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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: didjamatic on Wed, 07 April 2010, 17:06:08

Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 07 April 2010, 17:06:08: Does anyone know of a source for keyboards with PCB mounted Cherry Blue switches that currently has stock in USA? Many websites show stock but don't have any.
Tenkeyless/compact not necessary but Standard enter and backspace keys are preferred. Filcos and Scorpius M10's are plate mounted, so they're out. I would settle for 100-120 or so switches but prefer a keyboard since anyone who has switches want more than the <.25 per switch you can get them for by buying a Scorpius M10.

(http://www.shoppalstores.com/ibmmodelm/image//0062.JPG)

Too bad Cherry doesn't make this one that someone cut down:
(http://homepage2.nifty.com/sskicr/remodel/image/g80-3000/g80-3000-1.jpg)
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: Nonmouse on Wed, 07 April 2010, 20:48:30: Quote from: didjamatic;170460
the <.25 per switch you can get them for by buying a Scorpius M10.

Errr... where are M10s selling for <$26.25? Cheapest I've seen 'em is ~$50...
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 07 April 2010, 20:57:54: Quote from: Nonmouse;170494
Errr... where are M10s selling for <$26.25? Cheapest I've seen 'em is ~$50...

<$0.25 per switch when you consider there are over 100 switches in a $50 M10 keyboard.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 07 April 2010, 21:00:14: A brand new M10 with over 100 switches at $50 would be <.50 per switch. With so many broken ones out there with frustrated owners, I'm assuming one can be had for half of that which would be .25 per switch.

I'd rather get a Cherry made keyboard with PCB mounted Blues, but if I can't find that, then I'll try to find something to harvest switches out of. I have an ivory "West Germany" G80-1800 with blacks and double shots that would be a good candidate for a swap.
Title: Re: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 07 April 2010, 23:17:34: I was thinking only plate mounted boards could take plate mounted switches, ill have to look closer. I would prefer to just get a good cherry blue board and not do a swap. For some reason I have always thought g80-3000lscrc2 boards were common and available for purchase. (the ones with standard enter key)
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Thu, 08 April 2010, 04:19:26: Here was one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110513315184&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2723wt_965

Sold buy it now while I was thinking about an offer on it. :P

Your best bet would be to order a G80-3000LSCRC-2 and hope it comes in. I did that but finally bought it from neptunebadger.

Probably the "good cherry blue board" with "spacesaver layout" is the Dolch keyboard. For what it's worth I was in discussion with the seller of the item above, was able to get him accept $45 best offer + $29.99 shipping from canada for the keyboard and keyboard cable alone. Which would have been $75 shipped for a used G80-1800 blue cherry board with doubleshots and cool coloring. Oh and no windows keys.

G80-3000LSCRC-2 is good too but it's a bit of a battle cruiser.

Oh I found another good source, it's on a this forum with lots of geeks who are totally obsessed with keyboards. You might have to get freaky if you deal with them too..
http://geekhack.org/classifieds.php?do=showad&adid=338&title=fs-ft-das-keyboard-ii

One last thing to consider is you can harvest fake cherry stems from a chicony KB-5191 as described in my thread here:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=9256
Here is the link to the now sold out keyboards, they were 9.99 each with shipping
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120539949877&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3580wt_958
** edit ** rereading my own post, turns out you can't do this cause the real cherry keycaps are too loose to fit onto the fake cherry stems. You could probably do it if you glued it but that wouldn't be very nice to your pretty board.

I have one of these kb-5191, quite clicky and nice.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 April 2010, 08:29:25: Thanks guys, I'll first try the geekhack seller, pm'd them. If that falls through then I'll check those others. I'm not wanting Chinese on the keys, I would prefer English or blank.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Thu, 08 April 2010, 10:48:22: Quote from: ripster;170543
You can give Gemini Computers a call. Supposedly they can order the Chinese Lettered Cherry Corps.

I just phoned Gemini and was told they can not get these anymore, period. No special orders, nothing. Oh well.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 08 April 2010, 11:28:47: Quote from: ripster;170637
Too bad when you reach the top you're STILL in Philly.

Strong.

Thanks for showing one of my home movies.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 April 2010, 11:33:13: Ruumis, I called another place and they said the same thing after talking to Cherry. They said no more would be available.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 08 April 2010, 12:08:25: I was wearing my Italian Stallion shirt last week to a Subway I frequent a lot. I ordered my usual - a footlong Spicy Italian on Italian Herbs and Cheese. I was so ashamed, the "sandwich artists" were laughing.

