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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:44:17

Title: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:44:17
So I got a brand new KC 108 Winter White edition from Xuanwumen in China, and it's bloody beautiful. I will post pictures tomorrow when I have time.

I have some questions though. There are four keys above the numpad, and I have absolutely no idea what they do. The instructions are in Chinese, so they are no help. Any ideas?

They are the same as in the third picture down on this thread from Deskthority - http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/keycool-108-keyboard-with-dye-sublimation-technology-t7228.html
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:48:45
So did you get one with clears?

It looks like those four keys maybe lock the computer, put computer to sleep, open mail (or file broswer) and maybe cycle the lights? Just press them and find out  :p
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:53:13
Well I was looking into those, but the clears are the Year of the Dragon editions, and the Winter White one just caught my eye. I just went through hell trying to get my WASD modded with clears, and I have boards with blues and browns already, and I don't really like reds, so I went with blacks, which are actually pretty nice.

Yeah, I will try and post some close up pictures of the keys tomorrow so they are easier to see, or I might just send xuanwumen a message, see if he can tell me.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:59:06
Quote from: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:53:13
Yeah, I will try and post some close up pictures of the keys tomorrow so they are easier to see, or I might just send xuanwumen a message, see if he can tell me.

(https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/images/products/large_408_Keycool108keyWHITEPBT_6.jpg)
picture from mk.com (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=408)

It's hard to tell what everything is. I figured out what some of the second layer functions are: lock and sleep on the first two. And the third one is a calculator on the first layer. But like Ray said, why not just press them?
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: blackbox on Tue, 18 March 2014, 15:03:39
What could go wrong? Seriously, just press them.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 15:07:04
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:59:06

Show Image
(https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/images/products/large_408_Keycool108keyWHITEPBT_6.jpg)

picture from mk.com (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=408)

It's hard to tell what everything is. I figured out what some of the second layer functions are: lock and sleep on the first two. And the third one is a calculator on the first layer. But like Ray said, why not just press them?

Thanks, those are the ones.

Yeah, I should probably just do that. It's not hooked up to a PC right now, but I will give it a go soon.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 19 March 2014, 11:23:14
Quote from: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:44:17
So I got a brand new KC 108 Winter White edition from Xuanwumen in China, and it's bloody beautiful. I will post pictures tomorrow when I have time.

I have some questions though. There are four keys above the numpad, and I have absolutely no idea what they do. The instructions are in Chinese, so they are no help. Any ideas?

They are the same as in the third picture down on this thread from Deskthority - http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/keycool-108-keyboard-with-dye-sublimation-technology-t7228.html

you could have taken a picture of the instructions and we can translate for you. The pictures mean nothing to me.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: piglickjf on Wed, 19 March 2014, 18:15:07
Watching this thread closely, I got a KC 108 a month or two ago and I'm also curious about that top right key.

Top left goes to desktop, don't recall that second one right now (not at home with my KC- file explorer or internet browser, maybe?), 3rd is calculator.
Second layers are, as mentioned, lock and sleep for the first two. Don't recall if I figured out the third one.

But that 4th key...I've pushed it, and as you can see in the picture it has a lock light on it, but I don't notice any detectable change. It doesn't seem to affect the functioning of the backlights, and I typed a bunch of stuff and didn't notice anything with it on. I have't done real exhaustive testing, but whatever it is it's not very obvious. Hope someone figures it out, I'm really curious.

PigLick
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: Techno Trousers on Wed, 19 March 2014, 18:31:17
It could have something to do with typing Chinese characters? That's a pure guess since I don't even know how that's accomplished on a standard keyboard.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: blackbox on Thu, 20 March 2014, 01:45:28
scroll lock maybe?
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: katushkin on Thu, 20 March 2014, 01:46:39
Oh, and here is an Imgur link to the album I put together

http://imgur.com/a/WAfUX
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: katushkin on Thu, 20 March 2014, 01:48:17
Quote from: blackbox on Thu, 20 March 2014, 01:45:28
scroll lock maybe?

I don't think so. It's called a 108 because of the fact that it has four keys in addition to the normal 104 US layout. So these four are completely new functions.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: blackbox on Thu, 20 March 2014, 01:56:28
Quote from: katushkin on Thu, 20 March 2014, 01:48:17
Quote from: blackbox on Thu, 20 March 2014, 01:45:28
scroll lock maybe?

I don't think so. It's called a 108 because of the fact that it has four keys in addition to the normal 104 US layout. So these four are completely new functions.

ok, I see. Just a guess since it had a led in it.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: xuanwumen on Thu, 20 March 2014, 08:37:18
Quote from: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:44:17
So I got a brand new KC 108 Winter White edition from Xuanwumen in China, and it's bloody beautiful. I will post pictures tomorrow when I have time.

I have some questions though. There are four keys above the numpad, and I have absolutely no idea what they do. The instructions are in Chinese, so they are no help. Any ideas?

