Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[IvanIvanovich]

Right sort of the difference between Costar and iOne. Costar cheap shortcutting is the exception, while at iOne it is almost the rule. Though exactly right, if a customer comes in and says I want it build to D grade, OEM will do it but will probably not be so quick to say yes we make that like they would their A grade customers.

[eRadicatedZomBiE]

I'm look for a certain stabilizer:



I keep seeing multiple names for them, can you help me with a correct name and where to buy them? Sorry if this is a re-post. I checked the search bar for the answer but every one of them show these:



and for a bonus question, I'll throw a poll question out: which one is better?

[CPTBadAss]

Both are plate mounted. Top pic is Plate Mounted Cherry. Bottom pic is Plate Mounted Costar. Like most things in keyboards, your last question is subjective. There's no "better". I prefer Costars slightly.

[jdcarpe]

I'm look for a certain stabilizer:

Show Image

I keep seeing multiple names for them, can you help me with a correct name and where to buy them? Sorry if this is a re-post. I checked the search bar for the answer but every one of them show these:

Show Image

and for a bonus question, I'll throw a poll question out: which one is better?

The ones you are looking for are Cherry PCB mount stabilizers.

And they are both good, it's just personal preference!

Edit:

Both are plate mounted. Top pic is Plate Mounted Cherry. Bottom pic is Plate Mounted Costar. Like most things in keyboards, your last question is subjective. There's no "better". I prefer Costars slightly.

There is no plate in that top picture, sir. That is the PCB!

[CPTBadAss]

Like JD said, it's personal preference. I know a lot of people say that swapping caps on Costar stabs is a pain since you need to deal with the little inserts. The Cherry mounted stuff is a bit less work. But I find the Costar stabs to be a little crisper and it makes my MX Blues feel nice. ^__^

[Turbo Slaab]

Not a huge fan of cherry stabilizers unless I'm removing keycaps. Too mushy for my tastes.

[eRadicatedZomBiE]

Both are plate mounted. Top pic is Plate Mounted Cherry. Bottom pic is Plate Mounted Costar. Like most things in keyboards, your last question is subjective. There's no "better". I prefer Costars slightly.

Sorry about my use of "better" I just meant which do you prefer.

[tp4tissue]

Brand name. Filco is seen as the best quality, non-custom keyboard by some. But in reality, it's the same as a CM storm except that the Filco is a premium brand and demand a higher price to maintain a level of prestige among buyers

I thought the Filco had a slightly nicer PCB.

Um.. I'd say more than slightly... the QFR pcb is the absolute worst PCB I've ever worked with..

[tp4tissue]

Not a huge fan of cherry stabilizers unless I'm removing keycaps. Too mushy for my tastes.

cherry stabs create more points of friction, and the left and right doesn't go down as closely when you bottom the key out, so they grind against the sides.

[Kayliss]

Any suggestions on where to find Topre colored keycap sets other than EK? These for example http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,toprekeys&pid=xf0100kt11n

[Turbo Slaab]

Any suggestions on where to find Topre colored keycap sets other than EK? These for example http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,toprekeys&pid=xf0100kt11n

You could try the classifieds. I believe EK is the main, if not the only, distributor. Hence the high prices.

[Kayliss]

Any suggestions on where to find Topre colored keycap sets other than EK? These for example http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,toprekeys&pid=xf0100kt11n

You could try the classifieds. I believe EK is the main, if not the only, distributor. Hence the high prices.

Thanks I was afraid that may be the case.

[tp4tissue]

has anyone seen an Orange PBT set anywhere?

[DasHHKBProM]

So I was looking to purchase the hhkb silent from EK, then I saw this youtube video

in comparison to the keys and the abs keyboard casing , looking at the one on the left, it is hella yellow and imo ugly as hell
though these may be the regular hhkb and not the type s anyone know how long before it turns this shade of yellow if only exposed to florescent office lights
that being said has any one who ones a type s had a problem with their white keyboard turning yellow
I really want the type s for work, ....wish it came in black 

[CPTBadAss]

has anyone seen an Orange PBT set anywhere?

I've never seen a PBT set that's orange. The Orange Crush Madness set might be in PBT though.

