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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 16:38:07

Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 16:38:07: I'm taking technical writing and most of our classes are going to be in the computer lab. Rather than using the crappy keyboards in the lab, i'd like to bring my own. The only compact mechanical keyboard that isnt $250 is the SMK-88. I've been eyeing this board ever since i first got into mechanical keyboards. The price is tolerable, although i am jealous of the guy on here that reviewed that paid like $30 for it. i guess i could go filco, but if i could get away without spending that much (and have something smaller) that would be great... suggestions? :D
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 08 September 2009, 16:41:33: You might want to try a Cherry ML-4100. It's tiny, and the switches aren't decent for short-throws. It uses ML switches, and they are mechanical.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 08 September 2009, 16:46:08: HHKB because it's quiet and compact. Alternatively the IBM M4-1, although they aren't the best to type on.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 08 September 2009, 17:40:37: I wouldnt advise using a clicky keyboard in a lab with other people. They will get angry.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: timw4mail on Tue, 08 September 2009, 18:05:03: ML switches aren't clicky.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 08 September 2009, 18:15:05: Quote from: ripster;115896
Good point. That does make it somewhat easier - Brown Cherries would be better than ALPS for quiet. Don't know of any mini boards with them though.

Filcos should be mini enough. Or a NIB Compaq MX11800.

Quote
ML switches aren't clicky.

No one said otherwise.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: timw4mail on Tue, 08 September 2009, 18:23:58: Quote from: ch_123;115907
Filcos should be mini enough. Or a NIB Compaq MX11800.

The Compaq can be fairly noisy bottoming out, though.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 18:45:26: Quote from: itlnstln;115873
You might want to try a Cherry ML-4100. It's tiny, and the switches aren't decent for short-throws. It uses ML switches, and they are mechanical.
what do you mean by "short-throws"?

Quote from: ch_123;115875
HHKB because it's quiet and compact. Alternatively the IBM M4-1, although they aren't the best to type on.
yeah, the HHKB is really sexy, but i dont want to spend $250 just yet haha

Quote from: ripster;115876
They sure aren't. I'd rather use my rubber dome M4 than those. EDIT: Ignore that, I've only tried the MY on the G81 series so I don't know if they are any good.

Not a lot of choices for good clicky portable keyboards.
I think i've seen those G81's around on ebay before

Quote from: ripster;115896
Good point. That does make it somewhat easier - Brown Cherries would be better than ALPS for quiet. Don't know of any mini boards with them though.
i've got that DSI big font keyboard with linear alps and that thing is not quiet...

So if yall had <$100 in your pocket and wanted a keyboard you could take everywhere and noise was somewhat of an issue... what would yall go with? any objections to the SMK88?

EDIT: wow sorry guys, i didnt realize other people had commented, hold on just a sec :D
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:09:02: Quote from: itlnstln;115873
You might want to try a Cherry ML-4100. It's tiny, and the switches aren't decent for short-throws. It uses ML switches, and they are mechanical.

yeah i've seen that one before, and i think its cool, but i think that it'd be too small for me. i dont have big hands, but if i'm going to be doing any kind of sustained typing, i'd prefer to type on something a little roomier
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:13:57: Quote from: ripster;115920
Here's another. Webwit didn't like the M4 and suggested this (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=102266&postcount=50), the BTC 5100-C.

Show Image
(http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/23-110-008-02.jpg)

yeah thats more along the lines of what i'm looking for. so i'm under the impression that its a rubber dome keyboard?

one thing that i like about the smk 88 is the fact that the cord is detachable. i dont throw my backpack around, but if i could save that cable from unnecessary bending where it meets the board that would be nice.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: talis on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:14:32: Quote from: ripster;115920
Here's another. Webwit didn't like the M4 and suggested this (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=102266&postcount=50), the BTC 5100-C.

