it's good to hear these things from a ytber to maintain a balanced view of a product, so thanks for sharing! I passed on this board but tbf, a lot of fomo doesn't hit me in this hobby anymore bc my preferences and what I enjoy are really just not profitable to produce for these companies. but the feeling is very real, and something I experienced when I entered the hobby for sure; it's easy for someone to get sucked into, but more videos like this one can work to help keep expectations firmly grounded in reality and that is super valuable
The golden rule in this hobby (and other similar hobbies) is that it's all about personal preference. It's interesting that all the points you made on why you dislike the QK65 are the same reasons why I love the board. I love the heft/denseness of the board, I had no problem using Owlstabs (in fact most of my boards use Owlstabs lol), and I'm not put off by its standard config. On the flip side, I regret buying the KBD67 lite, and I have tried my friend's Libra40 and have arrived to hate 40s haha (I wish they make a 65% or even a 60% version of the Libra40). As for the FOMO thing, I admit I got sucked into the QK65, but my previous board was the KBD67 lite, so I had no regrets setting my alarm early enough to snag the board. I'm at a point now in the hobby where I watch keyboard videos purely for entertainment (and maybe some education) and not for purchasing advice. If anything, I've watched a few negative reviews on boards that I wish I didn't listen/take their advice on and have regretted not buying the first time (for example, the Rama U-80, I love this board and no one can say otherwise!). Anyway I'm rambling. Finally, no Coley, I'm not angry for your personal experience and opinions about the board. Why should anyone be angry? That's just weird. Again this friggin' hobby is about preference, so ultimately, who cares?!
Thats the beautiful thing about the hobby - and also one of its biggest causes of infighting, lol. I like what you said because its true- at the end of almost every point, I was a broken record saying "which is something you might love about it!". This video admittedly was really hard to make and put out knowing that a lot of people were going to disagree with me. I'm really happy you like the board :)
While FOMO was a big part of my QK65 R1 purchase, I’m actually extremely happy with it. IMO, it’s a huge setup up from my KBD67 Lite R3. But I totally agree that the Owl Stabs were underwhelming (I still can’t get my backspace to stop rattling). And the board is definitely quieter than expected (although switching from Alpacas to Tungstens really helped). Thanks for sharing your experience!
I absolutely love my QK65 R1, but I'm in kind of the exact opposite situation than what you described. It's my first 65, and the only other premium board I owned was a Bakeneko60 which I traded for some keycaps. I was able to make it exciting by succumbing to my inner gremlin and making it the most Blue keyboard of all time. MK3 Dasher keycaps (what I traded the Bakeneko60 for), all blue champion edition NK Creams (I had to know what they felt like), and the blue and gold case. I definitely bounced out of the hobby for 3 months after purchase tho, and not out of total satisfaction. It's my main keyboard and I love it, but it just does its job. It took a walking shitpost from Mechwild to bring me back in. EDIT: Also definitely gonna pick up some Stabies, the owlstabs are trash. Thanks for the rec.
@@_ExTitus Nearly!! The Alish is the one that actually got me, even though the clunker is the better shitpost. Ive been dying to build another 40% or something in an arisu layout and this satisfies both.
Honestly, I was considering joining the groupbuy for the QK65, but I ultimately passed on it due to me being kinda strapped for cash, never joining a groupbuy before, and not being too sure about liking a 65% or not. I honestly really enjoy the marble-y sound that people tend to strive for with their boards, but I can understannd why people wouldn't be a fan of it. Different strokes for different folks. I'll probably just wind up getting a Bakeneko 65 when I consider delving into a 65% board, since it's readily available and I've generally heard good things about it. Really great review, honesty about the issues you encountered and how you value the audience is appreciated.
Thanks for sharing your story, Coley. I think there's a lot of people out there that get got by FOMO and hearing someone like you, in your position and reach talk about your own personal experience with it and everything good and bad that comes with it is refreshing and needed with how fast boards are coming out now. Well done and cheers!
