So, I decided to upgrade my late 2014 Mac Mini that runs the ROON core. Going to put in an SSD. Relatively smooth, EXCEPT I Effed up the fan connector. A new fan has been ordered. No joy for a while as far as ROON goes. Leaving the Mac 85% re-assembled.
Pooh to some of the gentle pry off connectors and the nylon pry off tool.
OK, an internal hd replacement with an SSD is not exactly a peripheral, but close enough.
And that also means my usual high quality chain to the BF2 is not in use, although I could connect the PC to the Bifrost, which I aināt never done. I think there is a mini-optical outā¦ Nah, it says digital out is for 7.1 surround sound only. So itās USBā¦
Round about October of 2020 we had a nice little discussion of mech keyboards here, which resulted in me ending up replacing a worn out Logitech wired illuminated keyboard with my present GMMK full size keyboard with Kailh Brown switches and thin o-rings. This is a keyboard that Iām still quite happy with. I donāt use it for gaming, Iām a typist. Perhaps I would prefer a slightly stiffer spring, but thatās niggling. After all I did learn on Royal and Underwood manual machines, and honed my typing skills on an IBM Selectric Mark II.
Anyway the new GMMK keyboard is coming out, the Glorious GMMK 2, in both configurable and standard options. And Iām thinking about replacing my work keyboard with a mech one. Lots of choices.
Anyone have any thoughts? Might go for Glorious Panda lubed switches this time - I do prefer tactile feel. And there are now black, white and pink board options. And many pretty keycaps, although the black slate and black aura are probably my fuddy-duddy style, but white ice looks nice too, and the Caribbean Sea blueā¦ .
I currently use the Glorious Panda switches with my Drop CTRL, and theyāre my favorite tactile switches right now. Lubing is a must though IMO, so I highly recommend ordering pre-lubed or doing it yourself when they arrive. Also, when used with Cherry key caps, which I originally had, it sometimes felt like there was interference; having North-facing LEDs probably contributes to this. I believe the GMMK 2 has North facing LEDs, so this is something to keep in mind.
I use the regular GMMK (non-pro) at the office and also for my linear switch gaming keyboard, and I think itās quite the bargain for the asking price. In some ways, itās better than the Drop CTRL, which is twice the price (GMMK has better stabilizers, which are pre-lubed from the factory). For a work keyboard, itās hard to beat. Tactile switches are louder than linear, though, so bear that in mind if you sit near others.
Iām the boss. Two person office in a small suite ā three main rooms plus bath and two small rooms. And I was planning on offering my admin one of her own if she wants. So not worried about that.
Enough isolation that she can stream on computer speakers or listen to my speakers if Itās otherwise reasonable to play them. Fortunately sheās a music fan and her hubby plays bass in an oĆ band, so sheās immune to key click noises.
The keyboards came today. Iād ordered 3 GMMK 3 full size, some Kailh Brown and Glorious Panda Lubed switches, two sets of Rainforest Green keys. My admin assembled hers in about 45 minutes and loves it. I took about 25 minutes longerā¦ Really like how it feels.
BUT
(thereās always a but, isnāt there?)
I bent about 5 or 6 switches putting them in - I think the Panda prongs may be a touch softer than the Kailh. The keycaps are less transparent that I would have liked, so the letters donāt light up the way the keycaps on my original prebuilt GMMK do.
And Finallyā¦
there is a dead number 6 in the numeric keypad. I tried two Panda and one Kaihl switch just to be sure, tried shorting the contacts with a paperclip also. No joy. Wrote to PCGamingRace. They asked me for some info about serial numbers, asked me to make them a video and upload it showing the problem, and theyād be glad to help. They also confused my question with a problem theyād had on their side of the order (their cart brokeā¦)
I told them Iām a 68 year old Financial Advisor, and I had more on my plate than making a video for them of a defective keyboard, and FURTHER that it would have to be a long video because it would need to show (they specify unedited) me swapping switches to show it wasnāt a frigginā switchā¦ So I offered to just buy a new keyboard and send them the defective one back for a credit.
Sorry to hear about the dead key on the PCB. Iāve dealt with Gloriousā s customer service in the past, and while the video thing is tedious, as soon as I uploaded it to them they replaced my defective product; hopefully they take good care of you. Also, Iāve bent a few pins on my Panda switches; good thing I ordered enough for sparing (3 bags for a 10-keyless unit); theyāre a little tougher to get in than some of the other switches Iāve used in the past.
