deskthority

Rayndalf wrote: ↑

08 Apr 2021, 02:27

You're right though, I can buy a $50-75 off brand mechanical keyboard on Amazon which is remarkably solid (NKRO, backlighting, metal backplate, Gateron switches) or I can literally buy a new Model F for $400 (less than IBM was charging those banks back in the day with or without inflation). Both boards will (probably) survive years of use assuming there are no defects.

The custom MX build is the real rip off. Something like a $400 case + $120 keycaps + $60 in switches + $20 stabilizers.

vintage has no shortage of ripping people off. Imagine paying $2.5 dollar for a blue alps switch. Worth? I think not. How bout $4 for a brown alps? Is beamer worth 3 thousands now? Are we gonna talk about blue selectric caps for $600? The point is, both areas have pro and con, and i don't like absolute statement

kind of curious what is this 50 bucks metal back plate keyboard with gateron switch? Now i do believe in china great manu power but i don;t think even they can do that great.

The trouble with crazy prices is that there's clearly demand, creating them. There's no way a cheapskate like me could get a beamspring on the open market now. I've never spent 300 on a keyboard, let alone 3000! I had to be there at the right time, and I was, scoring 2 of them along the way. I still remember Seebart's grumbling when I sold my German one to him for a friend price of $250! People would do anything for that price today.

ntv242ver2 wrote: ↑

08 Apr 2021, 09:49

Rayndalf wrote: ↑

08 Apr 2021, 02:27

You're right though, I can buy a $50-75 off brand mechanical keyboard on Amazon which is remarkably solid (NKRO, backlighting, metal backplate, Gateron switches) or I can literally buy a new Model F for $400 (less than IBM was charging those banks back in the day with or without inflation). Both boards will (probably) survive years of use assuming there are no defects.

The custom MX build is the real rip off. Something like a $400 case + $120 keycaps + $60 in switches + $20 stabilizers.

vintage has no shortage of ripping people off. Imagine paying $2.5 dollar for a blue alps switch. Worth? I think not. How bout $4 for a brown alps? Is beamer worth 3 thousands now? Are we gonna talk about blue selectric caps for $600? The point is, both areas have pro and con, and i don't like absolute statement

kind of curious what is this 50 bucks metal back plate keyboard with gateron switch? Now i do believe in china great manu power but i don;t think even they can do that great.

I'm sorry I should have been more clear, I meant a decent quality switch plate (not a plateless or plastic plate board).
This one would fit the bill nicely. A mechanical keyboard made by (for) Logitech that is aimed at a general audience (not just gamers) with a solidly affixed top plate, backlighting and mechanical switches for $60.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Mechani ... B089YFHYYS

There are some new boards like the F77 that compare extremely favorably to vintage boards for less than what those vintage boards originally cost, and there are great options in every price range. The cost of the average MX custom build is crazy (buying everything seperately and all), and the prices commanded by "trendy" vintage trash reflect their position as alternatives to a custom build as well as status symbols within the hobby, but there are less known vintage boards (space invaders, Zenith Turbosport luggable boards, lots of stuff that gets posted in great finds) and even modern boards like the Cherry G80-3000 "TKL S" which are beautiful, well built and affordable.

At some point I agree though. The keeb kid hypebeasts who are tearing down NOS Nixdorf boards to build their next shitty 60% or ripping the caps off a Selectric make me mad. I hate seeing people torch gorgeous old boards for what I can only assume is internet cred.

Yeah just want to confirm really. I have not been looking at entry level boards for a long time so even if metal backplate sounded a bit wild to me, i still needed to check.