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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Phaedrus2129 on Fri, 27 August 2010, 22:06:14

Title: DSI Big Font
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Fri, 27 August 2010, 22:06:14

So my grandma's been using a backlit Saitek Eclipse II on her computer so that she can see the key lettering in spite of poor eyesight. You know, the type of thing that backlit keyboards should be made for, instead of being marketed to 12-year-old ADD children. But I digress.

The painting on her Saitek keyboard has started to wear to unreadability and she can no longer find many of her keys, which is great hindrance when she's trying to type in my email address to send me pictures of kittens or racist jokes about Obama she found on the internet. Obviously this is a problem (for her at any rate).

So she needs a new keyboard, and I was wondering about the DSI Big Font keyboard. It's mechanical, cheap, and she'll be able to read it. However I don't know much about it. Apparently it uses yellow simplified Alps switches, but all I can find about those is that they're linear.

What's build quality like? How long will the printing last? How's the feel of yellow fake Alps? Is it worth the $31? Will the next email be about kittens or a riff on Barack HUSSEIN Obama?

Title: DSI Big Font
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Sat, 28 August 2010, 00:48:07

I'm guessing this isn't a popular keyboard.

Webwit probably has one though.

Title: DSI Big Font
Post by: bitflipper on Sat, 28 August 2010, 01:06:32

I think we concluded this was not a great keyboard. Terrible for touch typing. Linears that feel like typing on marshmallows. I had one, still have the guts, sold the key caps to another member.

Here's a thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=9388&do=comments&highlight=dsi+big+font) with discussion and pictures.

Another discussion (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=10407&highlight=dsi+big+font).

Another thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=10618).

Title: DSI Big Font
Post by: Infinite north on Sat, 28 August 2010, 01:09:15

You should try and get her a cheap tg3 back lit keyboard. that would be high visibility.

Title: DSI Big Font
Post by: aegrotatio on Mon, 30 August 2010, 11:15:11

You should just try the Big Font Keyboard.  I have two of them and they are very good to me.  I rather disagree with negative reviews of this keyboard.  It's quieter and more solid than the ASK-6600 which is clicky.  It's usually on clearance at http://www.notestation.com and you can find prices from the same store under the user ID "dsigear" on eBay by clicking the link below.

You don't need to restrict yourself to mechanical keyboards for big fonts.  DSI produces and resells at least two other Big Font keyboards.

eBay link:
http://computers.shop.ebay.com/Keyboards-Mice-Input-/3676/i.html?_catref=1&_dmd=1&_fln=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_ssn=dsigear&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282

Big Font for $30 link:
http://www.notestation.com/bigfontkeyboard.htm