What are your thoughts on the Kailh Brownās vs the Glorious Pandas?
Gloriousā issued me a return shipping label, but no commentary so far. I guess Iāll dis-assemble and return the PCB. I might order some new Pandas if I need to - I have a few left. I think I was able to straighten some pins with needle nose pliers.
I like the Panda switches better - they are just a touch stiffer, which is right for me. Iāve got the lubed Pandas. The Kailh Browns have the advantage of being clear - much brighter LED glow. They donāt feel bad at all. Thatās what I have on my original GMMK; I found that they benefitted from the slim O rings for my typing style. My admin really likes hers, and she types like gangbusters on the new keyboard.
Glad to hear theyāre taking care of you thus far.
I like the Pandas a lot too - definitely need to be lubed, though (which yours are). I too noticed the glow is a lot dimmer when moving from the Halo Clears to the Pandas, but I donāt mind; my keycaps arenāt translucent anyway (Drop MT3 with a Drop modded CTRL).
Update on PC Gaming Race and their support. Theyāve been good all the way after I pushed back on taking a stupid video. Theyāve sent a RMA. I preferred to buy a new barebones keyboard and swap over my switches and keycaps before sending the defective one back, and theyāre good with that too.
I really really really like the GMMK 2 keyboard. Itās heavy ABS with an aluminum cover. Feels great with the Glorious Panda switches, and my admin loves hers with the Kailh Brown switches. Iād buy another if they had Mac support. Itās miles above the original GMMK. Heavier. Iāve got Kailh Browns in my original GMMK, I maybe should switch switches to the Pandas.
I know itās PC Gaming Race, but I canāt help but think that my Macbook Pro 14 with a mid tier M1 Pro chip is fast enough to be worthy of support. Itās even pretty fast running Windows 11 for ARM in Parallels desktopā¦
Actual Branch Office Administrator, one of the two client facing positions at Edward Jones. Iām the other, a Financial Advisor. Iām the team leader in a team of two, with responsibility for anything requiring being licensed and overall branch P&L.
As a practical matter it really is a team with the admin managing my calendar, office supplies, much insurance paperwork, and many client interactions not related to investment or goal modeling.
We are both responsible to compliance and regional management handled from outside the branch.
Thank you. Yeah, well, why should I be the bastard with the clacky keyboard in the other room? Plus, she types even faster than I do, and Iām no slouch, having taken actual typing class in Jr. High summer school when there was such a thing. Using an Underwood 5 manual, then an electric Underwood Scriptor, then to my Momās ancient Royal manual portable before getting my own Smith Corona electric portable at the age of 16. When Jeannie Battle got a VW Bug for her birthdayā¦ .
Anyway Brittany (my admin) has a brother who is a gamer and into mech keyboards, so she was up for installing the Kailh Brown switches and keycaps, and then I saw she needed a wrist rest, so I got a Glorious one of those plus their Option D mouse, so now her mouse and keyboard undergo LED color changes in unison. I donāt use a mouse, having become used to the Logitech trackball instead.
Okayā¦I am sick and tired of my Drop CTRL low profile keyboard double inputting key inputs when I only press the key once (I believe this is called āghostingā or ādebounceā). Has anyone had any luck in finding a fix for this? Iāve taken the thing apart, cleaned it, installed a custom foam kit from StupidFish, replaced and lubed the new stabs (Durock plate mounted), performed the band aid mod and of course use lubed switches (Glorious Panda) and aftermarket keycaps (Drop MT3). The board originally came with the Halo Clears and had the ghosting problem, which is why I moved to the Glorious Pandas; problem still happens, and the other board that I put the Clears in doesnāt exhibit the issue (Glorious GMMK TKL).
Is there anything else I can do besides cutting bait and buying something else? There doesnāt seem to be many solutions on the web besides doing what Iāve already mentioned (clean PCB, switches, replace switches, etc.).
I have 3 of them with 3 different switches and mine donāt do it except on one of my tablet like PCās and they arenāt the only keyboards to do it there.
My suspicion is itās a firmware issue, or possibly a marginal 5V line on the one PC that does itās USB connection, that causes interruptions on the keyboards processor.
I really like the new Glorious GMMK2 keyboard. Itās heavy, profile is great for typing. Youāve already got the Pandas. Pick up a bare bones GMMK2 a few more Pandas and a puller tool. That way you at least are re-using the switches. I really like the Glorious Panda switches. If you want to quiet them down a bit (I donāt) consider getting the thin o-rings.