ISO 60%'s or TKL's are hard to get by...

[heissler]

Good morning fellows,
as the title says, I'm looking for a new companion to my LEO500 and MJT2 which I will be using for work, and those things are quite rare in Germany. My preferences are:

• ISO layout
  
• Between 60% and TKL
• MX browns
• stock blank PBTs preferred, but not a must
• no backlighting preferred (or switchable)

Preferrably available from Europe
I have tried the CMs, but didn't like them for various reasons (one being the overused branding).

Let's hear some of your suggestions, thanks in advance guys!

[The_Beast]

Any interest in custom boards like the Phantom or the Gh60? They both support ISO and are programmable

[heissler]

I'm very interested myself, but I'm afraid I will not be able to sell this thing to my boss, at least not without serious additional investments of my own, which I'd like to leave out for working equipment :/
I'd say the budget is about 130$-160$, which will be far exceeded with the Phantom? Please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't really delved into the depths of custom boards yet 

[The_Beast]

I'm very interested myself, but I'm afraid I will not be able to sell this thing to my boss, at least not without serious additional investments of my own, which I'd like to leave out for working equipment :/
I'd say the budget is about 130$-160$, which will be far exceeded with the Phantom? Please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't really delved into the depths of custom boards yet 

You might be able to

$35 for the PCB/teensy
$25 for the plate
$15 for stabilizers


Which leaves around $85 for shipping, a case and switches. You might be able to pull it off, but it might be hard

[heissler]

Well I'm awaiting a load of caps from the Tai Hao GB and have a few leftovers aswell, but I see the problem in the case.
All of them I've seen in the GB sections seem to start at 100$ (or way more), but I have to admit that I haven't really looked around for cases yet. I am willing to invest some cash on my own, might be able to bring my home keyboards to work and use the Phantom for myself 

If you'd have any hints on where to get some decent cases for a reasonable price, I'd be a very thankful man 

[Photekq]

I'm very interested myself, but I'm afraid I will not be able to sell this thing to my boss, at least not without serious additional investments of my own, which I'd like to leave out for working equipment :/
I'd say the budget is about 130$-160$, which will be far exceeded with the Phantom? Please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't really delved into the depths of custom boards yet 

You might be able to

$35 for the PCB/teensy
$25 for the plate
$15 for stabilizers


Which leaves around $85 for shipping, a case and switches. You might be able to pull it off, but it might be hard

And then keycaps on top of that. Also, PCB kit on its own was $35. Teensy is an extra $20-ish.

[BlueBär]

Filco MJ2 TKL German layout with MX Browns: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/german-filco-majestouch-2-tenkeyless-nkr-tactile-action-keyboard.asp
Also, a GH60 with a plastic case from a Poker or Pure (they sometimes show up in the classifieds) and used switches taken out from a used board or something similar should only be a bit over your budget.

[heissler]

Filco MJ2 TKL German layout with MX Browns: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/german-filco-majestouch-2-tenkeyless-nkr-tactile-action-keyboard.asp
Also, a GH60 with a plastic case from a Poker or Pure (they sometimes show up in the classifieds) and used switches taken out from a used board or something similar should only be a bit over your budget.

Yes, thanks, this is kind of my last hope since my preferences are quite "exquisite" as it seems. Too bad I already own the MJT2, that's why I was looking for a bit of diversity   

[mashby]

I'm very interested myself, but I'm afraid I will not be able to sell this thing to my boss, at least not without serious additional investments of my own, which I'd like to leave out for working equipment :/
I'd say the budget is about 130$-160$, which will be far exceeded with the Phantom? Please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't really delved into the depths of custom boards yet 

The KBT Pure Pro is supposed to be available in ISO "soon". The European distributor for Vortex (the company that manufacturers them) has images of them at this link. That's about your best bet at this point.

The Tex Beetle is going to come out in an ISO layout I've heard and I believe I heard that the Poker II is supposed to come out in ISO, but I could be mistaken.

Hope that helps!

[badcop]

http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=1073

filco minila - iso layout and mx browns

its not bad if you can handle the stupid spacebar and non standard keys

or http://www.ducky-nordic.com/random/v3x3.jpg

ducky nordic but i dont know if thats out yet

[heissler]

@mashby: Thanks a lot, the TEX looks very promising, any info on a possible release date?

@badcop: Thanks a lot to you good sir, I have already contacted Ducky Nordic a few days ago, but am still waiting for a reply about the Ducky 60%

[esoomenona]

Have your work buy an ISO MJ2. Then, on your own, find a Phantom PCB, plate and Teensy. Desolder the switches from the MJ2, take the case to put the Phantom in, and use the caps. And there you go.

[BlueBär]

I think the Tex with it's standard metal case might get a bit too expensive, especially considering shipping and custom fees.

If you go for the Tex, the Pure Pro or the Filco Minila you're going to have trouble finding new keycaps. Keyboardco offers a blank set for ISO, but I think it's ABS.
Honestly, it doesn't take too long to adjust to a one row enter, and I use the key above for delete which is very handy, if you want blank caps I guess you're able to touch type, so I would recommend you to get an ANSI board and just use it with German layout, you then are not going to have problems getting custom caps and have a bigger amount of keyboards to choose from.

[mashby]

@mashby: Thanks a lot, the TEX looks very promising, any info on a possible release date?

The original Beetle was released in April, but no word yet on the ISO series.

[heissler]

You guys have convince me to forget about my ISO layout, I have just yet ordered my DK9087G2 TKL, time to get used to ANSI I guess