I burned myself...(not physically)

[timw4mail]

So, after reading a review on the blue clicky NEC switches, I decided to try to find a keyboard with them. I did, but what a disappointment, the period key and 8 key in the main cluster are temperamental, working only a fraction of the times you press them.

The only upside is that the keys are double-shot, but then again, they are ALPS-type keys, and I'm thinking of getting rid of my ALPS keyboards.

Suggestions, thoughts? I really do not feel like soldering to a different spot on the PCB, as most of the switches are likely well-worn.

[wellington1869]

open up the the problematic keyswitches and see whats going on? most likely bent actuators which can be bent back usually.

[timw4mail]

open up the the problematic keyswitches and see whats going on? most likely bent actuators which can be bent back usually.

You see, I would, but I don't want to type on the keyboard that much, just weighing its feel. It's too much like an ALPS switch, and the only ALPS keyboard I like is the AEKII.

I'm not opposed to selling it, if someone wants to fix it, or wants grey on beige double-shot keys.

[Xero]

i wonder if yours is really worn in general, the worn out keys on my nec feel kind of like my alps and dont really click as much anymore (it still types perfectly fine...) but the keys which aren't as worn almost feel like a cherry brown that clicks when it bottoms out, very distinct. I imagine when it was new it probably had really crisp clicks almost like a cherry blue but much lighter to the touch, with a tactile bump that triggers the key before the click. it'd be nice if it still functioned as new but i imagine finding one like that is almost impossible. the keyboard must be over 20 yrs old now i think...i've delegated mine to my server since it wont get much use there, i'd rather not wear out a relic!

I remember seeing mine being used on the original nec 486 it came with when i was a kid...it had writing all over the keys which were used as keybindings and those keys are especially worn...luckily that cleaned up ok but it's still an old keyboard

i feel your pain though, i just got 3 keyboards on ebay and i think ive decided i like cherry browns over my blues and now i'm about to go buy something to replace my das III... i've been lurking here too much i think

[timw4mail]

Speaking of keyboards, anyone interested in some ALPS and an old NEC?

[msiegel]

Speaking of keyboards, anyone interested in some ALPS and an old NEC?

is that the really light nec?

i'm curious what a rip-o-meter test would measure on it

[Xero]

I like the way mine feels atleast! I'm not sure if its the exact same one though (model number apc-h412) what's this test you speak of? I could give it a shot maybe...

[msiegel]

it's a switch-activation-force test. hmm, where's that link...

[msiegel]

money, not balls!

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6189

[Xero]

ah, luckily i have a digital scale right next to me here, so far what i'm noticing is that this keyboard is somewhat annoying to test because of the activation happening well before the click. to actually drop the key fully and cause a click requires about 60-70g, although some keys are lighter than others.

When actually typing on it, I think it feels lighter than a cherry blue even. It really does sort of feel like a brown that clicks right when it hits the bottom, I can't think of any other way to explain it. You can type on it really lightly and go real fast, without actually bottoming out the keys. it's all because the activation is well before the click, it's kind of unusual but it is not as bad as it sounds.

[timw4mail]

Yeah, its not too bad, but it feels too much like an ALPS switch for my taste.

[timw4mail]

Well, I discovered something relatively exciting about this keyboard. It does have n-key rollover.

[sixty]

The thing is the rip-o-meter test would likely not help much here. The switches trigger a lot earlier than the click. Its probably possible to trigger them with a really low activation force (guessing 30g or less) while the click and tactile feedback comes in much much later. I had described this in my original review.

[timw4mail]

Now I just need to find out how to fix the period and the 8/* key, as its really starting to bother me, as I found how well I can type with that board.

I recently replaced the gray Cherry switch in my MX8100 with the spring from a black cherry switch (which is actually much lighter), and that wasn't too difficult, but the NEC switches don't seem to have an easy way to be opened like the Cherry switches do.