Awesome job on the video as always! I really hope Glorious can keep the price point around $60 permanently. Outside of the functionality improvements it offers, I honestly think this is a really compelling offering that is perfect for giving existing GMMK Pro owners a way to switch up the entire color scheme of their board to match a new set of keycaps, or even try out different levels of foam to try to dial in a sound profile that just hits the right spot. For 60 bucks, that could help to keep me from impulse buying more keyboards or wasting time and effort on potentially problematic mods, and for a serial customizer like myself, I really love the idea of that.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Thanks man! That was basically my feeling as well after testing this kit. It definitely gave a breath of fresh air to my 2 years old GMMK Pro to a point where I think it can be worth the 60 bucks plus the elbow grease required. Now for Glorious own sake (as one of the most successful premium mechanical keyboard large scale vendors in the last couple of years), I hope they can quickly integrate this improved design into the stock GMMK Pro going forward (or at least into the inevitable GMMK Pro 2).
@MarbsMusic11 ай бұрын
This has to be one of the most thorough videos regarding upgrades and this kit I have seen, thank you!
@IOSam11 ай бұрын
Thank YOU for the feedback my friend!!! And yeah... “Thorough” is indeed the name of the game around here! 😁
@LearnHax Жыл бұрын
Woohoo! The boss is back!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
😎🙏
@michaelpasquale3334 Жыл бұрын
i’ve only commented on one other video the entire 10 years i have used youtube. literally. i have to say, you are THE MOST DETAILED reviewer i have ever come across. Instant subscribe and bell. I’m a mechanical engineer and always seek out extremely detailed and concise reviews. You are killing it man, please don’t ever stop stop making these non-biased, beautiful review videos.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Hehe… “Detailed” is my middle name! 😂 But seriously, I know exactly what you mean. It drives me nuts to see videos where people give no context, no details, no competitive analysis, and almost no relevant information about a product… Which is why I had to create this channel and start making the videos I like to watch. So, thank you for your nice words (and for being one of us! :) and welcome to the channel!!!
@michaelpasquale3334 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam I do have a question for you! I installed the flexkit to my gmmk pro using the following: no case foam, poron gaskets, polycarbonate plate. I love the flex however I am unable to push in my rotary knob. Looks like keyboard flexes too much underneath the knob with my current configuration, so when I press the knob down it bottoms out against the top case instead. Did you have any issues with this?
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@michaelpasquale3334 I had another viewer here in the comments section complaining about the same problem, but in his case he was using an aftermarket FR4 plate with no screws attaching it to the PCB. Did you use all perimeter screws on your PC plate? If you did, can you check if they are really firmly attached to the plate (screwing from the bottom up, through the PCB into the plate)?
@MarbsMusic11 ай бұрын
I finally installed my Flex kit, I didn't want a ton but just a little. Kept the AL plate and went with the Poron then the thicker new pad and it gave me a very similar sound, perhaps a tad deeper and maybe 1.5mm of flex which is a lot compared to the original. Thank you again for this review, it made the process quite simple for someone new to the whole customization area!
@IOSam10 ай бұрын
Hey Marbs! So nice to read your comment!! Thank you for taking the time to leave such nice feedback!!! Always happy to know that my videos were helpful in any way to viewers like you!
@shadowasii4492 Жыл бұрын
I personally got this flex kit back when it was only a member's only product. I think that glorious probably should just have released a GMMK pro 2 with the new design
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
I totally agree ( 21:41 )! And I think they should do it quick too... At the minimum, they should stop the production of the original model, sell out their remaining inventory, and then only sell GMMK Pros with this updated bottom case going forward.
@jamescruz8678 Жыл бұрын
I personally love having options so existing GMMK Pro users can get most of whatever the new design gets without having to drop a few hundred.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@jamescruz8678 Well, yeah... I actually missed the part where @ShadowAsii said "just"... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I do agree that Glorious should incorporate this new design into the stock GMMK pro as soon as possible, but that shouldn't preclude owners of the original design from buying the upgrade kit, of course.
@Broxerlol Жыл бұрын
Always enjoy your videos. I started off with a GMMK pro and spiraled into more expensive boards. My GMMK Pro is still one of my favs. I like the stiff typing feel and it’s layout is perfect for me. I’ve moved on to low profile boards now. I’m a developer so I tend to type in spurts and shorter boards with less key travel just have better ergonomics for me.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Thank you!!! Are you using some type of mechanical low-profile switches or just membrane/scissor switches such as those on laptops? (Just curious, since I don’t see many people going for low profile mechanical boards for some reason)
@Broxerlol Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam I’m currently using a Nuphy Air 75. It has Gateron brown V2s that I’ve lubed. Also added some painters tape to the back side of the PCB. Not the best sounding thing ever but it suits my needs well.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@Broxerlol Ah ok. Nuphy has been going all in with low profile mechs and they have been getting pretty good reviews (I got one of their earlier “switch tester boards” last year as was really impressed with how good it was for the price). But I think you answered my question by mentioning the sound issue: low profile boards will never sound “deep” or “thocky”, since they don’t have enough space inside the case to resonate. And this is probably the reason why most keyboard enthusiasts don’t go for them. But I agree with you: ergonomics and typing feel should always come first (especially when using mechanical keyboards at work, where loud boards are verboten anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).
@jammies701 Жыл бұрын
Nice vid mate, great breakdown, really interesting too Can’t imagine spending that much on a GMMK Pro, especially in the last year, but if you’re gonna get one, this is a great addition for the included price
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Thank you man!!! And I totally agree that for anyone who has "graduated" from "normie" to keyboard enthusiast in the last couple of years, there are so many good custom keyboard options out there today for a slightly higher price if you can put up with the longer shipping times. But it is still nice to see that even regular consumers, who will never bother to pre-order kits or join group-buys, can still enjoy great keyboards for less than $200.