That is just unlucky Coley. Your disappoint and frustrations are understandable nonetheless. If nothing else, it's refreshing to hear your opinion as well. I have been getting on 65% besides my kbd67 and gas67, both gasket budget plastic keyboards. To be honest, it just feel good to be back on alu boards again and I have been having fun testing out configs and mats I can use to experiment on the sound profiles I can get out from it. Edit: OWL stabs, I hate to hate on free stuff but these stabs are just a bane. I had issue with it too so I switched mine with Staebies. LIFE CHANGING.
@@sainteagle4426 For the price, really good 65% gasket board. Sounds great even without the included silicone sheet. Just be wary though, it's northfacing pcb so you're gonna need some long pole switches.
forget the board, i really heard all the fomo talk and angle in this video. shit made a lot of sense. having just letting the qk75 gb pass me by due to finances and xmas season. as much as i tried to stretch to make the group buy, i couldnt justify dropping the cash and waiting 3 months, when the money could be better used not only for xmas but for much smarter uses today. already have a 75, and a 65 that i have modded out and love atm. but man was it a well reviewed board and ticked all the boxes for me in a board i would want. thanks for the fomo reminder and to stay out of it. lol. certainly dont mind letting this one pass me by now. ask me again in a few months when everyone receives theirs haha. i typically have been watching all the bigger youtubers like keybored etc, just stumbled across yours. has already entertained me for at least an hour as i watched a few of them. thank you for the content.
Thank you for the kind comment :') I think for the price of a QK75 you can definitely get some amazing gifts for family and friends. Plus, i've heard some of the plates for that board are too tight.. i'm definitely holding off.
Its out! I would hate to have had these problems so thanks for the information. I was planning on getting a QK65 so this was SUPERRR helpful! Great video as always Coley! Keep up the good work!
hey if you like the sound tests i say go for it! like i said in the video, its the best in its price range in terms of quality, if you like the aesthetic and sound then do it!
windows has a shortcut for linked in. its ctrl+alt+win+shift+L i believe. seems like the board spammed that shortcut due to a firmware error. Im sure its not a virus though. ctrl, alt, shift and win are all the modifier bits of a key code being set to 1.
I feel the same way about my gmmk pro, it was my first keyboard but i bought into all the hype around it being the "best" budget board and really regretted it. i heard one of the more interesting configurations for the qk65 is plate foam only.
It’s a bit scary that the “bug” was specifically trying to open a Microsoft login page. It would be one thing if it was spitting random text or was stuck sending some modifier key. But to specifically be opening an MS login page seems really specific.
Watching the video, do Staebies work for 1.2mm pcbs? Bought some tx stabs only to realize they weren't compatible (1.6mm and wk instead of 1.2 and wkl). I see Coley used them but I can't find anywhere online if they are compatible with 1.2mm pcbs
So I just got my R2 same as you, and while I haven't built it yet, I'm very excited to. I don't think I got it out of FOMO, but because it was a good transition from the KBD67lite into the higher end of boards without immediately breaking the bank. I can definitely understand where you're coming from with your perspective though. I'll soon be a part of 3 separate 65% boards though, but I don't feel bad about that at all lol. Best layout imo
can you compare how you moved from the kbd67 lite to the qk65? I've been looking at both and don't know which one to get. Currently I have a Keychron v2
@@tristansurajbali6421 Well, as of right now, the QK65 isn't available AFAIK, so your options look more like the Zoom65v2 vs the KBD67lite, or even the Keychron Q2. I really do love my QK65, and I think that it was a great second board. I don't think that the KBD67lite is different enough from the V2 from what I know, even though I don't have a V2 myself. Both are plastic boards that have southfacing LEDs, QMK and VIA, the 67lite just has more color options. If you're looking to upgrade, I would recommend finding a QK65 on the aftermarket or buying into the Zoom65 V2 GB, but the 67lite is definitely not a bad option if you're just looking for something different! Good luck.
I don't get having several "budget" boards that aren't otherwise unique in some way (e.g. joystick or something like the MechWild Clunker). I'd rather have one "premium" board than a bunch of budget boards that are essentially indistinguishable (which is what I'd say about having a 67 Lite, QK65, etc.) I have a MechWild Mercurio 40% through hole build for fun and tinkering, a 67 Lite for the office, and an MM Studio Class 65 for home. Feels like a good mix.
