeys is shutdown until further notice. There are plans for it to be under another company but nothing is finalized as of this moment – Denney.
---
That's all for today. Thanks for checking by. As always: Keep learning and building!
Until next time,
Tamás
Published on Sat 2nd Mar 2024. Featured in KBD #157.
Related
PSA: In lieu of a new issue
Reddit meltdown and its effects on kbd.news. Send me your projects. New shops, discounts, meetups, etc.
Behind the Scenes of Issue 25
Issue 25, personal favorites, new domain coming soon, performance tweaks, issue 24 follow-up, new supporters and subscriber record.
Behind the scenes #156
Keyboard projects, quick news, in the mailbox, meetups, new vendors and discount codes!Behind the Scenes of Issue 39
Lots of changes and developments, Issue 38 follow-up, most popular posts, to-do and priority list.Behind the Scenes of Issue 33
Split database - search by tag. Issue 32 follow-up. Top 5 posts. Future plans / priority list.