geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Repoman on Wed, 24 June 2009, 04:20:24
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Hello All,
I'm aware this might be in the wrong forum, so apologies for that, but I wondered if anyone could suggest a good place to buy a set of replacement keys for my HHKB?
I originally got my board from stlensbar via ebay - who is a great seller by the way - but he seems to have shut up shop these days.
Geekstuff4u, BeNippon and the other usual suspects don't seem to carry them, and I'm having a hard time finding a Japanese URL that I could provide to J-Goods or one of the other shopping services.
I'm sure more than a few of you have been down this road already, so if you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them!
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This might be better in the Wanted section.
I will join you though as I have been after some more keys.
May I ask what your reason is?
Mine is simply one of being fussy. My space bar has started to shine a bit in the middle and I would like to know I have a spare in the drawer :)
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Geekstuff4u, BeNippon and the other usual suspects don't seem to carry them, and I'm having a hard time finding a Japanese URL that I could provide to J-Goods or one of the other shopping services.
As far as I remember Crescent I didn't have to provide a URL, just some pics. They found the cheapest vendor then. A description should do as well.
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These can be special ordered at any time. Please send an e-mail to sales@elitekeyboards.com; just state color and printed/non-printed and your shipping address. Special order lead time varies depending on shipping cycle, but usually it is about 2 weeks.
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Hey lam - nice to hear from you!
I was going to come up with some b*ll**** story here but decided to go with an honest answer instead :laugh:
I got the black version with key markings. I love it. It's fantastic. I especially love the sound it makes when I get up to speed and it's burbling away under my fingers. It's taken a while but I can honestly say I think I forgive PFU's designers for what they have done to my cursor key cluster. Well, almost.
But it seems that I am forever destined to need marked keys, because, as the sun goes down my typing accuracy drops through the floor and I end up switching back to my Filco with the XM switches... because I'm actually able to read the keys on that!
Now, I could of course turn the lights on, but that seems like an insufficiently geeky solution to the problem to me.
In fact, in my mind it seems much more sensible to spend a small fortune getting a few bits of plastic flown halfway around the world on what is - let's face it - a whim.
And besides I've seen a few pics on here of black HHKB's with transplanted white/grey keys and they look pretty good.
So that's my excuse!
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Hey Majestouch - I have been considering putting some business your way. How are your Blue Cherry stocks looking?
And could you give an approx price on the keyset?
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Has anyone got a picture of a black HH with the white keys on?
I would like to see that.
I think iMav has it on his so I should just check the gallery I know.
Also to derail further I wonder how his mothers are?
Back on topic now.
I would like to know a ruff price too. I think when I bought some before (direct through a friend) they worked out at about £50 shipped.
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And thanks for the Advice lowpoly - BTW I have some cash set aside for one of your boards when you get it into production. That is some very good work there sir!
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Thanks. :smile:
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Wasn't there a thread on here people published pictures of their workspace?
I think iMav's two tone HHKB's were displayed with pride somewhere in there, as opposed to the keyboard gallery?
lam - I think I'll email Majestouch at the sales address and see if he can give me a price on the keys. As you are UK based, would you be interested in potentially splitting the shipping? Totally understand if you are not.
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If you are in the UK mate then yeah of course.
Makes sense to me.
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Thinking about it... what type of replacement keys were you interested in lam?
Seeing as I am about to have a spare black set in the not too distant future!
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Geekstuff4u, BeNippon and the other usual suspects don't seem to carry them, and I'm having a hard time finding a Japanese URL that I could provide to J-Goods or one of the other shopping services.
Geekstuff4u (http://www.geekstuff4u.com/keytop-set-for-happy-hacking-professional-keyboard.html) seems to have them.
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I want blank black ones :)
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There has to be a plastic or other material that can have a texture applied to that won't wear out over time (at least as quickly). If you're spending a small fortune on a keyboard, it shouldn't look well-used after about a month or two. Carbon Fiber is the key. I guess if you start out with keys with a glossy surface, it wouldn't be too much of a problem other than finger prints, but you would probably lose any grip you might have gotten from some texturing.
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Out of interest Ripster - can I ask where you got your Topre red escape?
