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Showing 1 of 988 conversations about:
JamesX
552
May 24, 2017
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Hard to spend $200 on a knockoff switch with little track record. There's just not enough information to make an informed decision. I love the rgb chassis though which is keeping me interested.
goldsy
110
Keyboard Club Member
May 25, 2017
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JamesXI think that most are willing to give the whatever switches they choose a try because they can be easily swapped out. Not to say that it is an inexpensive thing to do over 87 keys (this little hobby isn't for the short of cash), but do key switches really fail that often? I have several mech keyboards an the only failure I've ever had is one USB port on my Das 4 that failed, and I've got some miles on them. Maybe I'm just lucky. I agree that it would be nice to try those switches first hand, or at least get some end user feedback, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards.
What I do find interesting is how little anyone is talking about the sockets themselves. What makes me most nervous is from what I've found online the switch sockets are only rated at 100 cycles. Sure 100 sounds like a lot, but I'm sure that 100 cycles is based on an average which means you have 87 chances to get one that fails earlier. If you are lucky and it fails right away it can likely be sent in for repair, but I'm not sure what happens a couple years down the road even if you have soldering skills. The Min Order Qty on those sockets is 8K and it is hard to tell how exactly they are soldered to the board. http://kailh.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008841433231/pdtl/Keyboard-switch/1149223118/Mechanical-keyboard-switche....htm (that really is the link. You may have to C&P it. Who puts 3 dots at the end of their filename?)
Or go here and click on the socket from the other products list: http://kailh.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008841433231/pdtl/Keyboard-switch/1143723492/Key-Switch.htm
Given the features of this board I don't think that $200 is terribly out of line. UBS C, SMDs, open source firmware and hardware, and yes no solder key switch swaps is what most interests me.
Not sure what your switch preference is (I'm a tactile man myself), but you should check out the Kailh Bronze switch (not offered in this drop). Its a clicky switch, but how they pulled it off is quite intriguing. Its basically a linear switch with a leg that sticks out on the LED side with a small spring arm that gets pushed down by that leg and snaps up. It kind of reminds me of a safety pin design. I think it might be too loud for me, but it is nice to see someone thinking outside the box. I think that is part of the reason that IC went with Kailh switches. They seem to be trying to innovate.
What I do find interesting is how little anyone is talking about the sockets themselves. What makes me most nervous is from what I've found online the switch sockets are only rated at 100 cycles. Sure 100 sounds like a lot, but I'm sure that 100 cycles is based on an average which means you have 87 chances to get one that fails earlier. If you are lucky and it fails right away it can likely be sent in for repair, but I'm not sure what happens a couple years down the road even if you have soldering skills. The Min Order Qty on those sockets is 8K and it is hard to tell how exactly they are soldered to the board. http://kailh.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008841433231/pdtl/Keyboard-switch/1149223118/Mechanical-keyboard-switche....htm (that really is the link. You may have to C&P it. Who puts 3 dots at the end of their filename?)
Or go here and click on the socket from the other products list: http://kailh.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008841433231/pdtl/Keyboard-switch/1143723492/Key-Switch.htm
Given the features of this board I don't think that $200 is terribly out of line. UBS C, SMDs, open source firmware and hardware, and yes no solder key switch swaps is what most interests me.
Not sure what your switch preference is (I'm a tactile man myself), but you should check out the Kailh Bronze switch (not offered in this drop). Its a clicky switch, but how they pulled it off is quite intriguing. Its basically a linear switch with a leg that sticks out on the LED side with a small spring arm that gets pushed down by that leg and snaps up. It kind of reminds me of a safety pin design. I think it might be too loud for me, but it is nice to see someone thinking outside the box. I think that is part of the reason that IC went with Kailh switches. They seem to be trying to innovate.
Nickk
190
May 26, 2017
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JamesXTo the contrary. There is an abundance of information. Input Club has done a massive amount of work to test tonnes of switches; including genuine Cherry, Gateron, Kaihua, and their own 'Halo' switches.
https://input.club/the-comparative-guide-to-mechanical-switches/
Apart from being measurably as consistent or better than genuine Cherry switches, Kaihua switches are actually rated for 50% more actuations than their Cherry counter parts.
Besides, since the K-type allows hot-swapping of switches, I think there's no good reason not to try something new. If it turns out you don't like it, then just pick up some switches and spend 5 minutes swapping them out. :)
Besides, since the K-type allows hot-swapping of switches, I think there's no good reason not to try something new. If it turns out you don't like it, then just pick up some switches and spend 5 minutes swapping them out. :)
TuxKey
456
May 30, 2017
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Nickkahahha only quoting but your right it's it seems more then enough. Ten again who is to say i have no experience with hot-swap keyboards hahaha...There is no comparison only thing that i can thing of is SSD's and the write sycles on flash storage. But that's a different thing all together.
were a write is more than just one cycle complex subject not really relevant.
Getting back to this keyboard. in my case i will be trying out the "Halo True" and hoping it's lighter then my mx-clear board and feels like my Leopold FC660C 45G topre board.
if not i'm going to get sum Gateron browns that are affordable and do a swap.
After that i could imagine installing software to see a heatmap of the keys i use more often or look at the RealForce variable weight board to duplicate it with lighter switches for the pinky and heavier in the middle but that's just a thought
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