So I was looking to purchase the hhkb silent from EK, then I saw this youtube video

in comparison to the keys and the abs keyboard casing , looking at the one on the left, it is hella yellow and imo ugly as hell
though these may be the regular hhkb and not the type s anyone know how long before it turns this shade of yellow if only exposed to florescent office lights
that being said has any one who ones a type s had a problem with their white keyboard turning yellow
I really want the type s for work, ....wish it came in black 

I think the case is beige and the color balance in that video is horrible. If you do buy old boards though, they do yellow. But you can reverse it by using retr0brite

[SpAmRaY]

has anyone seen an Orange PBT set anywhere?

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=16519073629

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=12915665063

[nubbinator]

has anyone seen an Orange PBT set anywhere?

KBC on Taobao, but they're only the 37 key sets, not full sets:

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.237.jZW7zV&id=16519073629

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.420.rOYtOF&id=14516565221

The only mods I've seen sold additionally are yellow:

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.180.ka2YQj&id=13558619274

[DasHHKBProM]

has anyone seen an Orange PBT set anywhere?

I've never seen a PBT set that's orange. The Orange Crush Madness set might be in PBT though.

So I was looking to purchase the hhkb silent from EK, then I saw this youtube video

in comparison to the keys and the abs keyboard casing , looking at the one on the left, it is hella yellow and imo ugly as hell
though these may be the regular hhkb and not the type s anyone know how long before it turns this shade of yellow if only exposed to florescent office lights
that being said has any one who ones a type s had a problem with their white keyboard turning yellow
I really want the type s for work, ....wish it came in black 

I think the case is beige and the color balance in that video is horrible. If you do buy old boards though, they do yellow. But you can reverse it by using retr0brite

Hmm.... do you know off hand if the fastner locations are the same on type s as reg pro2 I might just swap case and keys.

[tp4tissue]

Thanks guys... I will be ordering the orange keys along with the stupid $200 worth of plastic flowers for the stupid windows that my mom wants.

[CPTBadAss]

has anyone seen an Orange PBT set anywhere?

I've never seen a PBT set that's orange. The Orange Crush Madness set might be in PBT though.

So I was looking to purchase the hhkb silent from EK, then I saw this youtube video

in comparison to the keys and the abs keyboard casing , looking at the one on the left, it is hella yellow and imo ugly as hell
though these may be the regular hhkb and not the type s anyone know how long before it turns this shade of yellow if only exposed to florescent office lights
that being said has any one who ones a type s had a problem with their white keyboard turning yellow
I really want the type s for work, ....wish it came in black 

I think the case is beige and the color balance in that video is horrible. If you do buy old boards though, they do yellow. But you can reverse it by using retr0brite

Hmm.... do you know off hand if the fastner locations are the same on type s as reg pro2 I might just swap case and keys.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ]

I have only seen an HHKB once in person and it wasn't mine so I couldn't take it apart. Hopefully someone else knows.

[Jocelyn]

Thanks guys... I will be ordering the orange keys along with the stupid $200 worth of plastic flowers for the stupid windows that my mom wants.

Get Red Thick Cherry PBT instead. I have the blanks and love them

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.0.110.26urvG&id=20744664158

[WhiteFireDragon]

Get Red Thick Cherry PBT instead. I have the blanks and love them

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.0.110.26urvG&id=20744664158

Red blanks? Anywhere with 1 red blank, thick PBT top row? Need it for the Esc key.

[Jocelyn]

Red blanks? Anywhere with 1 red blank, thick PBT top row? Need it for the Esc key.

I have looked all over Taobao several times and they ALL have stuff printed on them. You'd think they'd keep some blank, but noooooooo. I'll let you know if I find any in the future...

[linziyi]

Question: how does topre feels like?

[SmallFry]

Sex.

[Halverson]

Sex.

With a stick of soft butter

[CPTBadAss]

Question: how does topre feels like?

This has been asked a lot of times but to me, they feel like rubber domes with a solid bottom out instead of mushy. They also have a distinct actuation point in the middle. But this is subjective and will feel different to everyone. If you're viewing this thread, search for "Topre" and see other comments that people have said about them.

[Turbo Slaab]

The best description I was told, was that it felt like clay breaking down when you press it. The resistance at the top and it just falls after that.

[linziyi]

Just got my QF TK couple days ago, any suggestions on topre keyboard? (Poor guy here, maybe not suitable for buying topre? I heard they are more expensive.)

