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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: fejus on Thu, 08 July 2010, 10:38:32

Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: fejus on Thu, 08 July 2010, 10:38:32: so I have been browsing your forums and lists of new Mechanical Keyboards.

I have come to an impasse. I currently own 2 Northgate Omnikey/Pluses. I want to get a newer Filco Keyboard with the MX Blue switches. here is where I am torn

1. I could send both of these KBs to get cleaned/refurbished and still use them
2. I could buy a completely new KB not knowing how the switches compare tho the ALPS switches in my Northgate.

What is the consensus of the folks here who have used or tested both types of switches. I honestly am leaning tword just getting my 2 Northgates cleaned, and having 2 good Keyboards for the rest of my life .... my only complaint about the Northgates are the old AT cords I have to have a "Franken adapter "just to get it to work haha.

Thank you for your opinions :)
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 July 2010, 10:48:41: I'm very fond of Northgate Omnis (see Northy in my signature, it's an early 90's Omnikey Plus) But I also really like Cherry MX Brown and Blue switches. There's no harm in trying a Filco or similar, you can always sell it if you don't like it. I guess it comes down to what you want to get out of it, what layout you want - especially if you've been using an Omni Plus layout you might not like inverted-t standard Filcos.

Have you thought of retr0briting your own Northgates?

Welcome to Geekhack.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: fejus on Thu, 08 July 2010, 11:07:27: ty for the welcome :)

the inverted T wont get me as much as where the CAPS ALT and CTRL are haha.

well I have Googled and searched on this forum for retr0briting retrobriting and other variations. what is this retr0briting you speak of? :)
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 July 2010, 11:12:41: I use sharpkeys to remap capslock to ctrl on every system I own, that helps.

Ripster did a good write up of retr0brite here (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:9099). You can also get some info here (http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/).

Another new member to the forum recently posted his results on a Northgate here (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=10660).
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: fejus on Thu, 08 July 2010, 11:27:52: Awesome! thanks for the info :)
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: fejus on Thu, 08 July 2010, 13:46:14: is it me or are they being a bit overprotective with Hydrogen Peroxide? I remember using that to clean cuts as a kid lol.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 08 July 2010, 13:54:25: The Hydrogen Peroxide is partly what is helping whiten the yellowed keyboard. Hydrogen Peroxide can also be used for whitening teeth.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: TexasFlood on Thu, 08 July 2010, 14:30:57: Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;200758
The Hydrogen Peroxide is partly what is helping whiten the yellowed keyboard. Hydrogen Peroxide can also be used for whitening teeth.
I've also heard of it being used to bleach hair. The Wikipedia Hydrogen Peroxide page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide) states 'Diluted H2O2 (between 3% and 12%) is used to bleach human hair when mixed with ammonium hydroxide, hence the phrase "peroxide blonde".' as well as a plethora of information on other uses.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: erricrice on Thu, 08 July 2010, 14:42:12: Quote from: fejus;200757
is it me or are they being a bit overprotective with Hydrogen Peroxide? I remember using that to clean cuts as a kid lol.

Yes, the over the counter stuff is used to clean cuts, but that is 3% concentration, what retrobrite calls for is 10-15% which is MUCH more powerful. It can cause some nasty burns on skin and especially eyes.

Rocket Fuel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide#Use_as_propellant). Interesting.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: fejus on Thu, 08 July 2010, 15:20:08: ahhhh GOTCHA!

well I decided to just go ahead and clean mine. I made a "Ghetto-Keypuller" from this thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=5090) and got to taking off keys. Thank god I had a second Omnikey in my closet so I have something to fall back on.

IT WAS SO GROSS UNDER ALL THOSE KEYS EWWWW

My keycaps are currently soaking in a solution of Oxiclean and Dawn soap ;) now I gotta get busy with the rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs lol
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: ThirdLap on Thu, 08 July 2010, 15:39:50: If the board is yellowed, consider trying Clairol Professional Creme 40. Your local beauty supply store should have it for about $5. Just paint it on with a Q-tip and allow it to sit in the sun all day. And wear gloves, lest you want your hands to feel like they're on fire.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: kriminal on Thu, 08 July 2010, 21:55:29: hmm either all thats mention here or dental cleaning tablets to clean keycaps, gonna test some on my model m mini keys...
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: aegrotatio on Sun, 11 July 2010, 13:31:58: What's wrong with a keyboard that has a nice patina on it? If they were coins, cleaning off the patina drastically reduces their dollar value. I thought that was pretty interesting.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: washuai on Sun, 11 July 2010, 13:49:49: Good to hear you're refurbishing your Northgate omnikeys. Omni users that I know, seem to migrate to blue cherries and are happy with the cherries, but still prefer their Northgates.

The next time I hear that, I need to seriously ask why they didn't just get an AT adapter.
Title: to buy or not to buy
Post by: microsoft windows on Sun, 11 July 2010, 14:00:27: Keep the Northgates. When it comes to clicky keyboards, you can't beat the old blue/white ALPS.