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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: fohat.digs on Tue, 03 January 2012, 20:00:29

Title: Monterrey MTek K104 keyboard - could this be blues?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 03 January 2012, 20:00:29

I just saw this on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Monterrey-Internation-Corp-MTek-Model-K104-Clicky-Keyboard-click-/350519500568?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519c971f18 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Monterrey-Internation-Corp-MTek-Model-K104-Clicky-Keyboard-click-/350519500568?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519c971f18)

Does anybody know what switches this has, and what the build quality is?

Thanks

Title: Monterrey MTek K104 keyboard - could this be blues?
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 03 January 2012, 23:05:36

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Identify+That+Vintage+Switch+-+The+Geekhack+Switch+Reference+Wiki

Could be the so-called "monterey" switches, like the ones in the vintage switch wiki, linked above (click to the monterey listing)

I'll let more knowlegeable members chime in on that one, but this is what the wiki says:

Quote

Blue ALPS compatible stem - Clicky and tactile - nicknamed "Monterey" by MouseFan because he happened to have a Monterey keyboard with these switches although the color makes it a good nickname.

'course it could also be rubber dome :o

Title: Monterrey MTek K104 keyboard - could this be blues?
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 04 January 2012, 08:22:51

The blue Monterreys are great switches, I have had about 3 boards with them and they are wonderful.

The Chicony 5181 is "OK" but the build quality is not great and I am uncomfortable with the layout.

I would love to find a high-quality board with a standard layout (especially a wide "Backspace" instead of a single width)

Title: Monterrey MTek K104 keyboard - could this be blues?
Post by: REVENGE on Thu, 05 January 2012, 00:37:31

Buyer beware, "Monterrey" made some rubber domes as well.

Title: Monterrey MTek K104 keyboard - could this be blues?
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 05 January 2012, 08:16:35

This does not look like the rubber dome Monterey keyboard that I have, the K208. I would think that this one has Monterey switches.

The Monterey switch feels a lot like a Cherry MX blue switch with a much more pronounced bump. There is more resistance when encountering the bump. Unlike the Cherry MX blue, it has no hysteresis. I find it to be better than ALPS on off-center key presses, but I find the Cherry MX blue to be more comfortable.

The difference in layout on the Chicony 5181 from this one is that it has a small backspace key and the \ key next to it. With the Chicony, what switch you get is kind of a gamble.. it could be ALPS instead of Montereys. The biggest flaw with the Chicony is that the case is very creaky. The spacing between key groups is pretty standard, so the PCB/plate assembly can be transplanted into another case. I recently got a winkeyless Cherry G80-3000 case just for this purpose. I just need to cut the edge off the plate and some plastic so that the plate will fit.

Title: Monterrey MTek K104 keyboard - could this be blues?
Post by: Magna224 on Fri, 06 January 2012, 01:17:33

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I was literally going to throw down my paycheck on this keyboard but I was at work when it ended so I asked someone else to bid for me and they forgot!!! And someone won it for a measly $15!

P.S. Im going to cry myself to sleep now.