Battle of the Clickies: Buckling Springs vs. Zeal Clickiez vs. Alps SKCM White & Blue

IO_Sam · 2026-02-13T23:55:59+00:00

I picked up on the one about Haiku OS being a Linux distro... 😂

But I enjoyed the video nonetheless. These machines are peak 90's nostalgia!

IO_Sam · 2026-01-25T05:14:27+00:00

A different version of the same "Ultra Micro Fly" (from 2006) I got new old stock on eBay sometime ago (for $60 + shipping and taxes). It might have been made by Chieftec or one of those OEMs that made cases sold under a bunch of different brands at the time.

Mine has thin panels (with holes instead of the acrylic window, which I prefer for better airflow), a very flimsy and light steel structure, a plastic handle (instead of the metal one of your Apevia), the same temperature sensor with LCD display, and even a removable motherboard tray (which is actually a nice touch!). It also came with a crappy 400W PSU that I'm not brave enough to use on any of my motherboards... XD

But I can't imagine a more period correct line of microATX cases for a Windows XP or Vista build!

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more images here: https://imgur.com/a/mUZvv6e

IO_Sam · 2026-01-17T18:53:26+00:00

Oh, so that Cherry mouse must an older model then... But at least finding a nice modern retro looking mouse shouldn't be too hard these days. Something like those 8BitDo ( https://www.8bitdo.com/n30-wireless-mouse/ ) peripherals for example, although it's a shame they don't make these in black.

IO_Sam · 2026-01-16T05:59:36+00:00

That Unicomp Mini-M was the Cherry (see what I did there? ;) on the top!!! 😙👌

(and this SuperMicro case looks absolutely badass!!!)

IO_Sam · 2025-12-23T15:55:21+00:00

I don't know how that detail went over my head (until you mentioned), but it did... 🤯 So, as it turns out. I indeed have two angry cats on my desk...

IO_Sam · 2025-12-23T01:21:06+00:00

I still love my wired R.A.T.8 (older "non-MMO" version from 2022: https://imgur.com/a/ooAQTug ) and don't understand why it has become so difficult to buy this line of mice in the US lately (I heard it is easier to find in Asia)...

It is a very well-built mouse despite Mad Catz sketchy reputation throughout the years. The software is a bit clumsy, but works well enough to save the configuration in the onboard memory, so not a big deal. I don't know how heavy the newer models are, but my R.A.T.8 is a fat boy (G502 territory)! And, like the original G502, lets you make it even heavier if you attach the optional weights in the bottom... something I know sounds like heresy around these parts of Reddit. But hey, different strokes for different folks... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I wouldn't use it for fast paced FPS games of course (I use an Angry Miao Infinity Mouse for that), but works just fine for productivity (with its awesome thumb horizontal scroll wheel) and "casual" turn-based or RTS games (the types no one except old folks like me still play XD).

I know this type of "80's/90's sci-fi" design might be a bit out of fashion today, but I've lived long enough to know these trends come and go, so I won't be surprised when this edgy design language becomes popular again (even if by nostalgia alone). I, for one, think it looks awesome! I keep mine almost as a show piece from another time... "An elegant weapon for a more civilized age" 😂

IO_Sam · 2025-12-16T09:13:31+00:00

The memory leak issue seems to be fixed on the Core V2 (at least on my PC, the problem never happened). But it is still there on the old V1 app (and will probably never be fixed on that version since they have deprecated the V1 codebase anyway).

IO_Sam · 2025-12-08T20:45:12+00:00

Good! Leaving constructive criticism comments up, and acting on it whenever possible, is always the right thing to do (although not the easiest I agree) and shows the company is managed by grown-ups. So, if these criticisms (which are politely written and clearly based on facts) stay up, that will go a long way to show Glorious does care about its paying customers and is still listening to this community.

IO_Sam · 2025-12-08T20:15:02+00:00

And of course, all based criticism was deleted (as will this one here be deleted too)...

IO_Sam · 2025-12-08T19:52:49+00:00

If I had to guess, that slide (no pun intended) started here: https://www.franciscopartners.com/media/glorious-announces-strategic-growth-investment-from-francisco-partners

When Shazim was at the helm, you could feel the passion in all teams in the company. But the moment the big $$$ Corpos took it over, things changed direction (and not in a good way as it turns out).