@persistence05 Жыл бұрын
Gmmk pro is still my gaming keyboard to date eventhough arc60 sitting next to it thats how much i love them.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Hehe... I know exactly what you mean! Even though I mostly game on my Wooting 60HE, and rotate between a bunch of my favorite keyboards for work (plus the ones I'm testing for this channel), I still go back to the GMMK Pro every time I have long typing sessions where I don't want to bother anyone around me, but I still want a good typing experience (and don't want to use either silent MX switches or any of my Topre boards). Sometimes it's just hard to explain, right? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@Legojunkie Жыл бұрын
Great video! Don’t forget about the ability to build an entire GMMK pro from scratch using the flex kit at the bottom of the flex kit page
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Yeah, when I first got this kit earlier this year, I believe Glorious was still not offering that option, but during the production I found out they not only started allowing you to do that, but they were also slashing the price of the kit even further when you custom build your board on top of the kit, which makes it a no brainer at the current price in my opinion. So, I added this note ( 26:14 ) during my conclusion segment to point this out.
@RealColeFarlow Жыл бұрын
It's so crazy how excited we were for this board. If we could've only looked a year or 2 into the future... I'm surprised they didn't just redesign it and market it as a GMMK Pro 2 rather than this.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Yeah, what a difference 2 years of market maturation does not do, eh? And you’re not wrong… I’m sure they’re coming with a GMMK Pro 2 soon, which will hopefully incorporate all the latest advances in mechanical keyboards design from the last couple of years. But this kit was just a way for them to placate the hordes of customers who had already bough a GMMK Pro before the “V2” comes out. Which, as long as priced correctly, can be considered a “nice guy” move by Glorious if you think about it.
@AphillyatedYT9 ай бұрын
Because not all people like flex… in fact most people like firm and clacky…. Flex sucks… sounds rattly and pings and just lose and not premium I love the my gmmk pro not all I have to do way buy thick gaskets to make more acoustic sound without adding any flex
@miguelcollado5438 Жыл бұрын
Another Home Run video Sam! Excellent Details again!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Thank you Miguel, for your great feedback!!! Always nice to know the effort we put into a video (to make it factually correct and give viewers all the information they need to make a good buying or upgrading decision) is appreciated!
@campingismylife9394 Жыл бұрын
I purchased the prebuilt GMMK Pro and applied all your mods of the original to the T. I'm using the Durock T1 tactile switches, I'm not sure if I would appreciate a more flexible bottoming-out experience. But it was a very detailed review, and I'd probably pull the trigger.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
The good thing about this kit is that you can easily tune how much bounce you get by playing the different foam and gasket configurations, so it shouldn't be too difficult for you to find a level of flex that works well for your typing style.
@campingismylife9394 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam I installed the Flexkit without the case foam and using the poron gaskets. The typing sound and feel (less harsh) is so much better. Well worth the upgrade cost. 👍
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@campingismylife9394 That was the configuration I used in the video and I agree that it changes the experience of typing on the GMMK Pro a lot! In the end, for my personal use, I kept the no foam config but switched to the G-foam gasket for a "quicker reset" which is more appropriate for my typing style. But as I said before, the ability to tune the GMMK Pro to your own preference is the best aspect of this kit! And in that sense, I definitely agree that, at least for its promotional price of $60, it is a worthy upgrade.
@Dajan456 Жыл бұрын
I realized that i cant stand bounce and vibrations after using the tofu se with the rubber tadpole mounting system. So im glad the gmmk pro is stiff. However i wish the sound was more full and louder, its pretty muted to be honest. I have milky yellows in it currently and it sounds like some other boards i have with silent tactiles in terms of loundess. I guess its a nice option for a coworker friendly setup or as a gaming keyboard. Appreciate your well made reviews. your initial one on the gmmk pro got me into the hobby mainly and wanna say thank you for that!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Yeah… I know exactly what you mean! I’ve tried the KBDFans Tiger Lite for example and just could not use it without stuffing the case with foam to reduce the plate bounce (which ended up killing most of the nice sound of that board, of course). I always get miffed when I see keyboard “influencers” out there preaching bouncy keyboards to the world as if that was the gospel, when most good typists I know cannot stand “trampoline” keyboards. And I also agree with you about the sound of the GMMK Pro… It is indeed one of the quietest metal keyboards I own, which makes it perfect for office or late-night gaming, but not so much for keyboard sound enthusiasts. But that might explain why every “non-keyboard-enthusiast” person I know absolutely LOVES the GMMK Pro (my wife demanded that I give my now white board to her! 😂). So, I guess there is some method to Glorious madness here… lol And thank you for your nice words man!!! So happy to read your comment and know my videos helped you and made a positive difference in your “computing & typing” life!🙏
@AphillyatedYT9 ай бұрын
That’s how I feel so I have the brass plate and just ordered the flex kit to get the bolder sound
@oxycopium10 ай бұрын
General Zod out here doing keyboard videos i love it
@IOSam10 ай бұрын
🤣🤣 That's a new one for me for sure! But hey, if you have to be a villain, might as well be a SUPERVILLAIN like General Zod, eh? lol
@LordWiseWolf Жыл бұрын
The keyboard looks like anime stormtrooper. Love it. Great video.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
🤣🤣 "anime stormtrooper"... That's it! That's the name of my GMMK Pro from now on!
@LordWiseWolf Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam Yesssss! My job here is done 😎lol
@calussy8040 Жыл бұрын
would love for them to release spare pcb's with VIA support as batch 1 GMMK PROs like my one don't come with it, although that would be the only thing I buy from Glorious as I wouldn't rly care about a more flexible board. Edit: Apparently there is VIA support for the old chips in an updated blog post so I'll see how it goes.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
I agree 100%!!! I know the GMMK Pro 2 will have the VIA situation figured out, but it would be such a nice move from Glorious to sell an updated PCB for the V1 keyboard with proper VIA support...
