geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: JoeUser on Fri, 15 November 2013, 00:28:05
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So I was at the local thrift shop and picked up a "Laser" mechanical keyboard. It's old...standard AT connector...but it works beautifully with the only wear being slightly shinny keys, one leg missing, and a half-circle mark on the bottom (melted in...don't know but it works). Needed a nice cleaning but it came out pretty stellar...looks damn good!
The keys are all double shot molded (beige or gray with black) and the switches are...something...They feel like Blues, sound like Blues, but aren't. Actually in the feeling the click seems a little more predominant then Blues. Been using it all day over my MX Blue KBtalKing if that tells you anything.
So yeah...does anyone have any info on this manufacturer or the switches used? Some pics below!
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv107/AndroidVageta/GEDC0153_zps7c7ab094.jpg)
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv107/AndroidVageta/GEDC0157_zps5f55d107.jpg)
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv107/AndroidVageta/GEDC0159_zps667d2cf6.jpg)
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv107/AndroidVageta/GEDC0158_zpse1804bf8.jpg)
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Those are SMK switches.
http://deskthority.net/wiki/SMK_second_generation
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Ahhh thank you! Couldn't find any information on these. Know anything of the quality in these switches? I guess either way it goes not too shabby for the $2 I paid for the keyboard and $3 something shipped for a AT to PS/2 adapter, eh?
Still can't find anything on Laser. Made in China is about the only thing I can gather.
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I got this keyboard new in the '80s, still have it and it still works great. Is there anyone who also has a Model M and can compare the feeling of the switches?
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@JoeUser: Got a rear label shot so that I can use this page as a wiki reference? I didn't realise that there isn't a single Laser keyboard on the DT wiki.
@Wilkie: SMK switches work remarkably well considering the "baling wire" or "tinker toy" construction (which SMK even patented, which is just funny) — they're very highly regarded. The blue Alps-mount ones are referred to as "Montereys", which you may have heard of.
I doubt it feels anything like a Model M — they're a lot more like Alps.
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv107/AndroidVageta/GEDC0161_zps1c7a1abe.jpg)
Nothing to write home about really.
Either way, it's an awesome keyboard...my KBtalKing is just sitting at the side not doing anything unfortunately. :-\
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Wow very nice find!
I wish flee markets in my area would have old boards like this. :D
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I have one of those Lasers. Very nice feel, soft for mechanical switches, definitely softer than a Model M (and quieter).
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Nothing to write home about really.
Thanks. It shows the FCC ID, which is granted to Laser, not an OEM. However, some companies did re-register an OEM product under their own FCC ID, e.g. Flytech Carry I keyboard, which is a BTC 5100 re-registered by Flytech. In the case of the Flytech, they left on BTC's exterior QC label :) There's a suggestion that this Laser keyboard was made by Chicony: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37302.0 (another topic with a vote in favour of SMK switches)
Also, we have the approximate year of introduction, of 1991, based on FCC registration. On the other hand, no model number. I would refer to it as the Laser 2269, but a lot of people refer to it as "Laser III 52226940" without any indication why — maybe that's what's written on the box.
You can never have too much information!
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Preliminary wiki page: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Laser_2269
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i wanted to bump this up on the thread when i saw it, but forgpt
i have the same Laser with SMK's and am quite fond of it
i kind of modded it a little, got the caps from a fellow GH'r.............decent board, cheap price
crappy picture as i can never get the shot straight or am always moving
*******************************************************
oh yeah...............nothing like a model m
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Nice! Luckily for me (as you can see from my pics) all my keys are fine. Even my Laser logo badge isn't discolored (no offense).
The bottom isn't perfect but the top, the part that counts, is easily a 9 out of 10. Some of the keys are shinny but even then they aren't THAT shinny...certainly nothing noticeable. Also I'm missing a leg on the bottom but the one that's there is on the letters side and it holds well (no teetering or anything).
I can tell you one thing...my KBTalKing Pure hasn't been touched in weeks. Genuinely love this keyboard. The SMK switches are awesome...like them much better than the MX Blues in my Pure.
Also using a program I was able to map the blank key on the left hand side bottom row (between the Ctrl and Alt) to the Windows key so I'm not even losing any funtionality with this 20 year old piece of kit.
Anyways, that's enough out of me!
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Nice! Luckily for me (as you can see from my pics) all my keys are fine. Even my Laser logo badge isn't discolored (no offense).
The bottom isn't perfect but the top, the part that counts, is easily a 9 out of 10. Some of the keys are shinny but even then they aren't THAT shinny...certainly nothing noticeable. Also I'm missing a leg on the bottom but the one that's there is on the letters side and it holds well (no teetering or anything).
I can tell you one thing...my KBTalKing Pure hasn't been touched in weeks. Genuinely love this keyboard. The SMK switches are awesome...like them much better than the MX Blues in my Pure.
Also using a program I was able to map the blank key on the left hand side bottom row (between the Ctrl and Alt) to the Windows key so I'm not even losing any funtionality with this 20 year old piece of kit.
Anyways, that's enough out of me!
There's nothing quite like using an old keyboard. I love my NEC from circa 1990.
You can spend hundreds of dollars on a "modern" keyboard, but when it comes down to it so many people still prefer a good old Model M, Laser or NEC keyboard.
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Nice! Luckily for me (as you can see from my pics) all my keys are fine. Even my Laser logo badge isn't discolored (no offense).
The bottom isn't perfect but the top, the part that counts, is easily a 9 out of 10. Some of the keys are shinny but even then they aren't THAT shinny...certainly nothing noticeable. Also I'm missing a leg on the bottom but the one that's there is on the letters side and it holds well (no teetering or anything).
I can tell you one thing...my KBTalKing Pure hasn't been touched in weeks. Genuinely love this keyboard. The SMK switches are awesome...like them much better than the MX Blues in my Pure.
Also using a program I was able to map the blank key on the left hand side bottom row (between the Ctrl and Alt) to the Windows key so I'm not even losing any funtionality with this 20 year old piece of kit.
Anyways, that's enough out of me!
Nice! Luckily for me (as you can see from my pics) all my keys are fine. Even my Laser logo badge isn't discolored (no offense).
The bottom isn't perfect but the top, the part that counts, is easily a 9 out of 10. Some of the keys are shinny but even then they aren't THAT shinny...certainly nothing noticeable. Also I'm missing a leg on the bottom but the one that's there is on the letters side and it holds well (no teetering or anything).
I can tell you one thing...my KBTalKing Pure hasn't been touched in weeks. Genuinely love this keyboard. The SMK switches are awesome...like them much better than the MX Blues in my Pure.
Also using a program I was able to map the blank key on the left hand side bottom row (between the Ctrl and Alt) to the Windows key so I'm not even losing any funtionality with this 20 year old piece of kit.
Anyways, that's enough out of me!
There's nothing quite like using an old keyboard. I love my NEC from circa 1990.
You can spend hundreds of dollars on a "modern" keyboard, but when it comes down to it so many people still prefer a good old Model M, Laser or NEC keyboard.
i am right there with you............. SMK's are quite nice :thumb:
loving my new wang with yellow [alps] omrons, heck i love them all! some of the older boards ping, but some of that can be resolved by putting a thin layer of insulation in the back and some one here even brought up about using duct tape- guess what? it actually works!!
am thankful i have 2 computers on my desk where i can go back from board to another