Romly "Early Access" Mechanical Switch Book
01 / 08
Romly "Early Access" Mechanical Switch Book
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Product Description
The world's first luxury catalogue for mechanical switches, this book is like an encyclopedia of mech keys knowledge. In it are 52 full-color pages with loads of information on 12 of the most common switches on the market, including large illustrations, force curves, bottom-out forces, and much more ... Read More
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LifelongCaboose
141
Apr 21, 2019
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Really cool book, very curios to see how well it sells. Wish I could support with more than just kind words. Would love to see more unique things like this for enthusiast communities.
jib9001
6
Apr 18, 2019
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I just bought the book from booth cause I didn't know there was gonna be an English version so soon!
Romly
235
Romly
Apr 19, 2019
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Oh I'm super glad you've purchased even it was Japanese! And I'm sorry for the English description on BOOTH was bit old.🙇 I'll accept returning if you give me a message through BOOTH.
jib9001
6
Apr 19, 2019
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Oh no need, I'm perfectly happy with what I have :) I am able to read some Japanese in a limited capacity so it's not a big issue, I'll just get an English copy some time later if it's available through other outlets, and if not, I'm still happy with my Japanese one. Unfortunately I don't have the money to join this drop even though the switch tester looks fantastic
JustSphex
25
Apr 18, 2019
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Romly
235
Romly
Apr 18, 2019
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Thank you---! I really glad you like the seal, as I like the switch pattern too, but just cut it---!!😆
Surafoxkusu
27
Apr 18, 2019
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Is the mech key community becoming like the some high-end audiophile and making almost everything overpriced or is it always like that? I am using my un-soldered MAX Falcon-8 as a switch tester, which is a macro board that comes with PCB, switches, caps and it is 40 dollars...this is doesn't have a PCB nor key cap, the book must be expensive to make?
(Edited)
Romly
235
Romly
Apr 18, 2019
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I don't know high-end audiophile community but I'm sure the book is expensive to make. Believe me, I have experience.😭 Also I have experience making switch tester, and I know I can't offer price like $40 for fully functional switch tester, for very small lot, as I'm individual. Maybe someone can do but it's not me. Sorry🙇
So I just offer what I made/satisfied/love!😆
Dunphy1296
172
Apr 17, 2019
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So this is a 12 switch tester with a booklet of information compiled from sources that are easily searchable on the internet sold for $70. Are you kidding?
(Edited)
Romly
235
Romly
Apr 18, 2019
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No i'm serious! Seriously I'm very satisfying the book completion, and it's wonderful to opportunity to introduce it here!😆
But I respect how you felt to the price and no one's forcing you to buy! If I can correct, it's a book, I prefer call it Doujinshi by the way, with a switch tester made for the book.📖
Romly
235
Romly
Apr 18, 2019
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Don't worry you're not! I'm very proud to introduce this fun book to you!😤 lol.
Libero
58
Feb 5, 2019
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Neat idea, would like to see this get a revision. Price is a bit steep for what you get at the moment.
Romly
235
Romly
Apr 18, 2019
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Thank you and agreed, I wish I could made the price lower.📉 But for me, I think I can't. Printing, translations, components, packaging, shipping and such on. Actually it was more than I expected...😭 Even this price can't do without Massdrop's helpful minimum quantity offering.
But aside the price, I'm so satisfying the completion of the book and it's fun! So I'm glad that you know the book exists at least.😆
skaloola2
24
Feb 4, 2019
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Can't say that I understand the pricing on this. The finished product isn't in front of me so maybe it was printed on some super expensive media / material bringing up the price, but I doubt it.
I understand you took time to create this and want to be compensated, but you might have been able to net even more if you charged a much more reasonable (but still pricy) $30-40 as you'd sell more units.
skaloola2
24
Feb 4, 2019
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Ok, nevermind. I looked at the contents of the book.. and it appears to just be an overview of each switch and graphs of their force curve. Did you even make those graphs yourself? Did you take the measurements yourself, did they come from the manufacturer, or did you source them from someone else's work (say from Deskthority's Wiki)?
I figured the book had some kind of original content -- not just reference info by itself.
This could have been a neat idea, but as it stands there's no reason to purchase it. You're not offering switches that are rare (to my knowledge), the price is outrageous, and to top it off the switch tester doesn't even come assembled.
Romly
235
Romly
Feb 5, 2019
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The book is made by photos I took, sentences I wrote, and I did it's layout. I bought instruments for this, I measured them and drew the graphs by my own. So I can say the book is filled with my original. (except the switches themselves😉) However, I assume that is not the point for you at all. It's only the price you felt expensive. (and maybe lack of switches that are rare to your knowledge)
I have a respect of how you felt and I feel sorry about it, yet it's the best I can do. Small lot printing, overseas shipping, translations, such on. And of course revenue for Massdrop who kindly offered this opportunity. I wish I were a rich man so I don't care about deficits.
But pre-assembled? No--- I doubt that!🤨
I believe assembling is the most fun part especially for who has interest this kind of book. Snap-fitting switches to the plate is so fun if you're a mechanical keyboard lover, isn't it? Perhaps I could do pre assemble so I wouldn't miscount screws. But it would make the price higher due to the shipping cost.