@tranmeister5 ай бұрын
hi IO Sam. Can you explain what the different options in the Flexkit does? I am trying to understand what the different in thickness in the g-foam bottom case foam does and the different type of gasket strips does to the board. G-foam/edpm/poron. What does it do to the sound and feel?
@IOSam5 ай бұрын
The difference between the thick and thin bottom case foam boils down to the level of sound and plate flex you’re going to get: For sound, the thick foam is the quietest and more muffled option, and the thin foam ended up being the loudest (to my surprise, since I was expecting the board to be the loudest with no case foam at all). Going with no foam, made the board a tiny bit quieter than with thin foam. But considering how quiet the overall design of the GMMK Pro is, nothing here will make this board actually loud (PE foam pads and Tape mod on the Aluminium plate will give you more sound volume than just these choices of case foam). In terms of plate flex, going with no foam at all will give you the most amount of space under the PCB and thus give you the most amount of flex. The thick foam would be the opposite: pretty much no space under the PCB and thus almost no flex (which makes it a bit pointless in a “flex kit” like this). The thin foam is the middle ground option here, with some space and some flex (mostly on the perimeter of the keyboard and not so much in the center). As for the different gasket strips options, the idea here is to give you multiple levels of plate flex resistance and responsiveness (meaning how fast the plate “resets” height wise after each keystroke): Poron is the softest material and the slowest to return the plate/PCB assembly to its original position after each keypress; EPDM being the hardest will give the fastest and most responsive rebound; and the G-foam is the middle ground option between the three (which was my preferred choice for my own use case).
@tranmeister5 ай бұрын
@@IOSam Thank you IOSam. Your explanation is very clear. I think i am going to copy your build. I like the sound of your build. I tried to put in an additional PE foam with the flex kit and the switches werent able to make a full connection. I ended up trying to force it and it bent a few of my switches.
@ismaelcedresgil556811 ай бұрын
Hey @IO Sam, amazing video. I was wondering if you tried the flex kit with the avx FR4 board. I would like to try that combo and wanted to know your opinion. Thank you!
@IOSam11 ай бұрын
Hey Ismael! Thanks man!!! While I have not reassembled my own GMMK Pro + FlexKit with the FR4 plate, I know of a few of my viewers who tried. And while it is possible to do it, you would bump into one problem: the knob. Without screwing the plate to the PCB (which you wouldn’t be able to do with the AVX Works plate), you’ll have an issue where you’ll not be able to press the knob to mute the audio, because when you do, the PCB will sink to the bottom of the case before the rotary encoder press is registered. So, the only work around for that, would be to place a piece of thick case foam under the knob, to prevent the PCB from sinking too much on the top right corner, so you don’t lose the knob pressing functionality. Other than that, the FlexKit should work fine with the AVX Works (and others) aftermarket plates.
@JuanCAraujoS Жыл бұрын
Great job! I took the time to "window-shop" a GMMK Pro barebones assembly from the flexkit page... and it was over 250 USD. The fully assembled Keychron Q1 Pro is way cheaper, not to mention the barebones one... you get a similar keyboard plus bluetooth capability if you fancy that. So, when it comes to value, Glorious seems quite tone-deaf with the market... at least not as much as Drop (the Alt and Ctrl are way too expensive nowadays). Then again, if a GMMK Pro V2 adds all of these flxkit mods with a competitive price, it would take it back to the map. By the way, is the GMMK Pro QMK/Via compatible yet?
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Yeah, if GMMK Pro + Flexkit is back to it's full price, then it's a no go for me as well... The Q1 becomes the obvious choice then. As I mentioned in the video, the competition has caught up to Glorious. So they either need to blow us away with a new design on the upcoming GMMK Pro 2, or reduce the price of original Pro to match the competition. And yes, the GMMK Pro is QMK compatible, but not VIA compatible.
@AphillyatedYT9 ай бұрын
Guys the flex kit is 40 dollars right now and 48 for the white I just ordered it I’ll let you know what happens I like minimum flex but want a little more sound and feel
@AphillyatedYT9 ай бұрын
Things sucks lol doesn’t help at all and changes the way the yuio keys sound also just use the gaskets it comes with on your stock case and BOOM it’s prefect
@IOSam8 ай бұрын
Did you use the stock alu plate?
@AphillyatedYT8 ай бұрын
@@IOSam flex sucks trust me I have a lot of boards and it makes the board feel so cheap and shitty horrible for gaming as well
@IOSam8 ай бұрын
@@AphillyatedYT I trust you, but I'm still curious... Did you use the Alu plate?
@RGM.13 Жыл бұрын
Hey @IO Sam , I noticed that you hover both the standard GMMK Pro and the Flex kit version at 21:42. Both usb-c components are screwed into their respective places but you mention in this flex video that the new flex kit didnt include this 1of1 screw. Can you explain what you used as a solution. My usb-c package didnt include that screw either
@IOSam11 ай бұрын
Hey RGM! So, here’s the thing: in that scene you mentioned, the daughterboard of the standard GMMK Pro’s bottom is not screwed in… Because I had to remove that screw and move it to the FlexKit bottom to attach the daughterboard over there. But then I found out that the size of the screw you need for that is a M2 with 3.5mm, which is the same size of the screws you use for attaching the stabs and the plate to the PCB. So, my suggestion is that you get any left-over screw from a screw-in stabilizer (which usually comes with more parts than you’ll need for a 75% keyboard anyway) and use it to attach the USB-C daughterboard on the original GMMK Pro bottom case.
