Drop Mech Keys Meetup Recap - Thanks for Visiting!
As you may have seen, we just hosted our first meetup in quite a while here at Drop HQ (Corsair HQ, but they seem to like us enough :) )! It was a blast to get to meet so many enthusiasts local to the bay area—it had been 10 years since I was last hanging out with keyboard nerds in the bay, at KeyCon 2014. We had a great time hosting everyone at the offices, checking out all the very nice boards y'all brought, and sharing some of our own projects/spaces! I knew it would be fun to host in the Game Room when I first saw it in person, but seeing it come to fruition was still so cool. Alright, I'll stop blabbering on now. xD Picture time! (Oh, real quick - there will be more of these! Stay tuned for more info and to catch the next one!)
May 15, 2024
Mix n match Recently, I brought my Mint Qwertykeys QK60 to the “That Windy City Keyboard Meet” in Chicago, decked out with a mix of several different MT3 kits. Dusk, 3227 Magenta accents and 3227 teal blanks. I call it “Mint Dusk” and the caps echo its sandblasted chroma weight underneath. I’ve done mashups with other profiles before, but MT3 brings a unique continuity to the mix, in that the typefaces used on MT3 kits are very close in design and the keycaps can be interchanged without clashing or looking out of place. One of my favorite MT3 mashups is Black on White with Fairlane accents. It looks just like the Chicago flag, and really catches the eye.
Drop recently posted some of their own favorite mix and match sets, and asked the community to share their mash-ups. It was a blast to see all the different combinations that people came up with. Mash ups are a really valuable exercise for anyone just getting into the hobby, especially when DROP runs buy-one get-one promos on MT3. That way, you’re getting two unique sets, and two additional variations based on combinations. It’s a really cool feature that isn’t talked about enough. Closing thoughts To me, MT3’s success lies in effortlessly marrying the retro and modern aesthetics in a way that no other profile has so far. SA is relentlessly retro, but doesn’t care about finger comfort and is very high profile, making it slow to type on. Cherry and other low profile sets allow for faster typing experiences, but don’t cradle your fingers like MT3 does, or have the same nostalgic appeal. In the end, it’s a lot like switches. Different sound signatures attract different people, and depending on the unique board you build, what’s important at the end of the day is having options. MT3 is a phenomenal design at an affordable price, readily in-stock in a hobby that commonly waits for year plus group buys. Like everything, it comes down to personal preference, and for me MT3 is a classic profile that will stand the test of time. I’m interested in hearing which MT3 sets have impacted you the most, which ones you’d love to see made, or your unique take on this unique keycap profile. I’ll do my best to respond to your comments, and look forward to hearing all your thoughts! Thanks for reading. And until next time, keep finding the stories in everything you do. Best, James (@Storyboardtech)