decent keyboards with keys to the left?

[djones]

anyone know of any good keyboards (cherries, capacitive, mechanical, etc) that have keys to the left side? like these:

[Waves77]

The Avant Stellar and the Unicomp 122 key terminal emulator.

[iMav]

That's an entirely different typing experience between the Symbolics keyboard (some feel is THE best keyboard for Emacs users) and that Sun 'board.

Are there specifics keys you'd like accessible on the "left side"?

[lowpoly]

Has anyone seen Symbolics equipment appear on ebay?

[iMav]

Has anyone seen Symbolics equipment appear on ebay?

It's very rare.  Those Lisp machines are still fairly coveted.

[lowpoly]

Too bad, I'd really like to have a vintage graphics workstation.

Those keyboards use the 'spave invaders' switches that were posted here recently:



They even made Symbolics to ADB converters.

[bhtooefr]

So, hang one of those off the Symbolics keyboard, hang a Griffin iMate off of that, and you've got a USB version.

[IBI]

There's a left handed mechanical keyboard about that has the numpad on the left - may be suitible for remapping.

The gateway anykey has that layout IIRC. It is rubber dome but it's nice rubber dome. The older IBM buckling spring keyboards also use the same layout.

[ahjota]

There's a left handed mechanical keyboard about that has the numpad on the left - may be suitible for remapping.

Are you talking about this DSI keyboard? I just received one from UPS not even twenty minutes ago, then near-instantly decided I am not a fan of the linear keyswitches. It is indeed a quality keyboard, though.

First post.

[iMav]

Are you talking about this DSI keyboard? I just received one from UPS not even twenty minutes ago, then near-instantly decided I am not a fan of the linear keyswitches. It is indeed a quality keyboard, though.

Not a lot of linear switch fans here.

First post.

Welcome to geekhack!

Are you going to send that keyboard back?

[ahjota]

Not a lot of linear switch fans here.

Welcome to geekhack!

Are you going to send that keyboard back?

Thanks! I came across this site late last year after a random thrifting trip resulted in the two keyboards in my sig, and have been lurking up until I read this thread.

I am going to return the keyboard. I knew I was getting linear switches, but because I've wanted a left-handed keyboard for the longest time, I thought they wouldn't be THAT bad. Guess not.

[xsphat]

My wife likes the MX linear switches in her keyboard, but I suspect she'd be happy with anything as long as the keyboard is white ...

[IBI]

Are you talking about this DSI keyboard? I just received one from UPS not even twenty minutes ago, then near-instantly decided I am not a fan of the linear keyswitches. It is indeed a quality keyboard, though.

First post.

Welcome

That is the keyboard I'm talking about, are the linear switches on it the cherry MX black ones? I'm not terribly a fan of them either - I think the springs in them are a bit strong.

[ahjota]

I don't know, as I've already repackaged the keyboard for shipment tomorrow. I'd pry it open and take a look, but I'd rather get my refund than the satisfaction of knowing the switch color. Hope you understand. :/

[Waves77]

Too bad, I'd really like to have a vintage graphics workstation.

Have you looked into SGI hardware?

Cool link here. Supposedly they show up on ebay from time to time.

[lowpoly]

Have you looked into SGI hardware?

Like a Personal Iris. That would be nice too.

I recently bought an old SGI keyboard which turned out to be rubber dome.

The Symbolics S-Graphics software evolved into Nichimen N-world, then into Mirai and Nendo. Today, Wings 3D is the only living (clone) successor. It's free and a great start into 3d if anyone is interested.

[IBI]

I recently bought an old SGI keyboard which turned out to be rubber dome.

Which model was it? I think the AT101 is supposed to be white alps and since I've never seen the macally and the Apple Extended keyboard is ADB it seems my best chance of trying that switch.

[lowpoly]

Which model was it?

This one:



Model# is 062-0002-00x.

[djones]

whoa, this thread thread grew while I was away for the weekend. the main reason I asked was because I'm running out of Function keys. I have F1-F4 for terminals, F5 for emacs, F6 for file manager, F7/F8 for browser, F9-F12 for media player control. Then I saw the extra keys on the Sun and Symbolics keyboard and thought it would be ideal to bind my most used applications to those left-of-the-keyboard keys, and less used apps to F1-F12.  It's all part of my quest to eliminate mouse usage as far as possible.

But wouldn't you all agree that, on a full-sized keyboard, it's silly that the main input area (ie, the qwerty keys) is all the way to the left? The symbolics keyboard makes so much more sense because you have extra keys all over the main input and you never have to deviate too much from the home row position.

Yea, I guess I'm dreaming again...

[Waves77]

You need an Optimus Prime

or maybe just plug in a second (small form) usb board and remap those?

[djones]

You need an Optimus Prime

or maybe just plug in a second (small form) usb board and remap those?

you mean that ridiculous looking OLED keyboard? what keyswitches does it use? and all "programmable keypads" i've tried have cheap, mushy keys.

[xsphat]

No, you need a Megatron Stellar.

[ecru]

I expect it is possible (though not simple) to map keys on a separate keypad independently to the keypad on the keyboard.

If so a Cherry G80-3700, Majestouch FKBT22MB, or Majestouch FKB22MB may be of interest.

[IBI]

whoa, this thread thread grew while I was away for the weekend. the main reason I asked was because I'm running out of Function keys. I have F1-F4 for terminals, F5 for emacs, F6 for file manager, F7/F8 for browser, F9-F12 for media player control. Then I saw the extra keys on the Sun and Symbolics keyboard and thought it would be ideal to bind my most used applications to those left-of-the-keyboard keys, and less used apps to F1-F12.  It's all part of my quest to eliminate mouse usage as far as possible.

Add the MCK-142 and the Versakey to that list then (I'm not sure what type of mechanism the latter uses).

This one:

Model# is 062-0002-00x.

Thanks

you mean that ridiculous looking OLED keyboard? what keyswitches does it use? and all "programmable keypads" i've tried have cheap, mushy keys.

Cherry ML low profile mechanical switches like the G84-4100 does. Given the bigger than normal width of the keys it may have trouble with offcentre activation like some ML keyboards - although I haven't tried one.

[bhtooefr]

One nice thing about the Optimus Maximus is, IIRC, the keyswitches are in the keys themselves, not the board - that way, there doesn't have to be a flexible cable or anything. But, it means, if a keyswitch has failed, you just have to replace that key, which is very easy.

But, it's over $1800.

Edit: Hmm, just watched a video review, the keyswitch IS in the board. Never mind.

[spline_x]

One nice thing about the Optimus Maximus is, IIRC, the keyswitches are in the keys themselves, not the board - that way, there doesn't have to be a flexible cable or anything. But, it means, if a keyswitch has failed, you just have to replace that key, which is very easy.

But, it's over $1800.

Edit: Hmm, just watched a video review, the keyswitch IS in the board. Never mind.

Yeah, and after studying the keytops on their website along with datasheets for Cherry ML/MX switches and pics/footage of the Optimus, I can guarantee they are using Cherry ML swiches.  Also, looking at the keycaps leads me to believe the poor typing performance on the Optimus is due to the fact that the key tops themselves also have springs in the contact points for the OLEDs (rails along both sides of cap). So, you are basically adding the force for spring compression of the cap itself to the force of the ML (~45-50 cN or ~50 gm). This probably will feel a little awkward for most people when they type on it. Over time I'm sure they will improve upon the design as another poster said earlier. It probably feels like a laptop with stiffer keys.

Also had to add that replacement keys will be priced around $10/ea (not bad) but still 15-1600 is VERY steep!