@RGM.1311 ай бұрын
@@IOSam Thank you immensely. I am just about ready to set up my first keyboard, just waiting on an additional fine point brush from Amazon. I did have 3 additional questions that you did not quite cover here. 1) How important are the small orings for the stabilizer screws going into the pcb. Cant quite tell from the frames you have in the 3 GMMK Pro videos you've posted, if you used them at all. 2) While the lube and some additional items were in transit , I decided to tape mod my board preemptively. I now need to remove tape to install my stabs and screw them in. Would it be suggested by you to A) poke holes in tape to fit all stab screws. B) remove all tape, get stabs situated, re-tape? (Is there any difference, what would you do?) 3) Last question before I get to building, hopefully, I noticed a lot of stab installation how-to videos mention adding stab pads. Is there any particular reason you did not use any? Is that more common for clip-in stabs vs. screw in? Thanks Sam you have helped me immensely and I would not be confident taking on this project without the help of all of your vids. For newbies reading my comment, checkout TOO MUCH TECH's video how to lube keyboard stabilizers (consistent results). This has helped me to better understand stabs and is very easy to follow compared to others. Cheers !
@IOSam11 ай бұрын
@@RGM.13 You're totally welcome my friend! Always nice to hear that! Answering your questions: 1) The paper washers for screw-in stabs are useful for multiple reasons: a) they help to avoid shorting some cramped PCBs, where the head of the screw could slightly touch some trace or pad; b) they help to tighten up the stabs screws without the risk of cracking or scratching the bottom of the PCB; and c) they also help to reduce stabs housing vibration. So, I always use those in all my screw-in stabs (in my GMMK Pro I used the ones that came with my C3 Equalz stabs). If your stabs kit doesn't come with those, you can buy bags with these washers on Amazon (amzn.to/459aP7m ), or you could improvise cutting some small pieces of paper and screwing through them instead. 2) As for the tape mod, it might be difficult to cut through the tape to screw in the new stabs (and you could risk scratching your PCB in the process with your scissors or knife. So, for that reason alone, I would remove the tape, install the stabs, and then either reapply the same tape (if it still sticks) or apply new tape. 3) Stab pads are optional and I only recommend using them IF you like your stabs to be a bit quieter AND if you don't mind having your stabs a bit mushier on the bottom out (the thicker the pad, the quieter the stabs and the mushier the bottom out). I don't mind slightly mushy bottom out in my boards, so if I'm building a keyboard to use in an office or on an environment where loud keyboards are not welcome, I always use stabs pads. Otherwise, I can go without them.
@appleborbs5065 Жыл бұрын
tbh gasket mounting is more for the sound then for the mounting, there are other gasket mount boards that are stiffer that get praised mainly because of their sound
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
That is my interpretation as well… Since my first video on the GMMK Pro (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJDEqaljidCdoac ) I was very adamant to clarify that the main reason people started using gaskets on keyboards was not for flexing, but was instead to reduce vibrations which results in better acoustics. But as this whole obsession about flexy keyboards took over this hobby (and after so much criticism against the GMMK Pro for its “gaskets that didn’t do anything”), Glorious eventually had to concede… And this is why I think they felt this kit had to be created at some point.
@appleborbs5065 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam yea last time I was also obsessed wif the flex part. Till i owned a think 6.5. That was stiff af haha
@isayx3 Жыл бұрын
I find it extremely hard to find a white aluminum 75% keyboard in stock anywhere. Even the monsgeek you mentioned is discontinued in white. is the only option the GMMK pro and this flex kit to get white?
@IOSam11 ай бұрын
Yeah… It turns out that e-white finish is really hard to do it well and for that reason, those who make it, charge more money for it… So, at this point in time, I’m not aware of a single in-stock keyboard that offers e-white finish other than the GMMK Pro + FlexKit. Which is frustrating to say the least, since I think every custom or semi-custom mechanical keyboard should offer that color finish (it is the only real white color for a metal keyboard). Having said that, if you’re willing to consider group-buy/pre-order boards, you can get the Zoom75 ($224) and the MKC75 ($119) in e-white. Both are available for pre-order at CannonKeys.
@Qualltoxy Жыл бұрын
What would you say are the top 3 sub-250$ keyboards at the moment? Great vid, btw!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
I guess it depends if we’re talking about in-stock or pre-order/group-buy keyboards. For in-stock offers, as far as quality metal encased keyboards (that are widely available) go, I think the number of options is still quite small unfortunately… 1) I’d say any board in Keychron’s Q and Q Pro would take the #1 slot in my top 3 --just pick the Q (or Q Plus if you want wireless connectivity) with the layout you like the most, since they offer pretty much any layout you might want, and you’ll have possibly the best bang-for-buck option in the market, since here you get good switches and usable keycaps for under $250. 2) The GMMK Pro (with the new FlexKit) would come in second, simply because here you only have the 75% option (which might not be everyone’s cup of tea). I also place the GMMK Pro in second for the lack of VIA compatibility, which is still easier to use than Glorious Core to configure the keyboard. 3) The new TOFU 2.0 line from KBDFans would come in third, mostly because it is more expensive to get it directly from KBDFans (because of their expensive shipping), and also because the new TOFU line only comes in 60% (kbdfans.com/r?id=rhvl2j ) and 65% (kbdfans.com/r?id=rjdmeo ), which is still far less layout options than Keychron offers. I think KBDFans are a notch above Keychron and Glorious in terms of fit and finish, but you get less reliable warranty and support than you’d get from the other two larger vendors. I’d also give a special mention here for two runner-ups with older and more traditional layouts (that might not appeal to younger audiences as much as 75% and 65%): 4) The KeebsForAll FreeBird TKL, which is now an in-stock product on KFA’s Amazon storefront (amzn.to/3N2h0Dt ). For anyone who likes a traditional TKL layout, this is the keyboard to beat for $250. 5) And the Brutal60 from CannonKeys, for those who like the 60% layout. The Brutalist V1 series is a fantastic line of high quality boards, but only the 60% is below the $250 price line. On the pre-order/group-buy world, the options gamut is too wide for me to keep up with all the new models that are open for pre-order at any given moment. From the stuff I’ve tried, I can highly recommend the Zoom line from Meletrix (75% and TKL), which is an incredible value if you can get it on one of their drops, and the Jris65 for a 65% is also a terrific board for the price (some configurations have been sold for less than $250 in the past).
