Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
The idea is a keyboard without keycaps or switches, shipped in a plain cardboard box.
Also don't require folks to buy switches in a buy - but do offer them. I'd be very interested in something like this with options to buy Kailh/Gateron/Greetech Blues.
Think of it as something super cheap to experiment with and let people mess with soldering yet not having to deal with firmware issues/programming.
Look at the Analog synthesizer market. There are quite a few models now that you can buy preassembled at the factory or comes in kit form.
If MD wants to do more switch / case / keycap group buys this hypothetical kit would be an excellent vehicle for those other items.
It could wrangle in more sales by those who are too nervous with having to deal with firmware software or prefer a standard 80% layout to the 60%/Infinity.