Bad batches of owlstabs I can agree are bad and they have quite a few qc issues because it isn’t uncommon but if you a normal batch they’re pretty good
I just realized check your cable too. I have a keychron q2 and was using a custom coiled cable and for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why it was doing almost same thing as yours where the keys would get stuck and type an infinite amount of e’s and a’s. My custom cable worked with my other keyboards but not the q2. I switched cables and it didn’t give me problems after. Try that and maybe it will solve the problem?
Hey! yes that's a great suggestion. BUT, i have never had an issue with this cable. Also, important to note, i am typing on the qk65 rn, because QWERTYkeys sent over the r1 pcb, with the old MCU. I rebuilt it. I have yet to run into the issue and ive been using it for two days (used to happen every hour or so). so fingers crossed that it fixed the issue!
I found the problem with owlstabs is its tolerance can be so tight that pbt keycaps may not fit these tolerances, becoming sluggish as the stems scrape against the sides of the housings. Only fix has been to thoroughly bend the devil out of them.
I like your honesty!! Personally it's worthwhile for me since it's going to be my 2nd keyboard, and my 1st custom one hehe so im pretty excited to finally get a premium keyboard
Just watched this today, and I have to say I'm in the same boat. I bought a complete kit, some extra plates, and an additional top + bottom case because I thought I'd have fun messing around with it. But I realized I already have tons of 65%s that I'm happy with, and although the QK65 is a good product, I just don't have any need for it, nor does it "spark joy" aesthetically. So, I'm gonna be selling mine, unbuilt.
exactly.. perfect way to word it. It does not particularly spark joy, at least not enough to justify the purchase. if it was my first board,, i think i'd be really happy.
almost got into the fomo of not getting the qk65. but then i realised how much i love my kbd67 lite as it was my first build from barebones set and it was already so good.. so i ended up waiting for a 75% board (Q1) instead to go on sale and got that instead to try more mods on that.
I have bought a QK65 but it has not arrived yet. I feel like it will be a great addition to my collection as it is small at the monemnt b main board is a next time 75 and my other board is a corsair k63 with tactiles soldered into it. I do not own a 65% keyboad yet.
- PCB: Damn, that sucks, super unlucky, sorry you had to deal with that ish. - Stabs: I've installed at least 6 sets of Owlstabs in boards at this point with not much tuning and they've all sounded great. *shrug* - Weight: This is not the first time I hear this take, and it's completely understandable. Heavy boards are not for everyone, but unfortunately it's one of those things you can't really evaluate for yourself until you have a thic boy in-hand (especially when you have everyone tellng you "heavier is better").
Awesome comment - I like how you don't completely agree with my takes but are still super respectful about it. Thank you! Yeah, the weight thing is not something i anticipated not liking. Since i use a tablet monitor, I have to move my keyboard around a lot, and it being so heavy can actually be a problem! haha.
At the end of the day, keyboards are all a matter of preference. It is okay if you don't like the qk65. you don't even have to have a reason or have to justify your dislike( I appreciate that you did though!)
Your video made me cancel my latest order LOL, i bought another 75% keyboard, but i already have another 4 of those! the only difference is that the new one would be white! Just hope i canceled in time!
@@coleydotmp4 yeah, I think he mentions it in his qk65 review amongst other videos 😅 still alexotos also doesn't recommend them. I'll see whether I have to get staebies or tx stabs, when I get my qk65 😅
@@coleydotmp4 I soooo wish we had more high end quality options for the good ol' 75% format. Besides GOK 7v, Satisfaction75 and Epoch, I have a hard time comig up with something else. It feels like everything released nowadays that is top notch comes up in 65 or TKL format... :(
@@alaudbrother It's all subjective, but comparing Q1, V1 or Bounce75 to the likes of a 7v or Epoch? That's REALLY comparing oranges to apples... Very, very expensive apples :P Also, most of the keebs on that list had their GB done last year or even earlier, unfortunately (Tomo, Fuji, Mammoth, KL90...). And a few of them are not up the the quality of the ones I quoted (LW-75 comes to mind, and this coming from someone who owns a LW-67). So, as long as 2022 goes, we are lacking some AAA 75% keebs, I'm afraid
That's such a bummer your board had that glitch with your PC! I've literally never heard of that happening, but I'm glad they got your sorted out. That aside, I do 100% think the QK65 was wayyyyyy over hyped. It's a great board, but holy hell it was the ONLY thing in the spotlight for months. Personally, the Jelly Epoch is still my "endgame" so I was just pumped to get an Owlab board to hold me over until I could justify dropping the $1.2k that they're going for on aftermarket, and that's probably why I still love it so much. I definitely understand your feelings on it, though. Fantastic video, as always! I love the transparency of your thoughts on the product and your experiences with it.
