Expectations on the New, Upcoming TypeMatrix Keyboard

Kris Caballero • Dec 17, 2023 • 0 comments • Posts

Bar none: The keyboard community and fans are one of the friendliest people I've seen and witnessed (including those who collect video games, mechanical pencil collectors, Japanese Pachinko machine fans and those who love old-school video/film cameras). While we're working on dedicating an entire post about our, namely my, experience with keyboards, we'll sum it up—for now—that the company TypeMatrix has won us over out of all we have used and typed with. This post and this sentence you're reading right now is being typed on the TypeMatrix 2030—a keyboard we will review in the near future.

There are forums that specialize in rumors surrounding businesses like McDonald's, tech-related stuff like Apple®, and sports athletes involving trades and sign-ins, but talking about keyboard companies like TypeMatrix? Let this website be the rare ones to do it.

As a result from our current research, so far, I have found no online forum/blog posts discussing the new and upcoming keyboard TypeMatrix plans to work on and release. If you're subscribed to their newsletters, TypeMatrix released an exclusive survey on November 8, 2023 asking their customers, fans and subscribers about what they would like to see and have as they plan to work on a brand new keyboard (we subscribed to their newsletter as recent as May 2023). Despite criticisms about their official website looking low-key with little to no frequent activity, updates or blog posts, TypeMatrix suddenly has set plans to work and sell a fresh, new keyboard edition that ought to entice fans of all kinds. Their last call for the survey was on November 26, 2023, but it's never late to subscribe to their newsletters anyway. We filled out the survey ourselves, and let's just say that our tastes veer toward a more low-maintenance side of things. In other words, we're not asking for too much besides simple things like backlighting.

"That's cool, good sir, but why are you looking forward to it?"

I'll save such answer in another post but basically of all the keyboards I've used, both for this website and for work, the TypeMatrix won me over. Previously, I used a GoldTouch, Happy Hacking Keyboard, and even keyboards made for video editing, from Avid Media Composer to Adobe Premiere by a company called Logic Keyboards. All those keyboards have one thing in common: They're all staggered. While it took me a bit of time, I found joy and comfort with the TypeMatrix for good reason:

Ortholinearity

(Say that three times fast.)

Because there are other companies that specialize in building and customizing your own ortholinear keyboard, I always seem to go back to my TypeMatrix. It has all that I need, including a number pad, or NumPad, to go with it, and is readily available. It's what my hands and fingers like typing on. Plus, the price is tolerable compared to a custom-built one which can run up to several hundred dollars. (Admittedly, I was a bit sad selling off my Happy Hacking Keyboard [HHKB] but I'm glad someone out there is enjoying and giving it some good use. If you're wondering, it was a Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional Classic with blank keys.) I don't think I'll type on a regular keyboard ever again. The finger travel and arrangement is just right, and having the ENTER key in the middle helped a lot, ergonomically speaking. Again, many people don't need it, but I truly love the integration of the NumPad. Yeah, the keyboard is a basic scissor switch, compared to the famous topre, but I personally don't mind it.

Before I forget: I'm a DVORAK typist and fan—something I'll also share and talk about on another post. This layout works nicely with this ortholinear arrangement.

Cool, so what are you hoping to see or expect on the new "TypeMatrix 2040?"

I'm not sure if it'll be called the "TypeMatrix 2040," but here's what I'm hoping:

Mechanical Switches
I did say that I miss my HHKB and love the "thock" sound from their signature topre switches, so I'm hoping for a mechanical option or something similar. That may be asking for a higher price tag but one can only hope. However, if the price is reasonable, it may compete with the other brands out there already specializing in keyboard customizations and switches. Who knows? Anyway, even though I'm personally not picky when it comes to switches, it'd be nice to have that option. Even if it's rubber dome, I'd still use it.

Backlight Option
This is a must. While I don't normally work and type in a low-lit room, I often dim the room for obvious reasons: To save on my electricity bill (it's ridiculously high here in Los Angeles). Even though I've learned, practiced and trained myself typing without looking at the keys via DVORAK, I still love the look and sight of a backlit keyboard. Having an extra option for backlit colors and animation similar to a gaming keyboard? Okay, that's pushing it but I completely don't mind!

Customizing KeyCaps
Why, yes, I type on a blank keyboard, and even though it's nice and clean, having the option to customize the keys with your own prints, colors and designs would be wonderful. I do have some blank keys I wish to use—Cherry compatible—so it'd be nice to give them some usage. Nevertheless, being able to customize your own keys does sound like a neat idea. Honestly, I'd doubt they'd consider this but just thought I'd say.

Wider-sized keyboard
If you look at the original TypeMatrix 2020, their first release, the keyboard was much wider. Though I don't mind using our own, it never came with blank keys (then again, we're talking the earlier days and their very first release). I'd like to see their new keyboard that's a bit wider but still light and compact enough to carry. I played a lot of sports and did frequent weight-lifting back in high school so broad shoulders have stuck with me all these years. I'd be grateful to have a keyboard that squares up the shoulders better. A split keyboard option? Maybe, though personally, I'd like a keyboard to be in one whole piece but hey, to each their own.

Blank Keys
Now, yes, this TypeMatrix 2030 we're typing on right now is blank and TypeMatrix sells these, so why am I reiterating? I obviously don't know what others have said in response to the survey, but I listed it here as a reminder that my love for blank keyboards haven't changed. It bares mentioning again in the moment they decide to eliminate such thing/feature. I had this belief that if something isn't mentioned nor requested, there's no more interest in it and may be scrapped. Keep the blank keyboard option!

Colemak layout
I type in DVORAK but because the keyboard community is so friendly, I want to make a mention hoping TypeMatrix has a premade keyboard for Colemak users and typists. Released in 2006 by Shai Coleman, this keyboard layout is quite close to QWERTY, making it a great alternative to those wanting a more comfortable typing experience. Currently, TypeMatrix has the QWERTY, DVORAK, and the BÉPO layout. How about one for Colemak?

That's all I can think of. Once again, I'd consider myself low maintenance, and even though TypeMatrix are, by definition, an ergonomic keyboard company, such businesses and their keyboards remain very neutral in terms of colors and (possible) customizations. Even if they did decide to compete with other companies adding to our suggestions in pizazzing their keyboards, the final asking price will dictate its success. I don't think that upon release the new TypeMatrix keyboards will sell like hotcakes but thanks to this post, there may be an increased interest (we can't be the only ones talking about this, are we?). People talk about the new upcoming cell phones, tablets, also movies, video games and music albums, but we're okay being in this quiet corner of the Internet talking about the new keyboard TypeMatrix has plans for. If nobody else wants to chime in and talk about it, we will, and that we did—all just for you, fellow TypeMatrix/ortholinear keyboard fans.

We here at KCU Network, myself included, have no inside information whatsoever, so this post is pure fan talk expressing our own likelihoods (also because our participation bares discussing, regardless of what information was given to us either in private or information allowed to be published for the online public). It's not often we blog about what to expect in response to new releases as we're not fanboys acting as "beta testers" purchasing upon release then complaining about the flaws later down the line, but it's the small things like these that make us excited. We hope you are too.

Anyway, even if your expectations are low, what are you looking for in TypeMatrix's new and upcoming keyboard? Is there anything else you'd like to see that would make you a fan? Would their new keyboard make you try or even fully convert to typing on an ortholinear layout? Let's talk about it on the comments section below!

Thank you, TypeMatrix for the opportunity and the survey!

UPDATE 05-07-2024 at 3:49PM - Added post image atop the post.

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