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APT Hall Effect Mechanical Keyboard
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APT Hall Effect Mechanical Keyboard
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Product Description
The Hall sensor, for which this innovative keyboard is named, was popular in keyboards of the 1970s and ‘80s thanks to its reliability. Frequently used in nuclear reactors, missile silos, and aircraft cockpits, the sensor steadily became less popular due to high cost of production Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downXMIT
881
XMIT
Oct 11, 2018
I want to be extremely clear that this is NOT the "XMIT Hall Effect Mechanical Keyboard", despite the fact that it is the same keyboard, built by the same factory, to the same specification. This board - this drop - is the result of Ace Pad Tech and Massdrop negotiating behind the scenes, to bypass the existing design, manufacturing, and vendor agreement we had in place.
I have my guesses as to why this happened. One is that my contact within Massdrop was powerless to prevent this. The other is that the parties in question thought that I was not being responsive. I wasn't - my family had a new baby and I took some months off. Nothing like seeing your design ripped off because you were too busy tending to a baby.
As of this writing there is no formal relationship between Massdrop and XMIT Keyboards. This offering is NOT for a board that was designed and QA'd by me. I may read some design feedback but I am powerless to make improvements (since this is a ripped off design).
I may offer a next generation keyboard at a future time but this is not it. If you want a keyboard that is basically a Gen 2 XMIT board, with minimal QA, different branding, and the same quality control issues, please buy this. Cheers.
I have my guesses as to why this happened. One is that my contact within Massdrop was powerless to prevent this. The other is that the parties in question thought that I was not being responsive. I wasn't - my family had a new baby and I took some months off. Nothing like seeing your design ripped off because you were too busy tending to a baby.
As of this writing there is no formal relationship between Massdrop and XMIT Keyboards. This offering is NOT for a board that was designed and QA'd by me. I may read some design feedback but I am powerless to make improvements (since this is a ripped off design).
I may offer a next generation keyboard at a future time but this is not it. If you want a keyboard that is basically a Gen 2 XMIT board, with minimal QA, different branding, and the same quality control issues, please buy this. Cheers.
elixx
5
Oct 11, 2018
XMITI've been super-curious about this. I found a APT branded hall effect keyboard on another site, and purchased it; I was surprised to see the header of the documentation looked exactly like the paper from my Gen1 XMIT 104-key, just without the letters XMIT in the keycap logo at the top. I believe it even mentioned XMIT further down in the copy, and referred to it as a second-generation run. I was confused, and assumed it to have been a factory knockoff / successor of the original design, picked up by a different name. It seems that's not uncommon with overseas biz.
Glad to see confirmation.
ferretallica
919
Oct 11, 2018
XMITAt least they listened to the feedback about not having the butt-ugly logo on the front of the cases.
jaredn13
49
Oct 10, 2018
Do these go through any kind of QA at all at the mfg? Or once they get to Massdrop for reshipping?
I would be embarrassed shipping this to a customer. I've bought $30 mechanical keyboards on Amazon look way better than this. The keycaps looks half finished, the bottom halves look very rough. The case looks like it was gone over with some rough sandpaper on the short ends and then shipped out. Even the long edge that looks "good" has tons of fine scratches going down the length of it.
Good: Typing feels great. Super light clicky, almost no resistance. I could type on this all day. Sounds great (except space bar see below). Lighting is decent
Bad: Space bar rattles like crazy, otherwise the keys would have a nice quiet sound to them. Keycap and case build quality - see pics below
I would be embarrassed shipping this to a customer. I've bought $30 mechanical keyboards on Amazon look way better than this. The keycaps looks half finished, the bottom halves look very rough. The case looks like it was gone over with some rough sandpaper on the short ends and then shipped out. Even the long edge that looks "good" has tons of fine scratches going down the length of it.
Good: Typing feels great. Super light clicky, almost no resistance. I could type on this all day. Sounds great (except space bar see below). Lighting is decent
Bad: Space bar rattles like crazy, otherwise the keys would have a nice quiet sound to them. Keycap and case build quality - see pics below
leo2017
31
Oct 12, 2018
jaredn13Sorry about the case issue. I'm not sure how this happens, every case is hand made, so they cannot be identical to each other like those made by machine, but this one seems unacceptable.
Can you please try wax the edges， then it should be more or less as nice as the one attached,
jaredn13
49
Oct 12, 2018
leo2017It's not a discoloration or residue. They are deep gouges and scratches. No amount of wax will make this better.
McKazou
4
Jun 1, 2018
I really like the wood one but WHO the fuck is not using a numpad anymore ! =O Specially for a non-portable pc
leo2017
31
Oct 11, 2018
Hi everybody,
My name is Tom Yang, 杨立涛in Chinese. I’m the owner of Ace Pad Tech, also the owner of the patent of the Hall Effect mechanical switches.
I started working on this switches in 2014, applied for the Patent in China on Jan. 30th 2015, and got the patent on June 17th 2015. Patent Number: ZL 2015 2 0068083.8
We worked with many different materials for the cases of the keyboards, and then we decided to stay with the bamboo cases and acrylic cases to start selling the Hall Effect Mechanical keyboard on Alibaba.com.
