Check this out:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyb ... ds_i_want/
Thoughts?
RIP Unicomp
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Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
I have no fucking idea what all that chatter is on about. Not so much TL;DR as WTF is this shit?
If it's about some random Kickstarter being the end for Unicomp, well, I dare say Unicomp is the end for Unicomp. They don't need any help.
If it's about some random Kickstarter being the end for Unicomp, well, I dare say Unicomp is the end for Unicomp. They don't need any help.
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Redmaus
- Gotta start somewhere
- Location: Near Dallas, Texas
- Main keyboard: Unsaver | 3276 | Kingsaver
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Capacitative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I am really torn on this...
I don't care about unicomp but I don't want there to be no place for new buckling spring caps anymore if they do go out of business. I love my model F, and unless this switch is as good as capacitative model F switches I probably won't switch to it instead of my F122 or my unsaver.
Although the idea of having brand new cherry caps on keyboard with buckling spring sounds killer. It will be odd typing on a keyboard that has cherry caps and BS switches.
I hope we can start making our own buckling spring caps in the future with advanced dyesub kits and PBT printers
Also here is a recording of his new switch found in the comments: https://clyp.it/2sy5wnk4
I don't care about unicomp but I don't want there to be no place for new buckling spring caps anymore if they do go out of business. I love my model F, and unless this switch is as good as capacitative model F switches I probably won't switch to it instead of my F122 or my unsaver.
Although the idea of having brand new cherry caps on keyboard with buckling spring sounds killer. It will be odd typing on a keyboard that has cherry caps and BS switches.
I hope we can start making our own buckling spring caps in the future with advanced dyesub kits and PBT printers
Also here is a recording of his new switch found in the comments: https://clyp.it/2sy5wnk4
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Redmaus
- Gotta start somewhere
- Location: Near Dallas, Texas
- Main keyboard: Unsaver | 3276 | Kingsaver
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Capacitative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Maybe we can buy the factory.
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Redmaus
- Gotta start somewhere
- Location: Near Dallas, Texas
- Main keyboard: Unsaver | 3276 | Kingsaver
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Capacitative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
And go into the keyboard basement where all the unsavers and industrial SSK's are stored 
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Hak Foo
- Location: US
- Main keyboard: Omnikey 102 Blackheart
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse
- Favorite switch: White Alps
- DT Pro Member: 0174
The thing is, in a way, Unicomp can almost let the keyboard hobby trend wash over them. They're a small operation that's been able to run long before the hobbyists arrived. I'd be unsurprised if 70% or more of their revenue is from long-term corporate relationships-- supplying customized boards for turnkey apps, and especially 122-style boards for terminals.
I'm sure in a way, they'd be equally happy not having to deal with the weird DT/GH crowd asking for tiny quantities of weird things and harrassing them about the 60% board.
I have two big questions: the switches themselves and the business case.
You've got a prototype switch. You haven't even really mounted them in a board to know feel and sound yet. We have zero data on durability. Looking at the picture, it almost looks like the spring is part of the conductive circuit-- so will that interfere with lubrication or create wear issues?
From a business perspective, I'd just say to look back at the experience of our friend Edgar Matias. It's taken years for him to get those beauties off the ground, even considering that he had a built-in demand for them, and that the actual switch is probably far closer to something they had experience producing than a new modular BS unit.
I'm curious if this is even patentable... I recall floating a similar concept in like 2009 on GH (of course, the image is now lost) https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57 ... 9#msg86459
I'm sure in a way, they'd be equally happy not having to deal with the weird DT/GH crowd asking for tiny quantities of weird things and harrassing them about the 60% board.
I have two big questions: the switches themselves and the business case.
You've got a prototype switch. You haven't even really mounted them in a board to know feel and sound yet. We have zero data on durability. Looking at the picture, it almost looks like the spring is part of the conductive circuit-- so will that interfere with lubrication or create wear issues?
From a business perspective, I'd just say to look back at the experience of our friend Edgar Matias. It's taken years for him to get those beauties off the ground, even considering that he had a built-in demand for them, and that the actual switch is probably far closer to something they had experience producing than a new modular BS unit.
I'm curious if this is even patentable... I recall floating a similar concept in like 2009 on GH (of course, the image is now lost) https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57 ... 9#msg86459
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Madhias
- BS TORPE
- Location: Wien, Austria
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: Wacom tablet
- Favorite switch: Topre and Buckelings
- DT Pro Member: 0064
- Contact:
The image link over the Reddit thread is broken.
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Ray
- Location: Germany
- Main mouse: touchpad
- DT Pro Member: -
I don't think this will have any influence on unicomp. This is yet another switch for keyboards. There have been many.
Regardless of what it will sound and feel like, it don't see it being hard competition for unicomp. This can be a new modular switch (also led-compatible). So it's main competitors are cherry MX blue and its clones. As Hak Foo said, it doesn't target unicomps market.
And all of what I saw is, somebody made a spring buckle. That's not a big step in forming a business. Cool as a hobbyist, though.
Regardless of what it will sound and feel like, it don't see it being hard competition for unicomp. This can be a new modular switch (also led-compatible). So it's main competitors are cherry MX blue and its clones. As Hak Foo said, it doesn't target unicomps market.
And all of what I saw is, somebody made a spring buckle. That's not a big step in forming a business. Cool as a hobbyist, though.
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ileben
- Location: Australia
- DT Pro Member: -
Like others have said, I don't think this will affect Unicomp - it's a new switch based on an old mechanism, but will inevitably feel different. In the enterprise market it's not the precise feel of the switch that matters but all other customizations and services offered by the company. In the hobbyist market, purists will point out the differences and continue to swear to the old and true feel.
However, it still is a new switch and I'm happy and excited that innovation is continuing to happen. No need to be a naysayer and shoot this down with criticism about building a business case etc. I would tell the guy "good on you", let him develop further and see how it turns out when it's eventually mounted onto a plate and used daily.
Reddit hype is reddit hype, though, always sensationalistic and overblown
I would have preferred to see this announced on other channels first, like DT or GH.
However, it still is a new switch and I'm happy and excited that innovation is continuing to happen. No need to be a naysayer and shoot this down with criticism about building a business case etc. I would tell the guy "good on you", let him develop further and see how it turns out when it's eventually mounted onto a plate and used daily.
Reddit hype is reddit hype, though, always sensationalistic and overblown
I would have preferred to see this announced on other channels first, like DT or GH.