New Cherry "brown" switches on eBay

[dw_junon]

I notice some interest in Cherries ruled by an axis of tea, so perhaps this might be of interest:

http://search.ebay.com/330078651280

I have no affiliation or experience with the seller at all.  Seller is in Germany, but invites inquiries for shipping to other countries.  Language may be an issue, though as it happens every time I've sent an e-mail in my broken German I get back a perfect English response...

These are advertised as unused, based on the part number given have the lower force "G" actuator, with a diode and with mounting pins, so could be quite good for building a 'board with a diode-based matrix, or could be simply be used a source for the 1337 swapping technique as previously linked on this board.

At time of typing 140 of them are available, so there's enough to do one whole keyboard and then some.

Also, there is an abundance of older Cherry switches (see also here for larger pictures of a similar switch).  Again, no affiliation or prior experience.  These are reminiscent of the early MX switch documented by Sandy, though may be an earlier design still.

[Astra Diesel]

great find.

I know that blue cherry switches (sliders?) are clicky and tactile with least resistance. How do the brown cherries differ?

BTW, are brown cherries as rare as blue cherry switch keyboards?

[iMav]

BTW, are brown cherries as rare as blue cherry switch keyboards?

I don't think the blue Cherry switch keyboards are all that rare (both the Das 2 and Scorpius M10 are easily obtainable)...it's just that finding a spacersaver-type keyboard with those switches is difficult.

[xsphat]

True, but brown ones are nonexistent in the US market.

[Nonmouse]

True, but brown ones are nonexistent in the US market.

Not true- the MX-8100 POS boards I have are both full-diode brown-stem Cherries, for the US market.

[Astra Diesel]

What is the difference between blue cherry switch keyboards and brown ones?

Does one feel more tactile than the other, what makes them special in its own ways?

[Nonmouse]

What is the difference between blue cherry switch keyboards and brown ones?

Does one feel more tactile than the other, what makes them special in its own ways?

Yeah, the blue keys are significantly more tactile, and also have an audible "click!".  The brown keys are basically a lighter tactile feel version of the white stem keys.  The progression goes blue- Tactile feel, audible click, white- tactile feel, brown- reduced tactile feel, black- linear.

This website has everything you ever wanted to know about the differences, and then some.  The flash animation of the blue slider is kinda nifty, too.

[xsphat]

Not true- the MX-8100 POS boards I have are both full-diode brown-stem Cherries, for the US market.

Man, that keyboard is a tank! I thought the Model M was big. How do you like it?

[Nonmouse]

Man, that keyboard is a tank! I thought the Model M was big. How do you like it?

I haven't actually used it all that much- I'm mostly using my notebook these days, and it doesn't have a ps/2 port.  I'm waiting on a ps/2-USB adapter, and I'll probably start using it regularly.

Surprisingly, I believe it's actually slightly smaller than a Model M (it's smaller than my Alps-switched Wang keyboard, which I believe is the exact same size as the Model M).

It's 18.5" x 8.5" x 2", and weighs around 4 to 5ish pounds, I think (my scale only goes up to 600 grams, and I don't have a bathroom scale)—again, a little lighter than the Wang k/b, and lighter feeling than I recall Model M's being.  And this despite having 120 keys, a trackpad and a magnetic strip reader built in, 59 re-programmable keys and 41 relegendable keys.  They pull it off by having the keys run closer to the edge on each side—there's only about 1/4" of plastic edging the sides—and moving the keypad slightly (an extra 1/2") further out, and squeezing the trackpad in where the arrow keys normally sit.  Those are moved up and merged with the system keys.

From when I have used it, I like it—the keys are a little more stable than my (white) Alps keyboard, with a little less force required.  They are clicky, though quieter than the Alps, but virtually all the noise is from bottoming out and rebounding—but there is a very faint click when the keys engage, even if they're depressed slowly enough to completely avoid bottoming out.  They're much less tactile than the Alps, but it is noticeable, and the action throughout the full range of travel feels smoother than on the Alps switches—on those keys, it feels (to me, at least) almost like with each keystroke the force builds up until the key trips, and then suddenly falls off quite a bit.  It's actually easier for me to avoid fully bottoming out the Cherry switches than the Alps ones, even though the tactile and auditory cues are both more subtle.

I'll post a more thorough review after I get the adapters (should be here tomorrow) and use it more intensively.

[xsphat]

The pictures on the site makes those 'boards like yours look like a landing strip.

I think your description of the Alps switch is very good, and I am getting a board with brown switches soon. I have to try them.

[dw_junon]

You can get standard Cherry switches new without too much trouble, in the US at least.  For example MX1A-E1NW, "blue" click tactile, no diode, with pins: in stock at Digi-Key, Mouser and Newark, all of whom even let you order just one if you really wanted.  At that sort of quantity, it's about a dollar a go.

Alternatively, lots of places seem to offer them in packs of 250, usually to order.  Don't get excited, I mailed PCSuperDeals and it turns out that price is per switch.  Damn...

Obviously, this should work for other common part numbers...  After mere casual browsing I couldn't find anyone with the switches with LEDs, mind.

I haven't actually used it all that much- I'm mostly using my notebook these days, and it doesn't have a ps/2 port. I'm waiting on a ps/2-USB adapter, and I'll probably start using it regularly.

Surprisingly, I believe it's actually slightly smaller than a Model M (it's smaller than my Alps-switched Wang keyboard, which I believe is the exact same size as the Model M).

I'd never given those Cherry POS keyboards a thought before, but honestly they seem quite appealing now, I'll see if one shows up over here.

Also, is that a Wang 724 [P/N 725-3770] by any chance?  I'm quite fond of my UK 725-3771, used it so often for a while I got used to the navigation key block and it threw me on 105s occasionally.  The speaker, the curved keys, the generous shift, enter and backspace, the coincidental-bonus Alt+F4 key... little things can make great fun.

[Nonmouse]

I'd never given those Cherry POS keyboards a thought before, but honestly they seem quite appealing now, I'll see if one shows up over here.

Also, is that a Wang 724 [P/N 725-3770] by any chance?  I'm quite fond of my UK 725-3771, used it so often for a while I got used to the navigation key block and it threw me on 105s occasionally.  The speaker, the curved keys, the generous shift, enter and backspace, the coincidental-bonus Alt+F4 key... little things can make great fun.

Yeah, it's a pretty nice k/b.  The only thing I don't really like is that the case is held together with plastic snap clips rather than screws.  At least there are enough of them to hold it together securely, and the plastic is heavy and pliable enough that they can be undone without breaking them off.  The build quality is very high throughout- not surprising, considering they list for $250-$400! new.  Each switch has a separate diode, so I'm fairly confident it will have n-key rollover, though I haven't tested it yet.  I've got a bunch of pics that I'll put up on flickr tomorrow.

Oh, and I looked it up on Cherry's website- it's 4.3 pounds (1950 grams), so, considerably lighter than a Model M, but still heavy enough not to slide around, though the rubber pads on the bottom are a little skimpy.

I'm not sure what model number the Wang board is- the part number is 725-7951-US (WAK-1101S, it looks like, searching on Google).  It's also a nice board, though it's the hideous industrial beige.  A bit heavier than the Cherry board, and the keys are a little sloppier, heavier and a lot louder.  No speaker on mine- pretty much the 'plain jane' 100 key version.

[fkeidjn]

How about green Alps switches?