My GF orded a footlong Spicy Italian, too, but that was later.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: kishy on Thu, 08 April 2010, 12:23:11: I'd expect these references to get old quickly, but they just don't...

Keeps me entertained at work. Good job!
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Thu, 08 April 2010, 12:48:32: R.I.P. G80-3000LSCRC-2. A board we knew and loved well.

(http://www.canadaremembersairshow.com/photos/2005/2005_21gun_salute.jpg)
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 08 April 2010, 12:55:05: G80-3000LSCRC-2 - We called him "Jimmy."
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 08 April 2010, 12:56:10: Quote from: ripster;170663
The Bruce Springsteen guy cracks me up just looking at him.

Ha, he's a little over the top. The old guy in the jogging suit is a little cliche, too.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 08 April 2010, 13:05:44: I want to stick a knife in his gut to see if he'll pop.

BTW, I'm the guy standing in the back with the green shirt.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 April 2010, 13:07:12: Quote from: itlnstln;170673
BTW, I'm the guy standing in the back with the green shirt.

You're Furio? It was implied he was killed after being sent back to Italy, but they never actually said it. Tony told Carmella that she wouldn't be hearing from him anymore. I liked Furio. Much better than Big **** (guy in the back on the far right, wacked in season 2 I think)
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 April 2010, 13:08:23: Yep, just what I thought - nice Ripster!

Check out result #1 Cherry Corp Sales (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=Cherry+Corp+Sales&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&safe=active)
(http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/173856/87_20fat_20guy_20in_20a_20little_20beach.jpg)
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 April 2010, 13:17:32: LMAO, you kill me.

Is there another G80-3000 or 1800 that has cherry blues out there... with a standard enter key?
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Thu, 08 April 2010, 13:54:39: Another link to a PCB mounted blue cherry spacesaver board. That you won't be able to find probably :P Desko E-BMOCS 4013 UP SAB:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ko&u=http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/%3Fmid%3Dreview%26page%3D2%26document_srl%3D1227083&ei=8WmhS8jrJoSssgPP-_3IAw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAcQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Ddesko%2Bkeyboard%2Bkbdmania%2Bbmos%26hl%3Den
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 April 2010, 13:59:31: I thought the Deskos were cherry blacks that people did swaps on. EDIT - Oh, different model.

Oh and remember, it's a elbowglue SPOS. :)
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Thu, 08 April 2010, 14:05:06: That was me. :) People (me) have done swaps into them. The item on ebay I had listed on ebay happened to have cherry black switches, but those desko boards have either cherry blue or cherry blacks depending on the model number. I took the switches out of a g80-3000LSCRC. But some of these deskos come with cherry blues if I'm not mistaken.

Some of the large sized desko's also have cherry blues. I typed on some KB's at the airport and they had desko cherry blues (full size) for sure. However, the Desko "ML's" on ebay currently are not MX switches at all, they are MY. Check out my pic here: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=9203
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: Nonmouse on Thu, 08 April 2010, 14:35:14: Quote from: itlnstln;170656

My GF orded a footlong Spicy Italian, too, but that was later.

Too bad she had to get it in three sections, huh?

Bada-bing!
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 08 April 2010, 14:53:23: Quote from: elbowglue;170688
Some of the large sized desko's also have cherry blues. I typed on some KB's at the airport and they had desko cherry blues (full size) for sure.

I hope you didn't pry a key cap off of a keyboard in an airport, that would get you cavity searched in a hurry.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 08 April 2010, 15:38:22: Quote from: Nonmouse;170694
Too bad she had to get it in three sections, huh?

Bada-bing!

Hey, I always deliver. Sometimes, it's easier to take something large in smaller doses.

However... let me refer you to this (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=168408&postcount=25).
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Sat, 10 April 2010, 07:34:17: http://geekhack.org/classifieds.php?do=showad&adid=341&title=cherry-keyswitch-mx1a-e1jw-e1nw-11nn-relegendable-keycaps

Dosen't matter about the mounting on these, you can pop the top and use the spring/blue cherry switch. 104 of them would be $57 bucks + shipping from korea. Not the best deal. I wonder how MX1A-E1NW and MX1A-E1JW differ.

Oh I figured it out, one has a wire jumper and the other has no jumper. Now I wonder what the difference is in the non-jumpered one vs the jumpered one.
http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/cherry_mx.html
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: keyb_gr on Sat, 10 April 2010, 07:46:36: Quote from: elbowglue;171134
Oh I figured it out, one has a wire jumper and the other has no jumper. Now I wonder what the difference is in the non-jumpered one vs the jumpered one.