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is there a way to buy just the red esc key for topre boards?
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I sell them here. (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=98061&postcount=7)
you're so gay, I got excited for a moment :/
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Of course you do...
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http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/keytop_change.html (http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/keytop_change.html)
Not the red esc, but spare key caps.
Wrong link, here's the correct one: http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/keytop_change.html (http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/keytop_change.html)
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There has to be a plastic or other material that can have a texture applied to that won't wear out over time (at least as quickly). If you're spending a small fortune on a keyboard, it shouldn't look well-used after about a month or two. Carbon Fiber is the key. I guess if you start out with keys with a glossy surface, it wouldn't be too much of a problem other than finger prints, but you would probably lose any grip you might have gotten from some texturing.
Glossy means more grip (my theory).
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At least I don't rub my body parts on my trackball. ;-)
jealous
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Of course! It's from the bleedin' realforce. Should have realised earlier.
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http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_keytop.html (http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_keytop.html)
Finally.
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Thanks Vils - apparently Majestouch can order them in even though they are not standard items on the elitekeyboards website, so I plan on getting them from him!
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If anyone is going to do an order from Fujitsu I am in for a set of blank black ones.
I can't get geekstuff4u to load no matter what browser I use :(
LMK if you get a price repoman.
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Glossy means more grip (my theory).
thats crazy talk, matte is more grip. crazy germans. ;)
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If anyone is going to do an order from Fujitsu I am in for a set of blank black ones.
I can't get geekstuff4u to load no matter what browser I use :(
LMK if you get a price repoman.
is that for a red escape key for a BMW? I'd be interested in a price too.
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whats 4,000 yen in english?
also out of curiosity, is it possible to get a whole 86-key set for topres? anyone know approximate price? just curious.
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Mailed elitekeyboards this morning (which was about 3 am California time) asking for a price.
Not heard back yet, but the last post he made to this forum would have been pretty late for the Sunshine state so I guess he does most of his KB selling in the evening. Hopefully there will be something in my mailbox in the morning.
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whats 4,000 yen in english?
also out of curiosity, is it possible to get a whole 86-key set for topres? anyone know approximate price? just curious.
Isn't that what this thread is about? ;)
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Isn't that what this thread is about? ;)
Ooops - not quite!
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Ooops - not quite!
lol i'm having trouble tracking what prices and availability are being tossed around for what combination of key(s)
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If anyone is going to do an order from Fujitsu I am in for a set of blank black ones.
I can't get geekstuff4u to load no matter what browser I use :(
LMK if you get a price repoman.
I'm on my way to order a set of keys from Crescent-shop, but the 2000 yen broker fee is disturbing. Group buy? Shipping from sweden to UK should be easy to bear.
Ripster: how do you order from Leopold?
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If shipping charges weren't so ridic, it would be worth getting a service to ship that single red esc key for you. By the time it gets to the states, it's probably quadrupled in price.
MsKeyboard should tell the Fentek engineers "Hey theres a bunch of nerds who want red esc keys - spend a ton of money retooling to make them" lol
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I'm happy to broker a group shipment for a few of us to the EU and then arrange shipping from there. Might as well add a blue cherry tenkeyless whilst I'm at it...
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I can't believe nobody has a friend or relative in Korea or Japan.
Come on research those family trees!
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If shipping charges weren't so ridic, it would be worth getting a service to ship that single red esc key for you. By the time it gets to the states, it's probably quadrupled in price.
I think Ripster is right. Could Majestouch get a reasonable deal on a bulk order, if there was a decent estimate for demand? He carries the Topre boards already
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4,000 yen.
Sorry, being silly. It's $42. Why does Leopold list in Yen anyway, I tried Won first and that couldn't be right - $3. Or could it. It cost 2 cents US to make.
Dear God!!! They want $42 for a single keycap?! It IS the bmw of keys.
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I for one appreciate the sacrifice ripster!
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Dear God!!! They want $42 for a single keycap?! It IS the bmw of keys.
If that was true you'd have to send it back to Topre to be fitted!
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The quote I got for a set of HHKB keys from crescent was $78.31 (without shipping).
I can also commit to arrange a EU group buy.
