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Keyboard Nut Thread

Hey Panda does this make you feel better?

I think if were to ever join you guys in sub-TKL land then I'd probably go for this.


Damn it looks good. Completely kills my G815 on looks and probably typing feel too but I still prefer a full layout rather than having to make do with FN.

You hate Ducky, but you would buy that pos? The keyboard clearly wobbles while typing and some of the keycaps are visibly skew. Not for me.

Guess all the RGB is distracting you?
 
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You hate Ducky, but you would buy that pos? The keyboard clearly wobbles while typing and some of the keycaps are visibly skew. Not for me.

Guess all the RGB is distracting you?

It's not wobbling, it's bouncing on the mousepad. On a hard surface that wouldn't be happening.

Hmm didn't notice any skew caps though, guess I need to rewatch it then.
Edit: Nope, no skew caps, may one or two optical illusions that might seem like a skew cap but it's just due to the angles and/or RGB.

And no, the RGB never distracts me, I actually like slow subdued RGB if anything. Seeing low profile switches and caps on a small board absolutely was though. If Ducky were to offer something similar I would probably reverse my opinions of them again.
 
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Suggestions on a 60% keyboard with black / linear keys? If I can’t find one I’m gonna go with a white Anne pro 2 and some pudding key caps or Chinese artsy caps
 
@BillNaaai How do you like your RGB?

The Womier/Gamakay K66 might be just up your alley otherwise the Anne Pro is good enough
I like it but also minimalism is also nice so I’ll take a look

edit: not a fan of the base of those 2 keyboards but the price isn’t bad, sister is going to the UK might ask her to get me a ducky one 2 mini with cherry mx blacks
 
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It's not wobbling, it's bouncing on the mousepad. On a hard surface that wouldn't be happening.

Hmm didn't notice any skew caps though, guess I need to rewatch it then.
Edit: Nope, no skew caps, may one or two optical illusions that might seem like a skew cap but it's just due to the angles and/or RGB.

And no, the RGB never distracts me, I actually like slow subdued RGB if anything. Seeing low profile switches and caps on a small board absolutely was though. If Ducky were to offer something similar I would probably reverse my opinions of them again.
If a keyboard bounces/wobbles/shakes while typing on my mouse pad, why would I even have it on my desk to begin with? Sies.

Caps look cheap and skew to me. *shrugs* I don't want to shoot the board down, but looking at videos it simply isn't for me.

You would let all your reservations regarding Ducky go, if they offered this exact keyboard?
 
If a keyboard bounces/wobbles/shakes while typing on my mouse pad, why would I even have it on my desk to begin with? Sies.

Caps look cheap and skew to me. *shrugs* I don't want to shoot the board down, but looking at videos it simply isn't for me.

You would let all your reservations regarding Ducky go, if they offered this exact keyboard?

No what I mean is it's pressing into the cushy mousepad and then bouncing up again. Without that rubbery/cushy surface underneath it wouldn't be doing that. If it wasn't so lightweight it also wouldn't be doing that because it would be permanently pressed down by its weight. So it's no so much that the keyboard is flawed as that particular setup is flawed.

Caps are cheap I'll give you that. The same goes for the G815 and anything else low profile. Apparently currently low profile means that the caps have to be made from the cheapest nastiest shiniest ABS for some reason. It's like they are incapable of doing PBT for smaller caps. Probably the number one drawback of currently going low profile. Since however nothing else is currently better that's not a deal-breaker, and they actually look nicer than the ones on the G815/ are at least slightly more angled.

And no I wouldn't reverse my opinions of Ducky immediately, especially not if it was the EXACT same board because that would show they are as backward as ever. But it would be a step in the right direction. An indication that they are tired of palette-swapping the same board they have been making for the last 20 years and actually want to do a little innovating.
 
No what I mean is it's pressing into the cushy mousepad and then bouncing up again. Without that rubbery/cushy surface underneath it wouldn't be doing that. If it wasn't so lightweight it also wouldn't be doing that because it would be permanently pressed down by its weight. So it's no so much that the keyboard is flawed as that particular setup is flawed.