Show Image
(http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/23-110-008-02.jpg)

Either that's a re-branding of the Siig minitouch+ (the rubber dome versions), or vice versa. They look identical, right down to the pencil trough in the top and the Euro marker on the 5 key.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:25:12: Quote from: talis;115938
Either that's a re-branding of the Siig minitouch+ (the rubber dome versions), or vice versa. They look identical, right down to the pencil trough in the top and the Euro marker on the 5 key.

yeah i've seen that siig minitouch as someone's avatar around here and i do like that quite a bit... are all of the minitouch's alps? if so, what kind of alps?

on ebay, they all seem to be about $50, so roughly ~$30 less than the SMK-88. the difference being, other than different switches, you get a detachable cable, and a built in USB hub, and some media buttons, which may or may not work, and even so, arent really useful to me anyway, as i'll mainly be using it for word processing.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:31:39: Quote from: ripster;115940
Might want to call DSI and see if they really are still selling the SMK-88s. The website says they are but that's been wrong before and this post didn't sound encouraging (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=6690).

i really like the SMK-88... i'd much rather have that than that goofy modular one... i haven't given them a call asking about the SMK88, but i did ask them about the big font alps and they were good about getting back to me on that... have you looked around on their site? they have so much random crap... you can get a kickstand for you segway :D
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:34:54: Quote from: ripster;115948
I think the Siig PLUS ones are all rubber domes. Unfortunately, that's all that popped up on Ebay as well in a quick search.

Good mini mechanicals are tough.

i think i remember seeing something about cherry making low-profile mechanical keyswitches? any info on those?
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: SCTony on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:39:43: If you dont mind used, quirky, and a bit clacky you might look at an Apple M0116. It is small and mechanical(orange Alps I believe). You would need a cable and a Griffin iMate but you could probably get set up for around a hundred dollars. Just an idea.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:45:59: Quote from: SCTony;115953
If you dont mind used, quirky, and a bit clacky you might look at an Apple M0116. It is small and mechanical(orange Alps I believe). You would need a cable and a Griffin iMate but you could probably get set up for around a hundred dollars. Just an idea.

probably out of my price range, but i'll see what i can find
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 19:47:47: Quote from: ripster;115957
Whoah - what's this. Hmm... looks like a lot of work (http://gbennett.whsites.net/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=18).

Show Image
(http://gbennett.whsites.net/zencart/images/products/mackb.jpg)

i saw that just now on that same site :D

that does look really goofy, and if that actually worked it would be awesome

on the site it says
Quote
The original Macintosh Keyboard, for the Mac 128k, 512k, 512kE and Plus. Uses a standard RJ-9 coiled phone handset cord to connect to the computer (not included).

that would certainly be interesting
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: travnewmatic on Tue, 08 September 2009, 20:02:01: Quote from: ripster;115960
Yeah, you would have to get one of these from here. (http://m0115.web.fc2.com/)

Show Image
(http://m0115.web.fc2.com/ps2m0110.jpg)

That is slick if you're an Apple fan though.

Anyone feel like we are falling down the hole yet??

i think i have all the information i need. i'll get in touch with DSI to see what they have in stock. other than that, the compact BTC one or the Siig Minitouch+, or if i'm inebriated, the hhkb pro.

I appreciate all the feedback! thanks guys!
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 09 September 2009, 08:17:34: Quote from: ripster;115952
I think Itlnstln meant they are decent.

I think I crossed an "aren't bad" with an "are decent" and got that abomination.

Short-throw or short-travel switches are like scissors in a laptop. You don't (or can't, really) push them down very far unlike regular switches.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: lowpoly on Fri, 11 September 2009, 02:34:39: That M0110 is like #1 or #2 on my to-get list. Looks like a vintage HHKB.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 11 September 2009, 04:55:49: Quote from: ripster;115936
The M4 is a 95% fullsize keyboard (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6509). The ML-4100 seems to be a 80%.

The ML4100 has 18mm key spacing, that's about 95% of fullsize too. It feels good, but that might be partly psychological because you expect a board of that size to be awful.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: rdjack21 on Fri, 11 September 2009, 09:30:28: Quote from: lowpoly;116904
That M0110 is like #1 or #2 on my to-get list. Looks like a vintage HHKB.

You know that is the first thing that popped in my head when I saw it. It really does look allot like the HHKB.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: rdh on Fri, 11 September 2009, 10:25:59: Quote from: lowpoly;116904
That M0110 is like #1 or #2 on my to-get list. Looks like a vintage HHKB.

What kind of key switches does it use?

Quote from: rdjack21;116967
You know that is the first thing that popped in my head when I saw it. It really does look allot like the HHKB.

I was reminded of the thread where someone wanted to DIY themselves a wireless board, 'cause it looks like you could fit a car battery inside it.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 11 September 2009, 14:44:57: You should bring an IBM Model M but remember to bring wheels with it too.
Title: Compact Keyboard Suggestions?
Post by: savage on Sun, 08 November 2009, 10:24:07: Quote from: microsoft windows;117052
You should bring an IBM Model M but remember to bring wheels with it too.

...and earplugs for your classmates.