geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: rdjack21 on Sat, 22 August 2009, 11:01:40
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In the course of trying to find some of the Topre OEM shown in this thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=6719) I have found one really good site that has allot of cool stuff on it about Realforce/Topre. It is a blog called Moonlight Cafe (http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcafemoonlight.blog55.fc2.com%2F&sl=ja&tl=en&history_state0=). Hang with me a bit before going over there and digging around and I will point out some interesting things I found on that site plus a few other things.
One really interesting this is this:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3950&stc=1&d=1250954492)
Right after seeing that I started pulling keys to see if it was true and all of my keys are marked as that image shows. But I did find that the mark is not always in the same place. Even the HHKB Pro 2 keys are marked. Any ways I thought that was kinda cool. One note when look for those marks you have to get the lighting right to see them and they are not always easy to see but they are there.
I droped a note on another tread that I had read that the production quantity for the 87U was 70,000 and of course ripster wanted to know where I found that well here it is No Stamp Realforce87U limited release in South Korea (http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcafemoonlight.blog55.fc2.com%2F&sl=ja&tl=en&history_state0=) Scroll down to the bottom of the chart to see the comments. But also note in the chart that it states that 7 each of the 87UW, 87UB No stamp version was produced.
After you have looked at that take a look at this Realforce Series chart (http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcafemoonlight.blog55.fc2.com%2F&sl=ja&tl=en&history_state0=) it lists all Topre/Realforce boards that have been released. That chart has some really good information. But for me the real bonus is at the bottom of the list where the OEM boards are listed. Plus all the links to the keyboards. I'll let those that are interested find them all but I will inline some of the more interesting ones here. Here is one to get you started that is kinda of hard to find
(http://www.4gamer.net/specials/cs_interview/img/004.jpg)
But now on to some of the boards I found more interesting. NOTE I'm only going to show the ones that are not on OEM thread.
First up we have the JUKI entry system keyboard
(http://www.juki.co.jp/entry/image/usbkeyboard.JPG)
That picture is not very good. Here is one of the previous model where the only difference is the keyboard connector. I found this one on Yahoo Japan auction site and there has been only one of these sold in the last year and this is it.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3951&stc=1&d=1250956250)
Now in that picture you can see those really nice key caps.
Next up we have the KB0300 which I have not been able to find for sale anywhere.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3952&stc=1&d=1250956061)
This one is listed as a OEM board but no link is provided. But I had already found it and actually purchased it. It seems this one is pretty rare but when I saw it I just had to have it. The NISSHO Electronics KB106DE
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3953&stc=1&d=1250956407)
As you can see the seller of this board has modified it replacing the space bar and the keys next to it with different size keys. But look at those key caps! Cuped keys on a Topre! I'm going to go nuts waiting for it to get here and I will most likely have to wait a while to get it to which sucks. Here is another image that shows how much taller those keys are compared to normal Topre keys as well as showing that it is a Topre board:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3954&stc=1&d=1250956570)
That should get things going I have more but I also have a house full of kids today so have to go.
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I also ended up getting one of these new in box BG03B0
(http://www.vshopu.com/souldout/TP_DG0380/DSCF0003.jpg)
But while trying to find it I also found some other versions of this board the DG03C0: Which I did not get someone sniped it out from under me.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3956&stc=1&d=1250957855)
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3957&stc=1&d=1250957855)
And the HE0100:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3958&stc=1&d=1250957855)
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3959&stc=1&d=1250957855)
I'm actually hot on the trail of this one and might get it.
I'm not sure what the difference is between them other than the color on the HE0100.
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Your probably correct up in the chart it shows that the no stamped versions only had 7 built for each color.
I've been digging around on those Japanese websites for weeks and the one I linked is the best one as far as Topre information goes. What I find really funny are some of the really strange translations. Especially the one crescent uses. I have to post some of those because some of them will make you roll on the floor.
