geekhack
geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: wanabe on Tue, 22 February 2011, 12:29:46
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Ortek MCK-84
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260740846453&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
(http://i.imgur.com/nq7Ow.jpg)
Seller claims the two below are clicky. i dont know though, i only list them here b/c the first one looks like a siig minitouch clone
QTRONIX QX-083 mini
http://cgi.ebay.com/QTRONIX-QX-083-mini-Keyboard-Clicking-IBM-size-NEW-/200579345642?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb375ecea&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:US:101 (http://cgi.ebay.com/QTRONIX-QX-083-mini-Keyboard-Clicking-IBM-size-NEW-/200579345642?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb375ecea&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:US:101)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i67/sanjosesigns/Jan%202011/HPIM4730.jpg)
QTRONIX QX-083 mini
http://cgi.ebay.com/QTRONIX-QX-083-mini-Keyboard-Clicking-IBM-size-NEW-/200579342865?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb375e211&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:US:101 (http://cgi.ebay.com/QTRONIX-QX-083-mini-Keyboard-Clicking-IBM-size-NEW-/200579342865?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb375e211&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:US:101)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i67/sanjosesigns/Jan%202011/HPIM4749.jpg)
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just a quick info...those clicky switches might also be (fake) blue cherries
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fake cherries? interesting...i'll ask teh seller for pictures tonight
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im interested in that Ortek MCK-84. but the item is posted "no international shipping". i cant even contact the seller.
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im interested in that Ortek MCK-84. but the item is posted "no international shipping". i cant even contact the seller.
Yeah. Every link I've followed from this forum in the last couple of days has been CONUS only. :frusty:
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Both of those Qtronix boards are rubberdomes btw. At least the black version is. I kinda doubt that the beige one is different.
(http://i.imgur.com/Hk6Qp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/QciTR.jpg)
Remember kids, "clicky keyboard" on eBay is code language for "old keyboard"
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A trick to get around that: go to the seller's page (by clicking their name), click Contact Member, and then strip off the "&iid=xxxxxxxx" from the end of the URL. eBay is attempting to restrict members outside of the seller's specified shipping areas from contacting the seller about the item...but you can still contact them in general.
Some of them will get really pissed off, but that's what they get for refusing to fill out a piece of paper shorter (in number of characters) than the reply they will write.
I'm of the opinion that you shouldn't be allowed to sell via eBay if you won't ship worldwide via cheapest available option, but that's me.
I agree.
The point of "ebay" is to provide merchandise not available LOCALLY. I mean, ebay is turning into a kijiji.
*and one thing that pisses me off is how shipping from the US to Canada is considered "worldwide", ON THE BLOODY SAME CONTINENT. [end of rant]
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Third one is definitely not mechanical. It's rubber dome. It's not a bad board though. It's a true rubber dome, not membrane, and uses individual little rubber cups. Similar to the minitouch plus. Cept the domes are much softer. I'm using it as a spare right now on one of my machines because it doesn't feel awful and requires a lot less power than a minitouch. It doesn't reset like minitouches do on usb hubs.
That's also the version that had the function key row cut off as a prop, and used to kill someone in Gattaca. lol
omg just looked at the price. $145 is ridiculous. Think I got mine for like $25.
The second one however looks very interesting. I've never seen that board before, and the seller reports that it has a "click sound" not that it's a clicky keyboard. It also has a really interesting name, "The Count", a keyboard for vampires? lol It also has a layout very similar to the minitouch. I would be surprised if it's also a Qtronix QX-083, but perhaps it's an early version of that board? I think more likely the seller just listed it like that because he has the other one, and it doesn't likely have a number on it. The layout is really interesting, what's with the extra +- keys?? Also notice the control key is in the proper position. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a monterey, and is a minitouch early prototype version. The one thing that concerns me is that it doesn't seem to have a function key layer.
*edit* I bought the second one. That board is really rare, so figured it was worth a shot.
I noticed he did list the other qtronix board as having a click sound too, which it doesn't, but perhaps there's some confusion going on between them.
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Seller wrote me this after I bought it.
Hi. I was about to email you there is some typo do to listing two item that are similir but have some diffrents: 1-This item is used not new (you can see the picture it is USED)where title show new but under conditon it's show USED. 2- The brand name on keyboard is "The Account" as it show in listing discription but the title show "Qtronix" which is wrong. 3- Yes it does have clicking sound i just tried it dose make clicking sound. My other mini keyboard is new (item# 200579342865)and is Qtronix. So if still want keyboard i will ship it for free other wise i will refund you your money. I an very sorry for any inconvenient to. Thank you
So looks like the second one may indeed be a mechanical and some kind of strange prototype for the minitouch.
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yeah bummer on #3...looks like a rubber dome. good call sixty, too expensive even if it weren't
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i67/sanjosesigns/Jan%202011/Qtronix.jpg)
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Considering the last one sold for like $350, I would agree.
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I truly believe that questions about ALPs switches could bring IBM's Watson to its virtual knees.
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I got mine cheap. The problem with them is the iso enter and no number keypad layer. Minitouches are much superior imo. The only thing they have going for them is that they're usually complicated alps, but minitouches are easy to convert.
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I agree.
The point of "ebay" is to provide merchandise not available LOCALLY. I mean, ebay is turning into a kijiji.
*and one thing that pisses me off is how shipping from the US to Canada is considered "worldwide", ON THE BLOODY SAME CONTINENT. [end of rant]
Well, before Canada get ride of the Queen and become part of the States it will still be "worldwide".
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Alright, so got, "The Count".........
Not clicky. Not mechanical.......
Not Rubber Dome. Well not entirely.
So... I suppose I'll have pictures later. This is a really unique and odd board. Not seen the like of it.
So first thing I noticed when I popped a cap off was that it had cherry like keys, and of course I immediately assumed, awe crap, rubber dome over pcb. It has similar round plungers. But over the top of the tray of the case is a rubber membrane supporting the keys and providing a soft landing.
I opened it up and found a pcb.. I thought... what the heck, is this an early topre or something with springs??
So there were 6 screws holding the pcb to the top case, I removed two of them and pried up an edge hoping that I wouldn't let any springs pop out if they were pressurized in there... Low and behold I saw foam with a metal disc on the bottom of each piece. So it's capacitive right??? Similar to topres except it uses foam instead of a spring??
It has a very solid constructed feel similar to the ortek mck-84. It has a tactile bump, and a click on the return of the key, from plastic meeting plastic.
Unique board. Pics later.
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No, honestly... It feels like a mechanical. It doesn't feel anything like the minitouch plus or btc. I thought at first before I took a key off maybe it was low profile or cream alps. Also from pics I've seen of those foam boards, I think they might be different. I'll take pics of it and take the pcb completely off.
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Pics of Dracula. lol
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5486513512_bf925d0257_b.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5485919079_678f573ca6_b.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5486514976_4947ab2fdb_b.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5485920389_2c25e510c6_b.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5485921149_59f11ba5b6_b.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5486517234_6cf6b3d862_b.jpg)
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Very interesting. Am very happy for you to have found something quite unique. Whatever type of kbd, I also have never seen until now, ty for the pics.