News $1,600 aluminum Icebreaker keyboard breaks the bank — sports metal chassis, keycaps with 800 micro-perforations, and VIA support

[Admin]

Ever dreamed of an all-aluminum keyboard, down to the keycaps? Serene Industries' Icebreaker has got you covered.

$1,600 aluminum Icebreaker keyboard breaks the bank — sports metal chassis, keycaps with 800 micro-perforations, and VIA support : Read more

 

[Dr3ams]

$1,600...it still gets crumbs between the keys.

 

[rluker5]

$1,600...it still gets crumbs between the keys.

If you have crumbs and dust in your glass walled PC cleanroom then this keyboard costs too much for you.

 

[Dementoss]

Even if we ignore the cost and, even if it looks and feels nice enough to justify that cost, what is the point of a 65% keyboard, that is as long as a full 105 key layout?

 

[nightbird321]

Once it discolors from the natural oils in on your fingers, can you still pop off the keys to clean?

 

[YSCCC]

Once it discolors from the natural oils in on your fingers, can you still pop off the keys to clean?

For those who pay $1600 for a 65% keyboard... I suspect cleaning will be less preferred than ordering something new and fancy

 

[dwd999]

Oh great, another aluminum keyboard. If I ever move to a climate where I don't occasionally generate a static electricity charge then I'll think about getting a metal grounding keyboard that I can use to discharge my static charge every time I touch it.

 

[Notton]

Once it discolors from the natural oils in on your fingers, can you still pop off the keys to clean?

That's the beauty of aluminum.
It'll stain your fingers, but not get stained or wear down from finger oils.

 

[Sluggotg]

800 tiny holes per keycap. It will get dust and grime in the holes and there is No Realistic way the average end user will be able to clean out holes that tiny. The classic, "It should come with hookers and a bag of blow at that price", does apply.

 

[bit_user]

800 tiny holes per keycap. It will get dust and grime in the holes and there is No Realistic way the average end user will be able to clean out holes that tiny.

That was my first thought, but the pictures do give the impression the holes are filled with a white, translucent plastic. Of course, there's something which potentially could get discolored by finger oils, @Notton .

The main thing I don't get is why there's so much space between the front edge and the keys. The article doesn't mention anything about an integrated trackpad, but that's the only reason I can see for putting the keys that far back.

Even so, having the keys so far back seems like it would encourage bad posture. I've always heard you're supposed to keep your elbows at your sides, which would be almost impossible unless the front edge of this thing is poking you in the belly.

 

[halfcharlie]

The main thing I don't get is why there's so much space between the front edge and the keys. The article doesn't mention anything about an integrated trackpad, but that's the only reason I can see for putting the keys that far back.

Even so, having the keys so far back seems like it would encourage bad posture. I've always heard you're supposed to keep your elbows at your sides, which would be almost impossible unless the front edge of this thing is poking you in the belly.

You've missed the '65%' part. It's the size of a regular keyboard with a wrist rest, the keys themselves are just tiny almost half sized. One of many reasons I have no clue why this thing exists or who it's for, a very nice fully aluminium space age premium keyboard sure, but this just begs WHY.

 

[bit_user]

You've missed the '65%' part. It's the size of a regular keyboard with a wrist rest, the keys themselves are just tiny almost half sized.

Oh, okay. Yeah, I do sort of like laptops with a smaller than usual key pitch. It makes the reach smaller, when touch typing, and easier to keep my fingers over the home row. And my hands are larger than average.

I still maintain that there's too much space in front of the keys. That should be just equal to the size of the wrist rest, not accounting for the missing 35% depth that would normally be occupied by keys.

 

[spongiemaster]

Even if we ignore the cost and, even if it looks and feels nice enough to justify that cost, what is the point of a 65% keyboard, that is as wide as a full 105 key layout?

Whether you're right or left handed, you have a spot to put your drink on either side of the keyboard.

 

[YSCCC]

Whether you're right or left handed, you have a spot to put your drink on either side of the keyboard.

putting some liquid on the side of some $1600 electronics is always a bad idea IMO

 

[§tardustyr]

Ever dreamed of an all-aluminum keyboard, down to the keycaps? Serene Industries' Icebreaker has got you covered.

$1,600 aluminum Icebreaker keyboard breaks the bank — sports metal chassis, keycaps with 800 micro-perforations, and VIA support : Read more

The Cyber Truck of keyboards.

 

[LabRat 891]

Finally! Even if it's insanely priced, I've been waiting ages for *someone* to make an actual full metal keyboard.

Now, who can do it at a consumer-affordable price? Stampings?

 

[spongiemaster]

putting some liquid on the side of some $1600 electronics is always a bad idea IMO

I disagree. That's the perfect spot. If you knock it over. No big deal. It washes the crumbs out of the keys.

 

[bit_user]

I disagree. That's the perfect spot. If you knock it over. No big deal. It washes the crumbs out of the keys.

I know you're joking, but deep cleaning is one thing I really dislike about long-term mechanical keyboard ownership.

Once every couple years, sometimes due to a drink spill, sometimes due to the sheer yuck factor, I have to dismantle my keyboard, pull off all the keycaps, swab the hair & crumbs out from between the switches, and then sometimes even wash out the switches, themselves. Finally, completely dry everything and reassemble. The entire process probably takes like 2 hours and almost never happens at a good time.

 

[LordVile]

800 tiny holes per keycap. It will get dust and grime in the holes and there is No Realistic way the average end user will be able to clean out holes that tiny. The classic, "It should come with hookers and a bag of blow at that price", does apply.

Just take the caps off?