They are the same as in the third picture down on this thread from Deskthority - http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/keycool-108-keyboard-with-dye-sublimation-technology-t7228.html


I checked the instructions. They are used with FN. The 1st is to lock the computer, the 2nd is for sleeping, 3rd for mouse & keyboard, 4th is switch between Caps and Ctrl.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: blackbox on Thu, 20 March 2014, 09:29:12
oh, that is what that button is for. Even if I look at the keycap now it is too obvious what it was.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: piglickjf on Thu, 20 March 2014, 09:47:16
Quote from: xuanwumen on Thu, 20 March 2014, 08:37:18
Quote from: katushkin on Tue, 18 March 2014, 14:44:17
So I got a brand new KC 108 Winter White edition from Xuanwumen in China, and it's bloody beautiful. I will post pictures tomorrow when I have time.

I have some questions though. There are four keys above the numpad, and I have absolutely no idea what they do. The instructions are in Chinese, so they are no help. Any ideas?

They are the same as in the third picture down on this thread from Deskthority - http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/keycool-108-keyboard-with-dye-sublimation-technology-t7228.html
I checked the instructions. They are used with FN. The 1st is to lock the computer, the 2nd is for sleeping, 3rd for mouse & keyboard, 4th is switch between Caps and Ctrl.
Thanks for the info Xuanwumen!

To elaborate a bit on that third key function layer, it turns on the (actually, prompts a window asking if you want to turn on) accessibility mode where you can control the mouse cursor with arrow keys.

Also that second key (top row) takes a screenshot. Not exactly sure how it differs from the print screen key, which it also has.

Interesting about the control/caps lock key. I've been curious to try that out, but didn't think I'd really get a chance, nice to have it right there on top with easy access and a light to remind you whether it's turned on or not!

Now I wonder though, does that key have two functions, i.e. normal press and function layer? If I recall, pressing it either way toggles the light (i.e. if you press it without Fn the light will come on, then if you press it again with Fn, the light will go off), which makes me think there really is no Fn layer for that key, but I'm not sure. Now that I know at least one of its functions I'll have to experiment more tonight.

PigLick

Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: katushkin on Thu, 20 March 2014, 17:39:33
Quote from: xuanwumen on Thu, 20 March 2014, 08:37:18

I checked the instructions. They are used with FN. The 1st is to lock the computer, the 2nd is for sleeping, 3rd for mouse & keyboard, 4th is switch between Caps and Ctrl.

Ohhhhh, thanks man. I am going to use that first key SO much.

Quote from: piglickjf on Thu, 20 March 2014, 09:47:16

Thanks for the info Xuanwumen!

To elaborate a bit on that third key function layer, it turns on the (actually, prompts a window asking if you want to turn on) accessibility mode where you can control the mouse cursor with arrow keys.

Also that second key (top row) takes a screenshot. Not exactly sure how it differs from the print screen key, which it also has.

Interesting about the control/caps lock key. I've been curious to try that out, but didn't think I'd really get a chance, nice to have it right there on top with easy access and a light to remind you whether it's turned on or not!

Now I wonder though, does that key have two functions, i.e. normal press and function layer? If I recall, pressing it either way toggles the light (i.e. if you press it without Fn the light will come on, then if you press it again with Fn, the light will go off), which makes me think there really is no Fn layer for that key, but I'm not sure. Now that I know at least one of its functions I'll have to experiment more tonight.

PigLick



Control the mouse with the arrow keys? Is this for like ergo boards where you don't want to move your hands? I don't really see how that would be useful.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: katushkin on Fri, 21 March 2014, 09:06:06
Also, after plugging it in for the first time today, I have realised that the blue modifiers top and bottom have white backlights. Which is pretty cool. However, the LEDs are above the switch meaning that only the top half gets illuminated.

The windowed keys have blue LEDS below the switch which is really cool though.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: xuanwumen on Fri, 21 March 2014, 09:19:56
Quote from: katushkin on Fri, 21 March 2014, 09:06:06
Also, after plugging it in for the first time today, I have realised that the blue modifiers top and bottom have white backlights. Which is pretty cool. However, the LEDs are above the switch meaning that only the top half gets illuminated.

The windowed keys have blue LEDS below the switch which is really cool though.

And you can modify with more LEDs in when you like.
Title: Re: Got myself a brand new KC 108 today
Post by: piglickjf on Fri, 21 March 2014, 11:28:24
Quote from: katushkin on Thu, 20 March 2014, 17:39:33

Control the mouse with the arrow keys? Is this for like ergo boards where you don't want to move your hands? I don't really see how that would be useful.

I don't know, I haven't actually tried it. I don't think it's actually a function of the keyboard, but an accessibility mode built into Windows that the key is just a shortcut for. I'm running Win 7, so on a different OS the button may do something different.

I agree that's it's a bit of an odd thing to have "hardwired" in, but maybe it's a more useful/frequently used feature than we realize. When you push the key the prompt comes up describing what it does and gives you yes/no buttons to activate it - I've always pressed no, so I don't even know how it works.

As for the lights, I have the black version and the LEDS under the windowed keys (capslock, numlock, scroll lock, and that capslock/ctrl switcheroo key) are green. I think the ones under wasd and the arrows are just white, but they seem to be a pretty cool/bluish white which, combined with their reflection off the red backplate, makes them look slightly purplish when activated.

PigLick