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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ironcoder on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:18:19

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ironcoder on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:18:19

I searched and found one thread where somebody said DSI is a good shop.

Is there a thread on shops with good selection and reliable service? If so can somebody sticky it or if not chime in here with your recommendations.

Or is everybody buying from eBay?

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:23:47

The only one you need: www.elitekeyboards.com (http://www.elitekeyboards.com)
 
DataCal.com and GeminiComputersInc.com are good for Cherry-branded 'boards.  For Topres, you need to use a buying service, and there is a list of reputable buyers in the Wiki.  Member stlensbar has an ebay store that can source Topre-based 'boards as well, and many users here have bought their 'boards through him.  Elitekeyboards.com should be getting Topre-based 'boards in the near future as well.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ironcoder on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:25:41

Thanks alot. I hope this thread gets stickified and kept up.

I looked at elite but they only seem to have a small number of models?

I'm going to need to buy 3 new kbs in a couple of months or so. Probably with cherry blues unless further reading of this site suggests otherwise.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:31:34

There really is no good "one stop shop" for boards. Buckling Springs you'll want to try your hand at eBay or Clicky Keyboards (http://clickykeyboards.com/) - for Model M reps you'll want Unicomp (http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/), For Cherry boards, there's a variety of 'point of sales' websites. For Filco's (if you're in the United States), go to Elitekeyboards. For HHKB and Topre's you'll have to make do with GeekStuff4U (http://www.geekstuff4u.com/) or stlensbar (http://myworld.ebay.com/stlensbar/) (at least until elitekeyboards starts stocking capacitives AHEM). Really they're kind of all over the place. You might want to sign up to Newegg's newsletter, About once every 3 months I get a promo in the mail that makes ABS M1 (black alps) $45 with free shipping. Elitekeyboards will be stocking a very small number of blue cherry Filco's so keep your eyes open for that (sign up to their newsletter).

In the Geekhack Wiki (http://geekhack.org/forumdisplay.php?f=34) there's a few threads that provide links to US, UK and JPA shops for buying keyboards of all types of switches, but they're all different places.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:33:17

Quote from: ironcoder;91753

Thanks alot. I hope this thread gets stickified and kept up.
 
I looked at elite but they only seem to have a small number of models?
 
I'm going to need to buy 3 new kbs in a couple of months or so. Probably with cherry blues unless further reading of this site suggests otherwise.

Elitekeyboards carries the full line of US Filco 'boards.  He is trying to get in the versions with Cherry blues (my advice would be to wait until he gets them).  Otherwise, your only options for Cherry blues without hiring a buying service would be getting a G80-3000, a Das III (I would advise against this), a Scorpius M10, or a DSI Mac Modular (member XsPhat has had issues with his, though).
 
Elitekeyboards will continue to grow as more keyboards are made available to him to import.  Right now, he is the only person to get Filcos from without hiring a buying service.  His service is top notch as well.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ironcoder on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:33:50

Thanks guys, lots of good info! I'll sign up for the newsletters.

I need to get 3 identical ones because this mixed bag I'm using now really slows me down when I move from one box to the next at work. If I get the wrong kb I'll be hating it 3x as much as normal!

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ironcoder on Wed, 20 May 2009, 10:39:08

o2dazone excellent, thanks for putting the links in your post

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ozar on Wed, 20 May 2009, 11:29:00

You can find more shopping links under the Shopping category of the following wiki page:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Keyboard+Links

Lots of other good info can be found on the same wiki page.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ironcoder on Wed, 20 May 2009, 11:50:48

Yeah thanks I'm doing that now ;)

Not ready to buy yet but always ready to see what's out there!

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: majestouch on Wed, 20 May 2009, 12:09:06

Quote from: ironcoder;91753

Thanks alot. I hope this thread gets stickified and kept up.

I looked at elite but they only seem to have a small number of models?

I'm going to need to buy 3 new kbs in a couple of months or so. Probably with cherry blues unless further reading of this site suggests otherwise.

Hi ironcoder,

elitekeyboards.com will be offering Topre and HHKB models as standard items starting next week. Boards with Blue Cherry switches are on the way the following week, but Blue switches are a special order of limited quantity, so newsletter subscribers will have first dibs.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 20 May 2009, 12:15:21

Quote from: majestouch;91765

elitekeyboards.com will be offering Topre and HHKB models as standard items starting next week.

*guitar riff*

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 20 May 2009, 12:18:58

Strong work, majestouch.  Thanks!

