RAMA WORKS Launches a New Keyboard - M65-B

RAMA WORKS has made a name for themselves in the market of high end aftermarket custom keyboards. Based out of Australia, the industrial design brand has been designing keyboards for a good period of time now, and they have quite the fan following. People loved the M60-A, the Koyu, and the M65-A. And now RAMA has something new on the way for us keyboard lovers, the M65-B. This keyboard effectively acts as a revision to the M65-A, and this seems to be exactly what RAMA was going for.

RAMA WORKS M65-B Iced, RAMA WORKS

What's New? 

This new keyboard still captures the original RAMA WORKS look and feel. It is a 65% keyboard, and has a blocker in the bottom row on the right side (see above). It is configured in a Tsangan layout; the bottom row on the left is configured with a 1U windows key positioned between two 1.25U mod keys, and there is also a split backspace key that is placed one row down. However, RAMA has also introduced a lot of new features, many of which improve on some people woes about their older 65% keyboards. With this keyboard, there is a new plate mounting and dampening solution. Rama is calling it the RAMA WORKS MUTE. MUTE isolates the plate, using a gasket mount system, providing a "bouncy" typing experience with flex. This fixes one of the concerns people had with their previous 65% boards, the M65-A and the Koyu, which both used integrated plates, something that many people deem to provide a typing experience that is too harsh. The plate is made of brass this time around. This keyboard also features RAMA's first poly-carbonate keyboard, something that generates a lot of hype, and is obviously something that people are looking for in a keyboard, judging by the popularity of the Think6.5°. To go along with this new poly-carbonate version, there is also a new colour for the internal dampener, intuitively named "ICED." 

RAMA WORKS MUTE plate mounting and dampening soloution, RAMA WORKS

What do you get?

With this new RAMA WORKS keyboard, the list of features is long, something that should be expected for the hefty price tag that it carries (more on that later). They keyboard uses USB-C, and has two PCBS; one featuring Kailh hotswap sockets and the other being a standard PCB requiring soldering, both of which use QMK firmware. The keyboard sits at an 8 degree typing angle, has surface mounted RGB LEDs, and also supports RAMA's VIA Configurator for those who wish to not use QMK.  

In the Box: 

1 x Top Enclosure
1 x Base
1 x Mirror Polished PVD Plate (Brass)
1 x MUTE Mount - ICED (Non-Conductive Silicone)
2 x Custom Moulded RW Feet
4 x RW M2x4 T10 Fixtures
6 x RW M2x3 T10 Fixtures
6 x RW M2x3 CSK T6 Fixtures
6 x RW M2x3.5 Spacer
6 x RW M3x6 T10 Fixtures
1 x M65-B PCB with Kailh Sockets (OR M65-Bx PCB) (designed by Wilba)
1 x RW T10 Torx Tool
1 x RW T6 Torx Tool
1 x Black Metal End USB-C to USB-A cable (USB 3.0) (Braided) - 1.5M
1 x RW Switchpuller XO
1 x Various Packaging

 RAMA WORKS M65-B, RAMA WORKS

The Editions 

The M65-B has five colors:  KURO, which is a nice glossy black, MOON, which is a light grey, ICED, which is a frosted poly-carbonate, MILK, which is a pure white, YOLK, which is the classic RAMA yellow, and finally, ROSE TANK, which is rose gold color.

Pricing Structure 

 Prices are listed from the RAMA.WORKS store, as of 2019/11/04:

KURO: USD $390

MOON: USD $390

 ICED: USD $380

MILK:  USD $450

YOLK: USD $450

ROSE TANK:  USD $1100

That's the pricing structure, and yes, the price of the ROSE TANK edition did make me shed a tear when I first read it.   

 Closing Remarks

Once again, this is another keyboard by RAMA WORKS. Most people know what to expect at this point, with their superb build quality and premium finish. They are a very well respected brand, and the boards carry a high resale value. This preorder runs until December 5th, and the quantities are not limited. Overall, the board seems to be everything that people wanted from their previous boards,  and maybe a little bit more. I personally think the poly-carbonate version will be the most popular; it is the cheapest of the bunch and there is a lot of hype for poly-carbonate boards these days. The board is looking to be something very nice, and a RAMA WORKS board is always something nice to add to the collection. 

DISCLAIMER: The Key Blog and any of our associates are in no way sponsored, affiliated with or otherwise endorse products by RAMA WORKS, an unrelated company that we do not acknowledge or endorse in any way.