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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jason on Fri, 20 November 2009, 21:27:03

Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: Jason on Fri, 20 November 2009, 21:27:03
Hey all,

I've been curious about Topres recently, and wondered if my Sun Type 5c approximates the feel of a Topre. I'm not even sure what kind of switch is in this thing, as I'm not sure how to identify a dome+capacitive switch board.

Is the 5c a dome+capacitive switch board similar to the topre? Or is it just a decent-feeling rubber dome? Any thoughts on the Sun 5c in general?
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: msiegel on Fri, 20 November 2009, 21:29:35
if it's this one (http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t529-secret-project-sun-keyboard-mod.html), it looks like a standard rubber dome
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: Jason on Fri, 20 November 2009, 21:43:36
Yeah, that's the keyboard, though mines is UK layout. Thanks!
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: rdjack21 on Sat, 21 November 2009, 00:30:19
The only sun Topre board that I'm aware of has this layout:

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5845&stc=1&d=1258784436)

And here is the actual board and as you can see the actual boards layout is a little different than the picture above. This one is the closest I've come to finding that layout in an actual board.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5846&stc=1&d=1258784436)

If I remember correctly the layout is a 5e there was also a Japanese version of it as well. You can see it in this picture:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5847&stc=1&d=1258784595)

That one above is actually for sale right now on Yahoo Japan for 11,000 yen which is not a bad price considering it also comes with a KVM in a 1U rack mount package. That has been tempting me for awhile now but I already have the MD01B0 which is essentially the same board and I had other boards I wanted more.
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 21 November 2009, 05:03:18
What are those low profile Topre boards like? I hear they're like old Thinkpad boards, which would basically make them an overpriced M4-1. =P
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: rdjack21 on Sat, 21 November 2009, 10:23:07
Quote from: ch_123;134869
What are those low profile Topre boards like? I hear they're like old Thinkpad boards, which would basically make them an overpriced M4-1. =P


Take a look here http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:7344

But the key points are:
1) 3.5mm key travel so almost full keyboard key travel.
2) normal key spacing
3) uniform 55g key weight - really the only complaint I have of the board.
4) Fantastic Topre key feel to them.

I really like the MD01B0 I have but it could be better.
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 21 November 2009, 16:49:20
Interesting. That said, I'd still take the M4-1. The key feel may be pretty average, but at it makes for it with the Trackpoint.
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 21 November 2009, 17:14:18
The trackpoints on an M4-1 take a little getting used to however. They are a little less sensitive to most other pointing sticks. But the sensitivity can be adjusted through Windows.
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: rdjack21 on Sat, 21 November 2009, 21:49:29
Quote from: ch_123;135045
Interesting. That said, I'd still take the M4-1. The key feel may be pretty average, but at it makes for it with the Trackpoint.


Yea I keep thinking I need to pick up a M4 but I just haven't for some reason.
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: paranonia on Sat, 05 December 2009, 01:58:06
I have both of them (Sun Type 5c and Topre Realforce 101).

The feeling on keyboards is similar, RF101 is a little bit better than Type 5c, but not much.

If you have Type 5c, just keep it, the keyboard is manufacttured in good manner.
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 05 December 2009, 06:02:32
We were firing up an old Sparcstation 5 we found in college yesterday, and I was cleaning it's Type 5 keyboard. I had opened it up and was surprised to see how very Model M-like the construction of the keyboard assembly was. One major difference (and  improvement) though - the Type 5 has screws instead of plastic rivets.
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 05 December 2009, 06:59:24
Quote from: rdjack21;134833
The only sun Topre board that I'm aware of has this layout:

Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5845&stc=1&d=1258784436)


And here is the actual board and as you can see the actual boards layout is a little different than the picture above. This one is the closest I've come to finding that layout in an actual board.
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5846&stc=1&d=1258784436)


If I remember correctly the layout is a 5e there was also a Japanese version of it as well. You can see it in this picture:
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5847&stc=1&d=1258784595)


That one above is actually for sale right now on Yahoo Japan for 11,000 yen which is not a bad price considering it also comes with a KVM in a 1U rack mount package. That has been tempting me for awhile now but I already have the MD01B0 which is essentially the same board and I had other boards I wanted more.


I don't have much experience with Sun Microsystems computers (SunOS, Solaris) but these Topre sun keyboards work with an IBM-compatible system?
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 05 December 2009, 11:36:10
Nope, they use a Sun-only connector. You can get an adaptor though, but it would just be better to get the PC equivalent.

Also, those things would be sell for over $100, a bit out of your price range =P
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: rdjack21 on Sat, 05 December 2009, 14:18:38
Quote from: ch_123;139105
Nope, they use a Sun-only connector. You can get an adaptor though, but it would just be better to get the PC equivalent.

I have yet to find a PC equivalent for the US layout one. Which is why I got it.

Quote from: ch_123;139105
Also, those things would be sell for over $100, a bit out of your price range =P

The keyboard is out of his price range much less the adapter.

EDIT: forgot to add yes you can make them work on PC equipment with an adapter
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 06 December 2009, 05:13:21
Which Sun system was that thing for?
Title: Sun Type 5c
Post by: microsoft windows on Sun, 06 December 2009, 11:19:12
Quote from: ch_123;139105
Nope, they use a Sun-only connector. You can get an adaptor though, but it would just be better to get the PC equivalent.

Also, those things would be sell for over $100, a bit out of your price range =P


That's more like 7 bits out of my price range.