But thats for normal key caps, the red esc is elusive. $3 is a quite humble price, but as o2dazone pointed out, shipping an charges could be a killer.
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4000 South Korean won = 3.11600 U.S. dollars
http://www.google.se/search?hl=sv&q=4000+won+in+usd&btnG=S%C3%B6k&meta= (http://www.google.se/search?hl=sv&q=4000+won+in+usd&btnG=S%C3%B6k&meta=)
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No, it's $4. Ya gave me the wrong currency! Don't blame the Topre either.
phew, thats a relief. But let me guess- shipping is $150, right? :-P
Ya gave me the wrong currency!
well, I thought I could read korean - turns out I cant! ;D
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This thread is spinning to fast, every new post gets outposted...
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vils - to be clear, I am going to be buying a set of caps from majestouch, as long as the price isn't crazy. How about I PM you and lam47 when I get a quote?
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vils - to be clear, I am going to be buying a set of caps from majestouch, as long as the price isn't crazy. How about I PM you and lam47 when I get a quote?
repo I'm curious about the price too, though i wont be buying it.
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Soon as I hear anything I'll let you know - but I suspect Majestouch will...be in touch in the not too distant future.
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vils - to be clear, I am going to be buying a set of caps from majestouch, as long as the price isn't crazy. How about I PM you and lam47 when I get a quote?
That would be perfect. My crescent shop idea was more directed towards Lam47.
If I resided in the US I to would prefer buying from Majestouch.
Customs here are very keen on checking packages from the US.
I have never been forced to pay VAT for japanese packages though.
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Had a response from Majestouch and I'm waiting for a bit of clarification before I can go into any more detail, but other than vils and lam47, is there anyone else EU based interested in a full set of replacement HHKB Pro2 keys?
No idea about the red escapes yet!
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My hope is that a key set would be ok price wise to get through customs. I could be wrong though. I do know that Majestouch will not mark the value down so it could be a risk.
crescent shop charges far too much in fees for me to touch them I'm afraid.
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Had a response from Majestouch and I'm waiting for a bit of clarification before I can go into any more detail, but other than vils and lam47, is there anyone else EU based interested in a full set of replacement HHKB Pro2 keys?
Not for HHKB Pro2 but I'd interested in some replacement RealForce 87U space keys. :smile:
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Not for HHKB Pro2 but I'd interested in some replacement RealForce 87U space keys. :smile:
for all these things would be handy to have not only prices but also any applicable fees/shipping cost information...
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I'll ask the question...
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I doubt he will be able to get individual keys.
It will be a whole set.
For the 87U you can get sets with Korean characters and then the ones with just the roman characters. I don't think you get the space and some other modifiers in the set though. (I might have this wrong. Who reads Korean properly? I am guessing more than anything :) )
Have a look on here.
http://www.leopold.co.kr/?doc=cart/item.php&it_id=1215396631
Price is Won.
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for all these things would be handy to have not only prices but also any applicable fees/shipping cost information...
Mail the sales address directly wellington - majestouch will give you a price. He asked me not to post it directly, which makes sense as it's not an official elitekeyboards product line.
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I doubt he will be able to get individual keys.
It will be a whole set.
For the 87U you can get sets with Korean characters and then the ones with just the roman characters. I don't think you get the space and some other modifiers in the set though. (I might have this wrong. Who reads Korean properly? I am guessing more than anything :) )
Have a look on here.
http://www.leopold.co.kr/?doc=cart/item.php&it_id=1215396631
Price is Won.
currency converter says thats about 35 US dollars. Plus fees/shipping, i guess? (which country is that coming from? could be quite high in some cases, right?).
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Mail the sales address directly wellington - majestouch will give you a price. He asked me not to post it directly, which makes sense as it's not an official elitekeyboards product line.
k thanks
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Not for HHKB Pro2 but I'd interested in some replacement RealForce 87U space keys. :smile:
Sorry - Can't get hold of any keys for the 87U via elitekeyboards at the moment.
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I doubt he will be able to get individual keys.
It will be a whole set.
For the 87U you can get sets with Korean characters and then the ones with just the roman characters. I don't think you get the space and some other modifiers in the set though.
I've got such a set (English chars) when ordered my 87U. As you said, space and modifier keys are not included.