Then in the summer of 2016, XMIT got in contact with us via Alibaba.com, got some samples for him and for some members from https://deskthority.net/, from there our story started.
Then there were 2 runs on Massdrop as most of us already know, at the name of XMIT.
We want to thank XMIT very much for his devote to improve our Hall Effect mechanical keyboards, such as the right screws to hold the keyboard case nicer, non-floating switches and 0.5u.
And we want to thank XMIT very much for bringing our Hall Effect mechanical keyboard to Massdrop members.
But we want to make it very clear that we didn’t rip off his design. This is our design.
For the latest run of the drop of the APT Hall Effect mechanical keyboards, you may notice the cases are better than previous drops, especially for the 60% teakwood case and acrylic case.
Before this drop, the 60% teakwood design came out first, and then it was the 60% acrylic case.
Actually when we came out with the 60% teakwood design, we send pictures of the first teakwood keyboard to XMIT, and he decided to get a sample keyboard to check it out.
Then again he asked something we cannot provide to him, like the source code, as a start up business, it’s provided by our supplier who will never give it to us.
XMIT also asked for our datasheet of the Hall sensors, the circus diagram, the 3D designs of our switches (where applies to the Patent), and many more. We send him all of them except the 3D designs of our switches.
Then on March 26th 2018, XMIT wrote to us: I will never again sell or ship a keyboard for which I do not have full source code access to firmware and remapping tools. If this is a deal breaker then I will write the software myself and take my business elsewhere.
Then he said he wasn’t interested in the teakwood sample keyboard anymore.
That’s how our story ends.
Lastly, may I ask XMIT, if you take your business elsewhere, will it still be Hall Effect mechanical switches same as ours?
My name is Tom Yang, 杨立涛in Chinese. I’m the owner of Ace Pad Tech, also the owner of the patent of the Hall Effect mechanical switches.
I started working on this switches in 2014, applied for the Patent in China on Jan. 30th 2015, and got the patent on June 17th 2015. Patent Number: ZL 2015 2 0068083.8
We worked with many different materials for the cases of the keyboards, and then we decided to stay with the bamboo cases and acrylic cases to start selling the Hall Effect Mechanical keyboard on Alibaba.com.
Then in the summer of 2016, XMIT got in contact with us via Alibaba.com, got some samples for him and for some members from https://deskthority.net/, from there our story started.
Then there were 2 runs on Massdrop as most of us already know, at the name of XMIT.
We want to thank XMIT very much for his devote to improve our Hall Effect mechanical keyboards, such as the right screws to hold the keyboard case nicer, non-floating switches and 0.5u.
And we want to thank XMIT very much for bringing our Hall Effect mechanical keyboard to Massdrop members.
But we want to make it very clear that we didn’t rip off his design. This is our design.
For the latest run of the drop of the APT Hall Effect mechanical keyboards, you may notice the cases are better than previous drops, especially for the 60% teakwood case and acrylic case.
Before this drop, the 60% teakwood design came out first, and then it was the 60% acrylic case.
Actually when we came out with the 60% teakwood design, we send pictures of the first teakwood keyboard to XMIT, and he decided to get a sample keyboard to check it out.
Then again he asked something we cannot provide to him, like the source code, as a start up business, it’s provided by our supplier who will never give it to us.
XMIT also asked for our datasheet of the Hall sensors, the circus diagram, the 3D designs of our switches (where applies to the Patent), and many more. We send him all of them except the 3D designs of our switches.
Then on March 26th 2018, XMIT wrote to us: I will never again sell or ship a keyboard for which I do not have full source code access to firmware and remapping tools. If this is a deal breaker then I will write the software myself and take my business elsewhere.
Then he said he wasn’t interested in the teakwood sample keyboard anymore.
That’s how our story ends.
Lastly, may I ask XMIT, if you take your business elsewhere, will it still be Hall Effect mechanical switches same as ours?
Elrick
2105
Aug 21, 2019
Looking forward to a full 108 keyed keyboard done in Aluminium here.
You do know that Aluminium is a non metallic material, which would be perfect for your keyboard design.
Be the First Company to make this design instead of making something cheap and nasty because MassDrop is indeed for everyone BUT certain high QUALITY keyboards, attain certain interest and respect when it's presented that way.
Concentrate on far more than only installing Hall Effect switches here, make sure they are inserted into a truly unique keyboard design, that will last forever.
That would entice far more customers than simply focusing upon the 'cheap skates' in the Keyboard World. Super-fine keyboards cost a lot but their owners never complain or hesitate in buying another one ; )
yang74414
32
May 30, 2018
Does everyone know all these functions for the 61 key board? we mark them on the side of the keycaps, these are the PBT keycaps which you can dye to any color you want, so here is my color, with the engraved symbols at the sides. D1 to D5 is for you to redefine the lighting mode. J and K are for marco recording, for 30 legends each. You'll find the other functions yourselves from the picture attached below.
Tab, Caps, Rshift, can work as " <" , ">", "|" for Europeans.