Oh! and I am completely convinced that they hype around this board killed the PE foam craze lmao everyone's build sounded basically the same. I think it's cleaner than the sound from packaging PE foams, but going forward I'm probably only going to use PE foam on Owlab boards/VERY select builds.
Loved this vid, especially about FOMO. Too many people want to go for the latest "best budget keyboard", but there's going to be a new one of those every year, if not every few months. I own the D65, which is regarded as a not good board right now, but when it first released, it was considered decent because everyone wanted the "thock"(ugh) and it did that well. Few years from now, even the QK65 is going to be considered average based on the current trend. If you already own a 65% board, buying the QK65 is in the long run, just... ok.
Completely agree with this sentiment! Though i still think the d65 is a really solid board, even for todays standards, though, a little overpriced for todays standards. its really difficult to know what the next trends are going to be. Thats why its important to only buy what you really believe in - not just what others are telling you to get. A good example of this is the space 65 and capsule. people who bought that board got it because they were in love with the aesthetic - even if the "sound" or "mounting style" goes out of style, its still beautiful work of design that i believe will hold up over time. I cant say that about the qk65. Even the d65 has a unique look. its these really basic looking boards that will fall out of style quickly once their mounting style or sound becomes "old"
My qk65 r2 aluminium was incredibly wonky I can’t install the plate into the PKB so its a pile of junk basically in the corner of my room and it was sorta my leap into the custom keyboard community.
A great video with many good points. Some of which I wish I could have convinced past me to acknowledge before I bought stuff. The first is FOMO. It is so real in this hobby. I made multiple purchases where there was at least a little buyer’s remorse and at least very redundant buys. I want to attribute part of that to the group buy model. How else can I explain the nine 65% boards I own. I have learned over time that each one has their own little personality and my habits of not using the same switches twice and a variety of different keycap picks. Still, when I look at the latest 60% and 65% offerings, it has (thankfully) become a tough sell for me and something truly unique has to be on the table to get me to consider shelling out for these form factors. Firmware and the pain it brings. I do not pretend to be an expert on QMK or the intricacies of the USB interface. Based on my experience with coding and troubleshooting other microcontrollers and hardware, my guess is one of three things: 1)The software USB implementation library 2)Some oddball code state the microcontroller gets into. 3)A hardware silicon level design bug inherent to the microcontroller. What does make it odd is how rare the occurrence is and how tough it is to reproduce. In terms of sound and feel preferences, I have nothing to add. It’s your board, your preferences, and you can and should tune it to a configuration that does it for you. As for flex cuts and extra thin PCBs, I have my own issues with these things. My hope is that RU-vidrs will just stop horsing on their boards to show how much flex there is. Just. Stop. Pushing. Last up, did I buy this board / want one. For me, no. I have not been excited by Owl Labs after watching the disaster that was Mr. Suit (round 1) Are their designs bad? No. However, the connection of the QK65 to Owl was one reason to skip it. The other more pragmatic reason is that I really did not need the board. I have comparable boards and also much more fancy ones as well. I am not the target audience the QK65 is shooting for. As for unique boards. The 40% crowd are the ones who always seem to get my attention (such as the Libra mini and boards by a designer that makes a lot of different FR4 skeleton boards). So many new and weird layouts. It always feels like there’s something fresh, even if I don’t like the design. I respect the 40% community's brand of crazy a great deal.
