geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: simon_C on Fri, 15 March 2013, 18:36:49

Title: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: simon_C on Fri, 15 March 2013, 18:36:49

Picked this thing up about a year ago and have been using it as a nice keyboard for at work.

Its mechanical, very similar layout to a cherry 4100, except for the tilde key and the blank key next to the spacebar.

I have swapped the keys around to DVORAK and replaced the green LEDs with red ones. it has a fairly long coiled PS/2 cable and the only markings are on the printed label underneath and an FCC ID sticker.

the keys are ABS and either pad printed or painted laser etched. not really sure. The feet all were missing so i made some out of the blue stick on foam you see in the pic.

the case is really basic and doesnt even really hold the keyboard PCB that well, it can move around if you drop it or bump and edge against the tabletop.

(http://i.imgur.com/KsggqLZ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4a0M6gW.jpg)

anyone seen this before?

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 15 March 2013, 20:26:33

Many large companies often used to order customized things from Cherry. Most likely it is a g84-41**. Open it up there should still be the Cherry model inside on the PCB somewhere either on a label or otherwise.

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: simon_C on Sun, 17 March 2013, 20:24:28

I doubt its an actual cherry product, i pulled it apart and it didnt say cherry anywhere inside it aside from the switches themselves.
also, the construction seems too cheap for a cherry product, it seems more like a prototype than anything.

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: Hyde on Sun, 17 March 2013, 22:20:26

I actually heard the construction wasn't too sturdy to begin with on the G84-4100.  But considering there are fake cherry switches out there so I wouldn't be too surprised if this was a fake  >___>

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: simon_C on Mon, 18 March 2013, 17:15:07

Heres a video of the sound of it while typing, it seems to ping quite a lot.

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: davkol on Mon, 18 March 2013, 18:09:27

Maybe it's just the recording, but sounds "plasticy", and the switches definitely don't appear to be sticky.

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: uzoc on Mon, 18 March 2013, 18:15:48

Sounds/looks like my ML-4100...

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: simon_C on Mon, 18 March 2013, 19:01:13

Quote from: davkol on Mon, 18 March 2013, 18:09:27

Maybe it's just the recording, but sounds "plasticy", and the switches definitely don't appear to be sticky.

probably because it is plasticky. doesnt weigh anything. it also pings like hell, i bet it would quiet down a lot if i managed to lubricate the sliders.

certainly doesnt sound as good as this one

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 20 March 2013, 19:41:06

You could probably try putting a little Deoxit Fader in the switches and see if that fixes things up.

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: simon_C on Thu, 21 March 2013, 11:58:15

Possibly, but its really just a backup keyboard, the tiny backspace key really kills me, that and no right-ctrl. I picked up a used WASD with browns to replace it at work.

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: deazncy on Thu, 21 March 2013, 18:23:52

How do the ML switches feel, though? I've heard mixed reviews on them; some love it, while others hate it.

Title: Re: strange cherry knockoff (Cherry ML content)
Post by: simon_C on Thu, 21 March 2013, 22:38:15

Quote from: deazncy on Thu, 21 March 2013, 18:23:52

How do the ML switches feel, though? I've heard mixed reviews on them; some love it, while others hate it.

Its like a stiffer, shorter brown switch.