Considering its origin as open source software for more or less a single custom board, it’s been neat watching VIA become a de-facto standard across customs, budgets, and even pre-builts in just a few years.
5 Likes
It really has, though I also feel we either need an overhaul of QMK with support for more MCUs, wireless, screens, etc. or a new open source firmware and configurator that has broad support for a wide range of silicone and features.
6 Likes
Looks great! Back to basics with the white and grey (GMK Foundation). Matches the stone top.
2 Likes
Soon there will be ZMK and their ZMK Studio software.
This will be very interesting to see!
5 Likes
I am very much looking forward to this!
I’m going to have to find a way to get good photos of this but I built my Symbiote Gehirn with some Aflion Haze switches yesterday. Currently taking a spin on my desktop to see what’s good and what’s not.
I think it needs a force break for one. All corners sound a bit hollow and harsh.
The color matching couldn’t be much better. Love it!
12 Likes
This is like an ortholinear thats having an identity crisis as an 1800 layout. I love it, and what is it.
2 Likes
Okay, that made me actually LOL. It also made me do the math, and yes, it turns out about 65% of the keys are where they would be if the whole thing was 1u ortholinear.
This is my second most recent cheapo no-stabilizers DIY board. The matrix is on a custom PCB, which is hand-wired to the RP2040 MCU. The plate and base are Masonite from my diode laser. The “case” is four pieces from my 3D printer. Akko SA-L and Box Navy.
1 Like
DMK Watermelon on Molly with Oil Kings.
Wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep this Molly, but this is pretty cute. The kitting didn’t have a mod colored pipe nor r4 Del, but my layouts are always kind of wacky anyway…
12 Likes
I’ve said it before, but I have a type:
That said, these two keyboards are pretty different.
Top:
Neo65 “purple”
- PBTfans Voir
- Sillyworks x HMX Hyacinth V2s (long-pole linears)
- PC plate
- Various mounting options, I used the round insert things
- Tri-mode hotswap PCB
- Neo stabs (usually included with kit)
- All foams
- Polished gold-finish weight
Notes
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Case & key colors match perfectly in most lighting conditions, clash in some others; generally one of my favorite keyboards to look at and a happy accident considering I’d bought it with something else in mind
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Sounds amazing; clean creamy clacks with surprising volume to effort ratio
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Feels fantastic; consistent and crisp with a little drum-head rebound
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Excellent value all around
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Weakest part are the included stabs which are still pretty good and only stand out a little thanks to the clean switches and otherwise great performance (chalk it up to my meh tuning skills)
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Keys started shining-up pretty fast but still look amazing
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Tri-mode PCB is great, but there’s nowhere to stash the dongle and I’m not fond of the non-optional charging light under the ESC key
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Daughter-board cable is a little squirrely during assembly but I appreciate it being there
Bottom:
Margo purple
- GMK Phantom R1
- NuPhy (BSUN) Fleeting Golds (light tactiles)
- Aluminum plate
- Mounted with silicone middle layer
- Wired RGB hot swap PCB
- SK Knight V2 stabs
- Stock silicone & bottom foam
- Heat-treated brass weight
Notes
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Case and keys almost seem made for each-other, with the latter almost perfectly matching the bottom weight color (this is the color I was hoping the Neo would be)
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Sounds …fine; clean and clacky if a bit flat
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Feels OK; solid and stable if a bit flat
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Subjective, narrow value; I’m happy with it as a curio-cabinet build but would consider it a hard sell in many other ways considering what’s available nowadays ^^^
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Weakest part of this build is probably is silicone mount, which can sound good with some specific part pairings (like a plastic case and tall, thick keys like MT3) but is pretty mid here; satisfyingly clean but outstandingly flat when compared directly to the Neo
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Keys will likely never get a chance to shine because I consider this a show piece
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I like the PCB since I prefer the layouts it supports, but one minor complaint is that it comes flashed without an FN key and with the RGB on by default - so there’s no way to turn off the lights without flashing it first. Thanks to VIA compatibility this is pretty effortless, but I could see it being a source of consternation for a newcomer
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Lack of daughter-board makes assembly more straightforward but I’m less fond of cable placement; still fine tho
10 Likes
I’ve seen your board before. I love it, and we’re definitely playing in similar sandboxes. Out of curiosity, what led to your deciding to keep the 1.75u Enter key? Everything else strikes me as self evident as split-space Minila-stagger data-entry FRL 1800 variant. Also, maybe it’s just that it’s early, but what are the keycaps?
For mine, no stabilizers was an explicit design element, as was a desire for cheap keycap kitting. The compressed layout simplified at-home fabrication, and between the visual cues and a little dab of UV resin on the down arrow, it hasn’t been an issue. Tap-hold on the Fn and RAlt has been quite nice actually, and makes me feel more like the bottom row has functionality in line with its number of keys without requiring me to “git gud” at consistently hitting the fairly small target. 
3 Likes
About the 1.75u Enter: it was mainly to keep steeping up rows symmetry there and getting big blocker “homing” space and also less stabs. Now in retrospective it’s another pain with keycaps but bit less than 2u Shift or 2x 2.75u spacebars.
This is KAT Mizu and about $200 altogether to kit this cursed layout.
I could not use dense bottom row like yours - too many small keys. However I am now onto squeezing this layout into 65% footprint, obviously saying goodbye to any blockers and yes only two stabs on spacebars.
I use tap-hold for Fn / LSpace and ? / RShift
4 Likes
I love this style of layout, a 1800 without the function row.
Something about having a 60% with a number pad looks nice
I keeb I really wish was still a thing is the Candy Bar, a 40%, with a numpad. It gives the weirdness of a 40%, but is almost usable because the numpad (which can be layered to also work as a function pad, meaning almost all keys can be accessable).
![help] Any similar 40 percent keyboards to the candy bar premium? (Numpad on left or right) : r/MechanicalKeyboards](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7e6OR5ps6kFxeiSnI6Xp6cL4fgPLUsMTUrCnINeYjTaVNPVCq:https://i.redd.it/2bhmos3h9ns41.jpg&s)
4 Likes
Something was lost when TKC went from selling some pretty unique boards, to just being a generic Akko reseller.
4 Likes
I’ll agree it sucked to see TKC go from one of the OG shops to basically a Akko reseller, but honestly it’s probably better off for them this way. They never were a company that had a bunch of original or game changing ideals to bring to the table. Once they were not the only western shop to get C3/Equalz products from & people realized how low quality Infinikey keycaps were, they really didn’t have much to offer to the community. I think they realized they needed to change it up before a slow death ensued.
3 Likes
Have you seen the Kastenwagen 1840? For what it’s worth, I like the split spacebar design you went with for practicality on a 40% layout, but Tsangan looks nice in this form factor too:
Edit: not true Tsangan layout on that bottom row at all, is it? Oops.
2 Likes
I have strong utility view. Going down with overall size and smaller mod keys but leaving big clunky spacebar and second Enter makes no sense for me. It’s too long for it’s height. Elongate was better downsizing and I dare to say it also looks way better, although… this is one column in alphas too short for me.
8 Likes
Super hawt. Love that unique layout. Do you struggle going between that and normal layout?
Not sure to whom / which layout you’re referring to but mine is pretty easy to jump back & forth however… I made multiple copies for home and work (you buy PCB in x5 bulk anyway) and need to swap.
BTW: tried to go extreme compact with embedded numpad on the below 40% hand-wired but even with the custom caps (Yuzu) it’s to much gymnastics.
My next idea is to squeeze mini1800 into… 65% footprint - check the num@65
5 Likes