Altar II - Ultra-thin fully mechanical keyboard
Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard
Altar II is a revolutionary mechanical keyboard that combines the tactile feel of a mechanical switch with an impossibly thin 4.75mm profile, thinner than Apple's Magic Keyboard. It features a unique M-Dial™, a detachable and customizable dial for intuitive control, and Harmonic Synthesiser™ haptic feedback for a delightful typing experience. With a native macOS app, NiteLite™ backlighting, and sustainable materials, Altar II redefines what a keyboard can be.
Impossibly thin and sleek, Altar II redefines the low profile keyboard category.
- 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.
- swingboy
Great looking keyboard but why are the numbers on the number keys so large? They stick out like a sore thumb.
- 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?
- runjake
LOVE the industrial design. HATE the font, especially on the number keys. But, great job overall!
- doublerebel
I am a very happy customer of the Altar I. The first one worked so well I picked up two more on the secondary market. Have had no issues. Easy to customize the effective layout as advertised. Firmware was open-sourced as promised. Delivery schedule was normal or better as Kickstarters/prefunding goes.
I’m not sure I am the customer for the II, I bought it as a good low-profile alternative to the Apple keyboards —- but it looks like a great product.
- 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
- 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?
- 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!