Caps are cheap I'll give you that. The same goes for the G815 and anything else low profile. Apparently currently low profile means that the caps have to be made from the cheapest nastiest shiniest ABS for some reason. It's like they are incapable of doing PBT for smaller caps. Probably the number one drawback of currently going low profile. Since however nothing else is currently better that's not a deal-breaker, and they actually look nicer than the ones on the G815/ are at least slightly more angled.

And no I wouldn't reverse my opinions of Ducky immediately, especially not if it was the EXACT same board because that would show they are as backward as ever. But it would be a step in the right direction. An indication that they are tired of palette-swapping the same board they have been making for the last 20 years and actually want to do a little innovating.
I have a feeling that keyboard will be shitty in any setup. Will give it a spin if someone gets it, unfortunately no one in my circle will touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Yeah, a lot of people are complaining about the low profile keycaps. I guess with time some options will hit the market? I suspected we would see a lot more releases this year. Fuck Covid.

I still believe you missed some crucial points when you scrutinised the Ducky. You misunderstood the general stance on Ducky boards, and therefore you had a certain expectation. Ducky is not a premium brand in the premium keyboard world, it costs the same as any other mainstream 'gaming' keyboard. You had the expectation that you are getting a really premium board for the same money as any other average mech keyboard. Unfortunately, the only thing that matters to you is the feature list. You do not take the typing feel and experience into consideration at all, and therefore you won't get the hype around Ducky. I'll say it one more time, in the price range, Ducky provides the most premium typing experience.

Unfortunately, you don't care about the actual texture, feel and sound of a keyboard. So our perspective on what constitutes a 'good' board will never be the same. And that's all right. Luckily there's a huge selection to choose from. We can all have our flavour and be happy. :)
 
I have a feeling that keyboard will be shitty in any setup. Will give it a spin if someone gets it, unfortunately no one in my circle will touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Yeah, a lot of people are complaining about the low profile keycaps. I guess with time some options will hit the market? I suspected we would see a lot more releases this year. Fuck Covid.

I still believe you missed some crucial points when you scrutinised the Ducky. You misunderstood the general stance on Ducky boards, and therefore you had a certain expectation. Ducky is not a premium brand in the premium keyboard world, it costs the same as any other mainstream 'gaming' keyboard. You had the expectation that you are getting a really premium board for the same money as any other average mech keyboard. Unfortunately, the only thing that matters to you is the feature list. You do not take the typing feel and experience into consideration at all, and therefore you won't get the hype around Ducky. I'll say it one more time, in the price range, Ducky provides the most premium typing experience.

Unfortunately, you don't care about the actual texture, feel and sound of a keyboard. So our perspective on what constitutes a 'good' board will never be the same. And that's all right. Luckily there's a huge selection to choose from. We can all have our flavour and be happy. :)

Actually I do care about that stuff, I just don't believe it should come at the compromise of features. Give me a keyboard with PBT caps that thoccs where the caps don't budge an inch that has macros and media keys and software and maybe even a nice screen or something cool and I will absolutely grab it should I have the arm and leg available to cover the cost of such a thing.

If however you are going to make me choose between a keyboard that types great and one that's a Swiss army knife I will pick the Swiss army knife any day of the week. If however you give me a keyboard that types great that can also at least think about making me toast then my favour definitely swings in the direction of that board.


And my problem with the Ducky was that it was touted by a certain user on here to have that superiority whereas I plain feel it doesn't, not enough to warrant the hype and certainly not enough to then be ok with losing out on features for. Yeah I needed to wipe the caps constantly but i preferred typing on my MK850. In fact with those shitty legends it even came with drawbacks none of my gaming keyboards had. Thanks to those legends it feels like a nasty cheap keyboard because it matches a cheap keyboard where the legends were already wearing off. That and I definitely made a mistake going for the browns, should have gotten it with reds, i kinda feel the browns are bringing its value further down with me.

I still take both the Ducky and MK850 for a spin for a few days every once in a while both as a change of pace and as a check to see whether my opinion has changed and the G815 is no longer the greatest thing since sliced bread or whether it has shown it's true colours and become overly worn already, but alas/fortunately not yet. (in which case the Ducky could show off it's premiumness by outlasting it).