@Qualltoxy Жыл бұрын
@@IOSamThanks for the extensive answer! Will check out the Freebird as TKL is my favorite format. :)
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@Qualltoxy TKL is my favorite as well... We're old school around here! 🤘😆
@m4nc1n1 Жыл бұрын
I am waiting for the mod 003 or mod 004 to come back in stock!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
After Akko came out with their MonsGeek line of keyboards, I lost hope of seeing the "Mods" coming back to market (unfortunately)...
@m4nc1n1 Жыл бұрын
Them black Drop caps are on sale for $49 today
@snowshoes594211 ай бұрын
great video, how come your keys sound crunchy?
@IOSam11 ай бұрын
I think that's part of the sound profile of the PC plate (especially in the FlexKit case, where the plate flexes and resonates more) and not the switches (my lubed Gateron Ink Yellows are some of the smoothest sounding switches I have).
@BType13X2 Жыл бұрын
What I got from this video is I need to engineer a literal trampoline into the keyboard... and find a way to silence the springs on the trampoline / make the whole board thock. Give me 3 weeks and set up a conference call we will go over proof of concept and I swear this will be a much better invention than the helicopter ejection seat debacle.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
I think you just described r/MechanicalKeyboards mission statement... 😂
@gittarman Жыл бұрын
New IO Sam video? Time to slow down, brew some tea, take a moment and just be :)
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
That's the spirit my friend! Right there!!☕
@OpenDeepLearning10 ай бұрын
Just curious: what are you working? Are you a software engineer?
@IOSam10 ай бұрын
I come from the business side. Currently working in the finance department of a pharmaceutical company in the US. But I have worked as a Product Management in the past where I led a team of software developers.
@OpenDeepLearning10 ай бұрын
@@IOSam ok, got it! Thought you were a SWE :) I would take your videos out of anyone's in a particular topic, by a country mile! Please don't stop!
@IOSam10 ай бұрын
@@OpenDeepLearningThank you so much!!! Really appreciated!!! Right now I'm working to find new ways to have more time to keep producing these videos (I will definitely not stop making them!).
@OpenDeepLearning10 ай бұрын
@@IOSam That's great to hear! Thanks! Salute from a 30 year old SWE! (If demographics matter to you)
@IOSam10 ай бұрын
@@OpenDeepLearning It does (a lot!)! Since anyone younger than 30 these days cannot sit for more than 1 minute in front of a YT video... 🤣🤣
@AphillyatedYT9 ай бұрын
Is anyone having a problem with the encoder knob? I just ordered mine and am nervous now because people are saying there’s a problem
@IOSam9 ай бұрын
It depends on the type of plate you're going to use. I have discussed this issue with other commenters here before, and the conclusion is that if you go with an FR4 plate with no screws attaching the plate to the PCB, the knob press will bend the PCB all the way to the bottom without registering the press (it works fine on my PC plate with screws). If you use the case foam, you should be fine (the foam should back stop the PCB and allow the knob to be registered when depressed. If you don't want to use the case foam, just cut a piece of the thicker foam and stick it to the area under the knob, and that should take care of the problem.
@col2308 Жыл бұрын
could you mabye do a review over the model o pro? and if its better then the normal model o that would be cool!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
I kinda did it already over here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJeQeWqJqriEZsk It wasn't a full blown review, but at least it covers my personal opinion of the Pro when compared to the O 2...
@col2308 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam im fine with that thanks!
@BlakeAtStake93 Жыл бұрын
Gmmk Pro also has terrible stabs because while they seem good with screw in to disable wobble, and pre lubed to remove rattle it has terrible ticking which is so hard to fix. Also it has terrible overlubing which makes it super slow.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJDEqaljidCdoac
@bigchief9313 Жыл бұрын
Yooooo I just got the board
@chrism9912 Жыл бұрын
Question! So I've had this kit for a bit now and no matter what I do every time I put it back together it seems like the metal part on the rotary knob sits super low so when I install the actual knob it doesn't actually press down all the way. It bottoms out too early, have you ran into this issue? Love the vid
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Thanks Chris! I don't have this issue in my copy. In fact, on mine when I press the knob down it bottoms out on the stem without ever touching the case. So in your case I wonder if there is a missing or misplaced gasket that is letting the PCB flex too much in the top right corner of the PCB, to the point where when you press the knob into the rotary dial stem, the PCB flex downwards too far. When you press down the knob, does it at least actuate (mutting the audio for example)? What plate material are you using?
@chrism9912 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam thank you so much for thr reply. So I'm using the stock alum plate, so with the flex kit installed and knob installed I can only turn volume up and down. The press in function does not work since it bottoms out. Now if I take off the knob and press the metal piece it works.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@chrism9912 Did you check the plastic fitting inside of the knob to see if it is damaged or missing? When you press on the stem of the rotary encoder, does it feel the plate is flexing all the way down and touching the bottom of the case?
@chrism9912 Жыл бұрын
Yep! It's bottoming out on the metal surrounding the actual metal knob part its self
@chrism9912 Жыл бұрын
@IO Sam yeah it feels completely bottomed out in that corner. Cause I noticed the arrow keys are litft a little higher. So Def something in that corner is being weird
@dw8555 Жыл бұрын
Trust me, it's NOT a myth!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
😂😂😂 It's like the holy grail… Or Mulder’s truth… It’s just out there… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@J7T800 Жыл бұрын
The flex kit build sounded cleaner, probably due to gaskets that actually work. But then again, the board is still muted. My biggest question is why did Glorious even do this? What's the point of selling a kit to a demographic that won't even bother with it? Most people that want a better experience would've already moved on to better boards.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
I agree with the premise of your question… But the part that a lot of people don’t realize is how many dozens of thousands of GMMK Pros Glorious has sold in the last 2 years… (it is a very, very big number!) So, for them, it makes sense to put out this upgrade kit, to a point where even if just 1% of the people who bought GMMK Pros in the last 2 years care enough to buy it, they’d still sell thousands of units (and make a significant profit). Which is why I think they initially planned to sell it only to Glorious Guild members, but then I suspect the demand was high enough for them to change their minds to make it available to the general public (which makes me think the potential total addressable market for this product was probably higher than 1%) On the flip side, those supposed 1% of people who cared enough to upgrade their GMMK Pros with this kit will probably look at Glorious as the good guy who cared enough to release a niche product, even though they knew it would not have mass appeal. The other 99% wouldn’t know anything, and wouldn’t care. In other words: everybody wins! People who dislike Glorious as a company can accuse them of many things, but being stupid (as far as business is concerned) should not be one of them… They seem to know (very well) which side of the bread is buttered.
