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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:09:12

Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:09:12: I have a friend going to China for a few days and I was wondering if I should cure my itch for trying a keyboard with Topre's. I was looking to get a tenkeyless uniform 55g or 45g. Would a Realforce 87UKB55 be my only choice? Is there anything else I should pickup there (Shanghai)?

Thanks
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Oqsy on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:16:32: lots of baby pandas. if he can't get them out, then panda sperm and panda eggs would be next on the list. if that's a no go as well, then he really isn't trying.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:27:22: I wanted a nice panda or monkey, but I don't think that's possible :)
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 26 March 2011, 08:38:02: If you bring me back this I'll love you forever

(http://peri.me/albums/aDemoUzer/84/1920px/panda-party-21128-1252966474-8.jpg)
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: pm_ on Sat, 26 March 2011, 13:04:04: Quote from: keyboardlover;318895
If you bring me back this I'll love you forever

(http://tigertailfoods.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/angry-panda.jpg)

This is Gu Gu, and I'm guessing you were his second victim:
http://tigertailfoods.com/wp/?p=429 (http://tigertailfoods.com/wp/?p=429)
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: lzf929 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 14:56:15: PLU, Choc mini are pretty cheap there. or some cherry g80-3494 is also a choice
I dont think realforce is cheaper in china
keycaps are also good choices
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: panda-R on Sat, 26 March 2011, 15:30:05: i suggest some women. much better ROI than keyboards.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Larry Dallas on Sat, 26 March 2011, 16:03:32: I don't know about SH, but in Beijing's Zhong Guan Cun, the prices for Topre and Happy Hacking keyboards don't seem to be much lower than in the west. Ducky keyboards can be found pretty cheap, though.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: panda-R on Sat, 26 March 2011, 16:28:20: Quote from: ripster;319112
Welcome to Geekhack! Thanks for the info.

If you have specific shopping stores and stock I can add to the shopping wiki.

Yeah, you don't save money buying Topres in Japan either.

Japan is a funny place, you can often find japanese products cheaper outside of japan for some strange economical apocalypse reason.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: laden3 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 16:47:19: Quote from: lzf929;319057
PLU, Choc mini are pretty cheap there

+1 get noppoo, probably less than 80USD
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: .XL on Sat, 26 March 2011, 17:43:56: The Choc Mini won't get less than $80. In contact with the manufacturer for a group buy, and at 20 items they won't go less than $80. Maybe they'll do cheaper if you go to their factory.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: flyinout on Sat, 26 March 2011, 17:56:28: Quote from: .XL;319168
The Choc Mini won't get less than $80. In contact with the manufacturer for a group buy, and at 20 items they won't go less than $80. Maybe they'll do cheaper if you go to their factory.
not countting the shipping fee to US, you can get Choc mini less than $80 from taobao.http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8304426963
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: laden3 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 18:04:47: Quote from: .XL;319168
The Choc Mini won't get less than $80. In contact with the manufacturer for a group buy, and at 20 items they won't go less than $80. Maybe they'll do cheaper if you go to their factory.

o.0 O really? These noppoo choc minis used to be 399RMB if you preordered it. Something strange is going on there.

To the OP, buy the noppoo choc mini, even if you don't like it, you can always sell it here (you won't lose $$)
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: lzf929 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 18:17:23: Quote from: laden3;319179
o.0 O really? These noppoo choc minis used to be 399RMB if you preordered it. Something strange is going on there.

To the OP, buy the noppoo choc mini, even if you don't like it, you can always sell it here (you won't lose $$)

Accturally, if sells it here he will gain some $..lol
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: .XL on Sat, 26 March 2011, 18:28:01: People that are selling on taobao are buying a hell of a lot more than 20 keyboards from the manu :p or selling used
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: flyinout on Sat, 26 March 2011, 18:39:29: Quote from: .XL;319189
People that are selling on taobao are buying a hell of a lot more than 20 keyboards from the manu :p or selling used

right, if buy from a taobao agent, the total cost is around $100, so I think your group buy offer is still nice
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: laden3 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 18:43:18: Buying the noppoo choc mini in China for around $80 is still more rational. There is an obvious reason why we are voicing our arguments here (it's not hard to figure it out).
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Sat, 26 March 2011, 19:16:32: There was, however, recently one report of a Choc Mini that stopped working shortly after purchase. You may want to have your friend test it out for you a bit as you won't have much opportunity to return it once you get it from them.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Larry Dallas on Sat, 26 March 2011, 19:32:41: Quote from: panda-R;319131
Japan is a funny place, you can often find japanese products cheaper outside of japan for some strange economical apocalypse reason.

