geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: dfrey on Wed, 08 April 2009, 20:27:05
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Hello all. I just joined this forum after reading about it in a reddit comment thread (http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/8asts/das_keyboard_versus_ibm_model_m/).
I posted a question (http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/8asts/das_keyboard_versus_ibm_model_m/c08qhs6) there, but I haven't had any responses, so I am trying here.
I am looking for this keyboard:
Must haves:
- Nice key switches *
- No numeric keypad
- Arrow keys in a normal layout
- Windows keys
- US English layout
Nice to haves:
- Insert, delete, home, end, pgup, pgdn in a normal 3x2 rectangle
- USB interface (instead of ps/2)
- USB hub
- Black color
- Removable keys (for cleaning)
* I realize that "nice key switches" isn't very descriptive. The best I can do given my level of understanding of keyboard guts is this:
I have a model M which has a great feel to it. I also have a crappy rubber dome Logitech (crap). I especially dislike mushy laptop keyboards even more than rubber domes.
Does this keyboard exist?
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Welcome to the forums!
Maybe this keyboard would work for you:
http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=filco_keyboards,majestouch_104key&pid=fkbn87meb
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Take a look at the Filco tenless with blue cherries.
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I looked at the keyboard in the first link. It's pretty much exactly what I was looking for.
Are both of you suggesting the same keyboard? The one in the link is described as "tenkeyless" whereas the 2nd reply referred to "tenless".
I also noticed that the switches on the site are described as "Cherry MX aka Cherry Brown" where bigpook specifically mentions "blue cherries".
I probably should have mentioned in my original post that I live in Vancouver, so a Canadian distributor would be ideal for the purposes of warranty and duties, but I realize that might be too much to ask.
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It's the same board except for the switches, and the color of the LEDs. The blue cherry version is harder to find and I don't think there is anyone in Canada that sells either version.
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You can also try for a Model M mini, but those go for over $200 nowdays...
The blue cherries are clicky and the brown cherries are not...for reference.
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You can also try for a Model M mini, but those go for over $200 nowdays...
The blue cherries are clicky and the brown cherries are not...for reference.
I have seen the Model M Mini and I like the idea of them. If they were available for $50 I would probably buy one. They don't have a windows key which is a bit of a dealbreaker for me.
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It's the same board except for the switches, and the color of the LEDs. The blue cherry version is harder to find and I don't think there is anyone in Canada that sells either version.
Thanks for the information. Bonus points if you or anyone else can name a keyboard that meets my requirements and is available in Canada.
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Check with majestouch (http://geekhack.org/member.php?u=488) (owner of elitekeyboards.com) - I think he might ship to Canada.
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The only thing that worries me a bit is that if you REALLY like the IBM Model M typewriter feel the Filco keys might be a little too light for you. Your choices are limited as soon as you strip off that numpad though.
- Ripster
Yea that is something I'm still getting used to. I started out on a BS board and find that I bottom out the cherry switches. One board I'm really liking is the ABS M1 mostly because it does not feel quite as light. But then again I'm adjusting to the cherry blues it is just taking more time than I thought it would take. True the ABS M1 is not tenkeyless but it is still a smallish board and it has all the windows keys as well.
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The only thing that worries me a bit is that if you REALLY like the IBM Model M typewriter feel the Filco keys might be a little too light for you. Your choices are limited as soon as you strip off that numpad though.
I did a bit more research this evening and it turns out that my model M is a 71G4644 which according to the wikipedia page on the model M (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_Keyboard) has dome switches and not buckling spring.
Are "dome switches" and "rubber dome" equivalent?
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Ahhh. If you're OK with stiffer rubber domes that's different. Then just get the Filco. You'll love it.
Then run away from this forum for 6 months to prevent buyers remorse.
- Ripster
I would think you would want to run away for a bit just to keep from taking the red pill. Once you start hanging around here for very long you will find more boards you just have to buy and try.
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Someone just posted a Filco Tenkeyless on Ebay.
I hope they didn't buy that from EliteKeyboards, because their Buy It Now price is $169.99, and they would make money selling the used keyboard, compared to what it sells for new at EliteKeyboards.com...And that's not cool...
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I hope they didn't buy that from EliteKeyboards, because their Buy It Now price is $169.99, and they would make money selling the used keyboard, compared to what it sells for new at EliteKeyboards.com...And that's not cool...
It appears that he is selling a new keyboard rather than a used one. He's also telling a little fib when he says this keyboard is not available through any US retail channels, but perhaps he doesn't know about EliteKeyboards.com
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he probably doesn't know. EliteKeyboards is still new and probably isn't known by a lot of people outside of this forum. Of course, Filco probably isn't either...