Drop CTRL V1 Mechanical Keyboard Discussions | Drop

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Drop CTRL V1 Mechanical Keyboard

Sep 23, 2018

I received my CTRL yesterday (Saturday). I also have a bad LCD on the underlighting, and, unfortunately, it's on the front of the keyboard, so it's something I would have to be staring at all of the time. I contacted support, and received an automated reply saying that their regular business hours are M-F, so that may be why replies have not been received yet. I had entire rows of LCDs malfunction on my K-Type, and Massdrop was good about my return.
Today, however, I picked up the keyboard in the morning, and a screw just fell out of the bottom of the case. I checked it out, and found that the thread on the screw appears to be too small. It simply inserts into, and comes out of, the hole, without any screwing or unscrewing at all. Then, I checked out the other screws, and they all turn freely, both to the right and left, never tightening. Every single screw on the board does this. None of the threads on the screws actually fit properly enough to tighten and not simply spin freely. I'm not even sure what's holding the case together at this point. Maybe just the tight fit? I remember the K-Type fitting together really tightly.
I do rather like the keyboard, and find it an improvement over the K-Type, but more LED problems and not a single screw that actually fits into it socket is pretty disappointing. Not to mention that the process needed just to change the backlighting color is really clunky. I mean, I'm a former programmer, so it's not hard for me, but I often have to through many small adjustments and experiment with different colors before I find just the backlighting color I want. Changing the color couple of dozen times was time-consuming and clunky on the K-Type, but this is worse.
I started this post with the intention of just asking other people if they have the same issue with the screws, and didn't intend to complain heavily, but, come to think of it, Massdrop is a pretty large company at this stage, and it doesn't make too much sense to regard them as a small, indie company that can't be expected to have the resources to do enough quality control to not ship out keyboards with bad LEDs and screws that don't fit, not to even mention having software available that's easy to use for the average user after months and months of lead time.
Actually, I really like the Halo Clears, though. This is the first time I tried them, and I will hate to return the keyboard for the simple fact that I'll be giving up the switches. I noticed that the Clears sold out before the drop ended, so I'm doubting that I will be able to return the keyboard for a replacement with the Clears. (When I returned my defective K-Type, the version I bought was sold out, so I wasn't able to get a replacement with the same switches.)
Not to mention that why would I want to keep a keyboard where all of the screws don't fit. It the keyboard is staying together because, like the K-Type, everything fits together rather tightly, then what will I do if the fit loosens and none of the screws are actually capable of actually being tightened? And why would I want to get a replacement, if the replacement has free-floating screws as well?
I like the Halo Clears so much, I really wanted to keep this thing and to like it. Actually, I do like it, but these problems are pretty silly and disappointing. Anyone else with the same issue with the screws?
Hopefully, I'll get a reply from Massdrop on Monday. I've already explained the LED issue (and included a photo) in my previous email, and will now have to explain about the screw issues. We'll see what happens, but I don't really see how this will resolve well. Not that I think Massdrop won't provide a refund, but what I really want is an adequate version of the Halo Clear keyboard I ordered. Of course, I would be happy to receive any official replies here as well.
Also, here's a photo of the bad LED, just to corroborate a previous post that also talked about this.

Sep 23, 2018

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Urano_Metria

658

Sep 24, 2018

fractlLooks like a bad red LED. My board has two bad red LEDs on the rim lighting in the front. Honestly, if it was in the back where I wouldn't really see it I probably would have bit the bullet and just accepted it, but my dead spots are right in front of the spacebar and the front left corner. It could not be more obvious that the keyboard is defective.

Sep 24, 2018

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fractl

112

Sep 24, 2018

Urano_MetriaSorry to hear you have the same problem. I'm curious... do the hex screws on the bottom of your case actually tighten, or do they just spin in their sockets like mine do?

Sep 24, 2018

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Urano_Metria

658

Sep 24, 2018

fractlDespite the numerous issues with the board I received, my hex screws are secured in place. Looks like you might have gotten a lemon that had all of them stripped in manufacturing. It's a miracle your board is in one piece with just the LED issue.
Even still, aside from the problems with my board, I absolutely love this thing, and it's the best keyboard I have used so far, and I want to continue loving it for years. I'll be so heartbroken if they're out of stock on replacements and can only offer a refund. I probably won't ever spend money on Massdrop again if that is the case.

Sep 24, 2018

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fractl

112

Sep 24, 2018

Urano_MetriaOn closer inspection, I've found that 6 of the 8 hex screws actually tighten up. Leaving the one that fell out and a second one being either stripped or just off-sized enough so that they just spin indefinitely and will not tighten. Unfortunately, these two screws are the one in the left top corner and the one to the right of that, which, I suppose, is worse than if they were spaced apart a bit more. Anyway, I wouldn't have know about this if the one screw hadn't fallen out. The second one that won't tighten wasn't so loose that it would just fall out, so I suggest that everyone check to make sure all of your screws actually tighten, since some could have the same problem as the second screw I mentioned, where it won't tighten but isn't quite loose enough to fall out on its own.

Sep 24, 2018

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