Modern keyboards with MX Lock switches

[maccoboy]

Hi All,

This is my first post so I apologise if I have placed this in the wrong place or if this is common knowledge, but I've been trying to find any modern(ish) keyboards that have Cherry MX lock switches. I'd preferably like 105 key keyboard and if possible a PCB mounted one though any would be great.

If there aren't any available I'd be happy knowing of any that are any older and easily(ish) accessible keyboards I could use?

Thanks for any help in advance

[hwood34]

No modern boards use lock switches since the advent of a lock key that doesn't need to be continuously held down. Not sure what older model boards have them. I know that there is one site that sells them though, not sure which one unfortunately.

[FrostyToast]

As Hwood said, lock switches have become useless with the improvement of keyboard logic.
The only practical way to get them would be through group buys or classifieds.
I know 7bit ran a buy on Deskthority not too long ago so there should be some floating around.
Finding a full board with them wouldn't do you much good as it likely won't be usable on a modern PC and it would be extremely rare. Actually, the switches on the other keys would probably be much more valuable on a board that old

[metalliqaz]

It would be very cool to have an MX lock key to play around with.  If you find any for sale report back?

[SpAmRaY]

I know 7bit ran a buy on Deskthority not too long ago so there should be some floating around.

7bit hasn't ever has enough interest to meet MOQ as far as I know they are still coming soon™.

I know that there is one site that sells them though, not sure which one unfortunately.

Most places are OOS and have been for a while, last time I found some and did a mini buy they were very hard to get. If you did find one retail it's likely listed for >$10 per switch and most of the time you'll find those listings are actually sold out also and haven't been updated.

[nubbinator]

It would be very cool to have an MX lock key to play around with.  If you find any for sale report back?

I may sell mine soon, but I would have to sell it for $25-30 to recoup my costs to get it.

[hwood34]

It would be very cool to have an MX lock key to play around with.  If you find any for sale report back?

I may sell mine soon, but I would have to sell it for $25-30 to recoup my costs to get it.

if metalliqaz or OP aren't interested I am

[metalliqaz]

It would be very cool to have an MX lock key to play around with.  If you find any for sale report back?

I may sell mine soon, but I would have to sell it for $25-30 to recoup my costs to get it.

if metalliqaz or OP aren't interested I am

I had no idea how much they cost!  I'm all set, thanks

[Findecanor]

As Hwood said, lock switches have become useless with the improvement of keyboard logic.

Really? What improved keyboard logic?
The logic is really at the host. The keyboard is dumb and only lights up the LED when the host tells it to. There is actually no relation between LEDs and keys within the keyboard.

I think the real reasons they are not used are:
1. A locking switch is a different type: more expensive.
2. Locking switches are not under software control
3. No modern OS seems to support them anyway, because the IBM PC never did and the PC's way of doing things rules even if you are a Mac or use Linux or something else.
4. If you use locking Caps Lock, you can't remap it to Control and have it work.

Older Macintosh keyboards had locking Alps switches. I think the ADB-USB adapters try to emulate them somehow.

BTW. On my home-built ErgoDox, I do have a MX Lock to swap between normal keyboard and numpad layer, but that is mostly as a gimmick. I got the switch in a MX switch sample bag from 7bit.

[SpAmRaY]

It would be very cool to have an MX lock key to play around with.  If you find any for sale report back?

I may sell mine soon, but I would have to sell it for $25-30 to recoup my costs to get it.

if metalliqaz or OP aren't interested I am

WTT sweet KWK cap for MX lock switch

[nubbinator]

It would be very cool to have an MX lock key to play around with.  If you find any for sale report back?

I may sell mine soon, but I would have to sell it for $25-30 to recoup my costs to get it.

if metalliqaz or OP aren't interested I am

WTT sweet KWK cap for MX lock switch

You know, I think I would probably do that.

[hwood34]

It would be very cool to have an MX lock key to play around with.  If you find any for sale report back?

I may sell mine soon, but I would have to sell it for $25-30 to recoup my costs to get it.

if metalliqaz or OP aren't interested I am

WTT sweet KWK cap for MX lock switch

You know, I think I would probably do that.

[metalliqaz]

The thing I like about it is that you can tell the state of the Caps Lock by feeling without looking at the keyboard.  On my firmware, you can assign a key to LOCKING_CAPS, which will manipulate the Caps Lock key correctly to support the MX Lock switch.

[SpAmRaY]

The thing I like about it is that you can tell the state of the Caps Lock by feeling without looking at the keyboard.  On my firmware, you can assign a key to LOCKING_CAPS, which will manipulate the Caps Lock key correctly to support the MX Lock switch.

When I get moved and am able to go through my stuff depending on how many lock switches I have left I'll hook you up.

[Joey Quinn]

I've been looking for an MX lock at a reasonable price for a while. I want one to replace the FN key on my 40%.

What would be a "fair" price for one?

[SpAmRaY]

I've been looking for an MX lock at a reasonable price for a while. I want one to replace the FN key on my 40%.

What would be a "fair" price for one?

~$5 plus shipping

[Joey Quinn]

I've been looking for an MX lock at a reasonable price for a while. I want one to replace the FN key on my 40%.

What would be a "fair" price for one?

~$5 plus shipping

That's what I was thinking but I've gotten several offers in the 15-20 + shipping range which isn't worth it for a switch I don't need.

[SpAmRaY]

I've been looking for an MX lock at a reasonable price for a while. I want one to replace the FN key on my 40%.

What would be a "fair" price for one?

~$5 plus shipping

That's what I was thinking but I've gotten several offers in the 15-20 + shipping range which isn't worth it for a switch I don't need.

Man I need to find some more of these since there is some interest.

[nubbinator]

I've been looking for an MX lock at a reasonable price for a while. I want one to replace the FN key on my 40%.

What would be a "fair" price for one?

~$5 plus shipping

$5-10 is the standard market price for new ones with grey tops...if you can find one somewhere.  Unfortunately I haven't seen one for sale anywhere outside of the buy that 7bit will supposedly be doing at some point.  I have to pull mine out again, but I think mine has a more white top.  To get one now, you have to find someone with one of the small handful out there or find a board to harvest one from. 

I managed to find a board with them for ~$35-40 (I forgot the exact amount).  The caps were crap and worthless, the stabs, while the best I have ever used, are unusable since they have a different mount than standard, and the switches would net me $10 total if I were to desolder and sell them at $0.20-0.25 each.

[SpAmRaY]

I just refer back to this

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=53967.0