@MangoTangoFox Жыл бұрын
The price of this board is ludicrous, 210 for white & PC plate. You can already get a tri-mode + QMK/VIA wireless board (GMMK Pro is wired-only) in white for 135, the LMK81. The Monsgeek M1 Wireless QMK/VIA is also coming soon and will be similar but with the 4th nav key the LMK81 is missing on the right. Both have more flex and a PC plate by default, and zero shipping cost.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
👉 22:47
@MangoTangoFox Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam I saw, I'm glad you mentioned it. I was just adding the info about the LMK81 and the Wireless M1, as QMK/VIA + Wireless is a rare combo outside of Keychron and the high end group buys.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@MangoTangoFox Yeah, wireless has been challenging for manufacturers for a while now, because of the "faraday cage" effect that metal cases can have on the wireless module on the PCB, but they are learning how to use the case itself as part of the antenna array. The other issue was the difficulty to implement Bluetooth with QMK/VIA, which is another thing that has been mostly resolved recently. So, we can now expect many more new metal encased mechanical keyboard designs to include wireless connectivity out of the box. Keychron, who has been much quicker to release new models than Glorious has already capitalized on this with the Q1 Pro, but I'm willing to bet the new GMMK Pro 2 will come with both 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth as well. While wireless connectivity is not an essential feature for most users, I cannot imagine a big peripheral brand releasing a new mass market keyboard without it in 2023.
@hong4033 Жыл бұрын
if the zoom75 exists theres so reason to buy a keychron or gmmk pro and being a instock is not an excuse. Your already paying 100+ for a custom keeb you might as well buy a proper custom.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
A totally valid opinion! But important to emphasize that this is YOUR opinion… Unlike other product reviewers out there, I respect the intelligence of my audience. And as such, I’m not here to tell viewers what they should or shouldn’t buy. My work here is to give my audience all the FACTS about the products, so they can use these facts to make THEIR OWN decisions about what they think works or does not work for them. So, if after watching this video some people decide to chuck their GMMK Pros in the trash and go out and spend between $100 to $200 on another brand-new keyboard… Great! It was THEIR decision to do so! On the other hand, if other people decide to spend $60 to upgrade their existing GMMK Pros… Great! It was THEIR decision to do so! In either case, I’ve done my job to inform viewers to the best of my ability and, by doing so, to help them make the best decision for themselves!
@impointr Жыл бұрын
This kit is very puzzling to me. They value this at $99 and currently it's discounted at $59. Right now it's not part of the GMMK Pro, it's still a separate purchase. The GMMK Pro barebones costs $170, add the kit and you ramp up the price to $270, or $230 with the discount from the FlexKit. Unless you already own the GMMK Pro, this is terrible value. This is Mode Envoy, Mode Sonnet, QK75, Jris 75, and Keychron Q1 Pro territory, altho two of those are significantly cheaper and only three of those are easy to find/order. Hell the Keychron Q1 Pro is probably its biggest competitor: bluetooth capability, easily switch between Mac and Windows layouts, VIA support out of the box, same flex as the GMMK Pro with the flex kit... All this for just $10 more than the GMMK Pro barebones. If someone's getting this board right now it's just not good imo. As a GMMK Pro owner since about a year and a half now (it's also been collecting dust for about 8 months lol), I'm still tempted to get this kit even though I have a Keychron Q1 (with a frame mod that raises the whole assembly by 2 or 3mm, gives insane flex) and a Tiger80 Lite. Could still be a fun build! Still wishing they offered replacement PCBs, would've been a great opportunity to "convert" it to ANSI from ISO.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Hehe… I don’t blame you… Glorious marketing and products release strategy have indeed been all over the place in the last year or so. But then again, to be fair, Glorious has always been a “shoot from the hip” kind of company, which has been equally the source of their biggest failures as well as their biggest successes. Which brings us to the GMMK Pro, possibly their biggest knock out of the park since the Model O… Keeping both the perspective of time, as well as the context in which this keyboard was launched two years ago, is VERY important to help understand what they are doing here with this FlexKit. So, for the former, this keyboard was released almost 2 years ago (I know, it makes me feel old already), when, outside of some very small (and dare I say risky) group-buys, we had basically no choice to buy a decent quality metal hot-swap 75% keyboard at the time (much less for less than $200). And for the latter, the GMMK Pro was never supposed to be an “ultra enthusiast” product to begin with… This was 100% a mass-market focused product. So, by getting those two things out of the way, we can now talk about this FlexKit and call it what it is: a “product fix” or a “patch” to address one of the most complained about “design flaws” of the product at the time. Now, I don’t think Glorious expected this kit to be a huge success in sales, since they know most of the hundreds of thousands of people who bought this product are perfectly fine with its lack of plate flex. Which is why they (at least initially) planned to sell it only to their die-hard fans in the Glorious Guild forum. The fact they decided to pivot and put it for sale for the general public might be an indication that they sold more of these things than they were expecting. So, to address some of the things you pointed out: yes, everybody (even Glorious) knows the GMMK Pro design is fairly outdated today and I’m sure they already know that simply by the fact they might not be selling these in the same gangbuster numbers they did a few months ago. I mentioned this myself in this video, since there are enough good options for similar priced boards out there today for any person (even newcomers to this hobby) who has watched half a dozen mechanical keyboard KZbin videos to go with a different (and more modern) product today. But that doesn’t change the fact that Glorious already sold a METRIC TON of these things so far… Which means that even if only 1% of those decide to buy this kit, it will mean a fairly good profit for Glorious. So, considering they are a business in the first place, no one should be so surprised to see them upselling the hordes of GMMK Pro users out there on customization options for this board. One correction to your comment though: if you decide to customize a brand new GMMK Pro build today on their website on top of this FlexKit, you don’t pay retail price for the kit… You pay only $20 on top of the GMMK Pro’s regular price, which comes out to $190 give it or take (if you don’t go crazy on different colors and accessories). So, all things considered, not that bad of a deal for those who are dead set in buying a GMMK Pro today for whatever reason (although I’m not sure how many people would be in that position today as we have already established here). And to finalize this very lengthy response to your comment, Glorious became much more careful before launching some untested conceptual product (after getting burned by the launch of the Numpad, which while a good product, had a botched launching strategy). So, the way I see it, they are using this FlexKit to test the market (in a small and controlled testing environment) for their upcoming GMMK Pro 2.
