Any chance of using alternative switches? I am quite a fan of the very low activation linear keys. There are some 25g Kailh switches that would suit this. They are colloquially known as gChoc, originally light blue and produced on special request, they’re now pink.
They are most likely "Kailh Choc V2". They are clones of "Cherry MX Low Profile" on the outside but not interchangeable due to a different pinout.
Some tech news sites have claimed that Kailh makes these.
Kailh manufactures also the "Logitech GL" (Kailh Choc) and "Logitech GX" (Kailh's Cherry MX-clone).
Cherry MXLP is not available in other than linear, and TTC's proper clone is not available in tactile.
Kailh might make something lighter than MX blues. Not sure what's out there on the light side. I'm sure cherry or someone must make something nice that still clicks. I also use linear switches around 60-70g.
With the Kailh Choc switches, I wouldn't bother with anything other than linear. -- The tactile on Kailh choc is very lame; the 'clicky' sounds like insects crawling, and isn't all that satisfying.
Possibly a lightweight Kailh Choc linear switch? They’re very soft and quiet, but they have no tactility. The tactile ones leave a bit to be desired. It’s hard to match rubber domes there.
1. The specs mention Kailh Red switches (linear) - is there any chance this would be offered in other types of Kailh switches? (e.g. Blue etc.)
2. These look like custom keycaps - does this mean that standard mechanical keyboard keycaps won't work on it? Or do you know if the keycaps on these are interchangeable? If not, would you offer them with say, blank keycaps?
If what you're looking for is a shorter key throw, you might be interested in the Kailh Choc switches[1]. They are still somewhat in their infancy, but you can find them on a few DIY boards[2] as well as a few pre-builts[3].
Interesting that they say the kailh choc brown switches offer clickiness. I have a keyboard with kailh choc browns and they feel like they have zero clickiness to me. Remind me of full size red switches.
Kailh has their Choc switches which are low profile. Not quite chicklet but fills the same role for the most part. Low-pro lovers seem to like them quite a bit.
I'm exactly like you (I see myself in your post) but there are two big issues with membrane keebs: 1) nkro (none of them support it) 2) can't customize switch resistance (they always feel too hard to push on, or too mushy).
Additionally, after trying QMK I'm never going back and no membrane keeb support it.
I want to try kailh chocs but I cannot afford to shell out hundreds of bucks for every new keyboard that I want to try.
I have a Reform and totally agree. I only had prior experience with Cherry MX blue & brown, so I expected more tactility from what Kailh is calling choc brown.
MNT recently announced standalone keyboards with other Kailh switches as options. It's using the same PCB, so I've ordered one with choc white and plan to do a board swap with my Reform.
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