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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Aardwolf on Sun, 19 September 2010, 07:26:51

Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Aardwolf on Sun, 19 September 2010, 07:26:51: Apparently there is an interest in having a red esc key on the keyboard, e.g. elitekeyboards sells red esc keys, and some pictures from keyboards on this forum have them.

I'm wondering, is this just for aesthetics, or is there another reason?
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Ekaros on Sun, 19 September 2010, 07:29:45: Quote from: Aardwolf;224625
Apparently there is an interest in having a red esc key on the keyboard, e.g. elitekeyboards sells red esc keys, and some pictures from keyboards on this forum have them.

I'm wondering, is this just for aesthetics, or is there another reason?

Just aesthetics and some "coolnes" factor. Color of key cap can't affect on anything at all...
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Sun, 19 September 2010, 10:16:48: Just to differentiate. It looks cool. On my current keyboard which has the arrow keys in a slightly funky place I have all my red Esc keys and my OCN key on the arrows. Looks cool to me.

(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/248/6/4/spos_6_by_phaedrus2401-d2y2cuz.jpg)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Zen on Sun, 19 September 2010, 12:35:35: The hot chicks will laugh at your puny single-space escape keys.
(http://i.imgur.com/2teYM.jpg)

And the blondes won't ever figure out that those are arrow-keys :)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: ktkr on Sun, 19 September 2010, 13:57:12: Quote from: Aardwolf;224625
Apparently there is an interest in having a red esc key on the keyboard, e.g. elitekeyboards sells red esc keys, and some pictures from keyboards on this forum have them.

I'm wondering, is this just for aesthetics, or is there another reason?

Have you ever heard about a red button you should not press? Yet you still press it.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Senor_Cartmenez on Mon, 20 September 2010, 16:48:01: Hmm, let's examine:
Ferraris fast and Ferraris are red
Fire trucks are fast and fire trucks are red
Blood is fast and blood is red

no need to continue ---> red makes you fast

Gazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka said it and it is true today just as it will be true in that grim future of his....

How do you wanna press an ESC key in a dicey situation? U guessed it, FAST.

What is the only suitable color for an ESC key? U guessed it, RED.

Unless of course a nude silhouette of a trucker girl is available. This has actually proven to make things FASTEST
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: RSA27 on Mon, 20 September 2010, 16:52:35: Where exactly does one find a Geekhack key?

I meant for sale. Yea, I know you were thinking it...
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 20 September 2010, 17:20:58: Supercomputers often have huge red "OFF" buttons. Don't ask me why.. Tradition from the days when they ran really really really hot?
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Mon, 20 September 2010, 18:22:27: Quote from: Findecanor;224989
Supercomputers often have huge red "OFF" buttons. Don't ask me why.. Tradition from the days when they ran really really really hot?

Possibly required by OSHA? Large equipment is usually required to have a failsafe off button that cuts all power and freezes all moving parts. Perhaps supercomputers get included in that class of device, even though they have no moving parts.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Mon, 20 September 2010, 18:25:50: (http://www.pinqradio.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/applause.gif)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: WhiteRice on Mon, 20 September 2010, 18:27:14: (http://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/hal.jpg)

"What are you doing dave?"
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Ekaros on Mon, 20 September 2010, 19:17:43: So a red keyboard would allow majority of this forum-members to write faster? ;D I wonder why aren't all keyboards red then, just think about the global productivity increase.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Mon, 20 September 2010, 21:27:11: Hey, my step-dad's Mustang doesn't break down much. Worse thing happened to it so far was some ******* sideswiping us on the freeway, and also skidding on ice and breaking the brake disk on the curb.

Can hardly blame Ford for those.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: squarebox on Tue, 21 September 2010, 02:54:08: Because Red ESC look Awesome!

(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k221/undarken/Filco%20Keyboard/DSC00027.jpg)

(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k221/undarken/Filco%20Keyboard/DSC00029.jpg)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Senor_Cartmenez on Tue, 21 September 2010, 03:18:58: Quote from: Ekaros;225020
So a red keyboard would allow majority of this forum-members to write faster? ;D I wonder why aren't all keyboards red then, just think about the global productivity increase.

Yes it most definitely would.

The inter-web is just not ready for the increased amounts of data that would come into existence as a result of red keyboards.

