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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 09:36:11

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 09:36:11

I currently use full size keyboards, but I'm looking to get something smaller.

I want Cherry MX blue switches and no number pad.  I have my eye on a Filco tenkeyless but wanted to see if there are others I should be looking at.

So... can anyone recommended a good board... small.. cherry blues?  What are my options?  (I'd like something easily purchasable from the USA.)

thanks!

-Corey

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: db_Iodine on Sun, 06 February 2011, 09:57:11

You won't be able to get a Filco tenkeyless new from the US anymore. If it's important to buy it from the US, wait for Elitekeyboards to stock the new Leopold tenkeyless boards. If you can order from abroad, you have plenty of options. One being the even smaller Noppoo Choc Mini from Taobao, and another being a Filco tenkeyless from PChome.

The Noppoo Choc Mini is a little bit smaller than the Filco or Leopold tenkeyless models, so if the size is important, you might want to check that out. There are plenty of topics and instructions on buying here at geekhack.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: JelinaNU on Sun, 06 February 2011, 09:58:05

Wait a week or two for EK to launch the American sales of the Leopolds; they'll very likely have a tenkeyless version with Cherry blues. Your other options all involve either importing a Filco thru Keyboard Co. or using a booking agent to secure a Noppoo Choc Mini, Ducky 1087, Archiss, or PLUM board from China, Japan, or Korea. Such a process greatly increases the cost. Keep an eye on the Geekhack classifieds, too -- might get lucky.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 11:02:21

KeyBoardCo has Filco Tenkeyless in stock.  I don't mind ordering from them.

But I should wait until the Leopold is in stock at EK for comparison.  Any idea how much the Leopold tenkeyless will cost?

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: RiGS on Sun, 06 February 2011, 12:01:27

What is the big fuss about Leopold? The PCB doesn't even come with surface mount diodes.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: laden3 on Sun, 06 February 2011, 12:09:59

check the pchome thread
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A50460234&c=A05&tm=u#

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: RiGS on Sun, 06 February 2011, 12:18:37

The PCB on filcos are dual layered. I also hate cherry corp stabilizers on my SS.
They are plain lasered (ABS?) keycaps nothing more. Btw a sane geekhacker swap the filco keys with cherry doubleshots  anyway.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 12:19:40

thanks laden.

I'm kinda intimidated to use pchome...
btw, what currency are they displaying? (NT$3490)

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 13:33:25

I'm now looking at this Ducky:
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A50247059&c=A15&tm=u

(http://ec1img.pchome.com.tw/pic/v1/data/item/201010/D/C/A/H/0/X/DCAH0X-A50247059000_4cb80cf704173)

It's a combo brown/black switches.

now if I could only figure out how to order from PCHome :/

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: stuiees on Sun, 06 February 2011, 14:13:54

Quote from: cgoldberg;290823

I'm now looking at this Ducky:
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A50247059&c=A15&tm=u

Show Image

(http://ec1img.pchome.com.tw/pic/v1/data/item/201010/D/C/A/H/0/X/DCAH0X-A50247059000_4cb80cf704173)

It's a combo brown/black switches.

now if I could only figure out how to order from PCHome :/

Check this thread http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12854 (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12854) for buying instructions.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: db_Iodine on Sun, 06 February 2011, 14:15:19

Quote from: cgoldberg;290823

I'm now looking at this Ducky:

It's a combo brown/black switches.

now if I could only figure out how to order from PCHome :/

Check out this thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12854) and especially the first post. It has an excellent guide to buying from PChome. I and many other geekhackers have purchased a keyboard from PChome and I don't think anyone has anything bad to say about them so far.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 14:21:30

db_Iodine...

thanks.. I think with that threads help I can get through ordering from PCHome.

unfortunately, they have no more stock of the board above.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 14:27:47

hmm.. they have the chinese version of the Ducky keyboard I want... and they also sell Ducky replacement caps (in english).  Is the layout the same?  (i.e. can I just swap the chinese caps for english and I'm all set?)

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: Half-Saint on Sun, 06 February 2011, 15:01:03

Provided you don't need NKRO, how about a TG3 with Cherry blues? :D

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: db_Iodine on Sun, 06 February 2011, 15:02:10

Quote from: cgoldberg;290863

hmm.. they have the chinese version of the Ducky keyboard I want... and they also sell Ducky replacement caps (in english).  Is the layout the same?  (i.e. can I just swap the chinese caps for english and I'm all set?)

Yep, the layout is the same, so you can just swap all the keys you want.

Title: Smaller Keyboard With Cherry Blues?
Post by: cgoldberg on Sun, 06 February 2011, 15:50:17

I decided last minute to go with Cherry Browns.

So I just ordered a Ducky DK1087 from PCHome:
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A50118368&c=A20&tm=u

I got the chinese version (all they had):
(http://ec1img.pchome.com.tw/pic/v1/data/item/201010/D/C/A/H/0/X/DCAH0X-A50118368000_4cad515ff3981)

I also got the english Ducky PBT keycaps to go with it:
http://global.pchome.com.tw/?mod=item&func=exhibit&IT_NO=DCAH0X-A53717984&c=A05&tm=u

(http://ec1img.pchome.com.tw/pic/v1/data/item/201101/D/C/A/H/0/X/DCAH0X-A53717984000_4d2fd4c0a1991)

Shipping was only $10.
The keyboard was $95, but the replacement keycaps were pricey ($50).

thanks for the tips!

-Corey