Tag Archives: Mechanical Keyboard

This stone-inspired mechanical keyboard turns typing into a meditative activity

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When you need to finish a story or program, this keyboard could help you to get into the zone with its appearance and sounds.

Conventional keyboards are pretty much made from plastic, giving them a bit of a cheap look and feel. Of course, there are mechanical keyboards that raise the bar higher in terms of materials as well as typing experience, and there are even all-metal variants that give the typing tool an industrial character. It is only recently that both designers and computer users have become a bit more interested in making their keyboards look more appealing or unique, but many of them tend to lean on the wild side of colors and design. Enter the Mason60- Zen Series of keyboards that give the most used and abused computer peripheral are more somber look and feel, inspired by the most stoic part of nature: a stone.

Designer: Brazen Studio

While many people will find it a bit annoying, there is also something almost hypnotic about the sound of keyboard typing, especially when using mechanical keyboards. Proof of that is how some ASMR videos or sounds make use of typing as part of these sometimes comical antics on the Web. Of course, when you’re frantically typing to meet a deadline, the sound coming from a keyboard will be similarly chaotic and stress-inducing, so it might sometimes help to have a visual reminder to slow down, stay still, and take a deep breath. Unsurprisingly, imagery related to Zen gardens is perfect for inducing such a calming mental state.

It’s easy enough to paint a keyboard case with a stone-like coating and call it a day, but that is a little boring and only addresses one of the two main senses. The Mason60- Zen keyboard, in contrast, uses a cement resin composite that gives it nearly the same substantial feeling and weight as stone, but without actually having to carve out the keyboard case from rock. It isn’t as heavy as stone either, but it’s no featherweight either at 1.65kg. While it does make moving the keyboard more taxing, it also makes it more stable and less likely to slide on your desk.

Brazen Studio goes beyond the looks, however, and makes sure your fingers can also feel the Zen. After being cast in a mold, the case is acid-etched to create a surface that closely mimics the texture of stone. Unfortunately, that does mean the process uses harmful chemicals that make the product less sustainable.

If those weren’t enough to set the Mason60- Zen keyboard apart from the crowd, the fact that each one is painstakingly finished by hand cements its status as an artisan piece, pun intended. That means that no two keyboards will exactly be identical, elevating their status beyond mere computer accessories. Those could be some of the thoughts and inspiration that go through your mind while you happily type on this beautiful mechanical keyboard, hopefully helping you to get into the mood and focus on the task at hand.

The post This stone-inspired mechanical keyboard turns typing into a meditative activity first appeared on Yanko Design.

Keychron Q3 is a handsome mechanical keyboard you can customize to your heart’s content

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Most computer users take their keyboards for granted, especially laptop owners who have little choice on the matter anyway, at least when not at home or in the office. For those whose lives and livelihoods depend on typing away on a keyboard most of the day, however, choosing the right keyboard is almost like a religion. In addition to the comfort promised by ergonomic keyboards, there are also other factors like key travel and even acoustics that drive some people nuts if they aren’t right. It’s hard to design one keyboard that meets all needs, but this new mechanical keyboard lets buyers mix and match parts that they like and comes with a slightly better sustainability story, thanks to its rather peculiar design.

Designer: Keychron

Mechanical keyboards are still a matter of debate in general, with some people cursing the louder sounds they make compared to regular keyboards. Conversely, many professional computer users, from programmers to writers, swear by this kind of keyboard because of the accuracy and comfort they actually provide by using mechanical switches instead of rubber membranes. And if you feel that those still aren’t enough, then this customizable keyboard might be the deal for you.

Although you can buy a fully assembled Keychrone Q3, its real appeal is the ability to mix and match the parts that you want, including the keycaps and the switches underneath. That means that you can pick the “intensity” of the sound your keyboard makes, from the softest “Red” to the loudest “Brown.” You can also choose the colors and materials of the keycaps, from typical ABS to more durable PBT.

Unlike your typical keyboard, however, the Keychron Q3 can almost be considered a work of art as well. That is thanks to its all-metal body, specifically 6063 aluminum that is CNC machined, anodized, sandblasted, and more. And in case you were worrying about the noise, Keychron took special care that the metal body wouldn’t make you the most unpopular person in the room.

Even though there is still plenty of plastics used here, the aluminum body and the customization options make this keyboard a bit more sustainable than most of its peers. The body itself will last a long, long time and can be recycled when its end of life does arrive. But since the other parts can also easily be replaced, it will take an even longer time before it has to be retired from service in the first place.

