Love these Ryan! I'm on an all dark palette though so will have to hold off for now, assume putting the dark version as a stretch goal wasn't doable in this batch? Congrats on the launch either way.
> putting the dark version as a stretch goal wasn't doable in this batch?
I did look into it and it’s not too difficult to do, but it does add a good bit more surface area to check quality on that I didn’t want to risk
To me it feels like if quality isn’t there, then there isn’t any reason to provide more colors. So I plan to start small and focus on quality before growing the scope
If all goes well, you can expect a dark version to follow soon after!
Appreciate the response here Ryan and to the previous message! Makes a lot of sense, will keep an eye out for a hopeful dark version follow on. Congrats on the successful launch!
- Is there a chance that the palm rests being so much higher and so close to the keys will make it hard to use the side of your thumbs to press the spacebar? I'm worried I'd have to use the keyboard without the palm rests (or at least the one on the right side). When I use a MacBook keyboard and press in the spacebar with my right thumb, the side of my thumb is touching the MacBook aluminum just below the spacebar. Maybe I'd need a super thin palm rest?
- I see what look like pairing buttons on the inner edges, but can we use the keyboard with each side pushed together sometimes, or push them together to use the smallest amount of space on a clean desk, without those buttons hitting each other? Maybe the inner edges shouldn't have buttons?
> Is there a chance that the palm rests being so much higher and so close to the keys will make it hard to use the side of your thumbs to press the spacebar?
It is a reasonable concern. I've just tested it and there is no challenge hitting the space bar with the side of your thumb. The palm rest isn't that high. If you try hard to hit the palm rest with your thumb you graze it at most
> can we use the keyboard with each side pushed together sometimes
Those buttons are sliders with a smooth top. If you press it, nothing happens so it should be fine for the occasional user that wants to push together the two sides. I expect most people to keep the two sides separate otherwise they should buy a normal keyboard that isn't split (they are cheaper and there are many quality products on the market)
Appreciate your thoughts on how the keyboard could be better!
Loved this design. I am a keyboard lover that love hhkb the most, and would love a premium build keyboard that just like the keyboard that you designed here but in hhkb format.
And I would love to help out in any way I can to bring that to live if possible. Would love to see if there are ways to collab and may be add another form factor to your design.
Thank you! For our initial launch we want to limit the scope to 1 form factor so we can focus on quality
If there's demand for other form factors though we can consider in the future. When you say HHKB format, are you saying you're looking for the same layout as an HHKB keyboard but you just want an ultra low profile scissor switch version?
I'm assuming non-split keyboard since HHKB isn't split
yeah exactly, non split, exactly hhkb format but ultra low profile scissor switch. Would love to learn more around your prototyping process since I would be even interested in doing so at my own cost, even if no else want one :), but I am sure there will some market, since I have seen many request for a low profile hhkb for a few times online. But nothing is available yet.
LOL woke up to the email first thing in the morning and first tier is all sold out already. Interesting to see so many people wake up before 6:30 am PT :D
Love these Ryan! I'm on an all dark palette though so will have to hold off for now, assume putting the dark version as a stretch goal wasn't doable in this batch? Congrats on the launch either way.
> putting the dark version as a stretch goal wasn't doable in this batch?
I did look into it and it’s not too difficult to do, but it does add a good bit more surface area to check quality on that I didn’t want to risk
To me it feels like if quality isn’t there, then there isn’t any reason to provide more colors. So I plan to start small and focus on quality before growing the scope
If all goes well, you can expect a dark version to follow soon after!
Appreciate the response here Ryan and to the previous message! Makes a lot of sense, will keep an eye out for a hopeful dark version follow on. Congrats on the successful launch!
Backed! Can I ask you my design questions:
- Is there a chance that the palm rests being so much higher and so close to the keys will make it hard to use the side of your thumbs to press the spacebar? I'm worried I'd have to use the keyboard without the palm rests (or at least the one on the right side). When I use a MacBook keyboard and press in the spacebar with my right thumb, the side of my thumb is touching the MacBook aluminum just below the spacebar. Maybe I'd need a super thin palm rest?
- I see what look like pairing buttons on the inner edges, but can we use the keyboard with each side pushed together sometimes, or push them together to use the smallest amount of space on a clean desk, without those buttons hitting each other? Maybe the inner edges shouldn't have buttons?
Thank you for backing! About your questions:
> Is there a chance that the palm rests being so much higher and so close to the keys will make it hard to use the side of your thumbs to press the spacebar?
It is a reasonable concern. I've just tested it and there is no challenge hitting the space bar with the side of your thumb. The palm rest isn't that high. If you try hard to hit the palm rest with your thumb you graze it at most
> can we use the keyboard with each side pushed together sometimes
Those buttons are sliders with a smooth top. If you press it, nothing happens so it should be fine for the occasional user that wants to push together the two sides. I expect most people to keep the two sides separate otherwise they should buy a normal keyboard that isn't split (they are cheaper and there are many quality products on the market)
Appreciate your thoughts on how the keyboard could be better!
Loved this design. I am a keyboard lover that love hhkb the most, and would love a premium build keyboard that just like the keyboard that you designed here but in hhkb format.
And I would love to help out in any way I can to bring that to live if possible. Would love to see if there are ways to collab and may be add another form factor to your design.
Thanks!!
Thank you! For our initial launch we want to limit the scope to 1 form factor so we can focus on quality
If there's demand for other form factors though we can consider in the future. When you say HHKB format, are you saying you're looking for the same layout as an HHKB keyboard but you just want an ultra low profile scissor switch version?
I'm assuming non-split keyboard since HHKB isn't split
yeah exactly, non split, exactly hhkb format but ultra low profile scissor switch. Would love to learn more around your prototyping process since I would be even interested in doing so at my own cost, even if no else want one :), but I am sure there will some market, since I have seen many request for a low profile hhkb for a few times online. But nothing is available yet.
Congrats on the Kickstarter launch, Ryan!
LOL woke up to the email first thing in the morning and first tier is all sold out already. Interesting to see so many people wake up before 6:30 am PT :D
Thank you Abhi! Yeah I was pleasantly surprised there was enough interest on the east coast, I kept refreshing the page haha
oh I see, the east coast folks bagged it up first! I was beginning to question my bedtime in Seattle. :D
Done, Ryan. I am confident you'll get the support you need. :)
🙏
Congrats! I'm a mechanical design engineer in tech. Let me know if you have any questions! Happy to help advise :)
Will ISO (specifically Nordic ISO) be available?
Nope, only standard qwerty. We’re going to stay laser focused on quality for a single layout first
Maybe one day though if there is enough demand