geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Gemini on Fri, 19 July 2013, 18:37:05
-
Greetings keyboard freaks,
Haven't had a mechanical keyboard in fifteen years and am delighted to have found this site. I hope you can give me some guidance.
Ok. I want to get a keyboard in that old school two tone beige and gray schematic (where the keys themselves come in two tones). I've looked at the Ducky pro but I don't like that the base itself is black. I'm all about shades of grey and beige. I also don't want shiny keys and I like that inky look you can get with the font (dye sublimation?). I'm in Europe so I'd like a euro layout but I can survive without it if needs be. I think I should use brown switches as I don't want to be too loud. And yeah, I'd like something with a few lights here and there, but i don't need backlighting. I'm drawn to the full size boards but if the look and feel is right on a tenkeyless I will consider it. I'm looking for something well built and heavy.
So what are my options?
Thanks!
-
Ducky produces a grey/white keyboard http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=470 but I do not know about shipping to europe. The other option is to just buy a keyboard and keycaps separately.
-
IBM Model M? (it is very loud though)
otherwise ducky or filco with custom keycaps.
also there are the cherry g80's
-
Yep, a floss modded model M would probably fit the bill nicely. Pebble/pearl keys and true old school cred.
-
Hmm. The Cherry G80s look nice enough, but I think i want something a bit sturdier. The Model M, well, I'm not sure I want an old keyboard, just one that has the old look.
Regarding custom keycaps and all that. Where would I start? What do I look for? Can you buy keyboards without the keycaps? Where can I find some really quality old school key caps?
Thanks for all your help
-
Hmm. The Cherry G80s look nice enough, but I think i want something a bit sturdier. The Model M, well, I'm not sure I want an old keyboard, just one that has the old look.
Regarding custom keycaps and all that. Where would I start? What do I look for? Can you buy keyboards without the keycaps? Where can I find some really quality old school key caps?
Thanks for all your help
you can buy barebones from wasdkeyboards aswell as keycaps
also in the classifieds look out for a WYSE set.
-
The Model M, well, I'm not sure I want an old keyboard, just one that has the old look.
If they weren't out of stock on just about everything, you could get a new one from unicomp.
http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UNI041A (101-key like the model M)
http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UNI044A (104-key with a windows and menu key)
There are other models, this is just an example.
Since there is no real "old school aesthetic", I must assume you mean the classic beige style that IBM seems to have liked in the 1980's. I have old school keyboards from the 1970's that feature nice grey/white keycaps, and there are tons of old keyboards that just have a grey case and one colour for the keycaps (see all the ancient HP 'boards from the 1960's and 1970's for example)
Still, there are keyboards that perpetuate this style. Old cherry terminal keyboards, IBM model M's (I must say, many used model M's are still quite sturdy!) even newer ones from cherry and ducky can be good. If you don't like the durability of the PCB-mount cherry, you can look into making a plate for them. If you don't like the case colour of some ducky's (I must say, those PBT dyesub keycaps look great!) you can paint it. There is a way around every obstacle.
WYSE is an option, but it's more of a beige and blue instead of beige with black printing. Also, the function keys are all the same. Up to you, of course.
I would recommend the unicomp. It's a very similar colour (if not, the same) to the old model M's and model F's that have popularized the trend, and it' has a similar construction and (one would hope) durability. It's also not too expensive and can be had in USB. The main downside is that it's only got 2KRO like most membrane keyboards.
--
Edit: you can also get them in euro layout. The floss mod seems to be popular to help with the sound.
-
either an old model M, or a unicomp, or a topre realforce white. :)
-
Compaq 11800 MX browns, comes with trackball
the clack is music to my ears and the feedback is just pleasant for my fingers
-
Wow, I don't think I'm badass enough for the compaq. It's like the robocop of keyboards. Awesome.
I'm really quite taken with the Unicomp keyboards though. I'll probably try to get the large gray and beige 101 key one. But there is pretty much nothing available on their site. I wonder if they are down and out or just restocking.
I'm kind of confused about Unicomp and Keytronic. Are they related? Are Unicomp boards well built? Still considering the Ducky Pro series and Ducky Zero series despite the fact that neither look 'old-school'. They do look like nice keyboards though. Might end up getting two boards when all's said and done.
-
Unicomp owns the rights the the IBM buckling spring design (if I'm not mistaken) and they use the same equipment that made the original Lexmark/IBM Model Ms.
-
Gray and beige??
You want the original IBM pearl and pebble ;)
-
model M for classic clackety goodness
realforce white/grey for oneness with cup rubber
-
You can put older style caps on a new board if you'd like. Older caps include cherry doubleshots, a WYSE set, retro set(retro not really old style), or other caps, maybe others can suggest some other sets that have a old-school look.