Ryan Whitwam
@rwhitwam.bsky.social
Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica. Previous bylines at ExtremeTech, Android Police, Wirecutter, NY Times, PC World, HotHardware, Android Authority, and more.
Even the inside of this thing 👀👀👀
September 28, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Even the inside of this thing 👀👀👀
I started assembling this for the Ars article the other day, and now it's done. Mode65 with copper plate and base, featuring GMK Copper R2 keycaps. The accents contain 10% real copper because why not I guess.
September 28, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I started assembling this for the Ars article the other day, and now it's done. Mode65 with copper plate and base, featuring GMK Copper R2 keycaps. The accents contain 10% real copper because why not I guess.
What... what is this signage telling me to do?
September 1, 2025 at 3:16 AM
What... what is this signage telling me to do?
The "Pizza Chef" in Death Stranding 2 is an Asian man who lives in Australia and dresses like Mario. Makes sense.
July 28, 2025 at 3:37 AM
The "Pizza Chef" in Death Stranding 2 is an Asian man who lives in Australia and dresses like Mario. Makes sense.
I got a keyboard made of forged carbon fiber, which is neat. I got a carbon fiber splinter assembling it, which is not as neat.
July 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I got a keyboard made of forged carbon fiber, which is neat. I got a carbon fiber splinter assembling it, which is not as neat.
Boop65 reassembled with 62g Zealios and Zeal stabilizers. Keycaps are GMK Nautilus. I love the yellow e-coating on this board.
June 1, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Boop65 reassembled with 62g Zealios and Zeal stabilizers. Keycaps are GMK Nautilus. I love the yellow e-coating on this board.
I'm rebuilding an old keyboard and was amused to find I "band-aid modded" it. That's when you cut up band-aids to use as stabilizer pads. You can just buy sheets of adhesive stabilizer pads now.
May 31, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I'm rebuilding an old keyboard and was amused to find I "band-aid modded" it. That's when you cut up band-aids to use as stabilizer pads. You can just buy sheets of adhesive stabilizer pads now.
The nature of my job means I can never download music from YouTube Music. The device limit is silly.
May 18, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The nature of my job means I can never download music from YouTube Music. The device limit is silly.
And here's a typing test. I'm pressing pretty hard, but there's very little sound.
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
And here's a typing test. I'm pressing pretty hard, but there's very little sound.
Here's the Chopper next to a standard 65% keyboard (a Rama Jules).
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Here's the Chopper next to a standard 65% keyboard (a Rama Jules).
Here's the finished product with OTC 9009 keycaps. Not flashy, but it's a good match for the "Blizzard" case colorway. Made from thick PBT for durability in case I toss it in a bag at some point.
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Here's the finished product with OTC 9009 keycaps. Not flashy, but it's a good match for the "Blizzard" case colorway. Made from thick PBT for durability in case I toss it in a bag at some point.
I'm going for minimum noise on the assumption that I might travel with this keyboard at some point. These are Boba U4 switches, which are internally silenced. PCB mounts in the case with just four small screws, which thread into tapped holes inside the silicone.
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
I'm going for minimum noise on the assumption that I might travel with this keyboard at some point. These are Boba U4 switches, which are internally silenced. PCB mounts in the case with just four small screws, which thread into tapped holes inside the silicone.
I'm doing a split spacebar layout for function layer access—space on the right and the two function layer toggles in the center and left. It really is an attentively designed keyboard. The PCB and FR4 plate are both a nice cream color.
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
I'm doing a split spacebar layout for function layer access—space on the right and the two function layer toggles in the center and left. It really is an attentively designed keyboard. The PCB and FR4 plate are both a nice cream color.
After some troubleshooting, I finally have my Hibi Chopper assembled. This is a cute little 40% keyboard. The kit is only about $100, excluding potential tariffs (it's from Australia). It's pretty light and has a muted sound profile because the case is silicone. Neat.
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
After some troubleshooting, I finally have my Hibi Chopper assembled. This is a cute little 40% keyboard. The kit is only about $100, excluding potential tariffs (it's from Australia). It's pretty light and has a muted sound profile because the case is silicone. Neat.
This board used to have a silver encoder knob, but the accents in Jamon are white. I was able to order a compatible knob in e-white for a better match. Surprising the designer still had any in stock. I love the grippy knurling on the edges—old one was smooth.
April 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
This board used to have a silver encoder knob, but the accents in Jamon are white. I was able to order a compatible knob in e-white for a better match. Surprising the designer still had any in stock. I love the grippy knurling on the edges—old one was smooth.
Not a new keyboard, but some new other stuff. I've had this red Zoom65 for a while, just waiting on the right keyset. This is GMK Jamon, which is obviously very red. Jamon is a little thematically confusing with ham/bacon and egg novelties, but it's fun and has great colors.
April 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Not a new keyboard, but some new other stuff. I've had this red Zoom65 for a while, just waiting on the right keyset. This is GMK Jamon, which is obviously very red. Jamon is a little thematically confusing with ham/bacon and egg novelties, but it's fun and has great colors.
This might be the best photo I've ever taken of phones.
April 10, 2025 at 9:32 PM
This might be the best photo I've ever taken of phones.
Pretty successful. Much improved sound profile and stability. S-tier keyboard now.
March 29, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Pretty successful. Much improved sound profile and stability. S-tier keyboard now.
SA Godspeed keycaps reinstalled. The height of these caps exacerbates wobble and bounce, which made this board feel a little weird.
March 29, 2025 at 9:38 PM
SA Godspeed keycaps reinstalled. The height of these caps exacerbates wobble and bounce, which made this board feel a little weird.
Top case reinstalled. The mounting for this is not fancy, just 8 screws on the bottom. Added Durock Anubis switches, which are less wobbly and lighter than the Zealio V1 Redux I had in it before.
March 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Top case reinstalled. The mounting for this is not fancy, just 8 screws on the bottom. Added Durock Anubis switches, which are less wobbly and lighter than the Zealio V1 Redux I had in it before.
Remounting in the case. Since the board is so... generously sized, there's plenty of room for routing the daughterboard cable.
March 29, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Remounting in the case. Since the board is so... generously sized, there's plenty of room for routing the daughterboard cable.
New stabs. Plate and foam reinstalled.
March 29, 2025 at 8:13 PM
New stabs. Plate and foam reinstalled.
These C3equalz stabilizers never sounded quite right to me. Changing them to Zeal V2 stabilizers.
March 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
These C3equalz stabilizers never sounded quite right to me. Changing them to Zeal V2 stabilizers.
This is a Class 65, which has both flex cuts in the PCB and flexible gasket mounts with a PC plate. Yeah, bouncy.
March 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This is a Class 65, which has both flex cuts in the PCB and flexible gasket mounts with a PC plate. Yeah, bouncy.
It is new OLD keyboard day. I'm rebuilding one of my favorites to hopefully make it a bit more stable. I didn't realize when I first put it together a while back how bouncy it would be. This warrants different switches and stabilizers, but that means full disassembly. 🧵
March 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
It is new OLD keyboard day. I'm rebuilding one of my favorites to hopefully make it a bit more stable. I didn't realize when I first put it together a while back how bouncy it would be. This warrants different switches and stabilizers, but that means full disassembly. 🧵