That's why I like the Everest Max. I'm just imagining it with Glorious Pandas (though I dunno whether those would actually work with the 3 prong system without mutilation) and then those pudding caps it think it is people talk about which are half cloudy transparent.
Or something even better sporting the same whistles and bells as the Max.


My other problem with the so called premium and custom keyboard space is it's all the same damn thing. Tiny aesthetic changes which are somehow in no quantifiable way supposed to make all the difference in the world. And a billion different switches which again can only be described by referencing another billion switches they are or aren't like, but better of course. All with fake limitations so they can pretend to be Italian sports cars and sell for Italian sports car prices. You even get nonsense like generic plastic cases with giant metal blocks embedded underneath to try and make it feel weighty premium.
The same problem exists in the gaming market to a degree too but you won't confuse a K95/100 with a Claymore for instance.
Perhaps I get stuck on features but features are quantifiable difference I can hang my hat on at least, even if they are superficial nonsense. I pay 1000 bucks more for a gaming keyboard because it has something the one that costs 1000 less doesn't. You pay 500 USD for a custom instead of 300 because some asshat has decided to declare it the greatest thing in the world and they are only making 500 of them and therefore it's obviously better than the 300 USD one of which they made a ridiculous 2000. Till next month/quarter rinse and repeat.

Eh ok granted, that's not really you...but it is some people in here and everyone on r/keyboards that hasn't yet started completely making their own keyboards.
 
Actually I do care about that stuff, I just don't believe it should come at the compromise of features. Give me a keyboard with PBT caps that thoccs where the caps don't budge an inch that has macros and media keys and software and maybe even a nice screen or something cool and I will absolutely grab it should I have the arm and leg available to cover the cost of such a thing.

If however you are going to make me choose between a keyboard that types great and one that's a Swiss army knife I will pick the Swiss army knife any day of the week. If however you give me a keyboard that types great that can also at least think about making me toast then my favour definitely swings in the direction of that board.


And my problem with the Ducky was that it was touted by a certain user on here to have that superiority whereas I plain feel it doesn't, not enough to warrant the hype and certainly not enough to then be ok with losing out on features for. Yeah I needed to wipe the caps constantly but i preferred typing on my MK850. In fact with those shitty legends it even came with drawbacks none of my gaming keyboards had. Thanks to those legends it feels like a nasty cheap keyboard because it matches a cheap keyboard where the legends were already wearing off. That and I definitely made a mistake going for the browns, should have gotten it with reds, i kinda feel the browns are bringing its value further down with me.

I still take both the Ducky and MK850 for a spin for a few days every once in a while both as a change of pace and as a check to see whether my opinion has changed and the G815 is no longer the greatest thing since sliced bread or whether it has shown it's true colours and become overly worn already, but alas/fortunately not yet. (in which case the Ducky could show off it's premiumness by outlasting it).


That's why I like the Everest Max. I'm just imagining it with Glorious Pandas (though I dunno whether those would actually work with the 3 prong system without mutilation) and then those pudding caps it think it is people talk about which are half cloudy transparent.
Or something even better sporting the same whistles and bells as the Max.


My other problem with the so called premium and custom keyboard space is it's all the same damn thing. Tiny aesthetic changes which are somehow in no quantifiable way supposed to make all the difference in the world. And a billion different switches which again can only be described by referencing another billion switches they are or aren't like, but better of course. All with fake limitations so they can pretend to be Italian sports cars and sell for Italian sports car prices. You even get nonsense like generic plastic cases with giant metal blocks embedded underneath to try and make it feel weighty premium.
The same problem exists in the gaming market to a degree too but you won't confuse a K95/100 with a Claymore for instance.
Perhaps I get stuck on features but features are quantifiable difference I can hang my hat on at least, even if they are superficial nonsense. I pay 1000 bucks more for a gaming keyboard because it has something the one that costs 1000 less doesn't. You pay 500 USD for a custom instead of 300 because some asshat has decided to declare it the greatest thing in the world and they are only making 500 of them and therefore it's obviously better than the 300 USD one of which they made a ridiculous 2000. Till next month/quarter rinse and repeat.

Eh ok granted, that's not really you...but it is some people in here and everyone on r/keyboards that hasn't yet started completely making their own keyboards.
Thank you for providing me with some insight into how you actually surmise your thoughts and stance on 'custom keyboards'. It also alleviates the frustration I have discussing somewhat intangible concepts with you.