So the one-million-dollar question remains: "Where could we get Realforce replacement individual keys or full 87 keys set?"
Maybe I have to ask Topre directly...
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Some kind of contact in Korea would help. The Leopold site sells them but not with international shipping.
Anyone know what happened to stlensbar? I know he was selling from Japan, but I'm sure I read a post where it mentioned he was Korean
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He is Korean but he lives in Japan :)
Also he seems to have stopped selling keyboards.
Last time I asked he said he would be selling them again soon but I don't seem to be able to get in touch with him any more.
its a shame as he is really very good and a very helpful and friendly guy.
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Anybody knows any Topre's email address?
They only have phone numbers listed on their site, but my Japanese get a bit rusty these days. :smile:
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repoman did you find a seller for the set of keys you wanted? I'm semi-interested in a white set (whole set) for the 87u (depending on how outrageous the fees/shipping/price is) (or at least i'm curious as to how much it would be altogether).
Also, again out of curiosity, does anyone know if hhkb keys would fit 87u? Same key height and etc?
FYI elitekeyboards told me they have no 87u key(s) for sale at this time. (single key or sets).
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You cant but a whole set welly. Topre don't make them.
You can only get the character and number keys.
HH keys are exactly the same yes.
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You cant but a whole set welly. Topre don't make them.
You can only get the character and number keys.
HH keys are exactly the same yes.
hey lammy - that would be perfect, I only want the character and number keys :)
I'm going to go thru this thread and try to figure out what is the best place to buy them and how much fees/shipping will be, but I feel like its a little like doing one's taxes, and will take a good hour to figure out. This info should be in our wiki (korean/japanese sites, fees, procedures) if it isnt already... (guess i'll check there too).
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In that case, you should be fine with the HHKB sets Majestouch can get hold of?
Unless I'm missing something...
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Blimey - I've graduated from Junior Member to Member!
Never mind the knob gags - how many more kills before I get from Deadly to Elite?...
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In that case, you should be fine with the HHKB sets Majestouch can get hold of?
Unless I'm missing something...
ya, i asked them for a quote...
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Nice - can't wait to see those photos!
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Nice - can't wait to see those photos!
they want 60 and change plus shipping for one set (not sure if it even comes with red escape key). Seems like pricing on this varies a lot so best to get your own quote from them I guess, but I dont see why this pricing is a frickin industrial secret! They're selling it, its a product isnt it? Anyway, I'm passing for now of course :) They also cant sell just the red escape key, he recommended leopold for that (which lam reports is out of control shipping/fees for a $4 key)
I think lam said "It was going to be $80 for 2 sets of wasd keys and 2 red escape keys." SO I guess it was going to be $40 for one set. Good god, all I want is the frickin $4 key.
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I didn't think it was a secret - I was just trying to give the dude some leeway.
Still - if I can find a way to order 40-50 of them, I plan to.
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I didn't think it was a secret - I was just trying to give the dude some leeway.
Still - if I can find a way to order 40-50 of them, I plan to.
you mean 40-50 keysets or 40-50 keys?!
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Just the Red Esc's!
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Just the Red Esc's!
lol - man you could sell those like candy :-D It would be worth the $30 in shipping if you're buying 40 of them -- hey, if you're reselling them in the US for something reasonable then please PM me soon as you get them cuz I will buy one :)
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Now you're with me!
"Welcome to the board - the first one is free..."
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Now you're with me!
"Welcome to the board - the first one is free..."
yea well i just stepped into the "topre labyrinth". Hall of mirrors is more like it ;)
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Wait..do you want a red escape key which costs $4, or do you want the $4 key? :dizzy:
that pretty much sums up my experience conversing on this topic so far ;D
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you and me both
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Its such a shame stlensbar is not selling any more. He was doing the red escape + the wasd keys and a key puller for £17 I think it was shipped.
Have you tried checking with him?
(it might have been less hold on, I bought two lots and cant remember)
Can't find it in my ebay.
It was alright though.
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Its such a shame stlensbar is not selling any more. He was doing the red escape + the wasd keys and a key puller for £17 I think it was shipped.
Have you tried checking with him?
