Like a 75%, but better... [ZZanest Elements75XT]

[@KevinOMalleyisonlysmallreally]

Solid work once again Sam. I'm interested in a southpaw board, so this was interesting, and well made as usual.

[@IOSam]

Thanks Kevin!!! Nice to see you around here again!👊 And yeah... this "XT" inspired layout here was the main attraction to me as well the moment I heard about this project!

[@JoJo-ke5yz]

Appreciate that you always upload in 4k. Great video, very fun watch. I think I'll stick to my 75% at home though, just makes more sense to me. Also, I picked up an RK96 after your video a few months back, tossed some lubed Gateron yellows in there with some PBT keycaps I got on sale and its perfect for my hybrid work situation. Love that I can have it paired with three computers, great for IT work on the go. Thanks for making my life easier, Sam.

[@IOSam]

4K or bust!!! 🤘😆 But thank you my friend!! Highly appreciated! And yeah… The RK96 is the craziest bargain ever for a workhorse keyboard!!! Just insane value for its features!! Glad to know that video was helpful!

[@zhiccai]

Glad you made another video.; great review

[@IOSam]

Thank you Zee!!! Highly appreciated! Trying to crank up more videos as hard as I can here! 👊😅

[@5LB-Lobster-Mac-N-Cheese]

This keyboards looks amazing. Im a fan of the GMMK Pro (made my decision thanks your video), and it became a great silent keyboard to use at the office. So I might pick this up whenever there is a round 2 (hoping they have a white version). Have to agree as well about the bounce, I like a firm keyboard, not the biggest fan of having a bouncy keyboard.

[@IOSam]

The more I use this profile, the more I like it! While it seems the Kickstart project will not happen, the project runner had told me he would eventually open a group-buy for the barebones kit if there was not enough interest in the pre-built board through KS. So, I hope he might be able to offer additional colors through the group-buy. As for most custom keyboards going for the "bounce route" in the last year, I'm happy to see that many group-buy keyboards now are offering multiple mounting options (usually gasket or top mount) in the same design, which is great to allow users to pick either a super bouncy or more stable route according to their preferences when assembling the board.

[@AureliusAmbross]

Great job as always Sam! Always an instant watch when I see you in my feed

[@IOSam]

Yooo!!! Thank you man!!! Working hard to show up in that feed a bit more often though! 😅 Still happening... ⏳

[@AureliusAmbross]

@@IOSam Hey as long as the quality and passion is there, it’s worth the wait! Don’t work too hard!

[@NickF1227]

I agree Sam, I’m glad to hear someone speaking out against the dogma. Nice solid boards with little to no flex feel not only more premium but also easier to type on.

[@IOSam]

Well, at some point, someone has to just come out and say it, right? Having some plate flexibility might be a good thing, but, like everything else in life, too much of a good thing… is bad! While I know this is not going to be a popular position for me to take, I think that, at some point, a line has to be drawn and an effort to bring some common sense, to this whole “trampoline” madness, has to be made. Thus, I’m putting myself out there in the line of fire, so others (we know we are not alone in this opinion, right?) can eventually do the same.

[@NickF1227]

@@IOSam I think, while growing on pouplarity, the mech scene has become an echo chamber in the past year or so. First on the chopping block was clicky switches. Then it was Glorious is bad, don't buy the GMMK. A small group of people say that something is good or bad and everyone seems to just repeat it as fact. It's not healthy. In any case, I appreciate you my dude.

[@IOSam]

​@@NickF1227 To that I would also add brown switches: It went from being the favorite switch of the masses, to being the second most hated (after clickies of any type) because of Glarses; and then it went back to be loved again because another influencer who's name I don't even know came out saying that "actually browns are cool again".😂 It is kinda sad to see so many people behaving like sheep to this extent...

[@equu497]

Amazing video as always- Any chance we'll get a video of you constructing a totally custom keyboard from the ground up? I think it would be awesome, consideirng how thorough, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and well prersented you are.

[@IOSam]

Thank you Equu!!! And let me tell you... I get that question a lot! 😆 And the answer is yes! I do, in fact, have quite a few of those videos under production right now. And as is it par for the course here on this channel, I will not only be "assembling Lego kits" here (not throwing any shade on streamers here, I promise), which means you'll get shenanigans like: (i) harvesting Alps switches and then adapting a Geonworks Frog and a KeebsForAll FreeBird TKL to work with them; (ii) harvesting vintage (1988) Cherry MX Blacks from a Wyse terminal and installing them on a Maja Vulcan. And then yeah, I'll also do just a regular Graystudio SPACE80:Apollo build just because... why not? So, stay tuned! 😏⏳

[@Caution40404]

Great work as always! Would love to see you review the upcoming QK75, which I think for $195 is a great value for the quality and features it offers. Best regards!

[@IOSam]

Thank you!!! The QK65 is already on my hands here, so that review is coming very soon! But I'd love to catch up with the QK75 eventually, since my first impression of the 65 was very good!

[@syaqattaq90]

You're my goto when it comes to keyboard stuffs, but have yet to dive in and hands on into this rabbit hole. I noticed you mention Durock T1s in some of your video description. What do you think of them and is it a good switch to start with, buying blindly without knowing their feel? I come from a very old Ducky keyboard with Cherry MX blues and Razer Blackwidow with the box Greens, but want to try something quieter but with a nice bump.

[@IOSam]

Thanks Hafizul! Appreciated man!!! And yes! T1s are still (after years in the market) some of the best tactile switches out there! And they are not prohibitively expensive, which is nice... They are at the same level of the more expensive Drop Holy Pandas for a bit less money. If you want a very tactile switch that feels smooth and sounds nice out of the box, you can't go wrong with the Durock T1. T1s also come slightly pre-lubed, which is great for newcomers, as you wouldn't have to lube them manually from the get go (you can lube their springs later on for better sound though).

[@syaqattaq90]

@@IOSam thank you for the reply! The durock store on aliexpress having a great sale. Im gonna grab some switches and stabs there now. Already have the GMMK Pro on the way to me also thanks to your videos. 😁😁😁

[@IOSam]

​@@syaqattaq90 Awesome man!!! So happy to know my video was helpful to you in your mechanical keyboards journey!🙏

[@Fartman3000]

Nice job bro, please review the Kludge RK84 Pro, regards

[@IOSam]

Thank you! While I covered the RK96 here in the channel not too long ago (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYW0l6Onl9ienNk --which is still my recommendation for the best budget 96% keyboard in the market), I definitely plan to cover more of their boards next year!

[@vincentellsworth7905]

Curious as to which mods you would use on the Zoom TKL

[@IOSam]

While I have not tried one for myself to be able to tell how I would build it, from what I've seen in a few reviews, I'd probably go with PC plate + case and plate foams (for a less sharp and more subdued sound).

[@vincentellsworth7905]

@@IOSam definitely will try that setup thanks 👍

[@domenicolordi206]

Another great review! TBH I don't like this keyboard 😂but I enjoyed your entire video and the way you described your work

[@IOSam]

Haha!!! But you know what? This is the "dream come true" for any content creator: people watching your videos because they like your work (and not necessarily the topic of the video)! So, thank you so much Domenico!!! I really appreciate you (and your time watching my videos)!!! 🙏