[CPTBadAss]

Just got my QF TK couple days ago, any suggestions on topre keyboard? (Poor guy here, maybe not suitable for buying topre? I heard they are more expensive.)

An HHKB is $270 on Elitekeyboards.com and a Realforce is $240..If you're worried about price, I would shy away from buying Topre boards.

[Jocelyn]

Just got my QF TK couple days ago, any suggestions on topre keyboard? (Poor guy here, maybe not suitable for buying topre? I heard they are more expensive.)

Get one of these

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43134.0

[Tym]

If anyone could help me I need the length and widths of the 6.25x and 7x space bars from the top down, thank you!

[Tym]

If anyone could help me I need the length and widths of the 6.25x and 7x space bars from the top down, thank you!

In mm please!

[Rule16]

Do the Ducky Shine II and Year of the Dragon have same build quality? Or is year of the Dragon better?

[Sifo]

Nah it's the same build quality Year of the Dragon is just a promotional branded version of a Shine 2

[SmallFry]

If anyone could help me I need the length and widths of the 6.25x and 7x space bars from the top down, thank you!

In mm please!

What profile?

[Rule16]

Nah it's the same build quality Year of the Dragon is just a promotional branded version of a Shine 2

Sweet thanks, I might end up getting a Filco instead anyways... was just curious.

[Melvang]

Does the GH community have their own Farcebook page?

[ComradeSniper]

Does the GH community have their own Farcebook page?

We have a group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/113402935366843/?fref=ts

[WatchMaker]

do the keyboards with 2 USB plugs have 100% NKRO ?
can anyone vouch?  i ask bcuz ive seen product not live up to the claims they made.

btw i read this post: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=10063.30
but it was written back when keyboards had 1 USB

[Melvang]

do the keyboards with 2 USB plugs have 100% NKRO ?
can anyone vouch?  i ask bcuz ive seen product not live up to the claims they made.

btw i read this post: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=10063.30
but it was written back when keyboards had 1 USB

I do believe that this all depends on the individual keyboard.  The Das Keyboard I have does have 2 USB plugs but the second one is just for the 2 USB ports on the side of the keyboard. 

[Melvang]

Any suggestions on what size hole to drill through the PCB on my Das Keyboard to and an LED to my ESC key?  Also, tips on soldering leads to the LED since there are not pads or trace for the LED would be greatly appreciated.  Going to move my HD activity LED from the case to behind my ESC key to go with my Ti Skull keycap.

Melvang

[metalliqaz]

Cool idea, that'll be tough.  I assume you don't have the tiny drill bits necessary to make usual hole diameters.  I'd say just go with the smallest you can find.  You're going to have to be REALLY careful, though.

[linziyi]

USB NKRO seems to have minor issue... Was using QF TK to type my paper in Latex, and instead of typing "\[", it types "\\[" in USB NKRO mode.

[Dubsgalore]

Where can i find a Switch Top Remover Tool

[CPTBadAss]

Where can i find a Switch Top Remover Tool

The_Beast made a run of them and the thread can be found here. I heard a rumor that he'd be doing a R2 but he's super busy between his GH60 case, lube station, and other stuff. If you see this Beast, I'm sorry I spoke for you in advance ^__^

I've also heard that tweezers can work in a pinch.

[SpAmRaY]

Where can i find a Switch Top Remover Tool

The_Beast made a run of them and the thread can be found here. I heard a rumor that he'd be doing a R2 but he's super busy between his GH60 case, lube station, and other stuff. If you see this Beast, I'm sorry I spoke for you in advance ^__^

I've also heard that tweezers can work in a pinch.

and apparently forks too....I do not speak from experience but from reading the forum....

[esoomenona]

Which keyboard do you refer to that has 2 USB plugs?

[Dubsgalore]

Where can i find a Switch Top Remover Tool

The_Beast made a run of them and the thread can be found here. I heard a rumor that he'd be doing a R2 but he's super busy between his GH60 case, lube station, and other stuff. If you see this Beast, I'm sorry I spoke for you in advance ^__^

I've also heard that tweezers can work in a pinch.

Hope there is a R2!

[Melvang]

what do you guys think?  Put the HD activity LED or the PC power LED behind the ESC key on my Das?