Cyclic statement is cyclic.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 10 April 2010, 07:49:08: From Cherry's page on MX switches (http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/key/mx.htm)... "LED, diode or jumper option" I was thinking at first that the jumper option could be FOR an LED, but it doesn't appear to be. It must be a terminal that has voltage to it so you could run leads from that point. Maybe for an external LED?
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 10 April 2010, 09:40:09: If you look at the Sandy page, it shows them with LED, wire/jumper, or nothing in the other. I don't see a diode in there, but wouldn't something need to be there?
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: kishy on Sat, 10 April 2010, 10:47:53: Quote from: keyb_gr;171135
Cyclic statement is cyclic.

For some reason that read as:

Cyrillic statement is cyrillic.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 10 April 2010, 10:48:35: Dang, we're on page 3 and still no source for a Blue Cherry board.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 10 April 2010, 12:05:27: Thanks Ripster, I didn't know about those. Do you know if they're PCB mounted?

Provantage (http://www.provantage.com/adesso-mkb-135b~7ADES09P.htm) has them for $57 and $71 but they are a special order right now, maybe due to being a new model? I've ordered from them countless times and have no issues.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: JBert on Sat, 10 April 2010, 14:26:00: Quote from: didjamatic;171152
If you look at the Sandy page, it shows them with LED, wire/jumper, or nothing in the other. I don't see a diode in there, but wouldn't something need to be there?
Well no, it's nothing more than a little cut-out to keep room for a LED or diode and two small holes which go right through the switch so the wires can be connected to the PCB. There is no wire in the holes by default, so the switch can work without it.

I've noticed though that Cherry puts wires in it when the switches are PCB-mounted. The extra wires keeps the switch in place whereas plate-mounted switches get the needed support from the plate.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: keyb_gr on Sun, 11 April 2010, 16:03:56: Newer Cherry PCB layouts in particular use these wire bridges quite heavily. Saves on layers.

Obviously the more solder joints a trace has to go through, the more likely is it to be interrupted at some point - which is what happened on my KB-5181. I bet this accounts for a report of key failures in more recent G80-3000s I've seen, in conjunction with lead-free solder. In all honesty, solder joint quality in consumer electronics hasn't been the same since things went lead-free. I don't think it was the intention of the RoHS directive to increase the amount of electronic waste...
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Wed, 21 April 2010, 09:19:38: g80-3000lscrc-2 currently IN STOCK at Gemini (http://www.geminicomputersinc.com/g80-3000lscrc-2.html)! They had 9 when I called them. Now they're down to 8. $66.25 with no tax and free ground shipping (in the US, anyway).
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 21 April 2010, 09:25:32: I wonder if they found a few laying around the warehouse. This keyboard is awesome (I am typing on brown version right now). Be sure to hook one up.

Quote from: ruumis
They had 9 when I called them. Now they're down to 8.

I take it you bought one?
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Wed, 21 April 2010, 09:44:56: Quote from: itlnstln;174075
I take it you bought one?

You are correct, sir. The reason I called was to make sure they actually had them physically on hand before I pulled the trigger. However they acquired these last few, I doubt they'll be getting any more. My previous call to Gemini was a length conversation with the owner about how difficult it is to do business with Cherry and how he fully did not expect to get any more of these boards, ever. (Although strangely, Cherry has a facebook page that is somewhat regularly updated).

I figure I grab this now, compare it with the Adesso (whenever it's available), and then sell the one I like the least.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Wed, 21 April 2010, 20:07:55: Hot damn!!! the legendary G80-3000LSCRC is back!!
Nice find!

Now I must resist purchasing this..
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: Nonmouse on Wed, 21 April 2010, 21:17:26: Quote from: ripster;174268
Gentle reminder to anyone following the legend.

It helps if you speak (or at least like) Chinese.

So how does one access the Chinese characters? Do you have to have Windows set to Chinese, or is there a combination of keypresses that will send the characters? I guess what I'm really asking is, does this board act any differently than a US board?
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Thu, 22 April 2010, 10:43:29: Don't want to trigger a panic but:

I asked totalbarcode if they have any g80-3000LSCRC-2's in stock, here is the response:
Hi Edward,
At this time I do not have any of that specific part number in stock, and it does not look like I will be getting anymore. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Thanks!

