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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: pitashen on Sat, 10 September 2011, 15:48:48

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: pitashen on Sat, 10 September 2011, 15:48:48

While surfing through the website of one of the most elegant PC enclosure maker, WiNDy, I stumbled upon their keyboard offering. Somewhat expected but still surprised that it uses cherry switches:

http://windy-online.com/pc_parts/input/alfeel_hg2/feature.html

Isn't it one of the prettiest keyboard or what? Now lets not QQ about the japanese layout and it not being tenkeyless .

Hopefully not a repo.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: Minskleip on Sat, 10 September 2011, 15:52:33

I like the extra keys, but the rest doesn't really matter. Stagger and right handed numpad bleh.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: Mr. Perfect on Sat, 10 September 2011, 17:57:54

I like the simplicity of the case. Just two aluminum sheets with a few bends in them. DIYers could probably make something like that at home with a cheap bending brake as an upgrade for the cheaper boards out there. *Eyes Cherry G80*

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: quadibloc on Sat, 10 September 2011, 23:34:11

Quote from: pitashen;414105

Now lets not QQ about the japanese layout and it not being tenkeyless.

Well, those things might affect how interesting it is to us to buy one of those keyboards. But, yes, they don't affect how well-made it is, so we can still congratulate them on their achievement.

Still, if I would quibble, I would wonder - yes, there's metal on the front of the keyboard, where it makes it look pretty - but is there metal inside, under the keys, where it would make the keyboard rigid? Where it would count.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: Atenacius on Sun, 11 September 2011, 00:16:24

I really like the aluminum. I don't like the branding so much, could've been cleaner

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 12 September 2011, 17:47:52

ooo shiny.

I'd like to try black anodised aluminium keycaps, but I don't know how well black anodising would hold up to the wear.

I don't care for plastic. This is more what I would have expected from the Tactile Pro 3, in keeping with Apple's move to aluminium. Just with rounded corners. And white keys. (The Apple Wired Aluminium keys stain very easily … not sure I want mine back now given how filthy it's ended up from light use from a colleague.)

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: MJNevin on Thu, 10 November 2011, 05:10:25

Anyone know where I can get one of these cases with the appropriate model Filco (preferably with red back lighting)? Or otherwise know of a keyboard with an aluminum case?

Got this aluminum pc case I'm trying to match...

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: laffindude on Thu, 10 November 2011, 05:29:21

http://windy-online.com/pc_parts/input/alfeel_hg2/lineup.html may buy direct?

What case do you have? I hope it is worth 400 bucks to match...

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: flyball on Thu, 10 November 2011, 07:34:48

bad logo and metal top. no thanks

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: HWI on Thu, 10 November 2011, 07:58:36

I don't like it.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: keyboardlover on Thu, 10 November 2011, 08:02:13

Looks like the corsair aluminum boards...which are probably a lot cheaper.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 10 November 2011, 08:23:08

Quote from: keyboardlover;449202

Looks like the corsair aluminum boards...which are probably a lot cheaper.

Yes, I believe this came up somewhere in the corsair topic.

I suppose I agree that they are similar, but can we really justify calling every board with aluminium on it similar to a corsair? I mean the DoxKB is probably closer in design than this is.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: alaricljs on Thu, 10 November 2011, 08:34:15

Similar in that the primary pic is raw aluminum.  Windy has a ton of anodized color schemes tho.  Also it's not a plate-case like Corsair, the Windy is a proper case like most keyboards.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: rich0d on Thu, 10 November 2011, 09:48:54

It's rather nice, I'm a fan of Windy - one day I'd like to own one of mITX cases, as they're awesome, but so so expensive.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Thu, 10 November 2011, 17:57:54

What puts me off is the product advertisement placed along the front of the case in clear view.

Title: Now this is some real Japanese grade craftsmanship
Post by: shrap on Thu, 10 November 2011, 18:46:28

It's probably made in Taiwan anyway.