You make many fair points, and I understand most of them. I guess you don't want to discuss or share your thoughts on 'feel' because at the end of the day it is just subjective preference?

My view on 'good keyboards' are probably wrong, as I only take typing experience and programmability into account. I assume you imply programmability when you talk about 'keyboard software'? I have recently also started valuing layout a lot more as well though...

Switches are a big problem. I think we can all agree with that. It can ruin or make a board. There's way too many, and way too many hyped switches that the majority of owners will lose in a blind test. That being said, explaining how something 'feels' is extremely difficult. Try telling someone why Egyptian cotton is better than generic textiles? Or why steak A is better than steak B? Texture cannot be defined without comparing to another texture. A paradox for sure. Herd mentality is strong, and the loud voices on r/mk is overbearing. And mostly wrong. Although I will admit that I really do enjoy the wide variety and flavours of switches available today. Gone are the days of linear vs clicky vs tactile. The playing field is much larger now.

I can't justify the price of most customs or their components. That's why I don't own any. I believe in a good plate, as that contributes directly to the typing experiencing. I don't really like to partake in inflating prices only because the demand is much larger than the supply. I also love building my own, so I would rather spend the money on another iteration of my silly keyboard than buying someone else's overpriced metal. I should also mention that I am a hypocrite, because I drool over r/mk every single day.
 
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Thank you for providing me with some insight into how you actually surmise your thoughts and stance on 'custom keyboards'. It also alleviates the frustration I have discussing somewhat intangible concepts with you.

You make many fair points, and I understand most of them. I guess you don't want to discuss or share your thoughts on 'feel' because at the end of the day it is just subjective preference?

My view on 'good keyboards' are probably wrong, as I only take typing experience and programmability into account. I assume you imply programmability when you talk about 'keyboard software'? I have recently also started valuing layout a lot more.

Switches are a big problem. I think we can all agree with that. It can ruin or make a board. There's way too many, and way too many hyped switches that the majority of owners will lose in a blind test. That being said, explaining how something 'feels' is extremely difficult. Try telling someone why Egyptian cotton is better than generic textiles? Or why steak A is better than steak B? Texture cannot be defined without comparing to another texture. A paradox for sure. Herd mentality is strong, and the loud voices on r/mk is overbearing. And mostly wrong. Although I will admit that I really do enjoy the wide variety and flavours of switches available today. Gone are the days of linear vs clicky vs tactile. The playing field is much larger now.

I can't justify the price of most customs or their components. That's why I don't own any. I believe in a good plate, as that contributes directly to the typing experiencing. I don't really like to partake in inflating prices because the demand is much larger than the supply. I also love building my own, so I would rather spend the money on another iteration of my silly keyboard than buying someone else's overpriced metal. I am also a hypocrite, because I drool over r/mk every single day.

To a degree feel is subjective yes, but only to a degree. I don't mention it because between my keyboards I'd don't feel much if any difference. Certainly not enough to value the Ducky over the rest. Regardless of whether I am typing a sentence or a longass reply to you like that one was. If they do feel different it's due to a quantifiable reason I have made a subjective decision about. For instance the P2 feels different due to the switches and the plastic top plate and permanent wrist wrest (incidentally it has been reduced to providing structural integrity to its box so it can hold my monitor, it doesn't get to come out and play anymore). The metal top plate ones however all feel the same except for the difference in switches and slightly odd cap sizing of the MK850, and of course the G815 stands apart for obvious reasons. I don't know whether this Ducky just has poor PBT caps but they don't feel superior and they most certainly don't look superior.
The day I get caps which feel like the MM830 mouse, that'll be the day I experience truly superior PBT caps.

Explaining feel is difficult but one needs to at least try without throwing nothing but references to equally obscure things out. At least reference whatever well known switch it's closest to and define the differences. Then supply as many measurements as possible, that also helps.

At the end of the day the sound test should not be where I get the most valuable information about a switch from.


I'm really hoping Glorious will help legitimise the whole scene. They'll "rip-off"/"copy" a couple of the identifiably different switches like they did with the Pandas and then all will be good and we will have replacement for Cherry switches that should cover 80% of what's out there.
 
