I'm psyched out with this Topre find

[rdjack21]

I've mentioned this before somewhere here but I'm not sure where. Topre made some OEM versions of the MD01B0 that I have been unable to find any reference to other than a layout image on the Happy Hacking Keyboard collection site where the layout looked like this:



This is supposed to be a sun type 5 layout attributed to CTC. What is interesting also is this board is supposed to be lighter than the MD01BO as well which is really my only complaint about it. After doing some digging on CTC I find this:



But as you can see it is a Japanese layout and not a US style layout like the layout from the HHKB site shows. But it is a Topre you can tell just by looking at it. Just compare to the image of my MD01B0:



Now take a look at this board I just snaged on Yahoo Japan:


As you can see this is a SUN layout check where the CTRL key is at and the Back space key. The only real issue with this board is the cursor key cluster in the left corner which destroyed the shift key location. But I have worked out a workable solution for that on my MD01B0 so that should work on this one as well.

Now check the label out same form and layout as on my MD01B0 and the HE0100 as well.


So what we have here is a rare Topre OEM board that was badly listed on Yahoo Japan or I would have had to pay considerably more for this board than I did. Now I just really hope this board does in fact have lighter keys on it than the MD01B0 if it does I'm going to be beside my self with joy.

What is really cool is that even though this board has a really yellowed case I should be able to replace it very easily if I want with either the HE0100 case or the MD01B0 case because from the picture the case looks to be exactly the same.

Now my problem. With the prices of getting stuff out of Japan (shipping) I tend to try to get more stuff and have it all shipped together so what do I get now? There are quite a few Realforce boards on Yahoo Japan right now so I may be  getting another Japanese layout board to experiment with. Or maybe I will pick up this guy:

The only problem is it is a little expensive because it comes with that switch you see in the background.

[PRISONER 24601]

japan, huh? can you pick me up some masturbating anime girls and tentacle rape porn? it's for a friend.

[msiegel]

japan, huh? can you pick me up some masturbating anime girls and tentacle rape porn? it's for a friend.

dude, is your internet broken?

[rdjack21]

japan, huh? can you pick me up some masturbating anime girls and tentacle rape porn? it's for a friend.

I wasn't going to respond to this over the top comment but I decided I needed to. This is a site for keyboard enthusiasts not a porn site. If you want to talk about porn there are plenty of places you can go and do that. But please keep this type of trash off GeekHack. Don't get me wrong I don't mind jokes or pictures of pretty women but lets keep porn and the other garbage off this site.

[o2dazone]

japan, huh? can you pick me up some masturbating anime girls and tentacle rape porn? it's for a friend.

That's EXACTLY what comes to mind when I think of Japan. Oh and used underwear sold in vending machines

But damn, there's some great keyboards that come from that foreign planet people call "Japan"

Sorry to fuel a post attempting to derail rdjack...anywho

You keep snagging some great deals on rare topre boards. Are you finding this endeavor to pay off? I've been envious because I'm a pretty big fan of the Topre capacitive rubber dome. That yellow case needs some serious retr0bright

[PRISONER 24601]

I wasn't going to respond to this over the top comment but I decided I needed to. This is a site for keyboard enthusiasts not a porn site. If you want to talk about porn there are plenty of places you can go and do that. But please keep this type of trash off GeekHack. Don't get me wrong I don't mind jokes or pictures of pretty women but lets keep porn and the other garbage off this site.

mental note: geekhack.org is for keyboards, not mollusk porn.

[rdjack21]

Always nice to discover something obscure that's of interest, though (referring to the keyboard...). I imagine you're interested in it because of the Topre-ness rather than the Sun-ness? I have an extra of those same Crossbow USB mice (pictured in the OP on a Sun mousepad) if you're into Sun stuff.

Really I'm interested in small keyboards preferably Topre or Cherry browns. This particular board is very close to the HHKB Pro but adds the function keys and arrow keys and is not much bigger than the HHKB Pro.

I've also been keeping my eye on this one as well:


But have not picked one up yet because it is a rubber dome board. But from what I've found it is supposed to be the same type of rubber dome as the original HHKB so may not be to bad. It was an option item for a HITACHI tablet computer. It's blue because the tablet was blue as well. There was also a integrated palm rest that went with it but I have not seen one of those listed. I have to admit I like the arrow key layout on this one better than on the Topre mini board.

There is also a little Filco with brown cherry switches that looks interesting:


I have only seen this one listen one time and it went for around $100 which was more than I was willing to spend at the time.

Then there are a couple of white Alps Filco boards that look almost identical to the SIIG MiniTouch and one version (Pro) was programable. I have not seen the Pro version for sale but have seen the non programable one for sale but again when they come up they go for around $100 which is again more than I want to spend right now.

[PRISONER 24601]

To get back on topic (sorry about that ) the next time I visit Asia, keyboards will be on my shopping list. I really want to try a topre before I buy a crapload of them, though, and they're pretty goddamn expensive here in the states.

I like how they sound though, and that's a start.