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That is awesome, wow! The dark board in that Namco "station" has a great color scheme
The rows have little letters on them. In fact, without those letters it's tough to eyeball if you're given a bag of keys and told "ok replace them on the HHKB". They use a diagram when you buy keysets for the Happy Hacking that tell you what row goes where.
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If the translation is correct that board with the Namco station is a OEM CSNEO (Counter Strike NEO). Here is a whole row of them at some game convetion
(http://www.4gamer.net/specials/cs_interview/img/002.jpg)
And here is the article reference (http://209.85.225.132/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.4gamer.net/specials/cs_interview/cs_interview_01.shtml&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhhssPV6y5c6RtkcuKLvcNio-xGm8g)
So I guess the Realforce boards can be used for games.
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Well I secured that HE0100 but man I have to say getting these things from Japan is not cheap. After all the fees you have to pay for (bank wire transfers, shipping to buying service, service fees) they get really expensive fast. But then again I don't think I could have found these boards here at all. Now I have the really long wait for them to ship to the buying service then for them to repack them into a single shipment then for shipping from them to me. So I actually wont actually have the boards in my hands for at least 2 to 3 weeks.
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Found another site url that is quite interesting. This happens to be a vendor that has kept all their sold out discontinued product pages. What is interesting about this site is on those pages they have pictures and specs for old keyboards that are no longer sold. Here is a link to the main soldout section ShopU Soldout (http://www.vshopu.com/souldout/) You will want to feed that through some translator or just look at the pictures. The keyboards are in the 4 blue squares with USB or PS/2 labels.
Check this one out because it may start a war here Unicomp OEM Space saver (http://soldout.vshopu.com/UNI04C6/index.html) Unicomp fans/haters/disgruntled users are going to have a field day with that one. The problem is they don't show a label. They also have a Lexmark Space Saver (http://soldout.vshopu.com/ibm84key/index.html) and on that page they talk a little about this unicomp board and compare them which makes me want to believe. But hey I'll just sit back and let the BS fans figure it out.
Just brows around you will find something that will interest you. All kinds of boards from all kinds of manufactures.
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Check this one out because it may start a war here Unicomp OEM Space saver (http://soldout.vshopu.com/UNI04C6/index.html) Unicomp fans/haters/disgruntled users are going to have a field day with that one. The problem is they don't show a label. They also have a Lexmark Space Saver (http://soldout.vshopu.com/ibm84key/index.html) and on that page they talk a little about this unicomp board and compare them which makes me want to believe. But hey I'll just sit back and let the BS fans figure it out.
That's likely to be an UNI04C6: http://www.geocities.jp/kenjin_keyboard/UNI04C6.htm
It's a Model M Space saver (or Space saving) in ISO layout. Unicomp built them using old parts, so it's possible to find a IBM or Lexmark label under the Unicomp one.
Here's Unicomp home page from 2003, when they were selling that keyboard for $59: http://web.archive.org/web/20030210064453/www.pckeyboard.com/special1.html
And an article on Dan's Data reviewing a sample of that model from Clickykeyboards: http://www.dansdata.com/clicky2.htm
EDIT2: sorry, didn't notice that in the title of the page you linked to, they already state that it's the UNI04C6 model *blushes*
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I didn't know that unicomp made (assembled) any of the Space savers. Thanks for the links. And I see you have one of them as well.
I've been digging through some of those keyboards and I have to say the Japanese must like the mini keyboards because they have a bunch of them. What is really strange is I've seen quite a few of them on Yahoo Japan while hunting for Topre boards. Now that I know what some of them are I may pick one up.
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have you no shame
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Oblig (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?p=98033&#post1030)
Quit teasing me.......
Now I remember. Didn't iMav have them put one together for him like the last one ever built or something.
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Quit teasing me.......
Now I remember. Didn't iMav have them put one together for him like the last one ever built or something.
Yes, but what's amazing is that they could build this 'board, but they wouldn't make any others. I am not sure if it was made from leftover parts or if they made it from scratch. In any case, they are supposed to bring it back into the product line.
I am still waiting for the Mighty Mouse with buckling springs.
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I still want to get my hands on a 87u!