The Tenkeyless (TKL) Keychron Q3 isn’t just all looks and sounds, of course. Designed specifically for designers, programmers, and gamers, the design ditches the extraneous numpad and incorporates a lot of features that its users can customize to fit their workflow. There’s even a physical knob that can be mapped to changing the volume to changing brush size. The Keychron Q3 almost sounds like the keyboard lover’s dream, no pun intended, and looks handsome on your minimalist desk to boot.

The post Keychron Q3 is a handsome mechanical keyboard you can customize to your heart’s content first appeared on Yanko Design.

Absolem DIY mechanical keyboard mixes class and geekiness in a handsome wooden package

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Computer keyboards have remained unchanged over the decades, utilizing the same standard layout with very little variation. Of course, there have been attempts to change the general shape of the keyboard, including split forms designed to improve ergonomics, but the number of keys sometimes remains the same. There are also times, however, when creative people think outside the box and go to town with new concepts and experiments. Those often end up looking unpolished or straight out of a sci-fi show prop, but this eye-catching butterfly-shaped keyboard won’t look out of place on a minimalist wooden workspace.

Designer: Dénes Bán

The designer, a software engineer by profession and modder by hobby, initially wanted to create something that would have ended up looking completely different. The ultimate goal was to have a reduced number of keys, 36 in total, plus a few extra keys that would allow switching between letters, symbols, and function keys. At first, he settled on a “3D” design that had those extra keys hidden underneath an elevated surface for the split 36 keys.

That, however, didn’t pan out, and the modder realized that his needs and situation were better served by a uni-body keyboard instead. Still sticking to the same idea, however, he ditched the typical “ergonomic” keyboard format but still kept the split layout, ending up with a form that looked like a butterfly. That wasn’t by accident, though, since he already chose the name “Absolem” for the keyboard after the character from Alice in Wonderland.

As always, the building process was actually shorter than the designing and prototyping stages. Despite the wooden exterior, the Absolem keyboard uses plenty of plastic and electronics, including neoprene, so it’s not exactly a sustainable design. That said, it also has a good amount of wood and steel, so not everything has a negative impact on the environment.

The creator’s acute attention to detail is what you’d expect from professional modders, but his taste in materials and design does set him above his peers. The end result is an intriguing and beautiful mechanical keyboard that almost looks like a part of some fantasy or steampunk world. The ergonomics of such a design is probably a bit questionable, but it’s hopefully not worse than traditional keyboards, which are seemingly non-ergonomic by design.

The post Absolem DIY mechanical keyboard mixes class and geekiness in a handsome wooden package first appeared on Yanko Design.

Logitech designed the perfect wireless keyboard for Gen-Z, complete with removable emoji keys!

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For a generation that prefers TikTok over Typing…

Modeled on the quirky design of Lofree’s keyboard, Logitech just announced the Pop Keys, a wireless keyboard with mechanical keys and a massive catch… the presence of dedicated emoji keys for the first time ever on a mechanical keyboard. Doused in incredibly spunky colors, the Pop Keys is clearly made for the younger generation, and it cleverly ditches the Numpad (something rarely used by Gen Z unless they’re serious gamers) for a row of removable, programmable emoji keys that immediately trigger an emoji on touch.

Designer: Logitech

Click Here to Buy Now

Available in three audaciously vibrant color combos (our hearts are firmly set on the ‘Blast Yellow’ variant), the Logitech Emo Keys is for the mobile generation, pairing seamlessly with phones, tablets, and even laptops, and allowing you to alternate between 3 devices just by pressing 3 hotkeys. The keyboard runs off 2 AA batteries, and comes with a mind-boggling 3-year battery life. On the inside are mechanical TTC Brown scissor-switch keys, designed to give the touchscreen-loving Gen-Z a taste of some tactile action, with a life of 50 million strokes that’s perhaps the highest of any Logitech keyboard. It’s nice to see Logitech invested in building durable products for a generation raised on single-day deliveries and use-and-throw cultures. In their defense, gadgets today aren’t particularly repairable either, so a durable keyboard is quite the treat.

