To negotiate the best possible price for our customers, we agree to hide prices prior to logging in.
17.8K requests
·
Free Returns in USA
Product Description
The original Preonic keyboard was praised for its build quality, compact form factor, and intuitive layout—and the new version is no different. However, this time around we're offering the CNC-aluminum case in your choice of five colors, including the striking new purple colorway Read More
Easily my favorite keyboard form factor of all time. It has everything I need and nothing I don't use (and layers for things I want but don't use often). It's small enough to slip into my carry-on bag for work trips, or just in my backpack for when I'm going to chill at a coffee shop.
Construction-wise, the Preonic Rev. 3 is built like a tank. Make sure you save the tiny pamphlet in the box, it has the assembly instructions. Personally, I go for the ultra-secure plate method. This uses the provided bolts and spacers to make the plate firm within the case. The plate is a hefty stainless steel plate with a tight tolerance. It will take some force to push the switches in.
BE WARNED! The hotswap brackets for the switches can come off if you push too hard. I have made 4 of these model and have never had the issue, but it has been known to happen. The recommended method is to put a few switches in the plate, then line them up with the PCB, then place the remaining switches in place by putting your finger on the back of the PCB to hold the black hotswap in place while you use medium force to push the switch into the plate. This reduces the risk of popping off a hotswap.
The board is programmed with QMK, but make sure when flashing it that you use the Rev 3 firmware. Rev 2 used a different micro controller and the firmware and layouts aren't compatible. I would love to do a write-up on QMK, but it's a bit complicated to set up and there are a million different things you can do with it. If you have questions, you can always ask on the OLKB subreddit (reddit/r/OLKB). Search first! Your question has probably already been asked and answered, but if you're really not sure just make a new post. People will usually help, but it's not super active so it may take a day or two to get a response.
Included is a picture of my collection, which is just about a year old. I have quite a few more now...
This is my first orhtolinear, and three days in I'm really liking it. I'm still in the process of figuring out where I want keys to be, and am _really_ liking the MOD_T setup (i.e. left-shift on hold, enter on tap, etc).
From what I can see, it looks like there is a little solder on the USB-C connector, though that piece still makes me a little nervous. I got a magnetic cable set ( https://amzn.to/2Eup4dR ) so there isn't any strain on the connector. Since I pack this from work to home and back, it's great for the convenience factor alone.
The board comes with presoldered addressable LEDs around the edge of the board, other than that there is a cutout under each switch where you could put LEDs but there is nothing else other than the hole. If you wanted per switch LEDs you'd have to wire them separately.
This was my first ortho, and I'm hooked. Nowadays, I prefer to daily drive a couple of 15x5 orthos which I prefer to staggered. But the Preonic is what got me started.
I love this keyboard. I paired it with linear switches and blank keycaps, and it helped me to move away from having to look at the keyboard when I type. Recently I switched back to a normal kb for programming (I have a hard time remembering where all the modifier keys are on this one) but if you're able to learn I imagine this would be even better. The build quality is very high, the only issue I had was a very slight unevenness in the tilt of the plate within the housing, but it's probably due to some mistake I made during assembly.
But it stopped working right at 3 years old. I can't type on a normal keyboard anymore. It's driving me crazy. It still powers up, it even makes the little musical notes when plugged in. But I think there is something wrong in the USB C jack, I want to reflow the soldlier as a last attempt to get it working again. I'm just afraid I'll ruin the hotswap sockets in the process. But it's trash anyways how it is. Might as well try it. I bought a new USB C cord, I also think I will try it on another computer because maybe it's a driver issue. Never know. Oh yea, finding out that I can't find a replacement board anywhere is a real bummer. What's up with that? You think they'd have them in stock somewhere if they sell good enough to sell out everywhere.
I like that it’s small, has num row and easy to build. The plate is too hard for my taste and I stopped using it coz I prefer wider one and now I prefer split keyboards. It’s good in general
I have bought many, many keyboards in my time, but this one is my absolute favorite of all time. The QMK firmware is easy to change, the LEDs are really great, and it just feels like a good and simple ortholinear board. I use it for both stenography using Plover and for QWERTY typing.
I loved the simplicity of it, you get a unique typing experience and can put the joy in getting down a new learning curve, I daily drove it for a while and it still is in a rotation of keebs I have and its always really fun to get back into ortholinear in a complete small package
This was decent. Case is super heavy which could be a plus or a minus. The plate will borderline destroy your switches if you need to pull them out though, it's insanely tight. I bought two of these and one died, which Drop accepted back no problem.