To a degree feel is subjective yes, but only to a degree. I don't mention it because between my keyboards I'd don't feel much if any difference. Certainly not enough to value the Ducky over the rest. Regardless of whether I am typing a sentence or a longass reply to you like that one was. If they do feel different it's due to a quantifiable reason I have made a subjective decision about. For instance the P2 feels different due to the switches and the plastic top plate and permanent wrist wrest (incidentally it has been reduced to providing structural integrity to its box so it can hold my monitor, it doesn't get to come out and play anymore). The metal top plate ones however all feel the same except for the difference in switches and slightly odd cap sizing of the MK850, and of course the G815 stands apart for obvious reasons. I don't know whether this Ducky just has poor PBT caps but they don't feel superior and they most certainly don't look superior.
The day I get caps which feel like the MM830 mouse, that'll be the day I experience truly superior PBT caps.

Explaining feel is difficult but one needs to at least try without throwing nothing but references to equally obscure things out. At least reference whatever well known switch it's closest to and define the differences. Then supply as many measurements as possible, that also helps.

At the end of the day the sound test should not be where I get the most valuable information about a switch from.


I'm really hoping Glorious will help legitimise the whole scene. They'll "rip-off"/"copy" a couple of the identifiably different switches like they did with the Pandas and then all will be good and we will have replacement for Cherry switches that should cover 80% of what's out there.
I love what Glorious is doing for the keyboard scene. I'm also really happy they decided on such a wonderfully designed tactile like Holy Panda, rather than just another random tactile switch. They also don't boost their pricing model through artificial supply/demand. (I'm sure there is an actual word for this?)

It's also great that all their items are so accessible. Let's hope Evestek stocks more of their range as time goes on.
 
Hard desk = no bouncy


So the Fnatic Streak 65 really isn't so bad.
That's fair, but which Neanderthals don't use a large deskpad these days?

I've watched a whole lot of top down shots of the keyboard, and I could identify a skew cap here and there. Most commonly on the escape. Might be prominent on this board because the gaps between keycaps are larger than on regular boards. In all fairness, my K70 also have a few skew caps, but corsair generally have shitty caps anyway.

Maybe my eyes are seeing things because I so dearly want you to be wrong. :poop:
 
Lube is lube!
That said, I have a lot of experience with lube from other fields, and I do not agree with a lot of the info out there on lubing plastics. I am certain the krytox is great, but I also believe most of it has to do with the viscosity, not the added PTFE.

I use PMDS lube (silicone oil) - same as what you get in RC model car shocks.

It's not ideal - it wears off in about 6 months, so if we do a group buy for the correct Krytox, I will join...
Howsit dude. Can you possibly link some actual products available in South Africa when you have time?

This whole lube thing has been driving me nuts. There's no concrete evidence or study done outside mechanical keyboards for the claims made by the community. It's all just references to feel, and 'too thick' comments. There must be an alternative that comes close to the Krytox stuff?

Do you have any thoughts on how to increase the viscosity of silicon oil so it is closer to the consistency of Krytox 205? It should last much longer then? Maybe mix it with a very, very small amount of silicon (dielectric) grease? I'm sure someone has tried it. I'm mainly looking for an alternative to lube springs in my switching without wasting the precious Krytox gold, but if I happen to find something suitable for actually lubing the switches as well, that would be amazing!

Also, does anyone know where I can get silicon (dielectric) grease for the stabilizers? This weekend is going to be lube filled... ;) De soldering an old CM Storm with cherry blues in favour of some Gateron yellows. Going to sort out the stabilizers while I'm at it as well.
 
Also, does anyone know where I can get silicon (dielectric) grease for the stabilizers? This weekend is going to be lube filled... ;) De soldering an old CM Storm with cherry blues in favour of some Gateron yellows. Going to sort out the stabilizers while I'm at it as well.

Rama keyboards recommends an RS electronics silicone grease, I bought a tube and have had a lot of success with it on stabs.

 
Howsit dude. Can you possibly link some actual products available in South Africa when you have time?

This whole lube thing has been driving me nuts. There's no concrete evidence or study done outside mechanical keyboards for the claims made by the community. It's all just references to feel, and 'too thick' comments. There must be an alternative that comes close to the Krytox stuff?

