Since a bunch of people always ask "omg what is that keyboard???" every few weeks, whenever someone links a picture from OTD, I figured it would be nice to write a summary about all the Korean custom keyboards released within the past few years. This first summary will take a look at the 356 series, not the first or oldest custom keyboard series, but most likely the most popular one.
Many thanks to the admins of OTD for granting me permission to publish this information to the western community. Also thanks to soulbane for helping me to fill in empty gaps of information and translating the stuff I did not understand!
Now with further ado, here is the summary.
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The 356 Custom Keyboard Series
The 356 custom keyboards are a series of fully "community-developed" Cherry MX keyboards made by members of the Korean keyboard community OTD. The development started with the 356L in 2008.
Core Features across all models:
* Tenkeyless design
* Full aluminium case (CNC carved)
* Features and construction usually adjusted and tuned for the optimal feeling of a certain type of keyswitch
* Distributed as kit containing of the housing, the switch backplate as well as the PCB and sometimes some additional parts.
* PS/2 Interface (With the exception of the 356L, which is USB)
* Usually available with and without steel plate, partial steel plate or partial acyrlic plate
The Second: 356N (Non-Click)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/k9qNY.jpg)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/5WYvx.jpg)
Pictures courtesy of 이동진 (http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=album&wr_id=9873&sca=&sfl=wr_subject&stx=356N&page=2)
Release: 2008
Optmized for: Tactile Non-Clicky switches
Color: Silver and Chrome
Winkeys: Yes
N-Key: No
Controller: Holtek IS628A
Units Made: 40
The second in the series, the 356N was developed to be used with non-click switches (Cherry MX Clear, Cherry MX Brown). As a result, the red-colored PCB is thinner and more flexible than on the 356L. There was no steel plate for the 356N and it was only available with a light aluminium plate or a partial acyrillic plate. The keyboard is most common in the silver version, with a few variants in a polished chrome look. The entire run was limited to 40 pieces. The 356N uses a custom controller based on the Holtek IS628.
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I think the premium price may be related to fact that it was a limited run of 40 keyboards. Also this is a custom 356N modified with MX Green Switches and Leds all over the keyboard with custom keys to show the light.