There’s a joke that all you need to be a decent programmer these days is the ability to copy and paste code from websites like Stack Overflow. So last year Stack Overflow introduced The Key as an April Fools’ Day joke: it’s a 3-key keyboard designed for copying and pasting.

But it was a popular joke, so Stack Overflow partnered with Drop and turned it into a real keyboard that you could buy for $29. And apparently Drop sold more than 10,000 units. So now there’s a sequel. Meet The Key V2.

Like the original, The KEY V2 is basically a tiny 3-key keyboard. It’s the same size as last year’s model, but now features a few upgrades:

  • There are two RGB LED lights in the case beneath the keys.
  • The case is now acrylic, allowing those lights to shine through.
  • Keys and switches are hot swappable, so not only can you change out the keycaps, but also the switches.

Out of the box, the keyboard features the same Kailh Black Box key switches as last year’s model, but the ability to swap them out should allow you to customize the feel of the keyboard.

While the joke is that you only really need to hit Ctrl (or CMD) + C and V to copy and paste, Stack Overflow and Drop refer to the little input device as a macropad which can be configured to perform any number of functions.

For example, you could use it as a 3-key input device for programming, gaming, audio or video editing, or just about any other activity.

But The Key V2 is a limited edition device: it’s available now from Drop for $29, but the store says only 4,900 units are available. The device should begin shipping in July, 2022 and part of the purchase price goes to digitalundivided, a non-profit that aims to help Latina and Black women entrepreneurs.

via Stack Overflow Blog and The Verge

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2 replies on “The Key V2 is no joke: it’s a tiny keyboard with 3 keys, RGB lighting and changeable switches”

  1. I have the V1, but I swapped out my switches by desoldering the old switches and putting in Kailh Box Navies. I also soldered on the LEDs that weren’t populated on the V1 board. I could activate the RGB, but there was no point as mine had a metal case instead of an acrylic one like the v2.

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