If you do get flamed, it won't be from reasonable people. What you described in this video is what separates true enthusiasts and the rest of the people who just want a nice board that they can enjoy typing on. When I got into the rabbit hole, I got FOMO and got in on the the vega gb, got the mr suit. Before I got these, I got an entry level board, which I loved typing on. It was miles ahead of other premade mk's. I expected that mr suit and vega would provide an even stellar experience than my entry level board. After all, the entry level board which I did all the mods for stabs, switches, sound, etc was so much better than a drop ctrl or any other premade board. After building Mr Suit, I "thought" i enjoyed the marbly sound then it became a distraction. Was it much better typing experience than the entry level board? No. Take away the sound and you've got a board that just feels different but not "better". So I immediately sold mr suit and vega. I might get flamed for this, but at this point, it's mostly materialism. It's about feeling good that you have a keycult or a jelly on your desk. The only difference is that you've got a more expensive piece of metal on your desk. And this can be proved by the fact that tiger 80 lite is considered an amazing board to type on. But it's NOT 6036 cnc alumnium with brass weights! Yeah that's the difference. So at this point, the deciding factor of getting a board for me will be mainly aesthetics.
same here. My first board which is the bakaneko60 I love typing on it and main it til this day. I bought the space65 and qk65. Same thing just 2z the price. Sold it and spent that money on "experimenting" on my bakaneko and I love it
Really enjoyed your honest review. In terms of FOMO, I've been feeling it even though I haven't even bought my first mechanical keyboard yet. A big trigger was actually finding out I was several weeks late on the QK65 R2. It seemed like the perfect board for me and I missed it, hence I've been watching out for the next best thing like a hawk. I hope you don't get too much haters for this video, I do like to see reviews that bring up the negatives that most other reviewers don't have time to even encounter as they're probably on to the next product. Unfortunately after getting hyped up over a product, I only find the negative stories later on. Usually when I'm looking up a solution for my specific issues!
Dam, the only youtuber I've seen to say its not flexy/bouncy. AND I AGREE! I felt really baited when I typed on it and it just didn't feel good cuz all the influencers commented on how bouncy/flexy it was. Maybe if its your first gasket board or above "budget level" board, but its honestly a stiff typing experience imo. I enjoyed the kbd67 lite a bit more honestly, and that's when I realized I had to sell my qk65.
I had something like this happen to me but not with the QK65. It was due to bad leaf in a switch I had installed. It was causing that switch to activate itself over and over non-stop.
someone had to say it coley I got the FOMO and got a qk65 and space65 it's legit the same thing I felt good for a day or two cuz I had 400$ piece of metal on my table but I sold it both of them and I'm way happier.
Ugh i feel this. Yeah a few people weren't happy with this video, but it had to be said. luckily, i was able to mod the board and find a switch/keycap configuration that i like (and got the r1 pcb that doesnt break my computer). So for now, I'm holding onto it.
I added the qk65 to my collection 2 days ago. It was worth the wait. I love the marbley sound of it and my clacky long pole stem switches make the best duo for this board. If I get bored of the sound I could just take out the foam and there you go, new sound profile. The build quality of this board is amazing and the potential it has is, for me, unmatched. What I think you would like is the up and coming qk60 if you want to get it. Very great keyboard.
this is my first "good" keyboard. i owned something similar to an anne pro for the last years, and in my case the upgrade and feel is something i did feel and i enjoy. im still tinkering a bit to find a config that i like more, but as i have it i do like it and enjoy, feelwise especially. also now i only feel attracted to weird ass boards (yes im lookin at you libra mini). but thanks coley awesome vid!
my R2 hasn't arrived yet but I'm convinced that I'm going to feel the same as you when it lands. The ISO layout I went for is already compromised and now a looming sense of meh is becoming apparent now that more people have it. I wish I'd have held out for the Ciel 65 instead. Also, amazing points about FOMO that I wish past me knew sooner.
