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Comments (186)

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  ary
  To everyone who is about to pile on regarding the lack of a fingerprint sensor: you know it's not possible, we all know it's not possible, the creator of this project knows it's not possible.What are you adding to the conversation when you complain about it? So it's a dealbreaker for you, don't buy it.To @aemerson_: Congratulations on taking a risk. On first look this is great work. The attention to detail on both the keyboard and the website is really impressive.
• markbao
  This is phenomenal. I know everyone is asking for their pet feature in this thread, but I would really like to see this in split keyboard format. They are much more comfortable to use since they put your wrist in a more natural position. And there are hardly any good split mechanical wireless keyboards – and certainly none this thin.Great work on this and congratulations on the launch!
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  swingboy
  Great looking keyboard but why are the numbers on the number keys so large? They stick out like a sore thumb.
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  allenc
  I've built about 10 mechanical keyboards so far, including a bunch of split ergo ones and low profile variants too. From that, I know the layout matters a lot, as well as the switches themselves; the programability and other features to me are nice but ultimately can be worked around.I'm curious about the switches you're using. On the tech specs it says: "Dual steel arm scissor switch w/ retention spring, 40gf actuation force"Are they custom switches then? If so, are they most similar to current Magic Keyboard switch feel, or something Choc or MX low profile, or their own thing altogether?
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  runjake
  LOVE the industrial design. HATE the font, especially on the number keys. But, great job overall!
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  xingped
  Love the design and have also wanted a super low profile mechanical keyboard like this! I have one question though - what is the travel or activation distance of the keys?The one thing I actually like about the magic keyboard or Microsoft's designer keyboard is that the "click" is immediate and the entirety travel distance of the key is the activation bump. I dislike any amount of the "extra" travel distance (I'm not sure if I'm using the right words/description, but I hope you get what I mean) of regular mechanical switches and is the main thing that turns me off from them.Oh also, is it possible to get a Windows version or switch the keys around to accommodate Windows as well?
• dramm
  Looks very interesting, love to see the innovation/effort to go beyond the usual. What would be great for me is a version with Mac/vt-100 style number pad. Even mechanical keyboards that claim to be Mac focused largely have PC number pad layouts, and that is a pain with some software like Pro Tools keyboard shortcuts, and some legacy DEC terminal emulation needs.
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  rckclmbr
  Love the keyboard, looks solid. Out of curiosity, why did you make the numbers so big? It looks like an intentional design choice and I don’t know if I like it, but I’m wondering if there’s reasoning behind it that could change my mind
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  mistersquid
  The promo website is something to behold and by itself is sufficient reason to chuck a buck at the possibility of Altar II coming into existence.Thank you, good luck, and looking forward!
• cosmic_cheese
  Looks great, but at this point I’m too used to HHKB layout on custom MX/topre boards to go back to full time typical 65%/75% layouts. Standard Delete/Backspace position in particular is almost grating now. Totally understand if that’s too niche of a market to serve, though.The switches look a lot like the new ultra low profile Cherry switches that Alienware was putting on their laptops a few years ago, is that what they are?
• iammrpayments
  Looks a lot like mistel airone: https://mistelkeyboard.com/products/9a36520f591f4f8b8e1253ab...I used to use it everyday but the low profile switches sometimes get stuck and it’s also a little bit tiring to type.I currently use nuphyair 60 HE, and I find the low sensitivity keys don’t tire my fingers.
• hingler36
  The keyboard looks great in general, but jumping into switch design is a huge undertaking.If you're willing to share: how many presses are these rated for? What is the yield looking like for manufacturing these?
• StilesCrisis
  Is there any way to prop it up so it doesn't lay flat against the table?I have round foam adhesive dots stuck to the bottom of my current Apple keyboards. It works, but it's an obvious deficiency in the design. Every other keyboard on the market has tilt.
• ValentineC
  Is the battery replaceable? Or is the keyboard going to be tethered-only when the lithium battery degrades after 5-10 years?
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  hamburglar
  This looks incredible but I’m skeptical you can actually produce it for $250 and maintain the level of quality and features that you claim. And it appears you’re offering $100 off of that (or is that the post discount price? It’s hard to tell). I guess I will wait and see.
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  numpad0
  I don't even know if this is going to be a big or a tiny ask, and I don't know if I'm going to end up with this beautiful product at all, but just in case it's going to be trivial to do so, could you add an option or extra keycaps to have Caps Lock key physically engraved as "Control"? IIUC the ctrl-caps swap itself isn't so rare, but actual keycaps engraved as such seem to be relatively rare.It's apparently a UNIX thing, and old Apple, NeXT, some of DEC, Sun, HP UNIX, Sony NEWS, even IBM XT, many of modern Mac JIS, etc. seem to/did/do have the legends for that key as "Control", "CTRL", or "Ctrl". I think that adds even more to the cool factor.