@impointr Жыл бұрын
Didn't expect such a huge response. Thank you very much for your time! I pretty much have nothing to add, you nailed everything already. 😄
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@impointr Let's just say I'm known for my long Essays (and videos!)... 😂😂
@CMLXMNDXv Жыл бұрын
Why are you IO Sam?
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
I/O here relates to Input/Output, which is used in computer sciences to refer to any system (device or software) used to issue an "input" command, such as when using a peripheral (a keyboard, a mouse, a game controller, etc., often described as “input devices”), to which the computer will then give you an "output" (such as something being printed on a monitor screen, printer, or being played on your PC speakers, often referred to as “output devices”). Since the idea of this channel is to cover both types of PC peripherals (those used to INPUT commands and those used to OUTPUT results), I figured that calling it I/O Sam would make sense.
@KalebandPups3DShop3 ай бұрын
I can’t believe I bought the GMMK Pro, purchased the bare bone edition white ice thinking I was going to get a white keyboard as the name would suggest but no the stupid thing is silver why I call it silver ice why in the world would you call it white I think that’s false audvertisement no with the research I’ve done you’re telling me that I have to purchase $110 if I’m lucky $60 on sale flex kit to have a white base and then on top of that spend I don’t know offi the top of my head $50-$60 for a new top plate just to have a white keyboard like I thought I was going to have E❤gv
@IOSam3 ай бұрын
Yeah, this was one of the major f*ck ups that Glorious did from the beginning... It was something reviewers called out (including myself here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJDEqaljidCdoac ), but anyone who missed those launch reviews in 2021, would probably not know that. Especially considering that the marketing stock images they have for the silver board actually make it look like real white. So yeah, that is terrible marketing! Now, having said that, for anyone who is in the market in 2024 for an e-White 75%, luckily there are other options out there today --mostly group-buy customs, but at least you'll be getting more modern designs for much less money today than you would have paid for in 2021 when the GMMK Pro came out. There is ZERO reasons to get an e-white GMMK Pro for its current price in today's market.
@KalebandPups3DShop3 ай бұрын
@@IOSam yeah and I really only have me to blame I guess I was at Best Buy and they had a black one on display so I knew I liked it and I wanted it just wanted a white keyboard so instead of just waiting and making sure I did my research I just bought it and found out when I got home my mistake
@victorhansson3410 Жыл бұрын
very nice soft poron.. hahah
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
👊😂
@riceoverwife Жыл бұрын
remember the qk75 exists
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Where can a person buy a brand new QK75 today, say in the US or in the EU?
@riceoverwife Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam ok fair enough but as a former gmmk pro owner I would much much rather just buy a qk75 and wait a few months than buy a gmmk pro + flexkit
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@riceoverwife I don't disagree with you at all! So much so that I even recommended that people willing to pay more and wait more, should try to get a Zoom75 ( 24:25 ), which at least is very close in price to a GMMK Pro and has had a few drops in the last year or so... But I don't even know when was the last time the QK75 went on sale (my QK65 I ordered in late 2021 if I remember correctly and I have never seen it for sale since). So, I guess my point here is: it makes no sense to compare in-stock boards like a GMMK Pro or Keychron Q1 to entry-level custom stuff like a QK75, or a Jris75, simply because with these small batch group-buy/pre-order boards you literally never know if or when they will be on sale (not to mention they are considerably more expensive than an in-stock GMMK or Q1). So, I think it is a disservice to newcomers to this hobby to try to force feed the "group-buy narrative" on them from the get-go. Let them get their GMMK or Q1 first, and then let THEY decide IF or when they want to take the next step in this hobby into the custom world. When a young motorsport racing driver is learning how to drive, they don't start racing NASCAR or F1 cars... They start with Go-Karts... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@riceoverwife Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam valid- at the end of the day, we all hate waiting for our boards via gb. and imho i still think the q1>gmmk pro from personal experience- you get the option for flex off the get-go rather than having to buy the flexkit to remedy the stiffness of the board
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@riceoverwife I also agree with you here. So much so that I have been recommending the Q1 for heavy typists for a long time now. At the end of the day, both boards need to be modded to perform their best (although the Q1 you only mod it for sound). But the fact is there were far more GMMK Pros sold in the last 2 years than Q1s (if for nothing else because the GMMK Pro came out sooner), and people who bought one in the last 2 years might prefer to pay $60 to upgrade it than $200 to buy a completely new board, and that is the main target market for this kit IMHO. But yeah, anyone buying their first 75% keyboard today will have far more options than 2 years ago ( 25:02 ).
