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
I want something generic that's not on the market:
* Doubleshot key caps (preferably PBT but I guess ABS is fine),
* White on black (or black with a dark brown nuance or similar),
* Variants of the Windows key that are blank, or say "System",
* No multimedia keys,
* Preferably traditional symbol prints e.g. arrows and menu keys are actually a geometrical arrow instead of a "DOWN", "UP" text,
And I want this in "NorDe" layout (= Swedish).
The closest on the market is Filco's SPKCS105D/SW (https://www.keyboardco.com/product/double-shot-filco-105-key-swedish-finnish-keyset.asp, review https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/286eu8/filco_iso_doubleshot_keycaps_review/, photo http://i.imgur.com/2RVwNNa.jpg ) however it has ugly Windowsy Windows keys and you can't buy blank Windows keys separately. I find Windows logos immoral, there is no relation to Windows. If https://zambumon.com/chocolatier/ was all-black it would have fit too.
The design that inspires me the most of all keyboard designs is maybe "GMK Eclipse" (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=91931.0 / https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=90360.0 and was retailed here https://web.archive.org/web/20171026075214/https://www.candykeys.com/product/gb-gmk-eclipse/), it has such a fresh, clear and professional feeling to it.
While there are high quality keyboards on the market (e.g. Filco, Wasd), most key caps suck. WASD for instance delivers UV keys (called "pad printing" here https://deskthority.net/wiki/Keycap_printing), for me they started wearing off in weeks, that's just totally unacceptable. I believe except for not wearing off, doubleshot key caps will have a special classic unmistakable shine to them that appeals to anyone who is quality-conscious. There must be a market for an all-black multilingual shiny black key set for constant sale, not just some random massdrop five years ago from someone who is now unreachable.
Who can make this?
Is it available today?
Who can I ask for it?
This question should apply to other language designs like French, Portuguese, German, Russian, and so on.
(For the great general relevance of the question, I doubleposted with https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/generic-iso-norde-swedish-white-on-black-doubleshot-blank-win-whr-get-t20001.html and https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=97874 .)