In China, most western and Japanese brands are more expensive. My Ducky says it's made in Taiwan, so they probably have a trade agreement with them (or they're just cheaper).
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: What is X? on Sat, 26 March 2011, 19:40:50: dunno about the noppoos but the PLU ML87s are around $60 USD IIRC. Price only goes up to $90 cause of obook
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Sat, 26 March 2011, 21:18:26: PLU, Plum, Noppoo, and some Duckys are all cheaper in mainland CN than you can get them for in the States. Some Filcos are a little cheaper. HHKB and Topres are usually more expensive I think. I'm talking about Taobao prices here.

You will find very few places with a good collection in-store though. In store might even be more expensive than TB (often is), so if you are going to have your friend go to a store then you shouldnt base your decision off TB prices.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 26 March 2011, 21:26:47: Neither. PMRC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_P.M.R.C._Can_Suck_on_This).

(http://www.bryanreesman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/pmrc.gif)
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: panda-R on Sat, 26 March 2011, 22:23:45: Ripster hates China as much as he hates authentic Chinese lemon chicken.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 26 March 2011, 22:24:43: TIH (Tonight I had) sesame chicken with white rice. So good!
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 22:40:00: Thanks guys, looks like I will have to have her keep an eye out for some Noppoo's and PLU's! Shame about Topre's not being cheaper elsewhere.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 22:40:54: Quote from: ripster;319344
Did his Captains say, "Tso, how's it going" every day?

Hahahah, wow.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: panda-R on Sat, 26 March 2011, 22:41:05: Quote from: ripster;319344
How did YOU know I hate lemon chicken?

Northern Chinese FTW!

Was there ever REALLY a General Tso? Did his Captains say, "Tso, how's it going" every day?

No the only real general in the Chinese revolutionary army was General Chang. You may know him from Star Trek VI.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/General_Chang.JPG)
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: n12 on Sat, 26 March 2011, 22:41:24: Quote from: ripster;319346
PLUs are 2KRO. I'd skip those personally and pay a few bucks extra for something else.

Thanks for the advice!
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: pm_ on Sat, 26 March 2011, 23:39:55: I had a quote last week for a Noppoo Choc Mini, and was looking at about $95 shipped to Illinois using China Post and about $115 using EMS (DHL, UPS etc.). That was including a 5% commission through a buying agent. However, China Post might be 3-4 weeks, if lucky, whereas EMS might be a week or so. I didn't feel really good about using China Post, and $115 for EMS is getting to be more than what I personally consider fair value.

I decided to hold off though as, while I like the format, I already have a Leopold on order and figure the quality will be a bit better for the price, and need to add a Poker order in the next day or two.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: n12 on Sun, 27 March 2011, 04:57:33: Really appreciate all the suggestions guys, anything I should get non-keyboard related? :P
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 27 March 2011, 07:00:17: Bring me back somethin' Chinese!

I've always wanted to visit Asia. Hopefully SOME day...
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: cerhem293 on Sun, 27 March 2011, 07:47:17: Quote from: keyboardlover;319473
Bring me back somethin' Chinese!

I've always wanted to visit Asia. Hopefully SOME day...

I would recommend that you do not rent your own car :).
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 27 March 2011, 07:51:26: Why? Crazy driving?
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: cerhem293 on Sun, 27 March 2011, 08:02:59: From personal experience I have found that it will take you 2 hours to travel 10 miles because there is no such thing as yielding. Also the pedestrians appear to be fearless because there's also no such thing as the right-of-way. I would recommend taxis because they have snazzy bamboo seating. You should also try the 3 wheeled open air electric bike taxis. Nothing like the smell of exhaust in the morning!
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: imsto on Sun, 27 March 2011, 09:54:16: keycaps, plu, plum, choc and together a Chinese girl.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Larry Dallas on Sun, 27 March 2011, 14:50:59: I thought Ducky was Taiwanese, and mine says "Made in Taiwan" ("台湾制造“). I don't see them listed on Taiwan's stock exchange, though, searching Ducky or 鸭子键盘. They might be under a different parent company or simply not publicly traded.

Noppoo is Chinese, they don't even have a website in traditional Chinese font as far as I can tell, only the simplified text they use on the mainland. On their Chinese website they have a Shanghai address on ChuangXin road.

From this web forum,http://bbs.kbc-china.com/ it looks like Plum is a mainland company, but KBC and Ducky are both Taiwanese.

