Kickstarter! What a throwback.
I do like that the cheap keyboards are shipping with ALL the features. Hopefully this will put pressure on super customs to add more optional features (Topre/EC, Bluetooth, etc.)
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Indeed. Already seems like it’s shaping up not only to be the year of accessible aluminum enclosures, but of accessible Hall-effect platforms. I don’t think both together is out of the question, either - and I’m big excited about that.
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There’s a number of new 8-bit machines in production, such as the Mega65 and this one:
as well as this one:
These are all running descendants of 6502-style processors, although in some cases in FPGA.
There’s also a ZX Spectrum FPGA successor, the Spectrum NEXT.
The above are the expensive new 8-bits, with all sorts of bells and whistles, and differing design philosophies. There’s also a number of SBCs using the EZ80 or 6502 derivatives, which cost much less [around 35 Euros].
The Mega65 is notable for trying to replicate an actual system, the Commodore 65 prototypes. [They diverged somewhat from them, however.] The Commander X16 was designed to be a kind of Commodore 64 / Vic-20 successor using real microchips, RAM, etc…, except that they FPGA the video card [and maybe the audio].
The F256K wants to be one of those little 8/16-bit computers with integrated keyboard that you’d put in front of a TV back in the day:
The MEGA65 is cool but expensive. Part of the labour is done in the EU. If GMK is involved, I can see where some of the costs are coming from. The MEGA65 is a very integrated unit, using original refurbished disk drives from the era.
There’s overlap with mechanical keyboards, but less than you would think. The designers seemed to think “let’s get a mechanical keyboard. Cherry is quality.” So several of these things have a choice of Cherry MX switches, using GMK or U.S.-made keycaps. It’s neat, but hasn’t really been affected by customization trends.
The hobbyists making these are programmers and engineers who are mainly focused on the internals. So discussion of custom switches largely escapes their notice, and they go to the big Western producers for keycaps. Probably the right decision from a production standpoint.
Anyway, communities have grown around the things. I think Spectrum NEXT is most successful in achieving its objectives. The Commodore-lovers are split between various projects. And there is a different constellation around the cheap SBCs.
I think if the mechanical keyboard community got involved, they might be able to hook these guys up with some fancy SA-retro styled-keycaps and the like. Although, the keyboards that interface with these 8-bit devices often need to have PS2 or other capability rather than the standard USB. Seems like the GMK keycaps for the MEGA65 are an untapped resource…
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Interesting, I wonder how well the caps hold the legends? Seems like a cool ideal, but I can se it becoming a nightmare if they fall out easy!
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Caerdroia has a store page and a price now. Very limited in-stock coming. Price sounds reasonable for a big, seemingly low-MOQ passion project kinda board like this from AKB. It’s releasing with an Alps kit optional add-on, which I imagine will get them all sold to enthusiasts on its own. Don’t know much about Alps but can imagine being super cool.
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I could love flat keys again for that.
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AKB James leaked a new pic of a beige Petrichor on Discord and has a new prototype inbound for a Petrichor r2 GB later this year. He’s adding a USB hub, but otherwise it will be the same as r1, which I believe was low run.
This is a FRL TKL with a Cherry lip and deliberately accentuated seam.
I had to pass on Cypher, so I may be going for this one. I guess it’s his daily board. So far likely beige, dark green, and a couple other colors up in the air (not purple or red this time).
Here’s r1. Opening the pics in a new tab gets you a big version.
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Ooh, nice. And also, he leaked a new NicePBT set in the works. Vintage looks:
A reverse take on L9/U9 classic beige or 9009 colorway inspired by vintage boards like the Commodore Colt. Also some additional yellow accents. Might be even more colors to accent. I’m not sure on that.
I’m assuming these will be for sale on Cannonkeys and other retailers who sell NicePBT
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Oh that’s nice. I hadn’t noticed it’s “reverse beige” or the accents.
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https://kineticlabs.com/switches/wuque-studios/wuque-light-tactile-switches
Woo-chay has some new light tactiles. 4mm travel, traditional bottom-out.
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Those look nice! Too bad the photo has the legs covered in lube so you can’t see the bump 
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sheesh, that’s some heavily applied lube. wonder if they have any lube fart issues 
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What do you think? I like it, but I was a bit let down that there is no tenting option.
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I have a Vega 65 by ai03 and the quality is impeccable. I’m definitely interested in the Altair (the one with the number row), but I’m afraid the price is going to be way out of my budget.
Same. I like the approach Keebio took for the Iris Aluminum Case where the whole aluminum case has a tilt built into it, so you don’t need tenting legs. I would have liked to see something like that on the Altair.
The mounting for Altair is interesting. Seems like a bastard child of a tray, burger, and gasket mount throuple. Very curious to hear how that translates to case sound.
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I have thought it was beautiful for a while but probably not for me, but I get the feeling after looking at it more today and reading through the Geekhack IC it might leap to the top of my list by the GB. He talks about the lack of tenting in the GH IC jsyk.
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I have a Meridian, also by ai03, and it’s easily one of my favorite boards. I personally have no need for the Altair but I’m sure it’ll be a great board. The stuff that Cannon Keys and ai03 have been doing lately have looked really nice.
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Modular multi mounting systems is kind of a thing at this point, but this seems like a really cool take on it to me - very creative while not over-complicating anything.
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