Love this video and love the perspective on the hobby! I do think being honest with ourselves and taking some time to really check in and ask why we want a board and tempering the hype would be a much healthier way of engaging the hobby. Haaaaaving said that I DID buy two of these but one is the Ashkeebs gb that is hella delayed and I'm just gonna sell at cost when I get and the other is the green and gold one mostly as a home for MW Voynich whenever that GB is fulfilled 😅 for me at least, it was mostly because I had a specific build in mind I wanted to do
I passed on this board because I already have a budget 65%, a fully decked out mode65, as well as a few others in various layouts. I looked at this board and my initial thoughts were OH, another PE foam board, PASS. There's nothing wrong with PE foam. I just used it in my TKC portico when I first got into the hobby and got super tired of the sound. Also I just don't need or want anymore keyboards. At this point they are just becoming decorations. I already found my endgame configuration by accident. After that, I have used only this board for the past 4 months and probably will continue to only use this board until it stops working properly. It kind of killed my interest in the hobby sadly, but I still enjoy watching others enjoy the new stuff that comes out.
I have 5 keyboards including qk65 r1 and kbd blade 65 r2 hhkb fujitsu type s is a cooler master novatouch topre s, and a sk61 with optical switches for gaming, the one i use the most in the office is the fuji, light and i love topre , at home I also prefer the kbd against the tide perhaps because I love the mounted switches, neapolitan ice cream, but the sound is better, crunchier and more pleasant, I will probably sell the qk65, greetings from Italy
I discovered your channel recently and I've been watching through. My Libra Mini does the same thing your QK65 was doing. I was thinking the connection was faulty but if it's straight up a compatibility issue then I'm a little upset.
@@coleydotmp4 I think i'm experiencing the same problems with my r2 pcb. I've had the keyboard open up a ton of programs, activate the narrator app, flicker between open programs, lock my mouse to zoom on my browser as if I were holding down ctrl and a few other things. Customer service on the discord basically asked me to take the same steps as you, aside from wiping my pc. They'll be mailing me a r1 pcb as a resolution.
@@Tulkas805 Im sorry to hear that. I can happily report that the r1 pcb has fixed the issue. i havent run into the glitch since switching. Really glad to hear they are helping everyone with the issue
Do you realize what the main selling point of owl stabs is? You aren't supposed to tune them. They will go back to their factory ship state because of the memory metal. Contact their support and they will literally ship you another one. Also, why are you complaining a metal keyboard with a weight is heavy? Did you even read the description before buying? I know you're expressing your own feelings but a lot of these grievances are your own fault; Not the keyboard itself.
the entire point of the video is to express that i gave in to keyboard FOMO and bought it even though i didn't need it or find it special, the point of the video is my PERSONAL grievances because the video is about why the board didn't work for me. 2:15 is a good place where i explain that i don't think the board is inherently bad. Title of the video is "I didnt like the qk65", not "the qk65 is bad". I also add in critique that applies to everyone - like bad stabs, limited sound signatures, the computer breaking glitch in the PCB... You're not the only one who had this sentiment, so i guess me constantly saying throughout the video that its not a bad board, and if you have one and like it thats totally justified, was not clear enough. i really thought i was a broken record when editing this video, though. also, the Owlstabs aren't good if to get rid of pinging, you have to ship them back lol.. it's kinda aa part of the keyboard meta that owlstabs aren't as good as everyone initially thought.
Did the R2 board ever get working? It sounds a bit like the board was signaling a Windows button combination… so maybe it was a signal error on the PCB due to a manufacturing issue, or something in the MCU firmware unable to deal with some special case in the USB protocols.
Hey, yes so the OG pcb that they sent out did fix the issue. that used a standard MCU that you'd find on other boards, but the r2 pcb had a proprietary MCU made by QK (either to cut costs or in response to the chip shortage, idk). Something on that MCU was causing the glitch, but you're correct that it was causing a ton of windows key-based commands to be rapidly inputted which would then crash my computer. or something along those lines. Luckily QK sent me that OG pcb asap and it hasn't glitched out since. And i had a few people in the comments of this video have the same issue, they all were able to get replacements to my knowledge. I'm not sure why this issue only happened to me and a handful of other people, even after updating windows, hard resets, etc. But I respect that QK was quickly able to remedy the situation.