I'm not Asian, though, just a regular white guy.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Larry Dallas on Sun, 27 March 2011, 15:15:05: You can register, though. Just click the 注册 button.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 27 March 2011, 15:35:08: I tried looking at that KBC banner with 3d glasses on and I experienced complete awareness.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: n12 on Sun, 27 March 2011, 15:58:43: Quote from: keyboardlover;319693
I tried looking at that KBC banner with 3d glasses on and I experienced complete awareness.

I thought I was going to have a seizure when I looked at it under the pic of ripster's meme.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: panda-R on Sun, 27 March 2011, 19:25:38: chinese area something something shanghai something something 88 something something.

was i helpful?
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 28 March 2011, 01:11:52: Quote from: ripster;319806
How about this?

http://duckykeyboard.com/

I click on this and stuff doesn't happen. Is there a way to do Chinese clicks? Do I use chopsticks???

Uh, I'm going to be a bigoted American and say that you have to make kung fu noises because...you know...all Chinese are kung fu masters. Especially the ones from Tokyo.

Seriously,
1- the address and phone number on the label above are from Shanghai, in Pudong. From the road name it looks like maybe in a technology park (they are all over here). First line is company name, which is a little unclear from the pic. Second is address. The company name is labeled as "Mainland China area head office". But everyone around here says that to make it sound they have offices elsewhere.
2- KBC is composed of a bunch of individuals, many in mainland and some in Taiwan. Seems like they banded together to design and get the Poker manufactured. The Poker is manufactured in Taiwan I think. I'll let you know when I get mine! :-)
3- 90% sure Noppoo is all mainland company that does its manufacturing in mainland.
4- 99% sure PLU and Plum are from mainland.
5- 100% sure I have no idea where Ducky comes from. Don't own one and never wanted one once I handled one the first time. My Noppoo was cheaper and felt better!
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Tranquilite on Mon, 28 March 2011, 03:24:00: I have a brother who is also going to Shanghai, and I would truly appreciate it if someone gave me information on where to buy mech keyboards as well. Shanghai isn't exactly a small place...

Also, does anybody know if the one place in the shopping wiki is still accurate, and whether they stock the cheaper mech boards? Thanks.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 28 March 2011, 04:29:19: Quote from: Tranquilite;319940
I have a brother who is also going to Shanghai, and I would truly appreciate it if someone gave me information on where to buy mech keyboards as well. Shanghai isn't exactly a small place...

Also, does anybody know if the one place in the shopping wiki is still accurate, and whether they stock the cheaper mech boards? Thanks.

Just go on taobao and...never mind, here:
http://s.taobao.com/search?loc=%C9%CF%BA%A3&q=noppoo+choc+mini&commend=all&ssid=s5-e&bcoffset=2

That's all the Noppoo Choc Mini's for sale in Shanghai, if you click on the store name (next to the blue ghost head) it will take you to their storefront (and if they have a B&M store) with pics of their store, address, phone number, etc. If they sell Noppoo's then they probably have PLU, Plum, and maybe Ducky.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Larry Dallas on Mon, 28 March 2011, 08:21:58: The address says: #88 Chuang Xin Road, Pudong District, Shanghai.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Larry Dallas on Mon, 28 March 2011, 08:31:15: Quote from: ripster;319741
Now what?

用户名=user name
Email
密码=password
确认密码-confirm password
验证=authentication
注册原因=reason for registering
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Larry Dallas on Mon, 28 March 2011, 08:53:50: Tranquilite: I never go to Shanghai, but I hear the Pacific Digital Plaza, 1117 Zhaojiabang street, is a place to buy computers or electronics. A quick baidu search suggests that most of the keyboard stalls are on the third floor. Be prepared to bargain with any seller, it's a customary practice in this kind of place. And look out for fake merchandise.
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Lpb45 on Mon, 28 March 2011, 15:28:46: Quote from: ripster;319785
I'm calling the Noppoo as PRC.

See the RMB monetary designation? But the phone country code doesn't match.

Anybody read Mandarin? Bottom Left looks like an address.
Show Image
(http://img.alibaba.com/img/pb/362/660/333/333660362_713.jpg)

Not sure if someone corrected you on this, but that number does not include the phone country code, 021 is actually Shanghai. As far as I can tell there is no 021 or 21 country code for any country.

Shanghai - Sh +86 21
Title: Friend going to China, what to buy?
Post by: Hak Foo on Tue, 29 March 2011, 00:43:28: Stock up on RMB now before they deflate.

My boss is going next month; I've got to put him on notice I want a 100RMB note.