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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: msiegel on Fri, 15 May 2009, 22:39:59

Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: msiegel on Fri, 15 May 2009, 22:39:59: was ogling some keyboard pr0n at kbdmania.net's photo gallery and ran across *this*

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/?mid=photo&page=426&document_srl=508646

is it real?? :D
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Fri, 15 May 2009, 22:53:14: http://www.fentek-ind.com/modular.htm#kblhusbsb

looks like a white version of that
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: Hak Foo on Fri, 15 May 2009, 22:54:44: Quote from: msiegel;91168
was ogling some keyboard pr0n at kbdmania.net's photo gallery and ran across *this*

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/?mid=photo&page=426&document_srl=508646

is it real?? :D

There are a few keyboards designed specifically that way for a left-handed audience. I'm surprised the spacesaver crowd doesn't embrace them, at least the people saying "I want the mouse closer".

http://www.fentek-ind.com/modular.htm#kblhusbsb is an example -- sounds interesting for the mechanical switches.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: pmyshkin on Sat, 16 May 2009, 00:22:28: http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/?mid=photo&page=426&document_srl=508592

This one is nice, but wtf did they do to the backslash key? Notice there are 2 of them - on next to the left ctrl, one next to the up arrow, neither of which are placed well. And it still insists on the L-enter and the long backspace. It makes no sense at all.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: iMav on Sat, 16 May 2009, 03:08:24: I think the "spacesaving crowd" WOULD embrace these if there were decent ones available for sale. (Unicomp could make money on these I bet)
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: chimera15 on Sat, 16 May 2009, 13:31:31: Left handed keyboards are actually fairly common, DSI actually sells one in their online store on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Refurb-Ivory-Left-Handed-Keyboard-PS-2-USB-Input_W0QQitemZ190299547271QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2c4ebca687&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A30

What the heck is that aron compact keyboard? I can't find any info on it anywhere else on the web. Is it a mechanical? Any ideas? Looks like it might be?

Ahh found info on it here: already on geekhack, pretty cool but also extremely rare now. lol

That's the 4th compact alps keyboard I know about now, along with the siig minitouch, mck-84sx, smk-85, and now the kpt-84. All rare and out of production.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?t=5115
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: msiegel on Sat, 16 May 2009, 21:11:04: speaking of smks, is this one? layout seems familiar... and the color scheme is quite striking :)

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/?mid=photo&page=14&document_srl=584814
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: msiegel on Sat, 16 May 2009, 21:59:17: Quote from: ripster;91270
Whoah, that's bright. Look at that logo too. There's some pretty serious modding going on over at kbdmania.

Reminded me of this no longer sold Filco.
Show Image
(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee135/skyianlove/painbird/red02.jpg)

that filco... :D
http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/?mid=photo&page=108&document_srl=566839
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: wheel83 on Sun, 17 May 2009, 00:35:29: wow i heard about this site, but never looked at all these pics. damn this is gonna waste some time. thanks :)
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: IBI on Sun, 17 May 2009, 08:30:39: Quote from: iMav;91184
I think the "spacesaving crowd" WOULD embrace these if there were decent ones available for sale. (Unicomp could make money on these I bet)

There is a left-handed one that's mechanical sold by DSI/Fendtek/Keyboard company but they seem to have changed the switches several times recently, I've seen claims that it's had three different types of cherry switches and fake alps.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: pmyshkin on Sun, 17 May 2009, 09:22:52: Quote from: msiegel;91269
speaking of smks, is this one? layout seems familiar... and the color scheme is quite striking :)

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/?mid=photo&page=14&document_srl=584814

Those red keys look delicious
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Sun, 17 May 2009, 12:11:04: yep these are just made for left handed people
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 18 May 2009, 06:42:47: Quote from: chimera15;91226
What the heck is that aron compact keyboard? I can't find any info on it anywhere else on the web. Is it a mechanical? Any ideas? Looks like it might be?

Ahh found info on it here: already on geekhack, pretty cool but also extremely rare now. lol

That's the 4th compact alps keyboard I know about now, along with the siig minitouch, mck-84sx, smk-85, and now the kpt-84. All rare and out of production.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?t=5115
Here's more:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?t=4402
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 18 May 2009, 08:22:51: Quote from: pmyshkin;91329
Those red keys look delicious

That does look quite tasty. I could certainly rock one of those at work. Especially with some Alps blacks.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: Mercen_505 on Mon, 18 May 2009, 08:42:43: I wonder what marketing guru decided that the existing keyboard layout wasn't already immensely "left handed friendly"?
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: MsKeyboard on Mon, 18 May 2009, 10:50:33: This left-handed keyboard (http://www.fentek-ind.com/modular.htm#kblhusbsb) is built with Blue cherry switches, if that helps.