Tab, Caps, Rshift, can work as " <" , ">", "|" for Europeans.
leo2017
31
Jun 2, 2018
Yes it’s APT TKL with white pbt keycaps dye blue for some keys. It’s same PBT keycaps in this drop.
leo2017
31
Jun 2, 2018
You can buy it here with white keycaps and then you can dye any other color you want
yang74414
32
May 30, 2018
Hi everyone, thanks for your interest in our APT Hall Effect Mechanical Keyboard. I'm the engineer from APT. For the programability, we're working on a new remaping tool, although there is no big difference at this moment, for example, now we can remap the "ESC" to the left top key for the 60% board, no need for combined keys.
fibtastic
13
May 31, 2018
yang74414I hope you guys will consider porting QMK rather than wasting more time with this limited tool.
leo2017
31
May 30, 2018
Yes there is Print Screen, at the upper right side of the board, and yes it can be repammped by combined keys.
Yes we can remap FN to Caps or anywhere else, but the thing is that we still have FN at the current position, which mean, we can remap one more FN elsewhere other than the current position.
There is improvement for the stablizers so it is working properly. The keys can be set at 2 different travelling distance by FN+Rshift, with a very slight difference of 0.3mm.
Yes we can remap FN to Caps or anywhere else, but the thing is that we still have FN at the current position, which mean, we can remap one more FN elsewhere other than the current position.
There is improvement for the stablizers so it is working properly. The keys can be set at 2 different travelling distance by FN+Rshift, with a very slight difference of 0.3mm.
equalunique
475
Oct 10, 2018
leo2017That looks AMAZING. Is it the first ever 98-key/1800-layout RGB keyboard? Are the keycaps ALL backlit PBT?
fenzinator
76
May 28, 2018
I have the xmit hall effect in Bamboo:
Pros:
-looks good
-switches are a bit mushy for my liking, but feel decent
-RGB lighting is nice
Cons:
- the stabilizers, especially the SHIFT KEY is terrible, unless you hit it dead center it sometimes won't even click
- the stems are very loose, by this I mean keys literally fall off... I have multiple keycap sets, multiple different brands, they all do not fit well on one key or another, most notably for me the 'H' 'Ctrl' and '\' keys are the worst
whomad1215
755
May 29, 2018
fenzinatorI have the same issue with the stems on my XMIT. They're either too small or too big. Really frustrating because I wanted to replace the stock keycaps.
Also my tab key freaks out once in a while, seems like it gets stuck or maybe it's a bad solder job. I haven't taken it apart to try and figure it out.
Also my tab key freaks out once in a while, seems like it gets stuck or maybe it's a bad solder job. I haven't taken it apart to try and figure it out.
H2Whoah
768
May 28, 2018
For anyone that wants to see a review, a teardown of these switches, or is just confused about wtf a Hall Effect keyboard is, Chyrosran22 has a really great video that will answer most of your questions: https://youtu.be/Y0BMkV8P9a4
Elrick
2105
May 29, 2018
nightdriverLinears was first ONLY offered in the very beginning.
Clicky's joined in the Second round.
Clicky's joined in the Second round.
airencracken
49
Oct 11, 2018
My review isn't showing up for some reason, but, please avoid this keyboard. It is really bad.
"Unfortunately this keyboard has a fatal flaw. The spacebar is just straight up mushy. I'm typing this review up on the keyboard and I keep missing spacebar presses because there is only one switch in the middle and the force isn't well distributed, so pressing the spacebar is like typing on oatmeal. It only really registers about twenty percent of the time. The rest ofthe keys are fine and accurate, but the spacebar is garbage. They really ought to have used two switches or a different spring, or something. Not only is it mushy, but you have to hit it directly in the center (where the switch is) to make it actuate. Bummer, waited quite a while for this one and it ended up being an utter disappointment. Avoid this keyboard."
"Unfortunately this keyboard has a fatal flaw. The spacebar is just straight up mushy. I'm typing this review up on the keyboard and I keep missing spacebar presses because there is only one switch in the middle and the force isn't well distributed, so pressing the spacebar is like typing on oatmeal. It only really registers about twenty percent of the time. The rest ofthe keys are fine and accurate, but the spacebar is garbage. They really ought to have used two switches or a different spring, or something. Not only is it mushy, but you have to hit it directly in the center (where the switch is) to make it actuate. Bummer, waited quite a while for this one and it ended up being an utter disappointment. Avoid this keyboard."
airencracken
49
Oct 11, 2018
For some reason I could have sworn that some of my older keyboards had more than one switch or at least multiple barrels (in the case of buckling springs), but I just looked at them and they indeed do not. So yes, you're correct the stabilizers are the source of the woes here. The whole key just teeters on that center post and the stabilizers don't well, stabilize.
I will say with further testing some of the other switches have similar issues with being wobbly or inaccurate. Just avoid the hell out of this piece of junk.
I will say with further testing some of the other switches have similar issues with being wobbly or inaccurate. Just avoid the hell out of this piece of junk.
Croktopus
29
Oct 17, 2018
airencrackenMany older keyboards did use dumby switches to stabilize but that's basically the worst method of stabilization.
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