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  ethersteeds
  This looks beautiful. While obviously a Mac keyboard, to what extent is it compatible with Linux?Will there be documentation of its features beyond a standard Bluetooth HID, such that users could potentially develop software that utilizes the speaker and haptic feedback mechanisms?
• ifjeicjwidj
  This is absolutely fantastic, but those gigantic numbers are just bizarre and not at all good to look at. They feel completely out of place there, like you enlarged them by mistake. Not good.
• Insanity
  I would love this in a 60% keyboard, seems great for travel and work. Any plans to support different form factors in the future?
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  GZGavinZhao
  Opened the site, thought it was teenage engineering... Which is a compliment to me, because I always love their designs! Unfortunately as a HHKB user I'm not a fan of low profile keyboards otherwise I would've bought this.
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  Magicrafter13
  I can't go back to a staggered typewriter layout, ergonomic columnar is where it's at.I'm curious what the purpose of haptic feedback on an already mechanical keyboard is?Cool that you've been able to turn this into a livable business though.
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  charrondev
  I’m assuming it’s not possible for it to include a fingerprint sensor?As much as I’d like a mechanical keyboard for my Mac that’s always the part that gets me. I end up using the one my Magic Keyboard 20+ times per workday.Otherwise it looks beautiful.
• alt227
  Love the keyboard, great job!the website however is a terrible experience. There is so much movement whilst scrolling that it triggers my motion sickness.
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  ndiddy
  The thing I find most attractive about mechanical keyboards is that they send a keypress when a key is only partially pressed down. When combined with the tactile bump and audible click created by actuating the key, this means that typing on a mechanical keyboard is much less fatiguing than using a rubber dome or laptop keyboard because you're only pushing the key down partially until you feel the bump and hear the click rather than slamming your finger into the bottom of the keyboard. Does your keyboard still have this feature even with the slim profile?
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  swah
  At this point - make it a tool for agentic work. Leds that tell you that some agent is idle/working and needs attention. Clickable = open the right terminal etc. And dictation button, some cool PTS kind :)
• wronex
  Really cool! I’d love to try those switches. Can’t imagine using a non-split keyboard though. Great work regardless. Stunning.
• aselimov3
  This is so sick. I'm almost convincing myself to get it but I feel like I would really miss my 36% keyboard with multiple layers too much. Still tho...
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  Tsiklon
  I am a big fan of the original Altar. I like that you’ve been trying new things with that design like the novel keycap profile.The switches look like cherry ultra low profile switches. I’ve not tried these out, how do they feel compared to the linear kailh choc v1’s you used before.
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  hollow-moe
  Awesome, seeing it's so thin have you planned for the possible battery ballooning ? I guess it is hidden on the left side under the logo ?
• dimitrieh
  Great concept! I need eu layout with the extra button next to the left shift. Why I would buy is essentially. Thin, premium typing experience, accessibility features. Don't need the fancy dials, stick out buttons, or a speaker. Dim it down, and it would be perfect
• pierrefermat1
  For those in the comment section looking for a split alternative to this, there is this Kickstarter(be warned of the usual problems with Kickstarters):https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ryanlpeterman/compose-s...or this that is in stock but doesn't exactly follow Apple's layouthttps://www.ozokeyboards.com/products/jiffy75-wireless-split...
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  philistine
  Very cool looking, but there is an ocean of mechanical keyboards already available with the US keyboard layout. I would explore making ISO international versions. That market is underserved. Because I wanted a mechanical keyboard with a CAN/CSA Z243.200-92 layout with Mac modifiers, I had to design my own layout in SVG for a Max Keyboards custom job. Keep in mind, I did not want to design my own, but I had to!
• harrygeez
  I love this! Though I don't own a Mac anymore. I expect this to work as a standard keyboard in Linux? Which features are mac-only?
• thatxliner
  I feel like this is similar to what Work Louder makes? Am I tripping?
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  jonasmst
  I love it when people obsessively iterate over something seemingly trivial until it's exactly what they want. This looks amazing, congrats on the launch. I love mechanical keys, but I keep coming back to the Magic keyboard because mechanical keyboards are so clunky. I would order this in a heartbeat if it was available with a nordic layout
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  splittydev
  Looks great, but sadly no fingerprint sensor is a deal breaker for me. I know it's not actually possible, so not your fault, but it's not for me. I rely on that thing way too much.
• tejohnso
  For Apple folks I guess, but would be nice to see a pointing stick. Trackpoint keyboards are becoming difficult to find and a suitable replacement would be an instant buy.
