Datamancer Keyboard

[Tronnic]

I better win some type of award for this..

 

 

 

I win. :-)

 

[Erebus305]

Cant I just buy the keys and stick em on my k70 since they are cherry mx switches rather pay 750?

??

[MooseCheese]

Biggest rip-off I have ever seen. Everyone had there hopes up getting this keyboard for less than $200-$250 and no one expected $750. Seems like they built the keyboard for $200 and sold it for $750.

 

I don't think that's a fair assesment at all, given that the Corsair CGK70 RGB goes for almost $200, and Corsair buy their key switches from Cherry in bulk as well as mass produce both their PCBs and chassis.

 

Futhermore, wood, leather, plastic and metal are all used in the construction of this keyboard and are all hand cut, machined and finished. They're all then assembled, by hand. I'm sure that 30 hours goes into the production of each of these keyboards and given that people with specialist skills like these usually charge at least $30/hour for their time, they're charging very little for labour. As for producing their own PCB, most companies would charge upwards of $1000 for a PCB to be commissioned...

 

So no, I wasn't expecting it to cost and I think very few people other than you were. If you really think it's so overpriced, put one together for yourself for <$200 and sell it at a profit.

[mikethepwnstar]

Cant I just buy the keys and stick em on my k70 since they are cherry mx switches rather pay 750?

??

 

Yes you can: http://www.datamancer.com/cart/datamancer-typewriter-keys-p-276.html?zenid=eWcI5qrsl2Xp1FubBGAjO3

 

The keys have also been on Massdrop a couple times now.

[cae]

Datamancer's aesthetic is unique, I'll give them that. I really like their brass works. It doesn't match well with anything other than their aesthetic, though.

 

For that price, I'm definitely going with a custom GON.

[NumLock21]

Looks a lot like this one

source

[☰ David Jones ☰]

I don't see what's with the facepalm, it just seems a little spammy.

What facepalm, I don't see no facepalm? :huh:

[ScientificAviator]

Ouch, $750 for a keyboard...

[TheProfosist]

@Charger

 

-snip-

I don't think anyone is really going to say that a Datamancer and a Novatouch are competitors... at last I don't think so.

Nothing competes with a datamancer really and in reality I think they are charging way more than they are worth and this is taking into consideration the board I own and have built for people. Like maybe the first couple would be worth that but now they have perfected the formula and significantly streamlined the process.

 

If the keyboards were price-competitive, you would definitely have a point. I just don't think it applies in this case.

I see no problem with advertising a keyboard on a video for another keyboard. If anything its smart because the person watching the video is probably already interested in keyboards.

 

I really really love the look of the Datamancer keyboards, there is just something that gets to me with functional art. I never really got the point of art just to look at it, I feel like needs to have some practical application. So far the only other products that i know of that really scratch this itch would be something like the In-Win D frame which is one of In-Wins open air computer chassis. If I honestly had the money I would buy one.

 

I have to add it to my line of expensive things that I will own someday. Right now I currently have my eyes set on the Obutto Ozone as I had no Idea that something like gaming cockpits existed in a mass produced fashion, the inner Battletech Geek in me demands one for playing mechwarrior online.

Thing I noticed right away was how far teh keys were from the edge and not having a form fitting wrist rest (to the keyboard) made it look very awkward and maybe even uncomfortable to use.

 

I like the industrial look of the frame, but these keys......

 

Although, if I had the money, I would rather buy a Qwerkywriter.

those have their own issues. Personally the best ones are the ones where actual typewriters have been modded to be able to output to PC. and that not just the retro ones. Some of the electric ones had an amazing key feel.

-snip-

TBH im still using my rather aged Logitech G15 (original orange version). And whilst I would very much like a mechanical keyboard, once one has got used to a LCD screen keyboard, u just cant go back. I use the little screen so often I really cant do without it. So im waiting on a mechanical keyboard that comes with a LCD screen.

-snip-

If I may ask what the heck do you use that screen for? Also Logitech G910 has the smartphone mount and software to go with. Thats about as close as youll get.

[TheProfosist]

Cant I just buy the keys and stick em on my k70 since they are cherry mx switches rather pay 750?

??

yes massdrop has had them available multiple time already but their actually not all that great to use.

 

I don't think that's a fair assesment at all, given that the Corsair CGK70 RGB goes for almost $200, and Corsair buy their key switches from Cherry in bulk as well as mass produce both their PCBs and chassis.

 

Futhermore, wood, leather, plastic and metal are all used in the construction of this keyboard and are all hand cut, machined and finished. They're all then assembled, by hand. I'm sure that 30 hours goes into the production of each of these keyboards and given that people with specialist skills like these usually charge at least $30/hour for their time, they're charging very little for labour. As for producing their own PCB, most companies would charge upwards of $1000 for a PCB to be commissioned...

 

So no, I wasn't expecting it to cost and I think very few people other than you were. If you really think it's so overpriced, put one together for yourself for <$200 and sell it at a profit.

This in reality is started off of a base keyboard. Much of that looks to be machine cut and then polished. The keycaps are mass produced and available on massdrop. Anyone who has built or modded a keyboard could likely build one of these if they wanted. It wouldnt be cheap unless you had access to the tools to make the case. I image someone like @Charger would have no problem.

 

Datamancer's aesthetic is unique, I'll give them that. I really like their brass works. It doesn't match well with anything other than their aesthetic, though.

 

For that price, I'm definitely going with a custom GON.

It has a steampunk feel in general. Those mods are quite popular and I imagine many steampunk case mods feature a keyboard like this, though if their capable of the case mod I imagine they could make the keyboard too with a little research.

Also dont get a GON his stuff is over priced as well. the top aluminum bit is just the anodized plate then the acrylic part that lights up is just a spacer so there is enough room for the PCB before the back and feet go on. They are very simple boards and he charges nearly as much as custom boards with fully cases that are milled out of aluminum.

 

Looks a lot like this one

source

yes but thats is actually better. I though at first it was placed in hand wired/soldered switches but after looking at the link they were able to maintain the curve because its based off a model M which has a curved PCB, interesting!

Want I noted on bot board is the feet if you notice the side of the triangle shape are longer than each other so you should be able to unscrew turn the rescrew on to a shorter or longer part to raise and lower it.

 

Ouch, $750 for a keyboard...

and for one that doesnt do anything special at that

[amin.a.nakhjavani]