TL;DR: Sorry!🙇
Hueston
128
Feb 3, 2019
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Hopefully people over at deskthority will make something more in line with a encyclopedia of switches. I'd love it if it was 52 pages of a variety of switches. This is the definition of a book that is style over substance. I wish more designers in the mech community would consider substance more than just the overall design package. Maybe contact people knowledgeable in the subject matter like xmit. Hope your second version of this book is better because there really is no encyclopedia of switches in a handy guide/format.
Romly
235
Romly
Feb 5, 2019
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I want that encyclopedia too! Meanwhile I'll do what I can do!
Romly
235
Romly
Feb 3, 2019
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By the way this is the post I wrote about the book when I complete Japanese version! Might no one want that but it's also good as Keycappie fan book.😇
http://romly.com/archives/2018/10/jiku_no_hon_en.html
mimsyborogove923
14
Feb 3, 2019
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Wow, this is definitely the epitome of mechanical keyboard nerd-dom right here. Props to anyone who's deep enough in it to spend $70 on this. I envy your passion.
(Edited)
livingspeedbump
5574
KeyChatter’s Owner and Editor-in-Chief
Jan 31, 2019
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Any info on who Romly is? What makes this person an authority on switches? Would be interested in that, as that is what will sell this.
Romly
235
Romly
Feb 2, 2019
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Okay! It was fun writing about my keyboards anyway😆 Took Internet Keyboard Pro out of closet after like... almost two decades...
Akephal
25
Jan 31, 2019
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I would call it "A showcase and guide to the most readily available MX style switches" rather then "Mechanical Switch Book".
Romly
235
Romly
Jan 31, 2019
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"A showcase and guide to the most readily available MX style switches, especially beautiful colored switches and my personal favorites"😆
Romly
235
Romly
Jan 31, 2019
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I wanted to introduce more switches but it was hard to make into the book than I thought. Especially the book had to be in time doujin-event(such as Comiket) last year. And the translation was way more hard for me even this amount.😵
muni_chang
1963
muni
Jan 31, 2019
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Last year, I tried to make a book about Keycaps, but finaly I gived up, so glad see your idea become true :P
Romly
235
Romly
Jan 31, 2019
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I'm so glad someone knows completing something is hard than we expected when we starting it!😭
But no one forcing you, and no deadline for it. Please relax and make it time to time!
"If you build it, someone will love…”
mk415
259
Jan 30, 2019
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Would love to see something like this for more unique switches, like Zeal's, popular spring-weighted Vintage or Retooled Blacks, and maybe even some franken-switches like Holy Panda/GSUS. Would bring a lot more value and meaning to the words "luxury catalogue" in my opinion
WanzerRX-79
87
Jan 30, 2019
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I am for a mechanical switch catalog, but not for 70 usd....and I thought D&D books were overpriced.
(Edited)
Starius
645
Jan 30, 2019
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Pricing for books can't be undervalued across a broad scale like that. There is no telling how much people will pay for a particular book about a particular topic. Obviously cost of physical production plays a part, but also the amount of work that goes into its content creation. Then you have print run, quality, amount of demand, etc that all factor into its "value."
A certain book to the right people can be worth far more to them than you might ever consider paying.
For example , I paid $550 for the book 'Roubo on Furniture.' Years of research went into its creation. It's of a physical standard that is unheard of in today's world. Only 1000 were made. It's of a topic that is of personal interest to me. It makes a hell of a addition to my personal library. All of these factors justified the price to me personally, where as I'm sure the next person might balk at it.
As for your D&D book example, they cost that much because enough people are willing to pay that much for them. Therefore, that is what they are worth at the very least.
Will enough people buy this book at this price? Hard for me to predict, but it's a niche topic for a select group of interested people.
For me personally, in a world where content is increasingly digital in nature, it's nice to have something physical in hand like a book. Considering the very nature of a keyboard's tactile experiences, this book seems rather fitting too.
(Edited)
Romly
235
Romly
Feb 1, 2019
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I'm very appreciate your understanding, and I love the way you seeing the world.🙇
Kaazr
117
Jan 30, 2019
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Romly
235
Romly
Feb 2, 2019
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By the way everyone will get new version, which has crisper font like in above photo!
RamenTechMech
77
Jan 30, 2019
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Romly!!
This is amazing how you brought this to Massdrop! I first seen your book on your Twitter back in December, and now it's here! Happy you made the English version for us :D And the included switch tester looks amazing as well :)
Romly
235
Romly
Jan 30, 2019
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Thank you so much! Your comment is worth making translate version! I'm glad you love the switch tester too.😊
TekilaShot
337
Jan 30, 2019
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I would love to have this to read and play with in a waiting room.
Gotta ask my dentist to buy it.
(Edited)
Romly
235
Romly
Jan 30, 2019
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What a understanding dentist. Button pushing is primitive fun so I guess both adults and children can enjoy it while waiting.😊
H2Whoah
717
Jan 30, 2019
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"The world's first luxury catalogue for mechanical switches"
MFW the lifestyle industry is trying to eat another hobby industry
Romly
235
Romly
Jan 30, 2019
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Don't worry, it's an ironic joke pointing exactly what you said.😆
At the same time it's true, I aimed luxury catalogue like jewelries, watches, such on. That's why I used luxury paper for the cover. It's so beautiful like pearls in it, hard to tell shininess by photo!
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