I guess this is a good opportunity to ask you guys what you would do for a custom keyboard with decent software support then? For the longest time I've wanted to build something with these specs: 1 - Compact layout, TKL sized at largest (preferably with more keys), but I want more keys than a 60% layout, especially if it's vertical like adding a row of F keys. 2 - Kailh Box Jade switches or something in that family line with that really crisp click. Preferably something swappable to prevent 20 hours of soldering. I think the equivalent is Kailh Crystal Jade? 3 - Software support that all the big companies offer, basically being able to remap any key to anything, including remapping secondary functions, and the same for the lights. 4 - A flat base/area under the key caps rather than one of those that sink in/cover around the key to store crap/hair whatever that's called. Me English good. 5 - RGB, why limit the options for the look. 6 - Double shot PBT keycaps that allow light to shine through. 7 - Dedicated media/volume knob. I can live without that last one, but everything else shouldn't be some rare/difficult to get thing. But looking into building such a thing, the parts are hard to get delivered, there's very little info about software, and it ends up costing a small fortune. Yet every dog on YouTube has built 100 of these keyboards. Advice?

Neo Cyrus:

I guess this is a good opportunity to ask you guys what you would do for a custom keyboard with decent software support then? For the longest time I've wanted to build something with these specs: 1 - Compact layout, TKL sized at largest (preferably with more keys), but I want more keys than a 60% layout, especially if it's vertical like adding a row of F keys. 2 - Kailh Box Jade switches or something in that family line with that really crisp click. Preferably something swappable to prevent 20 hours of soldering. I think the equivalent is Kailh Crystal Jade? 3 - Software support that all the big companies offer, basically being able to remap any key to anything, including remapping secondary functions, and the same for the lights. 4 - A flat base/area under the key caps rather than one of those that sink in/cover around the key to store crap/hair whatever that's called. Me English good. 5 - RGB, why limit the options for the look. 6 - Double shot PBT keycaps that allow light to shine through. 7 - Dedicated media/volume knob.

https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/glorious-gmmk-pro-75-barebone-black-reservation https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/customkeyboards

Neo Cyrus:

I can live without that last one, but everything else shouldn't be some rare/difficult to get thing. But looking into building such a thing, the parts are hard to get delivered, there's very little info about software, and it ends up costing a small fortune.

Well of course! If the parts you require are not built on mass industrial scale and the target audience is small enthusiast crowd, of course it's going to cost a small fortune and will be hard to deliver.

Neo Cyrus:

Yet every dog on YouTube has built 100 of these keyboards.

I don't get it. If its that easy, just follow the build video of every dog on Youtube and do what they did.

$270 keyboard??? Will it at least cook me breakfast in the morning too?

Noisiv:

I don't get it. If its that easy, just follow the build video of every dog on Youtube and do what they did.

Those dogs don't say where they get the parts or if they do it's a link that won't deliver to Canada. I've never seen any video that basically explained anything, even something as critical a 3 pin vs 5 "pin" which just appears to be 3 pins + 2 pegs to shove into the PCB to mount instead of soldering (that is what it is, right?). When searching YouTube for some guides the algorithm seems to shit itself and give me random videos that answer nothing. I've never seen a single one be a clear general guide for first time builders/gave actual useful information. The Glorious GMMK Pro you linked is something I've seen before and it pretty much fits the bill of what I described (though I hate media controls on the right where the mouse hand is), but even Glorious' pages don't give a breakdown of what you need. For $170 USD I'd hope it's everything but the keycaps and the switches which can just be shoved in? I'm considering it, but what would I do for caps considering it's not a standard layout, or is it? I assume I'm stuck ordering whatever Glorious offer for it? For the price + random delivery time I dunno. $170 USD + >$50 CAD mafia robbery + caps + switches... it's going to come out to at least $350 I think.

Neo Cyrus:

Those dogs don't say where they get the parts or if they do it's a link that won't deliver to Canada. I've never seen any video that basically explained anything, even something as critical a 3 pin vs 5 "pin" which just appears to be 3 pins + 2 pegs to shove into the PCB to mount instead of soldering (that is what it is, right?). When searching YouTube for some guides the algorithm seems to crap itself and give me random videos that answer nothing. I've never seen a single one be a clear general guide for first time builders/gave actual useful information. The Glorious GMMK Pro you linked is something I've seen before and it pretty much fits the bill of what I described (though I hate media controls on the right where the mouse hand is), but even Glorious' pages don't give a breakdown of what you need. For $170 USD I'd hope it's everything but the keycaps and the switches which can just be shoved in? I'm considering it, but what would I do for caps considering it's not a standard layout, or is it? I assume I'm stuck ordering whatever Glorious offer for it? For the price + random delivery time I dunno. $170 USD + >$50 CAD mafia robbery + caps + switches... it's going to come out to at least $350 I think.

Switches compatible with the GMMK include Glorious Panda/Gateron/Kailh/Cherry https://pcgamingrace.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/47001169987-gmmk-keycap-and-switch-compatibility

Noisiv:

Switches compatible with the GMMK include Glorious Panda/Gateron/Kailh/Cherry https://pcgamingrace.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/47001169987-gmmk-keycap-and-switch-compatibility

Yeah I took a look at what they have available and they don't have Box Jades, or the heavier Box Navy, but I'd imagine the Box Whites aren't too far off being the lighter version? Reviewers make it sound like they're quite different. And I didn't know you can just take any 3 pin switch in that shape and just jam it in, I thought it had to be 5 pin for some support. $40 for 120 (+ or -1 apparently, weird) isn't a bad price though, it seems in line. $35 for their double-shot PBT pudding caps brings it to $245 USD ($295 CAD) before the local mafia holds it hostage and demands a fee. Between being screwed on conversion rates (banks like to charge above conversion rate then take a % cut on top of that as a "SeRvIcE FeE"), and whatever the mafia at customs decide to hold my package hostage for, it'll realistically cost me $350-$400 CAD. I think that's just too steep for such an all-around basic keyboard in terms of materials and features. Thanks for pointing all that out to me though. I don't want to deal with janky software or I'd go the random BS AliExpress route. It seems for now I'll just have to eat shit from Razer or the like, until the day keyboard kits with reasonable software support, and less common switches, are more accessible.

local mafia 😀

Is this the best wireless gaming keyboard with RGB available?