- Leading_edge_dc-3014.jpg (56.29 KiB) Viewed 6337 times
For many of us, this keyboard is like a favorable alignment of the planets, as it brings together a number of desired features in a single keyboard such as a US ANSI layout, SKCM blue Alps switches, doubleshot keycaps, and perhaps a reasonably good build quality. Moreover, I would add that I like the overall understated appearance of the board, including the simple triangular Leading Edge logo.
However, while spending a bit of time with the keyboard shortly after unpacking it from its shipping container, I am somewhat underwhelmed and disappointed.
First, although the board looks fairly clean and the plate looks free of corrosion (based on removing just a few keycaps so far), my initial testing was marred by finding two unresponsive keys and some intermittent chattering on a few keys. I opened the seemingly dead keys and found that they would register by carefully pushing the contact leaf against the switchplate using a plastic spudger tool. This appears to be the same problem that I had recently with one of the white Alps switches in a Northgate Omnikey 101, and so I am hopeful that the errant switches might be brought back in line by careful cleaning.
Second, the general impression that I gained from typing on the board was not as positive as that from typing on a Northgate Omnikey 101 with SKCM white Alps switches. It is difficult to separate the contribution of the switches to the overall typing experience, and the somewhat hollow sound of the DC-3014 detracts from the sense of quality, whereas the solid sound of the Northgate helps create an aura of superior craftsmanship. Moreover, some prodding and tapping on the case of the DC-3014 evokes some rattles and creaks, but the same manipulations on the Northgate simply reinforce the sensation of structural rigidity.
I am hoping that the negatives will tend to get erased by doing a bit of restoration, including cleaning and lubing the switches and stabilizers, deadening the spacebar, and perhaps painting the case and replacing the ABS keycaps with PBT.
In the meantime, I am interested in knowing the opinions of others about the LE DC-3014 and any suggestions you might have to ensure a positive outcome from some restoration efforts. Perhaps some of you might even suggest (gasp!) that I ought to harvest the best of the blue Alps switches and transplant them into another existing keyboard or a custom build.
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on early focus boards. FK-747 would be almost perfect, were it not for small backspace and BAE. It's closest to a vintage TKL, has F-keys on left side, and it should have that Northgate feel.