So the international inter-web regulation and protection committee has put a permanent ban on red keyboards. Singular red keys are sold because red is just awesome and certain keys need to be pressed swiftly.

If you somehow manage to find a red keyboard or set of red keys, then it will be damn expensive. Why? Because a special tax payment to the international inter-web regulation and protection committee must be included in the price.

The special "red-keyboard certified" license for use of red keyboards is however not included and must be obtained seperately from the inter-web regulation and protection committee.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: DaReaLDeviL on Tue, 21 September 2010, 08:21:57: Where can i buy some other keys for my filco that fit the mx-switches and don't have another shape?
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 21 September 2010, 08:22:36: Nowhere. Unless you harvest from an old keyboard.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: quadibloc on Tue, 21 September 2010, 08:29:03: Of course, I'm so old-school that I believe it's the Pause/Break key that ought to be the red one. (It's red to show that it's dangerous - because it gets used to interrupt a running program. Although, in real life, one could argue for a red Delete key, because hardly anyone uses Ctrl-Break these days... it's Ctrl-Alt-Del or nothing.)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Necroleachate on Tue, 21 September 2010, 08:33:12: Some people buy from Korea/China.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: MissileMike on Tue, 21 September 2010, 09:07:41: There is just something about the way the red escape key looks that makes the keyboard cooler. It's subtle compared to making your keys look like legos, but just adds that little bit of flair. I have it on both my filcos, and plan to order 5 of them for my M's/Unicomps.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 21 September 2010, 09:32:33: Quote from: ripster;225129
Stare at Japan's flag for a bit and that will give a clue.

I don't get it. Am I supposed to see a picture of a unicorn or something? I didn't know they had a Magic Eye for a flag.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 21 September 2010, 10:19:06: About the only thing sacred about that is the amount of time you spend worshiping the porcelain gods after eating there.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: J888www on Tue, 21 September 2010, 11:04:52: Don't have much time to search, so please forgive moi for asking, where can I purchase some Red Model M Escape Caps (top piece or including the stems).
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 21 September 2010, 11:25:44: Unicomp or Fentek.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: MahBoi on Tue, 21 September 2010, 15:27:20: I dunno about red. I'm more partial to the "kiwi topped frozen yogurt on a lime green countertop" green Esc keys myself (courtesy of 5k177):

(http://5k177.com/more/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/IMG_2344.jpg)

Looks good on both beige and black enclosures.

I guess I'm just a fan of weird color schemes. Like the Windows Hotdog Stand (http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2005/07/a-tribute-to-the-windows-31-hot-dog-stand-color-scheme.html) tribute theme for Win 7. Isn't it lovely?

(http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/4319/hotdogb.jpg)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: magictoaster on Tue, 21 September 2010, 16:05:46: Can someone tell me if the red ESC replacement key for the HHKB (and the WASD lavender replacement keys) available at Elite are exactly like the Realforce one (same "printing method", same plastic)? I'm itching to order the red key so I can type 33% faster.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: quadibloc on Tue, 21 September 2010, 16:53:06: Quote from: J888www;225150
Don't have much time to search, so please forgive moi for asking, where can I purchase some Red Model M Escape Caps (top piece or including the stems).
Contact Unicomp. There is a discussion thread right here about the fact that they have colored keys available.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=9889
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: magictoaster on Tue, 21 September 2010, 18:34:02: Quote from: ripster;225237
I'm not 100% sure about the plastic being the same (the molding marks are just ever so slightly different) but sure looks the same to me.

But then I just said the same thing about the Filco set and someone had ones sitting a bit higher so YMMV.

I guess I'll know soon enough! I'll let you know if they are the same!
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: netwebber on Wed, 22 September 2010, 00:58:28: (http://www.monroegallery.com/showcase/images/SS_RFK.jpg)
There are those who look at a red escape key and ask "why?" I dream of an infrared escape key and ask "why not?"
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 22 September 2010, 07:38:49: I wonder whatever happened to SKCheng. Wordy guy, but he was doing some cool stuff with his Ms.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Wed, 22 September 2010, 09:40:52
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: lmnop on Wed, 22 September 2010, 09:49:49: lol steve martin is great :)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: phototristan on Wed, 22 September 2010, 10:06:29: Personally, I think a Red Escape key is pretty stupid. As if you can't easily see and press it or something.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: quadibloc on Wed, 22 September 2010, 16:49:20: Well, as I've already mentioned, many keyboards had either a red ATTN key (IBM 2741) or a red BREAK key (ASR 33 teletype), and so the key used to interrupt a running program, being perceived as dangerous, is red to warn people to not push it at the wrong time by accident.