The highlight of the Pop Keys, aside from its absolute splash of color, are the 5 quick-access emoji keys on the right. Designed to be customized/replaced, the keys pop off and can be swapped for other emoji keys (available in the box). The keyboard comes with 8 swappable emoji keys (comprising mostly the popularly used emojis) and one dedicated emoji menu key that lets you access the more niche emojis. The keyboard works seamlessly across different devices (with iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac compatibility), and while it pairs via Bluetooth, it also comes with the signature Logi Bolt USB connector/receiver.

Click Here to Buy Now

The post Logitech designed the perfect wireless keyboard for Gen-Z, complete with removable emoji keys! first appeared on Yanko Design.

GMK Dualshot 2 PlayStation-themed Keycap Set: 108-bit

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Keyboard accessory maker Omnitype’s latest keycap set features the dull gray base color of the original PlayStation, along with the colors of the OG PS logo. You can almost hear the startup sound when you look at it. If you’re wondering why it’s called the Dualshot 2, that’s because this is the second run of the set. It’s easy to see why it’s back. The base set is all gray, with only the lettering on the modifier keys bearing the PlayStation logo colors. There are however specialty keys sold separately that are entirely coated in bright red, yellow, teal, and blue. There’s also a variant of the base set with katakana characters, and a novelty set that features PlayStation button names and terms.

I wonder why they don’t have a blue X and a red O. You can pre-order the GMK Dualshot 2 from Omnitype only until June 4, 2021. The base set, which should have enough keys for most keyboards, will set you back $120 (USD). Omnitype also has other Dualshot 2 merch: a macro pad, a chrome or Rama key, and a desk mat.

Max Keyboard Offer Custom Printed Keycap Sets: Goodbye Group Buy

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Mechanical keyboards have exploded in popularity in recent years, including swappable keycaps. You can easily find mass-produced keycap sets online, but if you truly want to stand out or have trendy or niche designs, your best bets are limited run or artisan keycaps. Aside from being expensive, custom keycaps are often made by small businesses that have to meet minimum orders. That’s why custom keycap designers or shops usually resort to group buys — limited-time full-price pre-orders that are announced in forums several months or even a year before they are produced and delivered. But if you’re willing to make a few compromises, you can design and order your own custom keycap set with Max Keyboard.

Max Keyboard sells entire mechanical keyboards, keyboard parts, and yes, custom keycaps. For the latter, you can choose between a 60%, TKL, or full set. The configurator has a limited selection of keycap fonts, colors, and modifier key names. But its flexibility comes in their downloadable keycap image templates that let you create and upload your own keycap designs, such as the ones in these pictures.

The keycap sets consist of Cherry MX keys. You can choose to have prints on the top, side, or both. You can also choose the size of the spacebar. I have not tried ordering from Max Keyboard, but from what I can see, their configurator has a basic preview and so requires a bit of imagination. But with prices starting at just $25 (USD), this is definitely worth considering.

[via randomfrankp]

GeForce RTX 3080 Graphics Card Keycap Has a Spinnable Fan

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Designed by Etsy seller Keycapper to replicate the look of NVIDIA’s high-performance GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, this is a metal keycap designed to fit the right shift key of keyboards with Cherry MX switches. It costs $50 and includes a fan you can spin with a finger, making it an integrated keyboard fidget spinner!

You’ll have to be quite a fan of the GeForce RTX 3080 to actually spend $50 on a keycap that looks just like it. Of course, if you’re spending $800+ on a graphics card (if you can even find one), what’s another $50 for a matching keycap? Besides, that’s a small price to pay to be the envy of everybody who even knows what an RTX 3080 is (I thought it was a new Acura SUV).

My right shift key doesn’t even have a keycap, I just know where it is because it’s the button that’s missing a keycap right below the return key that’s also missing its keycap. None of the number keys work at all, so I have to copy and paste them from Notepad whenever I need to use them, which I avoid. Is it time for a new keyboard? Not yet, but I feel like I am getting close.

[via ThisIsWhyImBroke]

The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a small-but-mighty gaming keyboard

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Maybe it’s because our homes are feeling increasingly cramped, but 60 percent keyboards seem to be coming into vogue. Those are decks that not only lack a number pad, but also jettison all the function keys and miscellanea like the “scroll lock” and...

Razer’s BlackWidow mechanical keyboard is 42 percent off right now

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Those looking to add to their gaming setup have a few ways to save while doing so thanks to new Razer sales on Amazon. Arguably the best deal available right now is on the company’s BlackWidow mechanical keyboard —it’s down from $120 to $70, which is...