• isoprophlex
  Rarely have I wanted to spend money on a peripheral as readily as on this keyboard. It looks like it's perfection.
• addaon
  Order placed.I respect that you're doing a single variant up front, and I understand the business challenges and risks of going wide on a niche product like this... but as a single datapoint, I'll pay double for an ortholinear with similar features and style.
• swiftcoder
  Congrats on the industrial design, that is one of the nicest looking keyboards I've seen in a hot minute.
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  dmhmr
  Love what you did, the dedication for 2 years to launch this is awesome. Apple keyboards are near-horrific IMO so you are filling an important niche for sure. I know it is a silly complaint in the mech KB space but the price compared to something like a Keychron K3 makes this a no-go for my preferences. The K3 is very close to what I'd consider suitable as a daily driver at work. Thank you for including audio of the typing!!!! Again this is my preference, the Alter II is not "thocky" enough for what I like to hear. Clacky and Clicky keyboards are just far too distracting or painful to listen to for extended periods. Also interesting to see a speaker built-in. I'd have cut it for cost and space.
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  recensorium
  This looks awesome! The thing I'd want to know is how much of the configuration lives on firmware vs. in the macOS app? If the app is a thin config editor and the mappings remain on-device, that's very different than if the dial and haptics stop working when a future macOS release breaks the app. Also, is there any commitment on firmware being flashable/open if the company someday isn't around?
• rxyz
  What a beautiful device. Few questions: Will it be okay for someone who switches between devices and OSes often? Can I have layers that I can swap between like on a VIA board?What is the click latency?Is USB just for charging or can I use it without BT?
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  znnajdla
  An indie dev beating Apple at its own game is some feat. This inspires me. Would purchase in a heartbeat.
• sssilver
  This looks wonderful.I wish it had the option to be ordered with blank keys.
• WesolyKubeczek
  Would be ever so awesome if the keyboard had feet.As far as ergonomics go, I don't care too much about split layouts and similar nonsense, but my wrists start to hurt really fast when the keyboard is lying flat on the desk.I've bought adhesive folding feet for my laptops. They are awesome. I used a pair for my B104 (a reproduction of IBM beam spring switches in a modern keyboard). I still wish I didn't have to glue any contraptions to devices I type on.
• n-barraclough
  I love this. I type with one hand, & I find mechanical keyboards with lots of travel very difficult because of the speed I type at and the depth that you need to make the key activate. It's a shame about the lack of fingerprint sensor - I wonder if there's any projects out there where you could rescue one from a donor keyboard & just put that in a small profile case nearby?
• jeffgreco
  The design is on point and the numbers look great. I want one.
• altairprime
  Hey, hooray! I still have my switch-modded Altar I but it ended up being too tall for me, so this is a surprisingly great discovery for my morning. Looking forward to trying a new keyboard :D
• whycombinetor
  Out of curiosity, what exactly is a "fully mechanical scissor switch"? And is this the first such switch on the market? If I search for other such products I can only find "metal scissor switch over rubber dome" style.
• pelagicAustral
  Looks amazing. Would've been crazy good to include a few OLED keys a la Optimus Maximus [0], which has forever been a dream, even with all the negative reviews.[0] https://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/
• edumucelli
  Beautiful, would it work on Linux? Btw, the website is really heavy for my connection.
• LeBit
  It is time to introduce split space bars in every new keyboard designs.The single wide space bar is an even worse offender than row staggered or qwerty.
• AshamedBadger56
  Absolutely love the design, features, website, attention to detail, and just...taste. It's been quite a while since I mashed that reserve button so quickly haha. Hope it lives up to the design and looks!
• Stitch4223
  Sold me one, even though it doesn’t have Touch ID. It can be forgiven given the rest.The mdial is amazing. The Nixie tube numbers are fun. The sleekness. And this website with all demo’s is really well made. Also the “about” site is cool.You were not underpromising when stating Apple didn’t spend enough energy here. This is a leap. And I fully trust you’ll deliver.If anything, why not work at Apple after this adventure and get these things (or another next level keyboard) out at massive scale?
• K0nserv
  Looks beautiful, congrats on the launch! I've been looking for a replacement for my Apple Magic keyboard. I would love to buy one, but ISO layout is a must for me, also would like blank or swappable keycaps.
• buildinext
  reserved...looking forward to giving this a ride tks for sharing
• railgunmerlin
  given kickstarter is november, when do you expect to ship?
• j_aime
  Wow I not expecting to see that! I love it!!! Good work!
• arikrahman
  With this was more in line with corne style split keyboards and really made for programmers like enthium.
• nmca
  It would be glorious if there was a split version!
• threecheese
  Reserved! I would have paid the 249 today btw :) she looks beautiful.
