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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: keyboardlover on Wed, 14 July 2010, 09:05:14

Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 14 July 2010, 09:05:14
Get 'em while they're hot! Oh and don't mind the crazy Hong Kong shipping :D

Cherry G80 3494 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Cherry-G80-3494-Keyboard-Black-G80-3494-Linear-White-/270602674492?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item3f012d213c)
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 14 July 2010, 09:16:51
Having just tried a keyboard with brown switches, I wonder how much more linear you would need...
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 14 July 2010, 09:27:46
Quote from: ch_123;202565
Having just tried a keyboard with brown switches, I wonder how much more linear you would need...


What are the reds actually like? Do they require less force than the browns? I'm sure someone on this board must have one...
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: chimera15 on Wed, 14 July 2010, 09:30:00
$85.00  Standard Flat Rate Shipping ServiceSee more services  See shipping  discounts  |  See all shipping details
Estimated delivery time varies.
lol  no...
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: timw4mail on Wed, 14 July 2010, 09:30:14
Quote from: ch_123;202565
Having just tried a keyboard with brown switches, I wonder how much more linear you would need...

You have a good point...
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 14 July 2010, 10:23:23
Quote from: keyboardlover;202566
What are the reds actually like? Do they require less force than the browns? I'm sure someone on this board must have one...


Browns without tactility... Given how little tactility the browns have, I'd say a brown feels about 95% similar to a red.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: kriminal on Wed, 14 July 2010, 10:34:15
so its basically blacks just with the light feel of browns?
seeing as browns are my favs im totally interested in trying this.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 14 July 2010, 10:37:32
Quote from: kriminal;202595
so its basically blacks just with the light feel of browns?
seeing as browns are my favs im totally interested in trying this.


If anyone gets one of these please report about it here. I'm very interested in how they are.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: HaaTa on Wed, 14 July 2010, 11:06:03
A closer approximation to MX Reds would be a really really light MX Black, and due to that, feel even smoother.
The MX Brown comparison is sorta close, but the Browns end up being heavier.

MX Reds are a really nice light switch for a board. Until I got my 30g Topre, it was my favourite light switch to type on.

Edit: The MX Reds on my board, when I measured them, are 44g as reported by Cherry.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 14 July 2010, 11:16:24
The extra stiffness in the browns can be accounted for by that the tactility is generated by bumps on the slider overcoming a point on the contact leaf. So if you had a black Cherry board, and a brown Cherry board, and you put the slider from the black onto the spring of the brown, you'd basically get a red AFAIK.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 14 July 2010, 11:57:18
Quote from: HaaTa;202613
MX Reds are a really nice light switch for a board. Until I got my 30g Topre, it was my favourite light switch to type on.


That's really helpful...they sound pretty nice...I'd really like to try them out. Unfortunately, the shipping price is a bit steep :D
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 14 July 2010, 12:19:32
That shipping price is just plain old RIP-OFF. Does it really take ninety bucks in postage to ship a keyboard from Hong Kong to the US?
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 14 July 2010, 12:42:39
Quote from: microsoft windows;202643
That shipping price is just plain old RIP-OFF. Does it really take ninety bucks in postage to ship a keyboard from Hong Kong to the US?


I doubt it...I did a quick quote on usps.com and, guessing the dimensions from a similar Cherry keyboard and guessing the weight at 3 lbs (which I suspect is heavier than it actually is) the price came out to $39.10 for 3-5 business days.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: HaaTa on Wed, 14 July 2010, 14:29:09
Still the price is cheaper than I last saw in Japan for the boards (about $150).
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: British on Wed, 14 July 2010, 16:48:52
Interesting that the "title" of the item says "linear white"...

More fun, they're selling yet another Cherry (http://cgi.ebay.com/Cherry-G80-3000-Keyboard-Black-G80-3000-Linear-White-/270601510119?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item3f011b5ce7), which price is $69, and the shipping is... $66.
There's something like a pattern here :smile:
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 14 July 2010, 17:13:37
Quote from: keyboardlover;202651
I doubt it...I did a quick quote on usps.com and, guessing the dimensions from a similar Cherry keyboard and guessing the weight at 3 lbs (which I suspect is heavier than it actually is) the price came out to $39.10 for 3-5 business days.


So they're charging over two times the price USPS would charge. How's that not a rip off?
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: elbowglue on Wed, 14 July 2010, 17:19:05
It's not a rip off because you see what you are getting in to before you buy it.  It's like if you sell an item for $100 free shipping, you get ebay fees on the full $100.  If you sell same item for $1 + $99 flat rate shipping, you get ebay fees on the $1.  It's a shell game, and it's easy to see how much you have to pay.  So it's not a rip off, it's just part of the price.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 14 July 2010, 19:14:56
I'll just stick with my current clicky keyboards and not worry about all that.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: neptunebadger on Wed, 14 July 2010, 21:31:37
I'm currently doing an internship in Taiwan and I've had the privilege of walking into an actual brick and mortar store that sells these Cherry MX red boards. I typed on one and to me they feel like a VERY light version of MX blacks, so if you've ever typed on blacks, you could probably imagine what that's like. Over here they cost the equivalent of US$150, so $174 shipped is about right.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 14 July 2010, 21:45:46
Quote from: microsoft windows;202738
So they're charging over two times the price USPS would charge. How's that not a rip off?


