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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: ander on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:26:23

Title: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: ander on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:26:23: Hey guys, has anyone seen these? In Tokyo's Akihabara electronics district, you can buy novelty clocks resembling keyboards:

(http://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/img/ah/docs/600/830/imm10.jpg)

More photos here (http://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/wakiba/find/20130524_600830.html). And here's a page (http://item.rakuten.co.jp/candytower/zk118556/) where they can apparently be ordered online—though it's entirely in Japanese, so good luck w/that.

Has anyone ever tried a hack like that on a real KB? Would it even be possible, considering that real keys are staggered rather than in columns? (Maybe on a big enough POS...?) Just something fun to think about...
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:27:50: That would be cool as a sort of keyboard screensaver, but I couldn't imagine having it active all the time. Also, those caps probably feel like straight ass.
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: JinDesu on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:33:32: Could do it with those new RGB keyboards and the fancy LED options.
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: ander on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:40:50: Quote from: noisyturtle on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:27:50
That would be cool as a sort of keyboard screensaver, but I couldn't imagine having it active all the time. Also, those caps probably feel like straight ass.

You do understand they're not actual KBs, right? Just clocks? :?)
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: ander on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:41:34: Closeup:

(http://i.imgur.com/ZGYKrdy.jpg)
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: bueller on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:47:18: AWESOME. Do want.
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: noisyturtle on Mon, 16 March 2015, 01:01:30: Quote from: ander on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:40:50
Quote from: noisyturtle on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:27:50
That would be cool as a sort of keyboard screensaver, but I couldn't imagine having it active all the time. Also, those caps probably feel like straight ass.

You do understand they're not actual KBs, right? Just clocks? :?)

:)) I do now, I thought they were legit kb's. Welp :-[
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: ander on Mon, 16 March 2015, 01:21:36: Quote from: noisyturtle on Mon, 16 March 2015, 01:01:30
:)) I do now, I thought they were legit kb's. Welp :-[

The only clock I've ever had that I could type on was this mid-'70s G.E. 7-4800A:

(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lVIAAOSw-W5UzWkh/s-l1600.jpg)

Still have it, though, and it's working great... The IBM Model M of clock radios!
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: Coreda on Mon, 16 March 2015, 01:37:14: Quote from: ander on Sun, 15 March 2015, 23:40:50
You do understand they're not actual KBs, right? Just clocks? :?)

Aww :( Wish keys could be illuminated like that, regular backlights don't looks as even.
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: ander on Mon, 16 March 2015, 04:17:21: Quote from: Coreda on Mon, 16 March 2015, 01:37:14
Aww :( Wish keys could be illuminated like that, regular backlights don't looks as even.

Time to get out the relegendable keys and the soldering iron!
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: 0100010 on Fri, 20 March 2015, 17:48:26: While a cool looking novelty, $59USD is a bit much for an alarm clock.
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: Findecanor on Fri, 20 March 2015, 18:56:09: Screw the clocks. I want backlit keys that look as nice as those on my keyboard.
Title: Re: Keyboard clocks? Clock keyboards?
Post by: ander on Sat, 21 March 2015, 00:05:43: Quote from: 0100010 on Fri, 20 March 2015, 17:48:26
While a cool looking novelty, $59USD is a bit much for an alarm clock.

But $900 isn't unreasonable (http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Industrial-Gray-SSK-Space-Saving-Keyboard-Model-M-1395682-Factory-Customized-/221714179171?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339f31e463) for a Model M just because it's gray, has a few blue keys, and lacks a number pad. It's just that kind of world.