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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: joneslee85 on Thu, 16 April 2009, 22:59:25

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: joneslee85 on Thu, 16 April 2009, 22:59:25

Hi everyone,
   I am very new to Keyboard and when searching on eBay I find the vintage FKB4700 or FKB4725 are so expensive. Those keyboards are membrance and yet the price is helfty, I just need some expert explanation on this.

Website: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.fcl.fujitsu.com/release/2007/20070619.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLiberTouch%26num%3D50%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.fcl.fujitsu.com/release/2007/20070619.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLiberTouch%26num%3D50%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff)

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: skriefal on Thu, 16 April 2009, 23:25:52

They're membrane boards, but they're not a standard rubber-dome keyboard.  If I recall correctly, they supplement the rubber dome with a spring.  I found them to be a poor choice -- possibly even inferior to some standard rubber dome boards.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: xsphat on Sat, 18 April 2009, 01:08:31

Quote from: webwit;86126

You can have mine for $15.

Is it really that bad? Man I almost bought one of those.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: joneslee85 on Sat, 18 April 2009, 07:09:15

Are you serious? So those FKB only for collectibles right? There should be no reason why it's so expansive.

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Fujitsu-FKB4700-PS2-Keyboard_W0QQitemZ200255859272QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Cables_Adapters?hash=item200255859272&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 20 April 2009, 14:15:10

I think the LiberTouch is a completely different mechanism.

The FKB47xx uses the Peerless mechanism. Key pushes on spring pushes on rubber dome.

In an ideal world, the rubber dome will collapse before the spring compresses at all, then the spring will fall very quicky (giving decent tactility, a small amount of clickiness, no hanging on return (something blue Cherries are bad about,) fairly accurate actuation, and good overtravel,) and then compress for the end of the stroke.

The thing is, this isn't an ideal world. The spring compresses a little before the rubber dome collapses, making it a very tiring keyboard to type on. Yeah, the keys may be lower peak force than something like a blue Cherry, but their force feels like typing through mud. (But, all of the benefits of the idealized version of the mechanism are there, it's just that it feels horrible before the rubber dome collapses.)

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: technicallyrite on Mon, 15 March 2010, 10:48:47

I've been enjoying my FKB4725-t101, it's comfortable and crisp with slick travel on all but the medium length keys. Those have a bit of drag on one side because they weren't afforded stabilizer bars under them. Other than that, it's great to type on.

Mine is an AT layout with no super keys, with the usual leds embedded in certain keys. Recently I gave it a DIN5 to USB conversion internally, there's no n-key on this series. Mine was made sometime between 88 and 94 according to some clues inside the case. I couldn't stand the warm grey look so it's got a few coats of drab and black.

(http://dividtechnology.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/photo-4.jpg)

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 15 March 2010, 11:22:58

Quote from: webwit;164167

Nice paint job.

Definitely.  There's none like it.  You might even call it "Peerless."

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: technicallyrite on Mon, 15 March 2010, 11:24:04

Thanks, I had reservations about Plasti-dip or paint, but went with paint in the end and am glad I did.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: technicallyrite on Mon, 15 March 2010, 11:34:27

What would be nice is a tenkeyless one of these.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: fastbuck on Mon, 15 March 2010, 12:26:42

Quote from: technicallyrite;164164

I've been enjoying my FKB4725-t101, it's comfortable and crisp with slick travel on all but the medium length keys. Those have a bit of drag on one side because they weren't afforded stabilizer bars under them. Other than that, it's great to type on.

Mine is an AT layout with no super keys, with the usual leds embedded in certain keys. Recently I gave it a DIN5 to USB conversion internally, there's no n-key on this series. Mine was made sometime between 88 and 94 according to some clues inside the case. I couldn't stand the warm grey look so it's got a few coats of drab and black.

Show Image

(http://dividtechnology.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/photo-4.jpg)

So one review say it's like typing on mud, and another says it's nice and crisp. What to believe?

Now I have to get one, just to find out for myself :)

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 15 March 2010, 13:01:35

My experience was that the small keys felt very good, while the larger keys and those you have to reach for did not feel good because you aren't pressing them perfectly straight up and down.  This switch binds/sticks a little in that case.  They have an excellent audible click, maybe a favorite, but the variation in key feel across the board was too much for me.

I haven't tried a Libertouch yet.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: spolia optima on Tue, 16 March 2010, 10:46:40

I think the peerless force graph speaks for itself
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=8413&stc=1&d=1268754343)

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: spolia optima on Tue, 16 March 2010, 10:52:03

actually, typing on the peerless feels like this:

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: ricercar on Tue, 16 March 2010, 20:45:31

Quote from: webwit;164473

very nice tactile feeling when you pound your fists

I find this true for Model Ms too. Afterwards you can give away the key caps on Geekhack, and gain Whuffie.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: Bruce on Wed, 17 March 2010, 03:48:14

I like these.
We've got an FKB-4725 still in use here in the office. I go with nice and crisp, I like them. The guy using it has stuck with it despite all other temptations. It must be 10 years old now and still feels great. Shame we can't get them any more.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: bhtooefr on Sat, 20 March 2010, 18:45:16

There's actually a few places (in the US, oddly) selling FKB4726-602s, which are a very minor revision of the UK layout FKB4725, if that's your thing.

Title: Discuss about Fujitsu FKBxxxx series
Post by: ricercar on Sun, 21 March 2010, 03:47:45

What about (http://cgi.ebay.com/Fujitsu-FKB4726-651-Full-Size-Mechanical-Click-Keyboard_W0QQitemZ350226588564QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item518b21a394)?