What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
If a single person running a group buy can make sure that the product looks as advertise, so can Massdrop.
I know its not the best comparing method. but:
Meanwhile, you have produced keycaps that are the wrong color. These are part of the product (the thing that goes inside the box). You will not be fixing the product at all, but you will be delaying the ship date for a month and a half to fix the box that it comes in. Is that really what's going on here? I'm puzzled, because Massdrop's priorities seem to be exactly backwards.
Rama’s own drops have continued to live up to their name. For the sake of their brand I hope Massdrop either elevates their quality control or Rama severs ties with Massdrop.
How could you not request samples of the keycaps beforehand? This is the most basic step and if Massdrop can't even get that correct it is of great concern for any future release.
Thanks.
PS. I don't want to gripe but this by far has been the most unpleasant drop for me.. (apart from the Planck Light fiasco) I hope it gets better, and please, get back to the community with more details.
E: This is not acceptable. Cancelled.
Massdrop, find someone with *some experience to handle this project. You are losing customers and money by missing every target and expectation.
I was disappointed that most of the M10-A pcbs didnt work. Even worse that no fix was given or offered, asides from waiting for the M10-B or replacing the atmega32u4.
Now you are making people wait for a box, vs fixing the horrid discolored caps or finishing issues.
At-least now people know they are not getting their moneys worth before it gets to the door this time.
I just hope people either self run or use other Vendors to share their projects.
Keycaps: - Color: Massdrop said that the pantone was 109C and 432C, attached below a photo, pretty sure that from the pantone provided by Rama, the renders are way more fucked up than the final product. Actually the final product in a normal light is kinda near to the Pantone provide. Massdrop fucked up for sure, but Rama provided a pretty fucked up pantone too (i assume he did the renders too). Rama renders are a sort of black, while his pantone color is totally another color. SP just produced the keycaps with the pantone they got.
The rough 10 months of waiting its gonna be for what seems to be 130 USD half finished numpad. MD surely did not help themselves by showcasing the above picture.
The communication part behind the scenes shouldn't had have to be a problem.. especially not with the continues story of the M10... Its should not be so hard to have this produced and it should not take 10 months to make a semi HQ product to end it with "if you dont like it you can just cancel."
Just please stop the M10 Story here. No more..
- Massdrop in the first place (for sure) since they should ensure QC, communication, that the production goes well and that what they show is what they ship later. - Rama, as a designer (if what massdrop said is true) he provided a render and a totally different Pantone, terrible fail as well. Just to be clear, this does not remove the massdrop faults, Rama providing the wrong pantone doesn't make MD better, Just makes Rama reputation worse.
Basically was weird to read the whole discussion and see people defending Rama here or on reddit. He should have asked a mandatory sample since his name is on the product, strange how everything is "ok and quiet" before the production (when he got the money from MD) but later he just get the distance from massdrop when the "fuck up" already happened.
Regarding the "if you don't like it you can just cancel", well at that point is the only thing to do to be honest. Mistakes were made, both parts, mainly massdrop, but at this point i don't see any better alternative. I'm one of the firsts blaming massdrop when they fuck up, but at this point when mistakes were made, that's the best option they can provide (i doubt any other gb runner/platform could afford to offer this option to buyers). Just consider this before joining the next drop, but also consider that this shit might happen in any Group Buy, and you will not have that option if it's not MD. To resume, yeah that's an irritating offer after all the delays, but it's the best offer available.
We did receive a 'mandatory sample'. How else could we provide feedback during the process? We provided detailed notes and they were never addressed--along with many of our attempts at communicating during the interim unfortunately.
Its a brighter future looking forward, just a shame for this to happen at all.
I have say that MD is a grown up company now and this is not a small scale individual run GB. its bizzz... and bizzz dont care. You can just cancel your order and by the way thank you for letting us hold your money for awhile so we can look good on paper.
I am pissed that i waited since Dec 1, 2016 to get a working M10.. anyway i canceled the order and will continue to be happy with the experience i have had getting products shipped directly from RAMA. They work and the box is AWESOME because the product inside is 100% :D
This won't cover the keycaps pantone color problem which is hard to believe it happened for real, mistakes were made on both sides regarding caps. zF learned it the hard way when did SA nuclear with MaxKey, massdrop should do the same.
I get the impression that the Rama team would like the product to be scrapped, but Massdrop is going to sell them. Even the orders that get cancelled now will be sold later to someone else. I'm leaning toward cancelling, but I'd like to make an informed decision, and neither side has provided enough information. I'm still in for now, just to keep my options open.
I think we'll be speaking with them at some point over the weekend. As it stands we would also like to know what issues are present and current and what has been resolved.
I'm sorry I can't be more elicit but nothing has been decided at this point. It's just an unfortunate turn for a drop like this to take after previous delays.