geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: lexicon on Thu, 11 September 2008, 16:46:56
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I picked up one of these n.i.b. on eBay for next to nothing, but I think I may have made a mistake.
The exact model number is G84-4100PRAGB, and this keyboard is driving me a bit nuts.
It's a non-Windows key layout, but that's OK because I use Ubuntu/Xubuntu.
For comparison purposes, here's the picture of the standard US version at
http://www.sigonlegacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/cherryfront.jpg (http://www.sigonlegacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/cherryfront.jpg)
which is evidently the standard layout. What I have looks like:
(http://evanmorris.com/g84-4100PRAGB.JPG)
I assume the "GB" means Great Britain, but I can't get the keys to map right. The double quotes above the 2 produce @, and the @ key next to the enter produces double quotes. I have no idea what the function symbol on the 1/! key means.
No wonder it was so cheap. I do like the key action, however, but how should I identify this board to my computer?
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Oh yeah, and the key to the right of the space bar says "Alt Gr" -- what does that mean?
And when I shift the 3 key, instead of the pound symbol I get #.
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Wikipedia on AltGr (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key)
You probably have to switch to British key layout for the special characters to be right.
The two characters on the 1/! key are just two more characters. You get them with fn and shift+fn. There's always one key missing when you want ISO layout but have ANSI keys. So they used the 1/! key twice.
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The keyboard sends out codes, it doesn't matter what "layout it is" your computer is obviously set for the US layout so it'll work like a "US" one would.
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OK, last question -- what full-size keyboard (preferably made by Cherry) has the same Cherry keyswitches as the G84-4100 and a good reputation?
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I don't think there's any full-size cherry ML switch keyboard...
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What switches does this uses?
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Uses ML Black Cherry switches. I'm using a G84-4100 at home and it feels like a mix between a black mx cherry switch and a brown mx cherry switch, basically a more forceful version of the brown switch however the keystroke is much shorter due to the laptop sized keys
I find i like this keyboard a lot mainly for the smaller size due to stuff hanging off the end of my table.
But its not a true european layout. For that you need to get the G84-4400 which is the G84-4100 but with the "\" in between shift and "Z" and the upside down L enter key. But it also has a trackball as well and they are a lot hard to come by cheaply. If I could find one with british layout I'd probably snatch it up, as I enjoy the key action and space saving opportunities.
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Im still searching for a brown switches keyboard, but i dont want to waste another 260$ like i did for HHKp2........i was considering a Filco.....but i dont know.....
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Money spent on a HHKB doesn't qualify as wasted. :)
Why don't you get a Cherry G80? Yesterday one sold on ebay for Eur 16,-.
Also there's always the Compaq MX11800 (used):
http://cgi.ebay.de/Compaq-MX-11800-PS2-Tastatur-mit-Trackball-Deutsch-TOP_W0QQitemZ150293641830QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150293641830
The seller ships to Europe.
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Money spent on a HHKB doesn't qualify as wasted. :)
Why don't you get a Cherry G80? Yesterday one sold on ebay for Eur 16,-.
Also there's always the Compaq MX11800 (used):
http://cgi.ebay.de/Compaq-MX-11800-PS2-Tastatur-mit-Trackball-Deutsch-TOP_W0QQitemZ150293641830QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150293641830
The seller ships to Europe.
I meant wasting as spending in this case...lol