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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jasonszion on Tue, 18 January 2011, 14:49:07

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jasonszion on Tue, 18 January 2011, 14:49:07

Ok... another strange keyboard made its way to my shop and I have no idea what it is... Please bear in mind that I am a keyboard noob and do not know much about older keyboards... Can anyone tell me anything about it? LOL please ignore the dirt... I have not even touched it since it came in the door...

(http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx91/CaptureLifePhotos/ibm%20model%20f/2011-01-18_14-46-42_634.jpg)

(http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx91/CaptureLifePhotos/ibm%20model%20f/2011-01-18_14-46-32_563.jpg)

(http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx91/CaptureLifePhotos/ibm%20model%20f/2011-01-18_14-47-07_467.jpg)


Thanks!
Jason

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 18 January 2011, 14:51:19

Somebody took a Model M and put upside-down Topres in it.

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jasonszion on Tue, 18 January 2011, 14:52:44

Quote from: itlnstln;280587

Somebody took a Model M and put upside-down Topres in it.

lol please remember that I am a noob.. explain please :)

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jasonszion on Tue, 18 January 2011, 14:54:18

the keyboard has a very unique feel to it... nothing like my cherry browns or the buckling springs of my model f... but cool as heck...

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jasonszion on Tue, 18 January 2011, 21:01:34

bump :)

Does anyone recognize those switches? :)

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jasonszion on Tue, 18 January 2011, 21:26:37

Quote from: ripster;280791

It's a buckling rubber sleeve.  Similar to the M4 in my sig.  The idea is it provides a more stable key press.  Some people like it, some hate it.  

I'm kinda more into Scissor Switches instead to stabilize the keypresses and yet give tactile feedback.  Plus they can be much smaller.

IBM M4 is the second one down.

Show Image

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5357080253_85656c54e3_z.jpg)

Thanks Ripster!

I actually do like the board... Im thinking of dyeing it for the wife... :) Maybe some purple or something.. idk yet...

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: quadibloc on Tue, 18 January 2011, 23:53:48

The buckling rubber sleeve keyboards that I'm most familiar with are the old KeyTronic keyboards. They're considered one of the better rubber dome keyboards, but still "ordinary" compared to mechanical switch keyboards.

This is also a vintage type of keyboard - it was only around at the time of the early Model M keyboards. It will have sturdy construction compared to modern keyboards, and probably sold for around $100 new if not more.

It's a decent keyboard, well worth keeping.

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: seung on Wed, 19 January 2011, 00:28:28

Hahaha they look like breast pumps for cats!!!

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jasonszion on Wed, 19 January 2011, 07:19:56

Quote from: quadibloc;280856

The buckling rubber sleeve keyboards that I'm most familiar with are the old KeyTronic keyboards. They're considered one of the better rubber dome keyboards, but still "ordinary" compared to mechanical switch keyboards.

This is also a vintage type of keyboard - it was only around at the time of the early Model M keyboards. It will have sturdy construction compared to modern keyboards, and probably sold for around $100 new if not more.

It's a decent keyboard, well worth keeping.

I think so... I really like the way the keys feel... I think it will be going to the wife after a dye job... :)

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Findecanor on Wed, 19 January 2011, 07:47:48

Mitsumi made also most of the keyboards with similar-looking switches for the Commodore Amiga computers, but I am not sure about which Amiga keyboards these are. I think that they were for the 3000 and 4000.
The keyboards in my Amiga 500 and 1200 have linear feel, so they must have had coiled springs instead of rubber sleeves.

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jasonszion on Wed, 19 January 2011, 10:59:09

Quote from: Findecanor;280986

Mitsumi made also most of the keyboards with similar-looking switches for the Commodore Amiga computers, but I am not sure about which Amiga keyboards these are. I think that they were for the 3000 and 4000.
The keyboards in my Amiga 500 and 1200 have linear feel, so they must have had coiled springs instead of rubber sleeves.

Thanks for the info man!

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Vorlonesque on Fri, 21 January 2011, 19:28:09

I've owned two mitsumi keyboards...and used my black ps/2 kb until I recently got a razor blackwidow and now the silent das keyboard I'm trying out (not sure which I like better...I prefer the layout of this one a bit more...but I like the feel of both switches...I'll need to type on this a while to see which keys I like more I think).  

Mitsumi makes some of the better membrane type keyboards IMHO...and they're built pretty damned well (I on several occasions dropped my beige mitsumi with the pencil holder looking indentation at the top down big staircases in my college dorm when I was moving in and out way back when and it never hurt the thing...I finally grew tired of having to use an AT->PS/2 adapter and got one that didn't need that).  The keys feel pretty good for a non-mechanical keyboard.

Another interesting fact: Mitsumi made the controllers for the NES, SNES, N64, PS1 (ALPS also made PS1 controllers...the general consensus is that they weren't as good...the Mitsumis were better in that they didn't blister your thumb...a lot of people seem to contend that it was because Mitsumi had more experience making control pads/d-pads), PS2, the original XBox controller, and the Wii-mote.  They also manufacture the chassis/controls on the various Nintendo portables.  I first stumbled upon this when I opened up an SNES controller and saw their name on the circuit board and recognized it as the maker of the keyboard I loved and looked more into them.

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Ekaros on Fri, 12 August 2011, 15:08:51

Are these worth of 20€? There is one on sale now...

Title: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: Jabberwock on Thu, 27 October 2011, 12:31:08

Huh, I just restored the same keyboard, but newer version, '96.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]37060[/ATTACH]

And disassembled switch here:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]37061[/ATTACH]

Title: Re: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: MTManiac on Wed, 20 November 2013, 22:07:37

(http://forums.crackberry.com/attachments/news-rumors-f40/179809d1373210666t-apple-going-down-billions-tax-fraud-thread-necromancy.png)

Mwwuuuahahahaha
Finished retrobrightening the green on grey so I put it all back together
Pink upside down topre domes
More pics of the internals upon request
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
[attach=3]

Title: Re: Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC (what the crap is this thing?)
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 20 November 2013, 22:22:46

That neon green is awesome.