Do you have any thoughts on how to increase the viscosity of silicon oil so it is closer to the consistency of Krytox 205? It should last much longer then? Maybe mix it with a very, very small amount of silicon (dielectric) grease? I'm sure someone has tried it. I'm mainly looking for an alternative to lube springs in my switching without wasting the precious Krytox gold, but if I happen to find something suitable for actually lubing the switches as well, that would be amazing!

Also, does anyone know where I can get silicon (dielectric) grease for the stabilizers? This weekend is going to be lube filled... ;) De soldering an old CM Storm with cherry blues in favour of some Gateron yellows. Going to sort out the stabilizers while I'm at it as well.
Yes, you'll go nuts. I did a little bit of research a while ago to try and figure it out, but came out short. It seems thickening lube is not as simple as you might think. Yes you can mix silicone oil/grease to get the consistency you want. The problem is that viscosity is not fixed, it is dynamic - it changes based on movement and also over time (and obv temperature). So it might look like the correct viscosity, but over a period of a month it still spreads out a lot. It might even separate into the grease and oil again.

Like the difference between g0 and g5 is only the thickener used. And krytox claims that 205 and 105 is the same viscosity, only difference is one is an oil and one is a grease.:unsure:

I could not find any silicone oil products online, except for some shops I have never heard of, so I drove to ModelMania and bought some. I also tried to find Liqui Moly silicone grease, but nobody stocked it, and I did not get replies to any of my emails.
 
Yes, you'll go nuts. I did a little bit of research a while ago to try and figure it out, but came out short. It seems thickening lube is not as simple as you might think. Yes you can mix silicone oil/grease to get the consistency you want. The problem is that viscosity is not fixed, it is dynamic - it changes based on movement and also over time (and obv temperature). So it might look like the correct viscosity, but over a period of a month it still spreads out a lot. It might even separate into the grease and oil again.

Like the difference between g0 and g5 is only the thickener used. And krytox claims that 205 and 105 is the same viscosity, only difference is one is an oil and one is a grease.:unsure:

I could not find any silicone oil products online, except for some shops I have never heard of, so I drove to ModelMania and bought some. I also tried to find Liqui Moly silicone grease, but nobody stocked it, and I did not get replies to any of my emails.
Hmmm,

Yeah I realise that mixing 2 greases/oils doesn't combine them. If they don't have the same carrier they will most probably separate quickly, or the oil will eventually evaporate leaving behind the grease...

I don't mind lubing often, I'm more concerned about the unnecessary wear with opening them every 6 months or so. I'm considering spray lube for linears, as I can apply that with minimal wear on the switch when a board comes back in rotation.

Any thoughts on silicon spray lubes?
 
Any thoughts on silicon spray lubes?
Yes, don't. If you can find a way that would work with spray, you should be able to find a way with a needle lube dispenser (even if it means melting a hole or 2.

But what is the problem with using krytox? Surely paying for the convenience of not lubing every 6 months is worth it?
 
Yes, don't. If you can find a way that would work with spray, you should be able to find a way with a needle lube dispenser (even if it means melting a hole or 2.

But what is the problem with using krytox? Surely paying for the convenience of not lubing every 6 months is worth it?
Yeah, for now I am content with using Krytox. But as soon as it runs out I know I'm going to flip tables again because I can't find anything suitable locally. Okay, lube rant over.

Visiting a hobby shop tomorrow to get some dielectric grease for the stabilisers. I'm also going to try it on the springs. A tiny bit should do the trick to reduce the ping.
 
I got it from the forum luckily. Never ordered something from Banggood before, maybe another member can provide input.
I have a few times. So far never had any issues with them. Items normally take 2-3 weeks to arrive in the country. Only issue is customs this side... Especially if they don't know what the item is. (Gateron blue switches - took customs 3 weeks to release)

Sent from my VKY-L29 using Tapatalk
 
Glarses: "Cherry MX Browns are not tactile, they are ticklish at best"

Side note: I used MX Browns in a friend's K95 Plat - meh, they feel like scratchy Reds
However Gateron Browns do not feel like dirty Gateron Reds. Sadly they don't sound like Cherry.
 

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