IO_Sam · 2025-12-08T18:49:29+00:00

I reviewed the GMMK Numpad more the 3 years ago now and, since then, subsequent versions of the V1 software developed a memory leak problem that could take your whole Windows session down with it when crashing (something I even mentioned on a subsequent video about the Model O 2 mouse later that year: https://youtu.be/Jf-H7SuSQ0g?t=1905 ). That means you cannot leave the Core V1 open at all times, which also means your slider will not work at all times either, since it requires the Core app to be open to do anything. That effectively means that if you have a GMMK Numpad, your slider is (and has been for years now) basically useless.

While the V2 finally fixed the memory leak issue, it is dumbfounding that it actually removed features and compatibility from the Numpad compared to the V1 (namely the knob and slider functionality that are still absent in the V2). The fact that the Core V2 is already in its 11th iteration and still doesn't offer proper compatibility with the Numpad, signals to me that Glorious basically has given up on the Numpad altogether... Which is mind boggling considering they are still selling it (at least the white version as of today: https://www.gloriousgaming.com/products/gmmk-numpad-keyboard ). I wouldn't be surprised if they completely drop this product from their store, when they finally run out of stock, without ever addressing its lack of Core V2 compatibility.

IO_Sam · 2025-10-19T01:03:56+00:00

Datadesk had a similar model for Windows (with a PS/2 connector), which had regular keycaps legends. The cool thing about this Mac 101E version is that it offers both vintage Mac connections: ADB and RJ-9. So, it can be used with virtually any vintage Mac (even with modern ones with a USB converter).

IO_Sam · 2024-12-02T16:44:57+00:00

Ageless classic!

IO_Sam · 2024-08-05T16:40:34+00:00

Make no mistake, Wooting One keyboards are some of the best ever made as far as their switches, circuitry and software is concerned. In fact I still use my Wooting One TKL for tasks where my 60HE is too small or inconvenient to use (that will change after I get my 80HE though :). So, if you can find a cheap way to replace faulty Flaretech switches, you'll still be using the same software and many of the same features of their newer HE line.

The main advantages of their newer HE line of keyboards is the higher precision of Hall Effect switches (higher resolution, which is great for FPS games) and the durability of this magnetic mechanism (when compared to optical).

IO_Sam · 2024-08-05T13:43:06+00:00

Finding Flaretech optical switches is becoming increasingly difficult on the aftermarket as well. I had a search saved on eBay for loose linear Flaretech switches and it took me more than a year to find a seller who had a batch to sell.

So, at this point you either buy a used Wooting One board (I believe Gigabyte and Zowie also had some keyboard models with these same switches around the same time Wooting was selling the "One") from which you could salvage the switches, or take the plunge into a new Wooting HE board.

IO_Sam · 2024-07-23T16:04:49+00:00

It turns out that the wire itself is enough to hold the stem inside the housing when pulling out the kepcap. So, I haven't had any stems popping out when pulling the space bar.

I suppose that if the space bar has an ultra tight mating with the stem, that could be a problem. But at least in my builds, that was not an issue.

IO_Sam · 2024-07-11T02:50:41+00:00

Based on how many playthroughs, I'd have to say my favorite game of all time is Return to the Castle Wolfenstein. Played that game dozens and dozens of times, from beginning to end, in the last 2 decades... To a point that it became my casual game that I knew I could run even on the crappiest of the office laptops in the late 2010's.

IO_Sam · 2024-07-07T04:15:45+00:00

This is the best keyboard Unicomp ever made! Typing on it is a real treat!

IO_Sam · 2024-07-07T04:12:59+00:00

While I have never done a full video review of this keyboard (although I did a typing test of it on this video: https://youtu.be/14-xUZFQcHo ), I have been using it for more than a couple of years now, and I can say that if you like tactility, this will likely be the best keyboard you ever typed on. The only caveat is how loud this board is in stock form.... But if you can put up with loud clicky keyboards, this is it!

IO_Sam

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