• bicepjai
  Looks beautiful and great presentation of your efforts. Hope it lives up to its expectations. All the best
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  gilthelander
  I don't understand the overwhelming praise. This product is just bizarre. Who is this for?What's with the giant numbers and tiny symbols? I know where the numbers are from muscle memory. I don't have the symbols memorized.Haptic feedback when you use the command key? Why?No number pad or page up/page dn, which would be something useful.This is like The Homer of keyboards. Does it play La Cucaracha out of the speaker if you push the knob four times?You clearly have the technical capabilities but the product requirements are bonkers.
• handfuloflight
  Beautiful! Looking forward to the Kickstarter. But also, why is it completely flat?
• richwater
  These switches remind me of the butterfly switches on previous generations of Macbooks....not a great memory
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  bix6
  Love it! Can you offer full color lighting instead of just red?
• hack1312
  The autoplaying videos make your website unusable on mobile.
• xiconfjs
  What is the weight?
• naikrovek
  Maybe a bit (a lot) overboard with the marketing snazz on this page.it's a keyboardIt's not a miracle.If you're going to have all this 3D imagery, put a glTF model viewer on the page, and let me look at it.though to be told, I definitely want one. low profile keyboards are indeed my jam. I don't know why the hell keyboards need to have batteries though. No one needs a wireless keyboard. Wires are not that much of a pain in the ass. Coiled, self-retracting keyboard cables are a thing. Keyboards do not need to be wireless. Wires are fine, I promise! Wireless mouse? Sure. Wires make the mouse move when you don't want it to move. Wireless credential entry device? Those should remain wired, I think.
• yassa9
  I like the website more than the keyboard itself
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  deepsun
  Well, for programming it's not convenient -- no Insert/Pageup/Screenshot buttons.
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  anentropic
  Any plans for a model with numeric keypad too?
• tempodox
  OK, I want it, but for Linux.
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  wilsonnb3
  What does it feel like to type on?
• waffletower
  Cramming the fn key into the sacred ctrl-alt-cmd triumvirate is disagreeable. Would require learning and remapping. I prefer fn to be distant as I have chorded for decades with the said trio.
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  realo
  Nice!The devil is in the details.Do you have a french version? ...
• Locketgoma
  It. It is real thing? cool.
• gaigalas
  I was really excited about Altar I, but no shipping to Brazil, so I gave up on it. Nice to see the idea continues (consider worldwide shipping would be my only feedback on the idea, I guess).I now own a Logitech MX Keys S and I'm quite happy with it.
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  nicksergeant
  My dream keyboard, if only it could split down the middle for ergonomics :(
• archagon
  Great work! Have you, or do you intend to, write about the process of bringing this to fruition? Would love to learn more about how a polished bit of hardware like this is designed.
• theodric
  Sent to my rich friend. He wants 3 in white!
• hparadiz
  Add a finger print sensor at some point. Lovely design.
• rc5150
  there is nothing more satisfying than the thickness of the device being the same thickness of the charge cable terminal.This looks dope, looking forward to ordering in the future.
• aus10d
  dang, this seems really amazing
• platevoltage
  This is very cool and it looks like a lot of effort went into it. Personally, I like the high profile clunky mechanical keyboard experience, so it's probably not for me, but I really hope this does well.I also really hate Apples decision to put the FN key in the bottom left corner, but I understand following their layout. I always swap the ctrl and fn keys on my Apple devices, so I assume you could do the same thing here.
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  Scarbutt
  This looks great. Never liked the idea of having to add wrist rests to all these tall bulky mechanical keyboards.Does it support the globe key without having to use karabiner?
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  johng
  Wow, beautiful. Both the site and the keyboard. I put a deposit down.Edit: in reply to the person above because I keep getting a "You're posting too fast. Please slow down. Thanks." error because I've made 2 posts in this thread apparently...Anyway, it would be neat if in the future the M-Dial slot could be used for a fingerprint reader or something else. Swappable items in that slot.
• aaroninsf
  Lovely engineering; if you bring it to market(?) I suggest offering if not full customization a range of aesthetics.Black/red is a hard no for me. Something fitting with the existing aesthetic (let's call it "Scandanavian milled", subtle frosting, white text) or warmer ("natural", off-white, orange LEDs) etc etc.One other question: waterproof? I assume that's not possible. Would be a decision maker for me personally probably.
• nocebolauncher
  [dead]
• n0t3ths81
  [dead]
• ls-a
  Looks nice. However, 2 years and you still squished the arrow keys into the rest of the keyboard. Unacceptable "design" mate. You need to talk with your customers.
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  Hugsbox
  Unfortunately, no numpad is definitely a dealbreaker. Looks like a really cool product, but the numpad is a _must_ for any keyboard you want to do real work on, at least in my opinion.