What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
The bad news however is that all remaining orders will be delayed until the end of the month. If you do not receive a shipment confirmation email by this coming Thursday, then you are part of this 2nd and final batch. The reason for this extended delay is based solely on the keycaps. All of the keyboards are actually ready, but the keycaps still need to complete production. Apparently, since the time we placed our order, the keycap factory has been bombarded with tons of new orders.
Regardless, both Massdrop and our vendor find this delay very unreasonable. Our vendor representative will be paying a visit either today or tomorrow to the keycap factory and will try to bump our order up in the queue to reduce everyone's wait time. We apologize for this inconvenience. If you prefer to not wait on your keyboard, please reach out to our support team, and they will cancel your order for a full refund.
Expect an update from us by the end of the day Pacific Time on 9/18 or sooner if something comes up.
This was (well, would have been) my first purchase from MassDrop, and I'm disappointed that things took a turn like this. I _might_ come back, but I do hope you would take better measures to ensure prompt delivery of goods.
(takes a deep breath, shakes head)
I don't know who's idea it was to keep raising the drop limit (MD or the manufacturer) but I think after missing repeated goals, a little more transparency is needed. Even now, if the drop had remained at the initial 300, <1/3 would be complete. Instead, someone appears to have gotten greedy by collecting money for what is clearly an undeliverable amount of goods within the the first, or even second purported timeline. Transparency with regards to which company is responsible for making that would likely impact future community decisions on which projects to back - for better or for worse.
I think that those who have backed this drop have the right to know who or what overzealous entrepreneur contributed to this snafu, so that buyers are not inappropriately faulting the incorrect party. I anticipate massdrop' silence , but MD: this is your chance to speak up and provide something more than just status updates - the reality is that all deliverables will be late. I think we can all understand that some vendor delays are out of MD's control, but <20% of the promised deliverables have been completed during between the drop end through T+1 month beyond the projected completion date. Those are downright abysmal numbers.
I find it laughable that another Massdrop representative has had more visibility on this thread in the past week than Arthur has had in the past month. We were not only promised an update following the Monday production meeting that took place awhile back (which never came, mind you), @AlexPeterkin seems to be more involved in corresponding with the community on someone else's drop... He has responded to our cries twice by stating that he would reach out to the Logistics team, while Arthur has simply sat idly by.
Also, after having told us that your vendor would be paying a visit to the factory in order to ascertain the status of things (again...), you promise us an update by the 18th of September? That's just plain unacceptable. Here's hoping Alex has some luck with the logistics team, as it seems Arthur has all but dropped the ball on this one.
*EDIT - more than two of us have pointed out the need for increased / more transparent communication between you folks at MD and the customers...