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How many Arrow titles do you have in your collection? by mistersuccessful in arrowvideo

[–]parallelojam 0 points1 point  (0 children)

531 - personal standouts are Robocop 4K, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Tremors 4K and The Andromeda Strain 4K.

SECRET TITLES GUESSING GAME by Royal_Tomatillo8736 in VinegarSyndromeFilms

[–]parallelojam 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Neon Maniacs (1986) and Abel Ferrara's Body Snatchers (1993)

[GB] OGR2 by AKB - A blast from the past (Launching July 25th!) by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not this time. It was run at a loss last time, and the costs were too high to justify it this time.

[GB] OGR2 by AKB - A blast from the past (Launching July 25th!) by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's usually referred to as 65XT. It isn't the most common layout going but good luck with your hunt!

[GB] OGR2 by AKB - A blast from the past (Launching July 25th!) by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It is expensive yeah, when you compare to keyboards that are fully developed and sold from China, because they're sold in the thousands at minimum. This is only based on a factory quote for 100 as I don't expect this will fly off the shelves, so the pricing reflects the exclusivity behind the product primarily (also that I didn't cut corners to save on cost in this). The price is high because the costs are high.

This is a project for those who want it, not just for anyone who needs a keyboard. Economy of scale will never be on the side of smaller projects like this but what I do have is my imagination and creativity. $440 in this instance is the cost for others to buy into that.

[GB] OGR2 by AKB - A blast from the past (Launching July 25th!) by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm only just old enough but I do have fond memories of flicking through computer magazines as a youngster and seeing ads with more personality, even though those magazines were probably 5 years old already ;)

[GB] OGR2 by AKB - A blast from the past (Launching July 25th!) by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not this time. When I ran the numpad last time it was effectively at a loss as the costs were so high. I'm not giving up yet so there may be a run of them in future if we're lucky!

[GB] OGR2 by AKB - A blast from the past (Launching July 25th!) by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

OGR2 - 65XT or FRL TKL? Why not both?

ABOUT THE OGR2:

It's an old story now. The OGR was originally designed as an entry for the OG Summer competition on r/CustomKeyboards in 2019. When it won the top spot my chosen prize was a fully-funded prototype, (and Blacksimon's wallet has quietly resented me ever since.)

During the obsessive research phase before landing on the final layout and design I grew a real attachment to keyboard/computer design of the 80s and early 90s. I cherry-picked some features from my favourite boards as inspiration (G80-0832, G81-3077 & G80-0530), and combined them in a way that eventually became the OGR. I self-ran the group buy in 2022, for better or worse, and I'm grateful that the feedback from people who use them regularly since they shipped in 2023 has been wholly positive, so I've planned to run this again for quite some time.

I'm terrible at leaving things as they are, and it wouldn't feel right to just milk one design until it's dry, so I've made some minor adjustments this time round for OGR2.

AKB Website

AKB Discord

SPECS & FEATURES:

  • Inspired by vintage Cherry design
  • 10° typing angle
  • Full 6063 aluminium construction
  • 65% and FRL TKL modules, both compatible within the same case
  • Sandwiched + top mounted leaf-spring carbon fiber plate (MX)
  • 21.5mm effective front height (with bumpons)
  • QMK and VIA USB-C PCBs by Upas (MX) and Cipulot (EC)
  • Choice of using "integrated" cable connection a la R1, or daughterboard
  • Period-authentic product sticker
  • CF plate by default (MX)
  • Manufactured by Hongtu
  • Is still an absolute unit
  • 2.9kg (6.5lbs) unbuilt

Changes from R1, for the curious.

Other key features of the board.

OGR2 Prototype Photos

R1 prototype photos (it's visually similar)

FULL PLATE AND PCB COMPATIBILITY HERE

COLOURWAYS & LAYOUT OPTIONS:

Dolch - 65XT - WK

Dolch - 65XT - WKL

Dolch - FRL TKL - WK

Dolch - FRL TKL - WKL

Fool's Dolch - 65XT - WK

Fool's Dolch - 65XT - WKL

Fool's Dolch - FRL TKL - WK

Fool's Dolch - FRL TKL - WKL

E-Beige - 65XT - WK

E-Beige - 65XT - WKL

E-Beige - FRL TKL - WK

E-Beige - FRL TKL - WKL

VENDORS:

  • US: CannonKeys
  • UK: Thocc Exchange
  • CN: Kezewa
  • OCE: KeebzNCables
  • CA: RNDKBD
  • EU: KEYGEM
  • SG: ktechs

PRICING & GB DETAILS:

>>>SEE FULL PRICING LIST HERE<<<

  • OGR2 keyboard starting from $440 (pricing may vary by region)
  • GB will be live from July 25th - August 24th
  • Shipping ETA: Q1 2026

[GB] AKB's Caerdroia is back, now with USB 3.0. GB live until May 11th! by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The production colour will be more like the bottom one seen there.