I wasn't doubting that it's a rip off...I was doubting that it cost that much :D
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 15 July 2010, 06:30:05
Quote from: British;202728
Interesting that the "title" of the item says "linear white"...

More fun, they're selling yet another Cherry (http://cgi.ebay.com/Cherry-G80-3000-Keyboard-Black-G80-3000-Linear-White-/270601510119?cmd=ViewItem&pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item3f011b5ce7), which price is $69, and the shipping is... $66.
There's something like a pattern here :smile:


The pics for this auction show the 'board with what appears to be double-shots.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: British on Thu, 15 July 2010, 06:46:22
Sure thing, though I was just saying that for those Cherry the shipping costs seem to follow the item's price.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Thu, 15 July 2010, 07:36:15
British - I contacted the seller and that's how he justified the price. I asked for cheaper shipping (citing my source) but he refused. Oh well.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: elbowglue on Thu, 15 July 2010, 10:39:38
Quote from: itlnstln;202887
The pics for this auction show the 'board with what appears to be double-shots.

Yeah - my problem with this is the guy's lack of english speaking clarity, who knows what you'll get.  Cherry reds?  Maybe.  Double shots? Maybe.  NKRO?  Maybe not.  Normal shaped enter key?  Maybe.  Black case or white case? Maybe.

It's a huge crapshoot, not at all worth it.  Especially when you can make your own cherry red switches with a little effort and patience.

And what if you get the wrong keyboard?  Well I'm sure the seller will be happy to refund your money... after you pay for shipping back to hong kong!
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 15 July 2010, 13:17:48
I appreciate the effort this guy is putting forth to sell in the US, but I agree, the listings need to be crystal clear, especially since the price is high with no returns.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: neptunebadger on Fri, 16 July 2010, 02:53:33
The Cherry with MX reds that I tried out in a store on read: G80-3494LYCUS-2/00. If this seller is selling the same thing, then it has NKRO.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 16 July 2010, 06:48:44
Quote from: HaaTa;202678
Still the price is cheaper than I last saw in Japan for the boards (about $150).


China too.

a couple months ago I contacted a agent to see how much it would cost to ship a Cherry G80-3494LYCUS-02 from China to US and this was the price quote I got.

Quote
$136.10 expense (keyboard)
$28.68 Freight Charge
$30.62 Commission
$7.19 Paypal charge
Total $202.59



(http://i39.tinypic.com/24llyk9.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/sgpoq0.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2h6y452.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/95x2s7.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2s9pw1l.jpg)

G80-3494LYCUS-0 (White)
Polystyrol Casing
PBT (Polyester) Keycaps
Printing is Laser Etched
Backplate
Full Rollover
Cherry Logo Laser Etched
Blue LED


(http://i40.tinypic.com/21od5c8.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/ztykw.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/15g3ygn.jpg)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/ajxm5i.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2s9pw1l.jpg)

G80-3494LYCUS-2 (Black)
ABS Casing
POM (Delrin) Keycaps
Printing is Laser Etched
Backplate
Full Rollover
Cherry Logo Laser Etched
Blue LED
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 16 July 2010, 06:59:42
Quote from: HaaTa;202678
Still the price is cheaper than I last saw in Japan for the boards (about $150).

China too.

a couple months ago I contacted a Chinese agency to see how much it would cost to ship a Cherry G80-3494LYCUS-02 from China to US and this was the price quote I got.

Quote
$136.10 expense
$28.68 Freight Charge
$30.62 Commission
$7.19 Paypal charge
Total $202.59

this is everything you need to know about the Cherry G80-3494.

G80-3494LYCUS-0 (White)
Polystyrol Casing
PBT Keycaps
Printing is Laser Etched
Backplate
Full Rollover
Cherry Logo Laser Etched
Blue LED

(http://i39.tinypic.com/24llyk9.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/sgpoq0.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2h6y452.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/95x2s7.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2s9pw1l.jpg)

G80-3494LYCUS-2 (Black)
ABS Casing
POM Keycaps
Printing is Laser Etched
Backplate
Full Rollover
Cherry Logo Laser Etched
Blue LED

(http://i40.tinypic.com/21od5c8.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/ztykw.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/15g3ygn.jpg)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/ajxm5i.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2s9pw1l.jpg)
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 16 July 2010, 08:19:37
Now, look. The keyboard's ninety bucks and the keys aren't even double shot? That's disgraceful!
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 16 July 2010, 08:39:13
if you are interested in the Cherry G80-3494 here is a couple reasons why you should buy it.

Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: elbowglue on Fri, 16 July 2010, 13:44:48
They should have hired you to make that listing LMNOP, they would have sold at least 5-10 more keyboards than they did :)
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 16 July 2010, 14:25:24
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: keyboardlover on Fri, 16 July 2010, 15:40:23
Quote from: lmnop;203301
if you are interested in the Cherry G80-3494 here is a couple reasons why you should buy it.

