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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Datamancer on Tue, 31 January 2012, 17:12:10
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Hey folks, I was hoping you'd be kind enough to lend me your collective, encyclopedic knowledge of keyboards for a moment, and help me select some Cherry keyboards. I build and sell "art keyboards" made of brass, copper, aluminum, etc and have been using one of the last remaining ALPs keyboards as a core until now.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]39157[/ATTACH]
Since the ALPS switch seems to be going extinct, I recently had some parts made for me that will let me use a Cherry core, which opens up a lot more options, like wireless, tenkeyless, etc. I've been researching this for quite a while and have some leads but haven't fully filled out my list of requirements so far. I had hoped some of you here might have some good input.
I need modern keyboards that are still in production and widely available. Preferrably, I'd like to deal with the OEMs directly so I can discuss wholesale rates, so I need the original manufacturers, not the rebranders or resellers.
What I need to locate is:
1) A standard-layout ISO and ANSI Cherry core (by "standard", I mean no hotkeys or weird form factors, card readers, touchpads, etc. Think "Cherry G80-3000 or ASK-6600 layout")
2) A wireless ISO and ANSI. I know the iOne/Xarmor wireless keyboard would work for ANSI, but do they make an ISO version? Are there any other wireless cores you know of? I swear I've seen one other but can't seem to locate it again.
3) A tenkeyless ISO and ANSI. Filco?
4) An ergonomic ISO and ANSI? (fat chance there, I know....unless DataDesk rises from the grave and starts making them again).
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-~Doc~-
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Thanks, Ripster! You've always steered me in the right direction, so sure....voted!
-~Doc~-
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WASDKeyboards don't offer very much in terms of form factors or features, but if you're looking for a company making basic fullsize keyboards where you won't have to navigate through a translator or intermediary, they are a very good choice.
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WASDKeyboards don't offer very much in terms of form factors or features, but if you're looking for a company making basic fullsize keyboards where you won't have to navigate through a translator or intermediary, they are a very good choice.
WASD use Costar as their OEM. I think clearly Costar is the first company to check with in this case.
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Oh, they do. I just mostly meant that if you want to avoid extremely tricky translation issues, pre-existing contracts that could lock out the direct purchase of modern designs, and enormous required minimum orders, it might be good to go with the US firm first ;)
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(Attachment) 39157[/ATTACH]
Off topic but I really love the worn leather you have on that board!
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Oh, they do. I just mostly meant that if you want to avoid extremely tricky translation issues, pre-existing contracts that could lock out the direct purchase of modern designs, and enormous required minimum orders, it might be good to go with the US firm first ;)
Thanks, that's a good idea. I'm not super-BIGTIME or anything where I'll be needing orders of thousands of units or anything, so it might not be a bad idea to have one middleman in my pocket who could make the process easier. I'll still call Costar though and see how far I get there.
-~D~-
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Off topic but I really love the worn leather you have on that board!
Thanks! That's a thick "split-hide" leather that I get from Tandy Leather (incidentally, this is the same Tandy as in "Tandy Computers" or the TRS-80. One of the younger sons of the Tandy clan was a forward-thinker and tried to invest some of the company fortune into PCs early on).
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I'm looking at the WASD "barebones" keyboards and had a question. Does anyone have one of these keyboards? I'm wondering if the plastic frame is actually integrated into the design, or if I can remove it and throw it away (or purchase it without the frame). From the pics, it almost looks like the plastic faceplate with the drip trays actually holds all the switches in place, kind of like how a membrane keyboard is set up.
I actually prefer the standard mechanical-switch layout, where there are just big cut-outs in the plastic frame and the switches are all mounted to a large metal panel and circuit board that comes out in one nice, clean piece.
-~D~-
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that keyboard looks so awesome....
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that keyboard looks so awesome...
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The WASD should be a standard plate-mounted; the screenshots just make it look like the plate is identical in color to the casing, so they sort of blend together. I'll let someone who owns one confirm, but as a Costar make, it should be plastic casing around a metal plate with the PCB beneath and switches bolted on.