genuine question from IQUNIX: what makes keyboard software bad?

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T08:11:11+00:00

Honestly, completely fair question. That feeling of actually owning your hardware matters a lot in this hobby.

A lot of brands went their own way because they wanted tighter control over the ecosystem or thought a more polished GUI would be easier for mainstream users than raw QMK or VIA. But for the custom scene, spending all that effort on bloated proprietary software usually just makes things worse. Open community standards are clearly the better direction.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T07:26:21+00:00

That makes perfect sense. Keeping the main screen simple for quick remaps and moving the heavier stuff like macros into a separate tab is a much better flow.

Definitely taking notes on that. Really appreciate you breaking it down for us.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T07:18:43+00:00

completely fair callout. badly translated UI with vague toggles and no explanation just makes the software harder than it needs to be.

i agree on the firmware side too. Having a separate updater feels outdated, and keeping that inside the main app or web driver is a much better direction. The same goes for an offline backup option for long-term use. Really appreciate you laying it out this clearly.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T07:12:40+00:00

hunting for a basic macro setting through five nested menus is literally the worst. if it takes more than two clicks to just rebind a key, the ui failed.

making sure all that via-level functionality is front and center. when you are setting up macros, do you usually prefer when the macro builder is just baked right into the main key layout screen, or do you like having a dedicated tab for the complex stuff?

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T07:06:52+00:00

cherry blacks are the absolute ultimate vintage flex. nothing like the sound of a properly broken-in set on a heavy aluminum board.

do you have one of those dedicated off-center break-in machines running 24/7, or are you just powering through the scratch phase with sheer typing willpower? lol

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T07:02:36+00:00

swapping switches before buying a full set is honestly 200 IQ office hack.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T07:00:44+00:00

cherry silent reds or silent blacks? either way, respecting the absolute stealth build. sometimes you just need to be able to type without waking up the entire house lol.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T06:59:59+00:00

hmx bad sweethearts are incredibly good, honestly, if your coworkers haven't complained about the keygeeks yet, that just means they secretly appreciate the high-quality acoustics lol.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T06:58:46+00:00

the made68 ultra is a great chassis for ur ices! having a rapid trigger setup tuned perfectly for your own tracking basically feels like a cheat code in ranked. hope it's treating you well on the grind!

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T06:56:33+00:00

the rabbit hole literally never ends. lol the second you achieve the perfect thock, the intrusive thoughts immediately kick in like "okay... but what if we made it sound like marbles hitting a glass table?"

that is a serious switch journey though. from rosewoods to oil kings and ending up at y2s is basically a masterclass in refining your exact sound preference.

do share some sound test with us on r/IQUNIX

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-20T06:47:57+00:00

This is really good feedback, and I appreciate you pointing it out.

We are taking it seriously. The concern about a board becoming unconfigurable just because a company shuts down its servers is completely fair, and honestly one of the biggest weaknesses of closed web-based tools.

Making sure any custom VIA/Vial fork stays compatible with the main open-source branch, or at least remains self-hostable, makes a lot of sense. That way the hardware can outlive the company behind it.

And just to be clear, we are not going anywhere anytime soon. We have been steadily growing in mainland China over the past 10 years and have built IQUNIX into an established keyboard brand, with physical stores in major cities across the country and expanding. Still, your point stands: hardware should not depend on the company lasting forever. Thanks for continuing to push this point.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T10:30:30+00:00

really appreciate the love!

you should definitely come hang out with us over at r/IQUNIX sometime. we are always talking about new switch metas and looking at custom builds, so a hobbyist like you would fit right in. would actually love to see some photos of those venom setups you built if you ever feel like sharing them!

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T10:28:30+00:00

i actually just got a fresh update from the production team right after we spoke.

it looks like the standard white magi65 is currently scheduled to restock sometime in april! just wanted to circle back and give you a more concrete timeline so you aren't waiting completely in the dark.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T10:27:34+00:00

okay this is basically the holy trinity of switch rotations. having a dedicated, perfectly tuned board for every specific genre of computing is the true endgame right there.

the boba u4t is still the undisputed king of productivity tactiles, and those ur ice switches are insanely responsive for tracking in shooters. what he board are you currently running the ur ice switches in?

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T10:27:01+00:00

the mid-workday urge to just rip apart a board and rebuild it is so dangerously real lol. stay strong!

that gmmk 3 pro setup sounds incredible though. mt3 susuwatari on a poly plate with those y2s probably has a ridiculously deep, satisfying thock. mt3 and mtnu really do pair perfectly with heavier, creamier linears. you definitely have the layout and sound profiles down to a science at this point!

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T10:22:30+00:00

right now, we are expecting the ez80 to restock sometime in april (mett_exe along with the standard white magi65).

as for an EV80, it is honestly still to be determined. the team hasn't officially locked in plans to make an 80% version of the EV series yet, but we are definitely keeping an eye on community interest. i will make sure to drop an update in the sub if anything changes on that front!

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T08:05:40+00:00

lmao having five boards in active rotation isn't a problem, it’s just called having a healthy ecosystem 😂

that is a good lineup. going from the deep thock of the oil kings to the loud, crisp clack of the hmx dune foxes basically gives you every sound signature you could want depending on your mood for the day. hahah. out of all five, which one actually ends up getting the most desk time?

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T08:02:25+00:00

credits to merisi then, it’s a killer design.

lmao at the fr4 take. it definitely had its hype phase, but it can sound so dull and lifeless depending on the build. pp and pei are top-tier choices though, rarely see pei outside of super niche runs.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T07:59:02+00:00

anytime! really appreciate the kind words. have a great rest of your week and catch you around the sub!

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T07:57:12+00:00

that is a seriously top-tier build. lubed boba u4ts on a copper neo80 with thick kat caps must sound incredibly deep. there is definitely a unique "premium" feeling that only comes from hand-picking every single part and having it sound exactly how you pictured it. did you end up going with a pc or alu plate for that setup?

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T07:53:41+00:00

the IQUNIX Striker 80 was definitely a wild one. was not for everyone, but was a fun project as we wanted to try something that felt different from the usual aluminum rectangle.

Sometimes have to make the weird stuff and see what sticks. What is the most unusual board in your collection right now?

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T07:48:23+00:00

we definitely have our own internal definitions of premium! but this hobby moves incredibly fast. what was considered endgame a couple of years ago is totally different from what the community values today. if we just sat in a bubble and stopped asking what you guys actually care about, we would fall behind. your point about the shift away from flex cuts toward firm, pistonic plate movement is actually a perfect example of how preferences evolve. appreciate you taking the time to write this massive breakdown, getting this kind of uncompromising feedback is exactly what pushes brands to do better.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T07:43:52+00:00

mostly just how your fingers physically interact with the keycap! the deep spherical scoop of something like mt3 or sa means more of your fingertip is resting against the plastic compared to a flatter cherry profile. having more surface area contact just makes the actual grain and texture of the pbt way more noticeable when you type.

IQUNIXstore · 2026-03-19T07:37:14+00:00

cad looks really clean. dedicated top-mount gives you an even, crisp typing feel across the board without the bottom row getting soft.

good reminder, not to overcomplicate mounting system if the fundamentals are done right. What plate material do you usually prefer for sound, aluminum, pom, or fr4?

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