  • it cost $97 for a G80-3000 with Cherry MX Browns.
  • the G80-3494 is better built than a standard G80-3000.
  • the G80-3494 won't be sold on the market in Asia forever.
  • you won't pay any less than $175 unless you go to Asia yourself.
  • the Deck Legend is more expensive.
  • you can probably count on one hand how many people in North America have a G80-3494.
  • Authentic Cherry MX Red Linear.


That's all well and good but...I'm still not quite sure I understand why people like cherry reds? Aren't they lighter than browns? Does that make them similar to Topre's?
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: gr1m on Fri, 16 July 2010, 16:01:56
Blacks have very smooth action; peoples' main gripe with them is that they're hard to type on because they require too much force. Reds fix that. That's my guess.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 16 July 2010, 16:13:18
here is the force graph.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/xaqm37.jpg)

think about it like this

Cherry MX Brown are suited for Typing and Gaming.
Cherry MX Red Linear are suited for Gaming and Typing.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Fri, 16 July 2010, 16:16:10
here is the force graph.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/xaqm37.jpg)

think about it like a priority shift.

Cherry MX Brown are suited for Typing and Gaming.
Cherry MX Red Linear are suited for Gaming and Typing.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: mcbrite on Sun, 18 July 2010, 07:18:15
The translations for the first table in the data sheet:

Gesamtweg: Whole way of travel
Vorlaufweg: Pre-Travel
Anfangskraft: Starting-Force
Schaltbetaetigungskraft: Switch actuation force
Endkraft: Terminal Force

First forum post ever typed in Colemak. Took me like 10 minutes...
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: HaaTa on Sun, 18 July 2010, 10:01:16
Quote from: keyboardlover;203380
That's all well and good but...I'm still not quite sure I understand why people like cherry reds? Aren't they lighter than browns? Does that make them similar to Topre's?


Hmm, not really. The feeling is different. Topres all have the tactile feel due to the domes (you feel it less, depending on the weighting of the Topre switch in question). Whereas the MX Red has no tactile point whatsoever, unless you are going slow enough to feel the actuator when it completes the circuit; not really practical though...
You can also feel the spring being slowly compressed with MX Reds whereas the Topre you can't (e.g. you feel the small shifts of the spring as it compresses, whereas the Topre the dome acts as a shock absorber).
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: trievalot on Mon, 19 July 2010, 08:02:23
i feel special. (see my sig)
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: HaaTa on Mon, 19 July 2010, 12:48:04
:P
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: EverythingIBM on Mon, 19 July 2010, 15:09:43
I'm really curious about the red switch cherry keyboards.
Although I'm not paying $100 for one. Probably wouldn't pay for one at all.

Why are they only being sold in asia?
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Wed, 21 July 2010, 05:29:19

and why is the person in charge of marketing and distribution for Cherry a beach whale?
(http://freelance-zone.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/andy_rooney.jpg)

ripster is here in spirit.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Wed, 21 July 2010, 05:34:05
(http://www.fffnj.com/images04/ch_beached_whale.jpg)
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: lmnop on Wed, 21 July 2010, 05:34:38

and why is the person in charge of marketing and distribution for Cherry a beach whale?
(http://freelance-zone.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/andy_rooney.jpg)

ripster is here in spirit.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: Infinite north on Wed, 21 July 2010, 11:41:26
Beached whale. that guy has some serious red face.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: Moogle Stiltzkin on Mon, 20 September 2010, 23:27:48
I am very interested in the G80-3494LYCUS-2

However where can i buy it with shipment to Malaysia ???

According to some of the posters here, they are saying the ebay from hongkong price is a rip off ? Is that true ?
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: Infinite north on Tue, 21 September 2010, 00:36:47
It's only true if you can find a better price. a better price for one shipped has yet to be found.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: J888www on Tue, 21 September 2010, 05:42:23
Quote from: Moogle Stiltzkin;225066
According to some of the posters here, they are saying the ebay from hongkong price is a rip off ? Is that true ?


Yes it is definitely a "Rip Off", but only partly true. The Seller is ripping off eBay, trying to skimp off some of the charges by offering a very low purchase price and compensating with extortionate shipping cost.

NB. The Seller is not "Ripping Off" the Buyer.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 21 September 2010, 12:38:41
I can receive packages in Beijing so I enquired about doing that at reduced shipping and and the seller refused.
Title: Cherry MX Reds
Post by: Moogle Stiltzkin on Tue, 28 September 2010, 22:52:56
Quote from: J888www;225102
Yes it is definitely a "Rip Off", but only partly true. The Seller is ripping off eBay, trying to skimp off some of the charges by offering a very low purchase price and compensating with extortionate shipping cost.

NB. The Seller is not "Ripping Off" the Buyer.



Thx j888 i think you are right. Even PCIAX the hongkong distributor is selling roughly that price. They haven't even added in shipping costs, but i'll bet it will be as much as the ebay.


However someone told me that ebay seller is selling the white variant, not the black version with the pom keys.