Ms Keyboard
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: o2dazone on Mon, 18 May 2009, 11:00:42: If I wasn't saving myself for an HHKB I would totally buy that (sup fellow southpaws)
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: IBI on Mon, 18 May 2009, 11:57:04: Quote from: MsKeyboard;91447
This left-handed keyboard (http://www.fentek-ind.com/modular.htm#kblhusbsb) is built with Blue cherry switches, if that helps.

Ms Keyboard

Do you have any information on how long it's been using blue cherries and whether it's got different model numbers, as it's also been reported with black and brown cherries and fake alps (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=4566).
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: MsKeyboard on Mon, 18 May 2009, 14:00:34: This left-handed keyboard (http://www.fentek-ind.com/modular.htm#kblhusbsb) as noted uses the blue cherry switch, and as far as we can tell OUR model has always been spec'd that way. The other units described may look the same, but they were not bought from Fentek, so there is no way for me to verify their quality or manufactured specs.
Although I cannot answer your question, I hope that helps....Ms Keyboad
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: MsKeyboard on Mon, 18 May 2009, 15:08:58: Ripster,
Our left-handed boards are specifically asked for by the "right-minded" folks, but we probably sell more to the typical user who does not want to give up the ten key and have the mouse sit just a little bit closer to the Keyboard.

It's all some sort of compromise when you think about it.

Also, thanks for the compliment. Everyone is human and sometimes things happen, but we do try our best to satisfy an increasingly knowledgeable and problem specific customer base.

Later.......Ms Keyboard
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Mon, 18 May 2009, 15:52:47: Quote from: Hak Foo;91173
I'm surprised the spacesaver crowd doesn't embrace them, at least the people saying "I want the mouse closer".

I am one of those who would like to have the mouse closer. However, two reasons prevent me from getting such a keyboard. For one, the choice is not great. And for two, although I can use the mouse with my left hand without a problem, using the numerical keypad with my left hand is a whole different story.

So, maybe (big maybe) one day I'll get a Tenkeyless and a seperate numerical keypad.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: IBI on Mon, 18 May 2009, 17:25:08: Quote from: MsKeyboard;91466
This left-handed keyboard (http://www.fentek-ind.com/modular.htm#kblhusbsb) as noted uses the blue cherry switch, and as far as we can tell OUR model has always been spec'd that way. The other units described may look the same, but they were not bought from Fentek, so there is no way for me to verify their quality or manufactured specs.
Although I cannot answer your question, I hope that helps....Ms Keyboad

Ah, I didn't realise you worked for Fentek. Could you tell me the OEM/ODM who makes that keyboard or is that confidential business information?
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Mon, 18 May 2009, 17:33:45: Now that I think about it. A good compromise would be to move only the numpad to the left side of the keyboard, which will make the main part of the keyboard similar to a tenkeyless. Maybe I should start manufacturing my own keyboard and called it "Le keyboard" to sound French ;-)
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: IBI on Tue, 19 May 2009, 07:27:19: Quote from: patrickgeekhack;91488
Now that I think about it. A good compromise would be to move only the numpad to the left side of the keyboard, which will make the main part of the keyboard similar to a tenkeyless. Maybe I should start manufacturing my own keyboard and called it "Le keyboard" to sound French ;-)

If you're trying to compete with the das then how about 'Teh Keyboard'.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 19 May 2009, 07:51:43: Quote from: IBI;91580
If you're trying to compete with the das then how about 'Teh Keyboard'.

Strong.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: pmyshkin on Tue, 19 May 2009, 12:03:14: Quote from: o2dazone;91448
If I wasn't saving myself for an HHKB

You're planning to lose your virginity to a keyboard? That's kind of weird.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: o2dazone on Tue, 19 May 2009, 12:04:19: Don't judge...
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 19 May 2009, 12:11:15: Quote from: o2dazone;91629
Don't judge...

This made me laugh. I would insert a Sticky Keys joke right here, but that would be too predictable and played out.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Tue, 19 May 2009, 21:18:34: Quote from: ripster;91631
There's already a french keyboard. (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=87083&postcount=33) The French pride themselves on being different, I don't think you want to go down that route.
I've always found the placement of colon/semicolon under the pinky kind of stupid...m makes more sense tbh, but the fact that you have to shift to get numbers makes the layout absolutely wonky.
Title: photoshopped... or real?
Post by: Eclairz on Wed, 20 May 2009, 06:40:11: I own that left-handed keyboard but it comes with fake alps(grey), feels good to type on, but could never get used to the arrows and page up/dn being on the wrong side of the keyboard. Ideally for right handers like myself, keep the numpad on the left side but the arrow keys on the right.