@AphillyatedYT9 ай бұрын
The kit is 45 bucks right now
@IOSam9 ай бұрын
Terrific deal if you can get it!
@AphillyatedYT9 ай бұрын
@@IOSamdo I need a extra usbc wire? Or does it come with everything I need
@IOSam9 ай бұрын
@@AphillyatedYTThe new USB-C daughter-board + cable is optional and has to be bought separately. You can reuse the ones that came in your original GMMK PRO, but the advantage of buying a new set is that the wire on it is slightly longer, which makes it easier to install on the new bottom case
@gregutz4284 Жыл бұрын
FR4 or bust
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
You can bet I'll try this kit with my AVX Works plate! (and I suspect it should work just fine)
@gregutz4284 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam Looking forward to it, cheers
@Justin-bm7zn Жыл бұрын
Did you try it with the FR4. I'm currently trying to do that combo myself but I seem to have the rotary knob push the board down causing it not to actuate as it just pushes the corner of board down and the knob just hits the metal it sits on the top plafe. You have any luck?
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@Justin-bm7zn I didn't have time to try this kit with my AVX Works FR4 plate. Did you get your plate from AVX too? But I suspect that the lack of screws will be challenging here. since there is no longer support of the sides of the board for the plate to rest on (as there was on the original case). My suspicion is that the case foam will end up being required with the Flex Kit when using an FR4 plate (to give support to the PCB given the lack of screws). Maybe (and I'm just theorizing here), one could solve this issue by cutting a small piece of the thick case foam to have just under the knob in the top right corner area (if you don't want to use case foam on the whole board that is).
@Justin-bm7zn Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam That's a great idea and yes this is the AVX works FR4. I do see what you mean now that the sides missing are going to be an issue with this config. It was pretty frustrating but I will give your suggestion a go and see where it takes me. It def needs some support in that top right corner to counter the flex when pushing the button.
@s0me1newithhand7s Жыл бұрын
actually, i like Akko M1 much more..
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
Good for you! 👍 So much more inexpensive choices for people getting their first 75% today than what we ever had in the last two years...
@bigchief9313 Жыл бұрын
Bro chill on the makeup lmao
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
😂 The color grading came out too saturated... Guess I'll have to work on my DaVinci Resolve skills a bit more... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@bigchief9313 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam hahaha you’re good man, I have just been watching a show recently with some really clear differences between face and neck in terms of makeup, so I have been hyper aware of the difference. Keep up the incredible work, your videos are so well made!
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@bigchief9313 😂😂I know what you mean... I notice the "neck thing" every time I watch the local news broadcasters! lol
@bigchief9313 Жыл бұрын
@@IOSam just like the big boys!
@PotLid Жыл бұрын
Low key QK75, Zoom75, and Jris75 would destroy Gmmk pro in terms of price, sound and overall package..
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
👉 23:57
@little_fluffy_clouds Жыл бұрын
Well, I've looked at the QK75, but I prefer the home-pgup-pgdown-end 4-key layout of the GMMK Pro. Zoom75 and Jris75 aren't in stock products and I don't want to wait for months after preordering. I looked at a Keychron Q1v2, but again, didn't like the layout although it's a good choice for use with a Mac. As Sam says, if you're looking for something that you can order and receive immediately, the GMMK Pro is a decent choice. Not everybody enjoys suffering through group buys just to get a customisable board. Plus, the customer support experience from Glorious has been excellent for me. Need to allow for the fact that some people simply prefer the GMMK Pro even after evaluating and using other options, even higher-end options. Yes, it took extensive modding (which I enjoy), but I've got two of them now in different colours and they both feel and sound great. It's good to have choice in the market, I think we keyboard enthusisasts are spoiled by the amount of choice that exists out there nowadays and that's a good thing.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
@@little_fluffy_clouds Yeap... I second everything you said here. I always find it funny that every time I talk about a Glorious product, people always come out of the woodwork to remind me that there are better options in the custom keyboards world (or in the niche low production volume high-performance gaming mice world for that matter). But what these enthusiasts forget is that the vast majority of the market is not interested in group-buys or to go out of their way to hunt an "unobtanium" $200 gaming mouse that you have to fight bots to be able to even buy one... We all know that a low production custom keyboard or a magnesium ultra-light mouse will probably be nicer, just like we all know that ordering a Ferrari will result in a nicer car than buying a "pre-built" Toyota... And yet Toyotas are much more popular, simply because they're cheaper, easier to buy, require less maintenance, and more importantly: they just get the job done. And that's what companies like Glorious and Keychron are doing... They want to sell you reliable Toyotas (or arguably Lexus :), and not Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
@GalenCrayn Жыл бұрын
The sound is still horrible, especially the space bar. There are much better boards in the price range of the GMMK. They have to make a Version 2 and reduce the price, or they won't compete with the new custom boards. But very good video for all who are owners of it or people like me who are interested in all news keyboard related.
@IOSam Жыл бұрын
“Horrible”, when applied to keyboards sound, is a strong term I reserve mostly for Logitech and Razer production boards out of the box… 😂 I think at this point in 2023, everybody and their mother already knows the GMMK Pro is a quiet board. So loud keyboard aficionados obviously need not apply here. As for arguably better boards (for those who don’t like the GMMK Pro’s characteristics) for a similar price range, I already saved you (and other viewers I was already expecting to come here to claim the same thing) the trouble and mentioned a few good alternatives here 👉 23:57
@little_fluffy_clouds Жыл бұрын
You can make the spacebar sound very good with simple mods, even without this flex kit. I've used StupidFish foam, extra thick gaskets, band-aid mod, silicon pads on the PCB, Durock v2 stabs, an AVX Works FR4 plate and an MT3 profile keycap set made from PBT and the spacebar is very satisfactorily thocky. Totally satisfied with my GMMK Pro, I actually find myself using it more than my more expensive custom boards because I like the size, the key layout and the volume knob.