Any GOOD POS keyboards?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I was just looking down at my hands here and thinking "Hmmm I sure could use a card reader and a few extra rows and columns of buttons". I've read some posts about the old Cherry POS boards, they seem to wear out. Anything good with a mechanical switch? I'd just like to pull open my keyboard tray here on the desk and blow some friend's minds. I guess the second question would be how good those extra features would work under WinXP and Ubuntu 10.

[Phaedrus2129]

I just picked up a Cherry G80-8200LPDUS for $35 brand new on eBay. It's a very good keyboard overall and has a credit card reader. 59 reprogrammable keys. My review is here:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:10034

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I guess I should be asking if I need to be careful when purchasing one, has Cherry "moved on" to rubber domes yet?

[Viett]

Cherry has software for their boards for just about every operating system. They even have software that uses Java, which means that any operating system that can run Java can use it, including Linux.

http://www.cherry.de/english/service/download.php?product_id=65

The MX 8100's are really good. You can get them for around $40 or cheaper on eBay. They have NKRO, trackpads, and re-programmable keys.

[ch_123]

Java drivers for a keyboard? Kill me now...

[Nonmouse]

I guess I should be asking if I need to be careful when purchasing one, has Cherry "moved on" to rubber domes yet?

Cherry makes mechanical, switch-over-membrane and rubber-dome keyboards- as they have for decades.  Oh yeah- and scissor-switch keyboards (J8x series?).  G80 and G84 series boards are mechanical switches (MX and ML, respectively), G81 is switch-over-membrane (MY) and G82 and G83 are rubber dome.  Other series, such as G86, can be a toss-up- some are MX, some are rubber dome, some are MY.  

So, yeah, you have to be careful- to make sure the board has mechanical witches, it should be model # G80-xxxx (MX) or G84-xxxx (ML switches) or say "MX" somewhere on the label on the back.  

Figuring out which MX switch it has is a whole 'nother can of worms.  The only truly reliable method is to pull a keycap off and visually check.

[Mental Hobbit]

I guess I should be asking if I need to be careful when purchasing one, has Cherry "moved on" to rubber domes yet?

Yes, you have to be careful. Most Cherry POS boards use MY "switches", some rubber dome. MX boards are rather rare.

[ch_123]

After hearing that it's some crappy Java application, I'm even more inclined to believe the DIP switches were the way to go.

[Viett]

The software is not for programming keys. You can do that on the keyboard itself. And to be clear, they're not drivers. The software is for the credit card reader.

[ch_123]

Well. If I decide to use my HHKB 20 years from now, at least I won't have to mash Windows XP drivers into god-knows-what I'm using then so that I can have basic functionality.

Software sucks.

[ruumis]

Better than the $20 OCN BLowOut ABS M1 fer shure.

It depends what you place the most value on personally. I'll take the build quality, touch-typing friendly layout, native USB connector and spatially efficient form factor of the ABS M1. No extra keys I don't want or need, no unfamiliar enter key situation, no useless card reader, and no large footprint brought about by these extraneous doo-dads.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Indeed, I was just looking for something unique that would give me some odd looks upon first sight. Lets face it, everyone here is locked into 4 or 5 agreed upon keyboards. My current interest is finding boards not so commonly used. I have a pull out shelf under the desk for a large keyboard and mouse, the Lexmark M fills up a good bit of it without about 5 inches along the side to spare. I just think it would be cool to have a usable store style keyboard with extra buttons that do things like launch nukes and beach whales and a card reader for my fan club passes. I've seen enough of the mainstream hardcore (if that makes sense), I'd like to find some of the lesser used/known quality boards. A Space Cadet would be AWESOME but lets face it the price is outrageous and there are probably like 7 out there. So I'll continue to shoot the local thrift stores and such.

I've never been a fan of the FUGLY Microsoft/Logitech multimedia boards but I really like the look of the store grade boards with all their fancy clear plastic caps and 10 million extra buttons. The main problem is that many are rubber dome, which I've realized don't feel very nice.

Maybe that will help understand my mindset a bit more.

[Phaedrus2129]

*shrug*

G80-8200 fits the bill. There are various versions, those $35 ones are probably a clearance sale since they retail for $200+. They're the cheapest you'll get NIB, though there's a black version with doubleshot keys you can get refurbished for the same price if you make the offer. At least there was last week.

[Rajagra]

Indeed, I was just looking for something unique that would give me some odd looks upon first sight.

How about an old AT style keyboard with extra keys? Cherry blacks, full NKRO, uses standard key scan codes (see here.)



No macros or card reader, but some games could bind the extra function keys to game actions.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

That is very cool too! Any idea the structure underneath those light up keys?
I'm loving these non-traditional designs.
I'd love to open up this keyboard drawer and cause some mass confusion.

[In Stereo!]

Now that's some long spacebar.

[In Stereo!]

That is very cool too! Any idea the structure underneath those light up keys?
I'd love to open up this keyboard drawer and cause some mass confusion.

Black with LEDs?

[Rajagra]

Black with LEDs?

Yes. Stevster's pic shows it.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Found the aforementioned model and purchased it (5 units left for sale), thank you. I know the Cherry browns are supposedly quiet, it will be my first Cherry board.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310220138310&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[Mental Hobbit]

Lets face it, everyone here is locked into 4 or 5 agreed upon keyboards.

Not really. There are four or five keyboards that are decent and readily available and therefore recommended to newbies. Many regulars have rare and whimsical boards on their own desks though.

[itlnstln]

I don't think I will ever refer to any of my keyboards as "whimsical."  Your avatar, on the other hand...

[Mental Hobbit]

You're Texan.

[In Stereo!]

I know the Cherry browns are supposedly quiet,

Only if you don't bottom out.

[itlnstln]

You're Texan.

That hurts.  Bad.


That's a low blow.

[Phaedrus2129]

Only if you don't bottom out.

The PCB-mounted ones are still a lot quieter even then than most plate-mounted ones. More a tap than a clack.

[Mental Hobbit]

That will teach you not to make fun of my avatar!

[Mental Hobbit]

That hurts.  Bad.


That's a low blow.

That will teach you not to make fun of my avatar!

[TexasFlood]

You're Texan.

Quite the compliment, and I thought you're be torqued.

[imsto]

I 've just got a pos kbd, with 80 keys, all the keys are programmable  
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=240754895

[quadibloc]

That hurts.  Bad.

That's a low blow.

Everyone should know that stereotypes don't always apply. After all, some members of the musical group "Dixie Chicks" were from Texas.

I know what I would like in a "decent point-of-sale keyboard". There is one relatively inexpensive one out there (the Logic Controls LK1800) that almost meets my requirements, having some attributes I want:

Programmable keys, including the ability to program by scancode;

Mechanical tactile key switches;

Availability of versions without un-needed options such as a credit card reader.

The only thing I don't like is that it has the AT-style layout with |\ between += and Backspace. While one can always remap the keys, I prefer the legends on the keys to match what the keys are - and to start from a good layout that I'm used to.

I suspect that a similar keyboard with a standard layout ought to be relatively easy to find, and I just don't know how to look in the right place, but I may be mistaken.

[Infinite north]

I was just going to post a deal on the LK1800 and decided to do a forum search. come to find it had just been mentioned.

http://www.provantage.com/logic-controls-lk1800m-bg~BLOGC080.htm