geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: fohat.digs on Mon, 10 September 2012, 20:38:45
-
I got a keyboard at a junk store today for $2
It is a "PC Partners by Leading Technology, Inc" bigass Enter/long backspace layout, large DIN plug, with cool beige/gray doubleshots with purple legends!
The switches are Cherry-like and the caps are compatible, but the stems have a white cylinder around the (white) "+" part. They seem to have a nice click and I hope to try them out, but one key "L" looks like the switch was ripped halfway off the PCB. Too bad.
I would love to refer to the wiki to see if it is worth getting out the tools and soldering iron, and wasting an hour, or just harvesting the keys and tossing the board.
-
Definitely cool caps, but it looks like a spring and membrane combination switch to me.
Edit:
Pretty much completely sure it's a Cherry cap compatible rubber dome. Caps might be worth something though; can't remember the last time I saw purple legends.
-
This is a clicky tactile mechanical keyboard.
It must be some sort of Cherry or variant. Each switch has its own body and they are soldered to the PCB. I am sure that R.I.P.ster probably noted them in one of his lost wikis. Deskthority's are pathetic in comparison, and the non-Cherry, non-Alps sections are all but non-existent.
The stabilizer wires fit into clips that have the same "+" socket that fit the stems - makes for a lot of parts and I may have trouble putting it back together. Glad I have a Moogle kit but it certainly won't match the purple legends if I use them somewhere else.
-
Looks like Futabas or whatever to me. I'm pretty sure they where in the switch try bag.
Edit: Yep, feature=player_embedded#t=225s
Edit2: Actually on closer inspection they look a bit different. :D
-
Thank you very much. The bodies of mine to look larger than his, but perhaps he has large hands.
I have not had these switches before, I think that I could move enough around make it a useable board.
The dead keys are: I, numpad 3, numpad 9, [{, =+, and Print Screen
Is it worth the time and effort?
PS - does anybody out there have any spare switches?
PPS - if I decide against the job, does anybody want to buy the board cheap for donor switches?
-
I thought Futabas were inverted Cherry stems basically?
Edit:
I still maintain it looks like
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34840.0
-
There are different forms of Futabas, Inverted and different colors and things.
-
don't suppose you have any interest in letting go of those keycaps huh? :)
-
don't suppose you have any interest in letting go of those keycaps huh? :)
They are REALLY nice caps.
Purple is so "special" ......
At this point I have about decided to transplant some switches around and try to get the board running.
My curiosity is great, and these are just the kind of switches I usually like.
However, if somebody made me an offer I couldn't refuse, I wouldn't refuse it.
And I would certainly be open to trading a set for a set, but it would have to be something good. (I like beige and have a white/gray Moogle kit from Hashbaz's group buy.)
-
Those two photos you used are from Ripster's Imgur stream – not sure how you found them, but he demonstrates that they're SMK (http://imgur.com/a/H8B0K#0).
The switch housing is virtually identical to the Monterey, which to me suggests that SMK did make they Monterey switch as originally speculated, but of course it's possible that the Monterey is an ALPS clone by some other manufacturer that simply rips off the SMK housing.
-
I might be interested in the keys. What shape are they in?
-
I love Futaba switches. They have that unique feel. I have always wanted a Futaba board but you are in the US so postage is a pain.
I have been getting lucky with my gambles on vintage keyboards, most of them have been mechanical or doubleshot and that satisfies me. I hope I get a Futaba board soon.