(it might have been less hold on, I bought two lots and cant remember)
Can't find it in my ebay.
It was alright though.
was stlensbar a geekhacker? or just some ebay dude?
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Ebayer - I bought my 87U from him. Free japanese newspapers as packaging. Majestouch just gives me a rotten exercise book.
Here's his store. (http://stores.shop.ebay.com/stlensbar__W0QQ_armrsZ1) Looks like he likes to sell expensive electronics stuff.
i sent him an email asking if he wants to get back into the key set business ;D
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Ebayer - I bought my 87U from him. Free japanese newspapers as packaging. Majestouch just gives me a rotten exercise book.
Here's his store. (http://stores.shop.ebay.com/stlensbar__W0QQ_armrsZ1) Looks like he likes to sell expensive electronics stuff.
He did have an account on here at one point - it was his posts here, and the solid recommendation from lam47 the convinced me to buy my HHKB from him. Buying from him via ebay was a far better experience than getting my Filco Zero from BeNippon.
ON a different topic - seems there are a few Geekhackers that are current or ex US military - anyone have any friends doing a tour keeping a a close eye on Kim Jong?
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He did have an account on here at one point - it was his posts here, and the solid recommendation from lam47 the convinced me to buy my HHKB from him. Buying from him via ebay was a far better experience than getting my Filco Zero from BeNippon.
I havent heard back from him, btw
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I think most of his items these days are very high margin bits of kit. Maybe the additional workload shipping keyboards was just taking up too much time.
I think he was in Tokyo studying or something. Fair enough I suppose
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thanks for the spare keys megarat :)
(http://kb.o2dazone.com/hhkb_blackwhite.jpg)
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keyb looks nice.
Is that, er, carpet?
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Are you supposed to type on that, or spoon next to it with a roaring log fire and Barry White playing in the background?
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Teach him well, for truly it is an awesome power to command!
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Tread gently, velcro man.
lol, if thats carpet, my velcro is pretty tame!
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Are you supposed to type on that, or spoon next to it with a roaring log fire and Barry White playing in the background?
Hahahahahahaha!
With a yule log screen saver maybe?
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by the way, I put the links in this thread into the wiki article on "all things topre". So, guys, feel free to jump in and, you know, contribute ;)
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Topre/Realforce+Reference+-+all+things+topre
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You seem to have the basics covered my friend - what do you think needs beefing up?
Sorry - that reads wrong. It's not the basics - it seems pretty comprehensive to me.
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You seem to have the basics covered my friend - what do you think needs beefing up?
any sellers or buying services i'm missing?
any other ebay individuals?
Could use help filling in details for the sellers/services that are listed (shipping prices, tips for first time users, and pricing info for boards (based on models), keysets, wasd/redkey sets), fees info, shipping info (cost and ship time), etc.
even things like contact information (phone numbers, email addresses) for us english-only slobs.
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Are you supposed to type on that, or spoon next to it with a roaring log fire and Barry White playing in the background?
Strong.
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What do all white Topre keys look like after a few years??
This sounds like the intro to a good racist joke, whats the punch line
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Xsphat said the white ones seem to discolour rather quickly.
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I got the black version with key markings.
But it seems that I am forever destined to need marked keys, because, as the sun goes down my typing accuracy drops through the floor and I end up switching back to my Filco with the XM switches... because I'm actually able to read the keys on that!
+1
I just recently purchased the black lettered version and instantly realized the black letters on black background were a pain in the ass to read. I regret not getting the blank black or lettered white version...
So now I have to spend over 1/4 the cost of my $$ HHKB2 just for a stupid set of keys. Or use stickers. Stickers on a $250 keyboard. Stickers on an already lettered keyboard. Oh God the ugly. Is it easy to sand the letters off so the stickers won't look so silly? (they will be placed on the front of key, not top)
Why are the HHKB keys so expensive compared to a filco?
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Rarity? Or maybe 'because we can'
(http://kb.o2dazone.com/hhkb_blackwhite4.jpg)
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o2dazone, is that a table or your floor? That wood stain is money. Sweet pic, BTW.
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thanks :) just some funky old table we keep out on the patio. it's primary use has been my photography staging ground for the last year lol