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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Number_25 on Thu, 28 February 2013, 07:05:28

Title: What on earth is this?!
Post by: Number_25 on Thu, 28 February 2013, 07:05:28: Hey guys,

In University we use Oracle workstations and they have these keyboards - which feel pretty good on the tips when typing.

Sorry about the bad photos, they were taken with my phone.

(http://i.imgur.com/K6Im2na.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/AbOOffW.jpg)

Thanks.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: lost eden on Thu, 28 February 2013, 07:48:00: That's a Sun Type 7. Not sure what the switches are, but I'm sure some googling with 'Sun Type 7' will bring up something. I used to type on a Type 6 which was quite nice even if it was just rubber membrane (IIRC).

BTW you're listed as being in 'West Wales' - it's not Aberystwyth by any chance? There was a room of older CRT Sun workstations when I was there in 06/07.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: Number_25 on Thu, 28 February 2013, 10:29:51: Quote from: lost eden on Thu, 28 February 2013, 07:48:00
That's a Sun Type 7. Not sure what the switches are, but I'm sure some googling with 'Sun Type 7' will bring up something. I used to type on a Type 6 which was quite nice even if it was just rubber membrane (IIRC).

BTW you're listed as being in 'West Wales' - it's not Aberystwyth by any chance? There was a room of older CRT Sun workstations when I was there in 06/07.

As it so happens I am.

Fresher year Computer Science, the teaching here is exceptional.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: SmallFry on Thu, 28 February 2013, 10:45:22: I think those are Peerless switches.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: Number_25 on Thu, 28 February 2013, 11:02:47: Quote from: SmallFry on Thu, 28 February 2013, 10:45:22
I think those are Peerless switches.

Thanks, there doesn't seem to be a lot of information about them online!
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: SmallFry on Thu, 28 February 2013, 11:05:21: They look like this right?
(http://sadpanda.us/images/95778-IJ8GOM0.jpg)
If so, it is a spring over rubber dome. Not many people like them though I don't mind mine.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: Number_25 on Thu, 28 February 2013, 13:13:52: Quote from: SmallFry on Thu, 28 February 2013, 11:05:21
They look like this right?
Show Image
(http://sadpanda.us/images/95778-IJ8GOM0.jpg)

If so, it is a spring over rubber dome. Not many people like them though I don't mind mine.

Yeah, thats it by the looks of it.

It didn't feel too bad, a big improvement over regular RDs.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: alaricljs on Thu, 28 February 2013, 13:15:51: Sun keyboards have always felt pretty decent. Aging does change that however.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: rootwyrm on Thu, 28 February 2013, 14:42:24: Quote from: alaricljs on Thu, 28 February 2013, 13:15:51
Sun keyboards have always felt pretty decent. Aging does change that however.

No, they really haven't.. the Type 6 is an absolute atrocity. Pure mushboard from day one, and many of the 5c's are no better. But the 6.. anyone caught converting a 6 for anything other than cleansing fire and ash will be condemned to $10 or less rubber domes for the rest of their life. Also unlikely they're Peerless, at least not genuine ones. Given you're looking at a SunRay part, think China and knockoff. (Sun had quit making workstations before the Type 7 was intro'd, pretty much. This is not a quality-first part, it's a cheap-as-we-can-make-it part with insane markup.)

If you want a real Sun keyboard, go get a Type 3 or Type 4.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: Hyde on Thu, 28 February 2013, 15:09:15: I can't stand the 2 extra columns of keys on the left. Like macro keys on keyboard I always end up pressing those instead of left Ctrl.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: alaricljs on Thu, 28 February 2013, 15:42:31: Quote from: rootwyrm on Thu, 28 February 2013, 14:42:24
...

Yes, you're absolutely right. All hail rootwyrm the infinitely wise.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 28 February 2013, 16:20:20: I have not tested the Sun Type 7 but I would bet that it is the same Fujitsu rubber domes as in Sun Type 5 and Sun Type 6, and in other Fujitsu keyboards I have tested. They are very mushy.
AFAIK, the Sun Type 6 and 7 talk USB. The Sun Type 5 is better quality but talks only Sun's old proprietary protocol.
Except for language variants, all of Sun Type 5c, 6 and 7 have the same layout. Some Type 5 have a more Unix-like layout with Ctrl next to A (where it should be!) and Backspace a row down where the \ key is on these boards.
By the way, some of these keyboards came also in tenkeyless versions: No numpad, but still a function cluster on the left hand side.
Title: Re: What on earth is this?!
Post by: lost eden on Fri, 01 March 2013, 11:28:27: Quote from: Number_25 on Thu, 28 February 2013, 10:29:51
As it so happens I am.

Fresher year Computer Science, the teaching here is exceptional.
Yup, the teaching really is supreme. I transferred to St Andrews, which despite being ranked far higher in the league tables utterly pails when it comes to course & teaching!