I know this isn't a Bakeneko review but since you seem to like it a lot, I just want to share my opinion. Personally, from all the boards I own, I think Bakeneko is probably the lowest quality board. It's very unique and has really cool Unikorn style mounting system but they really need to work on the finishes. Maybe it doesn't bother others but I don't even like looking at it because of all the flaws. Also the corner switches are often lifting off due to o-ring compressing it since it doesn't have stand-off to hold the o-ring so I don't think it's a very well designed board. It was interesting to hear you praise Bakeneko just because my impression was completely the opposite. I guess people value different aspects.
I totally see where you're coming from. yes, those are some inherent problems with the board. but once it's built, it really isnt much of an issue. I also didn't have that problem with the corner switches, luckily. What i love about the bakeneko is the form factor, easy build, weight of it, how easy it is to pick one up, etc. its like, ol' reliable to me. Its not perfect - the canonkeys plate is really bad and some of the finishes (the new ones they came out with are much better) are not great (I have the painted white - its not perfect but ts not TERRIBLE.). I don't think the bakeneko is inherently better - as i say in the video, it ISNT objectively better than the qk65. but i dont feel that the two boards are different enough to justify owning both, plus a 67 lite. at least, to my own preferences of my keeb collection. Hope that clears it up!
I can relate to wanting lighter boards for casual use. I experienced first hand how heavy aluminium boards actually were, when my Q1 landed on my head. Maybe plastic boards aren't so bad after all. Might pick up a KBD67 Lite again for a Gameboy themed build.
As I currently type this with my r2 board, I've really enjoyed my first board in this hobby, but I totally understand the perspective in the video and it sucks to hear about the problems it's brought.
It seems the QK65 was a waste of time and money for you, with both being quite precious to you, too. It's a good board, although not perfect. But if you have something close enough already, why bother getting this too? I started out with a GMMK, then a Pro, both in localized ISO, which is a PITA to find keycaps for. I then picked up a really cheap kbd67 lite in ANSI to see if I could get used to both the ANSI-US Layout and the 65% form factor. Turns out the answer is yes. I had been wanting to replace my GMMK Pro for a bit because I was dissatisfied with the sound and feel of it. And since I built the kbd67 lite to be a work keeb (ultra silent with Boba U4), I needed another board. QK65 rolled around at the right time. It does what I set out for it to do, sound and feel a lot nicer than the GMMK Pro. It does have its own issues, though. I have the tri mode PCB and the firmware for that (I miss QMK so much) is a hot mess. Had to really lean onto support to get them to release a firmware that had a sane debounce delay (board shipped with over 20ms. then the next one had like 2ms so it chattered like crazy, industry standard is 5.) The 2.4GHz wireless is also kind of useless because it actually has more latency than the bluetooth connection. But the battery life is really nice. Generally, I'm still in the market for another 65. I can live just fine without the F row since I use caps as a momentary layer switch. But I'm looking for something that gives me a knob again, but without sacrificing one of the four extra keys on the right. Maybe they'll do another Voice65 or something similar.
In short, she got pulled to the hype and regret her purchase because it didn't wow her enough. Her 65% needs were met and QK65 didn't have enough to justify buying another 65%. To make things worst her PC is not compatible with it.
I own a few 65% keyboards as well; D65, QK65, Portico, lkki68, Mode 65, and EVO70. I mostly view keyboards and switches the same way I viewed trading cards as a kid. They have value, I enjoy them, and I could sell them if I ever needed the extra cash. I regularly rotate my boards and I keep going back to the QK65 and the Mode 65 for long periods. I also enjoy my goofy keyboards. I'm typing on a Seigeiha, I have a Lily58, Breeze split keyboard, Game Roy Advance, Mercutio, and an Orange Boy Ergo. Cheaper DIY projects and switch modding are my favorite parts of the hobby, so I agree. Go wild with the weird stuff! It's fun! When it comes to productivity though, 65% with a numpad on the side is what works best for me.
OOF if i had a mode65 id be typing on it right now! haha. And yes, that layout you mentioned is awesome (i actually have one, an akko acr 98mini), we need more boards with funky layouts.
@@coleydotmp4 wow! I’ve been looking for this exact layout and just checked this Akko board out. It has arrows, a numpad and delete key. That’s everything I need outside of the 60 keys!!!
