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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: lucas on Tue, 05 January 2010, 02:06:59

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: lucas on Tue, 05 January 2010, 02:06:59

I'm OCD, I'm sorry. I just want an exhaustive list so I can make sure I check them all out.

Must: under $100, no ten-key, USB native.
Preferred: black, no Windows logos, no pointing device.

Cherry G84-4100PTAUS -- black, no Windows keys -- $60
HHKB Lite2 -- black, generic special keys -- $60
Filco Fukka -- black, has Windows keys -- $85

What am I missing?

Thanks! (Sorry for being so annoying.)

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: bigpook on Tue, 05 January 2010, 09:51:04

Of the three you mentioned, I would go with the Fukka. It is easily the better of the other two you posted.

: ) Learn to love the windows key : ) or get a black sharpie...

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: spolia optima on Tue, 05 January 2010, 12:23:34

Quote from: bigpook;148134

Of the three you mentioned, I would go with the Fukka. It is easily the better of the other two you posted.

: ) Learn to love the windows key : ) or get a black sharpie...

My thoughts exactly. Personally, I would spring an extra 40 bux for cherries, but that's just me.

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: doornail on Tue, 05 January 2010, 13:46:43

Quote from: spolia optima;148148

Personally, I would spring an extra 40 bux for cherries, but that's just me.

Totally agree.  You're going to buy the Fukka and really like it -- then you'll get little nagging thoughts like, "I wonder how much better this would type with brown cherries?"

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: Viett on Tue, 05 January 2010, 15:56:43

Also, if you go with a cherry board, there's a chance you can get a flat, unmarked windows key in the future once Elitekeyboards starts stocking them (source (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=146894&postcount=2)).

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: lucas on Tue, 05 January 2010, 19:55:06

You guys are so bad for my wallet!

D:

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 05 January 2010, 20:43:14

I go the easy way and just forget about the Windows keys.

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: lucas on Wed, 06 January 2010, 04:22:52

I guess there are the Alps SMK85U and SMK85A, if I can find one.

DSI has a KB-ASK3900UB and a ACK-595 which I know nothing about.

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 06 January 2010, 07:21:33

Which, of the many many types of Alps do they use?

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 06 January 2010, 09:38:37

Yeah, it's almost a case of 'If they were good, everyone would have them'

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: lucas on Sun, 10 January 2010, 02:54:55

well, fine, i got a filco with cherry blues. i mostly type on a thinkpad, and occasionally on a model m. i think the blues will be a nice, fun compromise.

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 10 January 2010, 06:04:30

The Blues are always a good choice if you're starting out.

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: lucas on Mon, 11 January 2010, 16:37:25

coming from the model m, the cherry blue switches feel a little wuss. i'd like more resistance.

cherry blues have a 50 gram weight, and alps white have a 65 gram weight, correct?

maybe i should have gone with the alps white fukka (type i; simplified).

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 11 January 2010, 16:40:15

ALPS/Fukka will be what you want.

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: doornail on Mon, 11 January 2010, 17:52:40

Give the board a little more break in.  Once I got used to the brown cherries, pulling out my model M felt like stamping license plates.

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: lucas on Mon, 11 January 2010, 18:51:56

fair enough. i am enjoying it more and more. :)

Title: Cheap, Ten-key-less, USB-native?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 12 January 2010, 08:04:13

I had to ease into brown Cherrys.  I started on Model Ms (and rubber domes).  I then got into Alps, which were a little lighter.  I then checked out a Cherry brown (Compaq MX11800) and really liked the smoothness, but thought they were almost linear since I was so used to typing on heavy keyboards.  After using it for a few weeks, I really started to enjoy it once I got the lighter keypress down.  Now when I go back to those other 'boards, they feel way too heavy to use for any extended period of time.