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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: kodos96 on Wed, 03 December 2008, 22:22:39

Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: kodos96 on Wed, 03 December 2008, 22:22:39
Has anyone ever typed on a rubberized, sealed keyboard like these (http://www.tg3electronics.com/products/smallformfactor/index.php)?

I think they LOOK really cool and modern, but I always assumed they would type like crap... but then I noticed on that page that it says they use Chery MX switches (although it's not clear whether it means on ALL of the boards, or just some)... If these boards DO use cherry switches, but with sealed rubber keycaps, I wonder what it would feel like to type on. Anyone ever tried one?
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: bhtooefr on Wed, 03 December 2008, 22:32:37
The MXes are just for custom applications, I think.

Those will just be plain rubber dome. Note the 5 million cycle life for non-sealed and 3 million cycle life for sealed.
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: Mercen_505 on Wed, 03 December 2008, 23:25:45
We have one of these (http://epub1.rockwellautomation.com/images/gl2/1895221.jpg) at work, and it's a total pain to use. It feels like rubber dome switches, with a heavy rubber layer over the top. Typing on it is a real chore, whether there are mechanical switches underneath or not, due to the protective covering.
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: cchan on Thu, 04 December 2008, 04:45:21
My Cherry ML4100 I ordered off eBay came with the condom on it... I immediately removed it because it felt really mushy. It feels much better without the condom, but I'm still not sure if I like it as much as the Model M I switched from. The Model M felt crisper and more solidly constructed.
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: wellington1869 on Thu, 04 December 2008, 05:00:11
Quote from: Tales;13580
It feels much better without the condom,


Tell me about it...
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 04 December 2008, 05:13:42
Quote from: wellington1869;13581
Tell me about it...


Haha.
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: Chloe on Thu, 04 December 2008, 05:19:29
The only appeal to me is that they're easily washable. That said, I wonder how many actually wash these keyboards regularly.
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 04 December 2008, 05:22:55
Probably no one.  I would imagine the real appeal of this board is for dirty work areas like mechanics' garages, and I KNOW they don't ever clean their 'boards.
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: Chloe on Thu, 04 December 2008, 05:25:50
*shudder*
Title: rubberized sealed keyboards
Post by: Mercen_505 on Thu, 04 December 2008, 19:18:58
Quote

Probably no one. I would imagine the real appeal of this board is for dirty work areas like mechanics' garages, and I KNOW they don't ever clean their 'boards.


The appeal is for environments where the keyboard needs only occasional use but has to withstand dirt and/or grime, or for manufacturers that require a NEMA rating (http://www.cdynamics.com/nema-4.html) for their equipment. Typing on any of those sealed keyboards is absurdly awful, but they serve a particular function well enough.