Author Topic: In search of a keyboard that resembles A4Tech KM-720 or Samsung Pleomax KB-720W  (Read 1404 times)

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Offline Ohforf

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 4
These are not ISO or ANSI, so I cannot find anything with same layout. Maybe you know an exact model or suggest who can assemble such a custom keyboard?

Examples:

A4Tech KM-720:
308542-0

Samsung Pleomax KB-720W:
308544-1

Samsung SDK3500:
308546-2

Brain KB-9001S (ISNJK-268):
308548-3
« Last Edit: Sat, 22 June 2024, 07:08:20 by Ohforf »

Offline Piperaceae

  • Formerly filefish
  • Posts: 79
So this layout is called "US-ISO"; it's basically the UK ISO layout with US keys on it, done as a cost-saving measure so the same physical board can be sold in the US and UK.

I don't know of any mechanical boards that come pre-built this way. But you can achieve the same thing in a custom build fairly easily, since many keycap sets do come with the US keys, an ISO Enter key, and a row-3 pipe slash key to go next to Enter, even if they don't have any of the other UK keys included.

Offline Ohforf

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 4
So this layout is called "US-ISO"; it's basically the UK ISO layout with US keys on it, done as a cost-saving measure so the same physical board can be sold in the US and UK.

I don't know of any mechanical boards that come pre-built this way. But you can achieve the same thing in a custom build fairly easily, since many keycap sets do come with the US keys, an ISO Enter key, and a row-3 pipe slash key to go next to Enter, even if they don't have any of the other UK keys included.

Thank you! Can you direct me to a person or place that can assemble such a custom keyboard for me please?

Offline Ohforf

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  • Posts: 4
Added more images.

Offline wjrii

  • Posts: 96
  • Location: Texas
Added more images.

So the first two are US-ISO, as mentioned. The other two look like ANSI with “BAE” the “Big ass enter” Key. Those are not as well supported in modern keycap sets, but they can be found.

Offline Ohforf

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 4
I would settle for any oh those. Unfortunately I cannot find any. That's why I came here asking for directions...

Offline wjrii

  • Posts: 96
  • Location: Texas
So a few older Steelseries boards come with BAE, and I've read that they weren't uncommon in Korean boards until 10-15 years ago. There have been a couple of small-run BAE keycaps (GMK Cherry and Signature Plastics DCS, IIRC) recently, but that's hit or miss to find, and if you want the split backspace that traditionally came with it, you need to be careful of that as well.

If the left-shift is less important to you, any "ISO" board will have the right physical layout and you can simply re-configure software and keycaps as needed.

If you want the "US-ISO," it's fairly straightforward, but you'll need to either solder or find a reputable build service.  I won't vouch for anyone in particular, but some prominent streamers take commissions, and the mechkbot on reddit.com/r/mechmarket tracks completed trades, if nothing else. There are always a few posters willing to do builds.  In either event, you'd just need to have a solderable and programmable barebones kit that supports both ANSI and ISO.   

Which brings up the final issue.  There are few truly full size boards that are available as solderable printed circuit boards.  There is the Clawboards SUV, which actually shows a build that is not unlike what you want (you'd just use a normal spacebar), but I don't know of any pre-made cases, so it would be a very "raw tech" aesthetic, which some like.  There are probably some PCB plans on github that you could have fabricated as well. There was at leats one older project to fit such a DIY PCB into a Filco Majestouch case. Still, if you can drop down to something smaller than a full size, even the slightly compressed "1800" style boards, your options get much better.

Finally, there's always EBay. Converters exist to convert old PS2 keyboards to USB and add programmability.

EDIT: one more option, if you don't mind a short 4u spacebar, would be JIS keyboards.  You might pay quite a premium, but they exist.

EDIT2: At least one vendor on AliExpress selling "L shaped Enter" keys in OEM profile.  Any programmable ANSI could be converted if you're willing to use the slightly unfashionable OEM shaped keycaps.
« Last Edit: Wed, 26 June 2024, 17:52:05 by wjrii »