[rdjack21]

You keep snagging some great deals on rare topre boards. Are you finding this endeavor to pay off? I've been envious because I'm a pretty big fan of the Topre capacitive rubber dome. That yellow case needs some serious retr0bright

I have to admit I got this one for a really good price which is one of the reasons I snaged it. But truthfully I've been looking for evidence that this board was even produced because there is literally no information about it on the net. But now that I know who it was OEM'ed for I may be able to find something.

Is it paying off? I think so. Each of them so far have a unique feel to them but at the same time have that distinctive Topre feel as well. I'm having fun using them and collecting them. I tend to swap them out every week right now I'm using the 87U but next week I think I'm going to plug in the NISSHO board (just love those cupped keys).

I don't know about that yellow case. I may just leave it as it is as it gives it some character but will wait till I get it before I decide on what I want to do.

[rdjack21]

To get back on topic (sorry about that ) the next time I visit Asia, keyboards will be on my shopping list. I really want to try a topre before I buy a crapload of them, though, and they're pretty goddamn expensive here in the states.

I like how they sound though, and that's a start.

Don't worry about it. There was only one part of it that bugged me (rape) the rest didn't.

Now back to the topic on hand. The Topre boards are not really that much if any cheaper in Asia once you do the conversion to Yen. For instance the 103UB sells for 19,800 Yen in Japan at the current exchange rate that would be ~$220 but Elitekeyboards has it for $218. So you are actually better off getting it from Elitekeyboards where it will carry a local warranty. Elitekeyboards has very competitive prices for Realforce boards. Also I think if you want one of the other current production Realforce boards that they do not carry they may get it for you if you ask.

Now if on the other hand you want something that is no longer in production then that is different story. And if that is the case I would research what it is you want before going including where to get it.

[ironcoder]

Jack what is that setup in the second pic? It looks like you have the keyboard mounted on some kind of sliding rack with the screen?

[Rajagra]

Jack what is that setup in the second pic? It looks like you have the keyboard mounted on some kind of sliding rack with the screen?

It's a rack-mount keyboard and screen. I've never seen one with a mouse tray on it before.

[JBert]

Now my problem. With the prices of getting stuff out of Japan (shipping) I tend to try to get more stuff and have it all shipped together so what do I get now? There are quite a few Realforce boards on Yahoo Japan right now so I may be  getting another Japanese layout board to experiment with. Or maybe I will pick up this guy:

Show Image

The only problem is it is a little expensive because it comes with that switch you see in the background.

If that MX11800 is expensive, don't buy it. They are nice when you want to try browns for a few weeks or are in need of rack equipment, but otherwise the non-standard layout just may make it a big no for editing any kind of text.

[ironcoder]

It's a rack-mount keyboard and screen. I've never seen one with a mouse tray on it before.

I never saw one sitting on a desk before. That's interesting.

[rdjack21]

In this case RD has a Compaq and he is just looking at the Japanese variation.  

I think for newbies though we should point out that many people try the MX11800 but rarely becomes their daily driver.

Yea I just found it interesting that Compaq made a Japanese version of it. And ripster is right I do have one of the MX11800 but don't use it as my daily driver but I do use it sometimes.

Now that small Filco if I where to find one at the right price could end up in my rotation though because the layout looks to be better than the Compaq. Besides I can't let that Topre travel by itself across the ocean

[rdjack21]

It's a rack-mount keyboard and screen. I've never seen one with a mouse tray on it before.

Yep rack mounted KVM with mouse, keyboard and monitor in a 1U configuration. If I had the need for something like that this would be a good deal but the shipping from Japan would blow the deal. It is currently listed for 11,000 yen. I've seen the Topre MD01B0 keyboard by itself go for more than that. This one looks to have a SUN version of the keyboard attached to it as well. I bet the seller could sell just the keyboard for what he is asking for the whole unit if he listed it correctly that is.

[ironcoder]

Oh, I thought that was something you already had. You guys and your wild setups

I know DJ has some really cool machines and some other guys do as well.

[rdjack21]

Oh, I thought that was something you already had. You guys and your wild setups

I know DJ has some really cool machines and some other guys do as well.

Man if I installed a Rack at the house and populated it with rack mounted systems I think my wife would suggest that I need to find another place to live. Those things make way to much noise besides the majority of them really suck up the juice.

I'm looking into a little Atom dual core box for a server though or one of the newer ARM boards. But haven't decided yet.

[microsoft windows]

Most old computers don't use as much electricity as newer ones. That's the cheap way out of a high electric bill.

[ch_123]

On the flipside, old computers are very energy inefficient. I bet your old Pentiums couldn't match this for either power consumption or functionality.

[rdjack21]

On the flipside, old computers are very energy inefficient. I bet your old Pentiums couldn't match this for either power consumption or functionality.

Yea I'm looking at that one as well. I'm thinking of clustering a couple of them. And man you really can't beat the price for one.

[ch_123]

If you're doing clustering, you might want to take a look at some of these too Link.