# 67: Keyboards

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2021-03-11
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 67
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/67

## Summary

Myke Hurley explains his deep dive into the custom mechanical keyboard hobby, detailing the ecosystem of group buys, keycap vendors like GMK, and high-end manufacturers such as Rama Works and Keychron. He discusses the modular nature of the hobby, the role of Twitch streamers in popularizing the aesthetic, and the shift from cottage industry to scaled production. The hosts then analyze the Apple Watch 'Numerals' face design and speculate on the future of a potential round Apple Watch.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=8) Introduction to the Keyboard Hobby
- [4:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=284) The Custom Keyboard Ecosystem and Group Buys
- [5:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=315) Twitch Streaming and Community Culture
- [9:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=564) Keyboard Components and Standardization
- [22:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=1323) High-End Manufacturers: Rama Works and Keychron
- [33:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=1994) Product Design Opportunities for Studio Neat
- [39:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=2362) Tech Corner: Apple Watch Numerals Face
- [50:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards#t=3012) Speculation on a Round Apple Watch

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Dygma (product)
- Novel Keys (company)
- GMK (company)
- Rama Works (company)
- Keychron (company)
- Apple Watch (product)
- Samsung Galaxy Watch (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [81: Two of Those People Can't Be Ducks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-17-81-two-of-those-people-cant-be-ducks) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 330: Hover Turtles, Dull Designs, and K'nex Computers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-25-ep-330-hover-turtles-dull-designs-and-knex-computers) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [469: It’s My Fault, But Also Your Fault](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-01-31-469-its-my-fault-but-also-your-fault) (Making It)
- [MightyHohm For The Holidays - Kaiser Keyzer's Kits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-12-25-mightyhohm-for-the-holidays-kaiser-keyzers-kits) (The Amp Hour)
- [Once Every Couple Months](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-03-11-67-keyboards. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Thoroughly Considered.