Things that make us go... hmmm šŸ¤”

By the way, this has to be my absolute favorite AliExpress disclaimer text ever :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

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They’re not wrong.

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The real cost of unlicensed keycap clones.

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This is one of those scenarios where I can understand the vendors pain, but I also think it’s partly their fault for supporting a system (e.g. group buys) where the product sometimes doesn’t reach the customer until years later.

I am also very curious just how many keycap manufacturers are out there. I hear things like this and think there’s all these rogue factories making keycaps and if that’s the case, they should hire those factories because they’re clearly able to move faster than the current lot. However, I heard something the other day that made me wonder if some of these well known factories aren’t just pushing finished product out the backdoor for a quick buck. I think it was just someone else’s speculation, but it also seemed plausible.

I personally don’t care if I’m buying a clone, especially if the quality is good and I can get it when I want it. I’m done with the Keycap Group Buy game and I’m sick of the pretentious ā€œthis color combo is mineā€ silliness.

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I have thought about this as well. I think it lines up sometimes with Aliexpress posting having good quality for an ā€œinitialā€ drop, but then being delisted. Or listed again but not having the same quality. Makes me think mabye the initially was at a GB runners’ QA standards, and then the second is not.

Depends for me. I don’t buy clone DSA caps because I want to support Signature Plastics since they are in my country. Random cherry profile is less of an issue for me

I do like to support SP as much as possible.

At this point, it’s cheaper and easier for me to source a vintage keyboard with the keyset I want instead of waiting 2 years for a GB. E.g. I wanted a Dolch keyset a while ago (when it was running in GB, R3 I think) and it was much easier for me to buy an OG Cherry board with the set and harvest the switches from it as well.

Then again I only use classic colorways so if you’re into something more vibrant that method won’t really be useful.

GBs are a terrible concept for the buyer and the earlier the hobby gets past it the better.

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Work was slow and some people were talking about keyboards that haven’t showed up for reasons. I was bored at work so I made this in paint. I’m sure some of you can relate:

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i would post this in the Lynx 50 discord channel but the server has been deleted…

Finally, a laptop for Ortho lovers (i.e., not me, but it doesn’t stop me from trying every 12 months).

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The MNT Pocket promises to be even nicer.

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What, where??

Didn’t the first run of Back to School have Topre support :thinking: @norbauer

It was an optional keyboard module for that open source hardware laptop the Linux world was excited about a year or two ago. I have no idea if any actually shipped with it.

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I just realized today that the wildly popular TKC - IFK 808 Boom keyset is actually an evolution of an idea from the Drop 2017 keycap design contest.

I wonder if the designer is the same. Also, man this would have looked way in SP Doubleshot DSA with the gradient, as originally proposed.

Also, design competitions should still be a thing!

Even DSA Belefonte was first proposed in 2014. If you are in the hobby long enough, everything old is new again.

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Yep, I remember both of those b/c I submitted some designs myself. My set was called beige hero. I was in Group A but didn’t make the cut. Ha.

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The Framework laptop is suppose to have an ortho keyboard option early (I think) next year. My coworker is loosing his $#@! over that scuttlebutt.

https://frame.work/marketplace/keyboards

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I like the looks of their product and their ethics. I don’t yet know anybody that has one. Has anyone here used a Framework laptop?

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https://mecxlabs.com/products/pre-order-fghtr-swtch

This is the kind of dumb fun I can get behind. Fire ze missiles!

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