On the basis of precedent and tradition, therefore, I am an advocate of a red Pause/Break key instead of a red Esc key. I know that this makes me a voice crying in the wilderness here.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Wed, 22 September 2010, 23:04:48: My MX11800 had two red escs, one on Esc and one on Pause/Break.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: iMav on Thu, 23 September 2010, 02:44:57: Quote from: RSA27;224978
Where exactly does one find a Geekhack key?

I meant for sale. Yea, I know you were thinking it...

What type of keyboard are you looking to put one on?
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: cmr on Fri, 24 September 2010, 19:45:57: Quote from: Aardwolf;224625
Red esc: why?

because they can't get an orange X%&#!

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1967&d=1232524794)
Title: Why? Because fun is fun =)
Post by: clickclack on Mon, 27 September 2010, 21:15:26: Quote from: netwebber;225311

There are those who look at a red escape key and ask "why?" I dream of an infrared escape key and ask "why not?"

Dream no more my friend =)
Shot in infrared-

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12644&stc=1&d=1285639816)
It's a green skull esc key on a realforce 87u (55g).
ok, off I go making keys in a more visible spectrum =P
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: washuai on Tue, 28 September 2010, 00:18:57: Red Esc key really isn't me, but they were free and I like keyboard accents. Plus Geek Hack is just win, so how could I resist. I'd have that thing on my keyboard, even if it was yellow or pink (my least favorite colors). Yea, I think the Pause Break is a good place for those Panic keys, plus I never use it, so I have a tendency to forget what it is on my otaku.
A metallic silver is my preferred ESC. Blue violet, glacial ice, emerald (as in the gemstone)with that hint of blue . . .
Marketing pitch on stick this key to your key, custom key holes. (http://www.hooleon.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OV-0506&Category_Code=N-C&Store_Code=KBH)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: nasse on Tue, 25 January 2011, 09:23:55: Red key from Facit 4431.
(http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3352/topreredesc.jpg)
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: dxong on Tue, 25 January 2011, 09:58:34: when you walk underground with dim light and see a shade of a girl with long black hair covering her face, and Sadako suddenly pops up in your mind, a red panic button would be convenient. I wish I had the courage to finish up F.E.A.R so I can move on the sequel.

Where can you purchase those random keys with different printings? Or are those keys customized by the user themselves?
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Variable on Tue, 25 January 2011, 11:28:36: why not?

I'm very new to this and I'm already loving the concept of custom key replacements. sounds so cool!
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: kill will on Tue, 25 January 2011, 12:08:42: because its cool

until everyone has one

then a glass cage around the esc button will be cool
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Lanx on Tue, 25 January 2011, 12:14:16: or military style flip up button.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: dxong on Tue, 25 January 2011, 12:37:55: or a hologram
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Canuck21 on Wed, 26 January 2011, 02:15:24: Quote from: Phaedrus2129;224659
Just to differentiate. It looks cool. On my current keyboard which has the arrow keys in a slightly funky place I have all my red Esc keys and my OCN key on the arrows. Looks cool to me.

Show Image
(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/248/6/4/spos_6_by_phaedrus2401-d2y2cuz.jpg)

Where can buy these type of keys? I want to spice up my newly acquired Rosewill RK-9000.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: Canuck21 on Wed, 26 January 2011, 02:16:35: Quote from: Zen;224690
The hot chicks will laugh at your puny single-space escape keys.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/2teYM.jpg)

And the blondes won't ever figure out that those are arrow-keys :)

Where can I buy these type of keys? I want to spice up my newly acquired Rosewill RK-9000.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: jaynoon on Wed, 26 January 2011, 23:31:40: I like different colored escape keys because it makes it easy to spot a mechanical a mile away.
Title: Red esc: why?
Post by: jaynoon on Thu, 27 January 2011, 00:32:16: Yeah the Access keyboards show up on UK eBay fairly regularly, but I've never bitten on one because the shipping is always a nightmare to the US.