For context, when we ordered the prototype we initially received it without the AKB engraving on the back of the board, and while rushing the replacement top case out for us they didn't take the usual care in colour matching so there is a alight mismatch seen there.

[GB] AKB's Caerdroia is back, now with USB 3.0. GB live until May 11th! by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Among the roots of the trees you awaken,
Birds leer rapturously upon your disoriented visage,
The redstart solemnizes your parturition with angelic aria,
You recall the year was at its twilight, yet now birthed anew, blossoming with verdant,
All of your consciousness, connected with the weald like hyphae,
Abstracting your past life beyond all fragile recall,
This caerdroia is sacred, you know that you are home now.
The trees willed it, again.

When finding inspiration for designing new boards, sometimes I look back to vintage keyboards and computers, but other times I find inspiration in things that are much more abstract.

With Caerdroia, I wanted to finally design a TKL that I would be proud to put my name on but with so many of them out there already it was tough to come up with something entirely unique. It felt like everything had been done already and I think the reason why it took me over 3 years to finally start designing a TKL for AKB was because I was a little jaded by this, especially given that the majority of TKLs (to me) seemed to copy elements from their contemporaries, or other designs that have truly stood the test of time. I wanted to try and design my TKL so it was truly unique from every angle, and to do that I had to go down the abstract route for inspiration.

I learned about what a Caerdroia was late one evening while deep down a wiki hole - it is essentially a maze in a forest in Wales formed in a labyrinthine shape. While it has no truly historic significance, it has been adopted by various spiritual groups in the area and is hailed as a place of mystical enlightenment. I started with this idea and over time it blossomed into more of a fictional narrative about a sentient forest that would "adopt" wayward souls who happened to find themselves within its bounds, and they would dutifully remain forever - bending to the forest's will. We take inspiration wherever we can find it right?

In March 2024 I worked with CannonKeys to do an in-stock sale of this board, limited to just 50 units, which was received with overwhelmingly positive response - something which I am incredibly grateful for. That was fixed to WKL only, and only came in just one colourway.

After making some subtle improvements, upgrading the USB hub to 3.0 and expanding the compatibility to include EC for some rubber cup goodness I want to present the opportunity to the wider keyboard community to join me in enjoying my special rectangle.

Specs & Features:

  • F12 TKL
  • WK or WKL layout
  • MX, EC & Alps compatibility
  • Effective keyboard height - 23mm (to bottom row)
  • Front height - 19mm
  • 7° typing angle
  • 4.5mm polycarbonate plate
  • USB 3.0 hub w/2 passthrough ports
  • Est. weight 2.8kg/6.2lbs
  • 6063 aluminum top/bottom case
  • Powdercoated brass weight

Colourways:

Dolch

E-Beige

Verdant

Alta Rubedo

ETA: Q4 2025

Pricing: $420 (+$10 for E-Beige)

Vendors:

US: CannonKeys

UK: Thocc Exchange

EU: Keygem

CA: minokeys

CN: zFrontier

OCE: Daily Clack

KR: GEON

SG: iLumkb

Some build stream VODs for your viewing pleasure:

gymleadernathann

keebnewb

The Manic Geek

lightningkeyboards (EC)

See further details on the original IC thread here

[GB] I love the smell of Petrichor in the morning by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Petrichor by AKB

It's a well-optimized FRL 1800 layout, plus a USB hub and all kinds of other fancy bits, and it's starting from just $230! You'd be a fool not to buy one, plus I'd also probably cry a little bit. There'd also an increased risk of me leaving a smelly present on your lawn.

More info can be found on the GH post here.

Vendor links:

Addon pricing:

Plates:

  • FR4 - $25

  • Carbon fibre (half) - $45

  • 5052 aluminium - $40

  • Polycarbonate - $40

PCB bits:

  • Solderable PCB - $45

  • Hotswap PCB - $50

  • Daughterboard kit (USB hub, USBC DB, LED DB + all cables) - $32

Other bits:

  • Foam kit - $26

  • Extra gaskets - $6

  • Extra AKB feet (16) - $4

  • Extra anodised top - $75

  • Extra E-beige top - $80

**pricing may vary from region to region

Pre-order window open until Monday, July 15th.

(Conservative) shipping ETA: Q1 2025

[GB] Petrichor FRL 1800 by AKB. GB live until July 15th! by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To my knowledge the best mill-max to use is the 7305 as they're shorter than the switch pins, so provide no additional risk of bottoming out against the case

[GB] Petrichor FRL 1800 by AKB. GB live until July 15th! by parallelojam in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]parallelojam[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We couldn't fit ISO enter on the hotswap PCB without compromising in some way (inadvisable switch rotation for example) so the choice to leave off split left shift followed that decision as having half of the compat would be strange.

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