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ozar on Wed, 20 May 2009, 12:26:37

Quote from: majestouch;91765

elitekeyboards.com will be offering Topre and HHKB models as standard items starting next week.

Will these be available in white or black, and how about blank keysets for them?

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: majestouch on Wed, 20 May 2009, 13:21:28

Standard lettered white and black models will be available.

We'll offer the un-lettered HHKB models if demand is there, and on a special order basis, but I'm still investigating replacement blank keysets for HHKB; the possibility exists that the replacement keysets available elsewhere on the web are illegitimate - so as an approved dealer, elitekeyboards may not be able to carry them. I am not aware of blank keysets being available for Topre boards, though the situation may be the same.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 20 May 2009, 19:56:17

I say we should make a nice list and this thread should be stickied :)

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: rdjack21 on Wed, 20 May 2009, 20:54:03

Quote from: majestouch;91765

elitekeyboards.com will be offering Topre and HHKB models as standard items starting next week. Boards with Blue Cherry switches are on the way the following week, but Blue switches are a special order of limited quantity, so newsletter subscribers will have first dibs.

Now I just need to make sure I have the availible cash to get one of those blue tenkeyless boards ASAP because they are going to go fast. I sure hope you ordered enough of them.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: majestouch on Wed, 20 May 2009, 21:47:04

Quote from: rdjack21;91852

Now I just need to make sure I have the availible cash to get one of those blue tenkeyless boards ASAP because they are going to go fast. I sure hope you ordered enough of them.

Me too!

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 21 May 2009, 04:34:20

Quote from: majestouch;91765

Hi ironcoder,

elitekeyboards.com will be offering Topre and HHKB models as standard items starting next week. Boards with Blue Cherry switches are on the way the following week, but Blue switches are a special order of limited quantity, so newsletter subscribers will have first dibs.

Awesome... two of the keyboards I intend getting in one place :)

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ironcoder on Thu, 21 May 2009, 05:27:13

Quote from: majestouch;91765

Hi ironcoder,

elitekeyboards.com will be offering Topre and HHKB models as standard items starting next week. Boards with Blue Cherry switches are on the way the following week, but Blue switches are a special order of limited quantity, so newsletter subscribers will have first dibs.

Thanks for the heads-up!

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ironcoder on Thu, 21 May 2009, 05:27:48

Quote from: ripster;91776

LOL - if it was the "DSI Rules Thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=5365&highlight=xsphat)" you need to read the whole thread.  If the OP could change the title of the thread I bet he would.



And this is months of waiting into an RMA, getting shipped a black (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=91054&postcount=45) Mac keyboard (double LOL), and the above post.  "Good shop" is debatable.

I didn't see that one, I just saw one guy raving how great DSI service was. I will look into this more thanks.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Thu, 21 May 2009, 07:01:07

Majestouch: Do you have an idea on pricing for the Topre yet?

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Thu, 21 May 2009, 10:02:13

check this site out! http://www.smartimports.net

They have the realforce 87u cheaper than stlensbar on ebay even AFTER live.com cashback.

Btw, can someone please tell me if this site is legit? Thanks!

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Thu, 21 May 2009, 10:10:19

Quote from: ripster;91901

I don't know what Majestouch will say but am willing to speculate that when you see the $$$ the baby in your Avatar will be so surprised she'll do a headplant.

LOL. She and my wife will be only ones other than me to touch my Topre if I ever get one that is. But she'll be the only who will get away with it if she breaks it :love:

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 21 May 2009, 10:43:12

Quote from: patrickgeekhack;91879

Majestouch: Do you have an idea on pricing for the Topre yet?

I'm thinking grenades and swimming pools.

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 21 May 2009, 10:46:08

Quote from: majestouch;91913

I'm thinking grenades and swimming pools.

You're going to blow the competition out of the water?

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 21 May 2009, 12:26:28

Quote from: watduzhkstand4;91900

check this site out! http://www.smartimports.net

They have the realforce 87u cheaper than stlensbar on ebay even AFTER live.com cashback.

Btw, can someone please tell me if this site is legit? Thanks!

Geek Stuff 4 U is even cheaper.

In regards to the stock of Blue Cherry filcos, how limited is "limited"?

Title: Good/reliable online shops?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Thu, 21 May 2009, 13:44:08

Quote from: ripster;91918

Or he's going fishing and we're the fish.

P.S. Patrick - HOLD ON TO THAT BABY!

Show Image

(http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/images/2006/05/Britney-Spears-Baby-Bobble.jpg)

I'm always holding on to her when she's under my watch.