What makes Cherry MX5000 so expensive

[FSTP]

Hello,

I was just wondering why it seems when ever I see a Cherry MX5000 listed for such high prices. Are these really that desirable? I've never used one but in the videos I've seen they seem kind of flimsy.

Any members here have one that could lend some insight to their value?


Thanks,
Jess

[tp4tissue]

It's model M (looking)  and split..

So it's like a combination of "Hipster Rep" + "Ergonomics"


Overall, it's not a good ergonomic keyboard on its own, because the tenting angle is very limited.

HOWEVER,  it's a prized collectable, because the concept was far ahead of its time..

[rich1051414]

The combination of rarity, desirability, brand, and how interesting it is. It's one of those that seems to check every box, and therefore, is valued far higher than one would expect, or it really deserves.

People desire it because it is 'ergo training wheels', nearly everyone could use the keyboard how they like. It is also the first keyboard to use brown switches, the brown switch was literally designed specifically for this board, therefore, fans of brown switches will obviously flock to the keyboard that they were designed for.
The keyboard is a compact design, the layout is familiar, and the styling is palatable without questionable stylistic choices or horrible switch placement.

Personally, I hate brown switches and I don't prefer ergo designs(sorry TP4, I'll eat my veggies tonight). I would never buy one of these keyboards, even if they were only worth $10. It's not for everyone.

[tp4tissue]

The combination of rarity, desirability, brand, and how interesting it is. It's one of those that seems to check every box, and therefore, is valued far higher than one would expect, or it really deserves.

People desire it because it is 'ergo training wheels', nearly everyone could use the keyboard how they like. It is also the first keyboard to use brown switches, the brown switch was literally designed specifically for this board, therefore, fans of brown switches will obviously flock to the keyboard that they were designed for.
The keyboard is a compact design, the layout is familiar, and the styling is palatable without questionable stylistic choices or horrible switch placement.

Personally, I hate brown switches and I don't prefer ergo designs(sorry TP4, I'll eat my veggies tonight). I would never buy one of these keyboards, even if they were only worth $10. It's not for everyone.

There are 897 characters in your post..

I expect 897 full bites of veggies, and we'll call it even ..

[Puddsy]

old and rare and cool

[jerue]

• basically the only 75%/TKL keyboard Cherry has made
• one of three (known) keyboards that have true "vintage" browns (pre mid-1997), the other two being Kinesis Contoured and the Cherry G80-1838 made for Compaq.
• only made for three years (I've only seen them from '96 and '97 though...) so factoring in people throwing them away it's rare. Even the older G80/G81-3000Hxx have had longer production runs
• my experience has been that people who get them hold on to them, so seeing one for sale at a "normal" price is rare.

my opinion, but it's the best Cherry board ever. The 5000 isn't nearly as flimsy as say an 1800 or even 3000 series. The 1000 series probably have the 5k beat though (it's been a while, forgive me). I love mine dearly 

• If you really want to try vintage browns, look for one of the original Kinesis Contoured 100 (pre-Advantage) or a G80-1838HPU. It will be cheaper, though these boards are still somewhat rare. Don't bother with the 11800's, not the same feeling. When I had my 1838 the switches are identical in feeling to the 5000
• If you want to try the layout, try the Kinesis Freestyle Edge. It is eerily similar to the 5000 but with more features.
• If you want the real deal, get an ISO layout version. Should be cheaper and easier to find than the ANSI ones.

People desire it because it is 'ergo training wheels', nearly everyone could use the keyboard how they like. It is also the first keyboard to use brown switches, the brown switch was literally designed specifically for this board, therefore, fans of brown switches will obviously flock to the keyboard that they were designed for.

The G80-5000 is the first Cherry corp board with browns, but the switch was designed per request from Kinesis and used on their Contoured boards. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37100.msg706886#msg706886

[chyros]

It's expensive because it's rare because nobody wanted it because it's useless because it's ergonomic.

[shawnyadav]

Cherry MX5000 is a vintage model popular among the collectors. So price is high for this.

[appleonama]

sweet i still have an mx5000