Author Topic: Sun Type 5c (Read 4243 times)

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?

msiegel · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 21:29:35 »

if it's this one, it looks like a standard rubber dome

Jason · « **Reply #2 on:** Fri, 20 November 2009, 21:43:36 »

Yeah, that's the keyboard, though mines is UK layout. Thanks!

rdjack21 · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 21 November 2009, 00:30:19 »

The only sun Topre board that I'm aware of has this layout:

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.

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:

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.

ch_123 · « **Reply #4 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

rdjack21 · « **Reply #5 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.

ch_123 · « **Reply #6 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.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #7 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.

rdjack21 · « **Reply #8 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.

paranonia · « **Reply #9 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.

ch_123 · « **Reply #10 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.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #11 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

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

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

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?

ch_123 · « **Reply #12 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

rdjack21 · « **Reply #13 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

ch_123 · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 05:13:21 »

Which Sun system was that thing for?

microsoft windows · « **Reply #15 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.

News:

Author Topic: Sun Type 5c (Read 4243 times)