XXXXXXX
Account Manager
TOTALBARCODE.com
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Thu, 22 April 2010, 14:59:07: Quote from: elbowglue;174463
Don't want to trigger a panic but...

I thought the scarcity of supply was a known issue. That's why I made such a big deal of Gemini sourcing a few more of these. If anyone has been waiting for them to resurface, now is the time to act. They are not likely to show up again.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 22 April 2010, 15:57:09: I believe the board acts like a US English keyboard unless you set your region settings in windows to Chinese. I work next to a dude with a Chinese board on a WYSE terminal, I'll ask.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Fri, 23 April 2010, 14:12:23: just confirming that these are actually in stock at Gemini, because I got a tracking number showing that mine has shipped.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Fri, 23 April 2010, 15:07:43: Nice find ruumis. Yeah I was trying to mean that it is possible gemini may have the last 8 of these keyboards in existence for sale. I love this keyboard and it's anticipated scarcity makes me anxious, i.e. anxious to buy something I don't need at this time. Totalbarcode.com sells is a little cheaper but they have no stock and likely will not have anymore either.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Fri, 23 April 2010, 22:06:48: As of Friday evening they appear to be out of stock once again. Congratulations to the buyers who acted quickly!
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: phoenix on Fri, 23 April 2010, 23:01:44: I would guess 99% of Chinese will find the symbols distracting and useless, because the input methods that use those phonetic symbols and character units are not taught in mainland China. They are only used in regions where the Big5 encoding for traditional Chinese is used (e.g., HK and TW).

To input simplified Chinese it's best to have an ANSI or ISO US layout. You will need to install an input method (usually called an IME in Windows). The simplest one uses PinYin (romanized phonetic symbols, in contrast to the glyph-based phonetic symbols of old).

Quote from: ripster;174268
Gentle reminder to anyone following the legend.

It helps if you speak (or at least like) Chinese.
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1959&d=1232443991)
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Tue, 27 April 2010, 13:57:58: Got mine yesterday, and loving it. My first blue cherry experience. The only thing throwing me a bit is the lack of F/J dimples. I never realized how much I rely on those for touch-typing, until now.

Keycaps appear to be lasered so I'm not sure if it's worth the time/effort to swap them out with the double-shots I have.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:02:15: You'll get used to the scooped F and J, but it does feel awkward at first. The lasered caps are good, I just find the printing to be soft/blurry/fuzzy/whatever. As far as durability goes, they will be just as good as the double-shots.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:12:08: I ordered one about 1ms after you posted they were available. I was going to get a second if I really liked it. Mine still hasn't arrived.

Thanks for the heads up.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:13:58: I can't wait for my new 'board to come in. It'll be epoch, er, epic.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:23:58: didjamatic, glad to hear you were able to snag one, since you were the OP after all. I thank YOU for inspiring me to check Gemini yet again, for the umpteenth time. I had pretty much given up all hope. The only problem now is that I want a second one, and this time they might really be gone for good.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:25:43: Quote from: ruumis;176667
didjamatic, glad to hear you were able to snag one, since you were the OP after all. I thank YOU for inspiring me to check Gemini yet again, for the umpteenth time. I had pretty much given up all hope. The only problem now is that I want a second one, and this time they might really be gone for good.

Search for a Das Keyboard 2. They are basically the same thing. The Das 2 is just a Cherry G80-3000 with blue switches and blank caps.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: ruumis on Tue, 27 April 2010, 14:30:55: I spoke too soon.... I just called "Barcode Spot (http://www.barcodespot.com/search/G80-3000LSCRC-2)" and as of 8:30am today, they had 9 of these in stock. The bad news is that the price ($67.87) does not include shipping. However, it's an option for those who weren't able to take advantage of the Gemini stock!
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 27 April 2010, 16:00:27: Don't believe the availability on their site unless someone puts their hands on them or you order and get a shipped notice. I bought 2 of them online from different sites (each said 3 in stock) and they ended up being the same people with multiple websites and they didn't have any. It's hard to tell what companies are separate or just a front for another company.
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 27 April 2010, 16:23:41: Good to know, thanks!
Title: Live source for Blue Cherry boards?
Post by: elbowglue on Tue, 27 April 2010, 17:19:54: 4 left here -
http://www.barcodegiant.com/cherry/part-g80-3000lscrc-2.htm?pg
$64.20 with free shipping

I bought one.

edit: Hmmmmmm. this may not be for real, I bought one and still says 4 left after my purchase.

Edit #2: I had placed an order, it apparently is on backorder, they have none in stock. Damn, gotta cancel it :P