Straight from Mother China.

[nijikon5]

My Cherry G80 3494 has come in!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs516.ash1/30429_395591002842_537587842_4343263_5535443_n.jpg

[DryDry]

congratulation

[pang0011]

When the Red Cherries boards were just released in the market, there were some reviews saying it feels like the Topre switch.  I had a chance to try a black G80-3494 for two days, I found this is just not the case, I felt the Reds does not  transmit a bump to my fingertip but the Topre does, HHKB pro2 in particular provides a very clear tactile feedback (not clicky but I can feel it very clearly without having to bottom out).  

I am looking to buying a red Cherry keyboard now (although I still prefer browns to the reds at this moment), may be the iRocks one, it sounds very great in the Chinese forums.  Grateful if you could share some of your experiences or thoughts about the Reds, how you like it?  I will read it heartily:)

[pang0011]

As far as I can remember there were at least two of those among the very first previews, and also a Japanese one  CHERRYの「赤軸」キーボードが発売に
キータッチはRealForce似？

[nijikon5]

Just a FYI, I'm primarily a gamer, so I have a strong preference for Linear switches. I've tried Blacks, Browns, Blues, Black Alps copies, and Buckling springs so far.

This was from yesterday on ripster's favorite forum when someone asked about the Reds were compared to Browns:

Anyways, I have a Linear Force, but I've tried my friends Tactile Touch. It feels as light and responsive as the Tactile Touch, but no bump. It pretty much feels like lighter blacks ( which it is ), it's so effortless to type now. I don't like the space bar, it's almost too light. The other guy on here who says this Cherry KB doesn't feel as sturdy as the Filco or 7G is spot on. It is actually noticeably lighter, I'd have to say by at least a pound to pound and a half. Overall, I'm really loving the reds and the PBT key caps.

[ch_123]

Cherry's own keyboards don't usually have a metal backplate in them, consequently they're a good bit lighter.

[pang0011]

Yeah,,, you probably have made a right choice of keyboard and a right place to go:)



#Pictures quoted from:http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/21076

Cherry's own keyboards don't usually have a metal backplate in them, consequently they're a good bit lighter.

Besides the metal backplate, do you think colors of keycaps also have impact on the tactile touch?  I like the white PBT keycaps,  it provides a more “solid” feedback than the black POM ones do, so I like nijikon5’s choice.  The white G80-3000 with brown Cherries is the daily driver in my office.

[lmnop]

when I was looking into the G80-3600 Chao reviewed a couple months ago I stumbled upon the G80-3494. the differences between the G80-3600 and G80-3494 are cosmetic. G80-3494 has laser etched Cherry logo and Blue LED. G80-3600 has Adhesive Cherry Logo and Green LED. a couple review sites I translated all mentioned the Topre in some way or another.

if anyone is interested obook will ship you one for $202.59 (Paypal)

$136.10 for out of pocket expenses
$28.68 Freight Charge
$30.62 Commission
$7.19 Paypal charge.

e-mail obook@yahoo.cn

[Mental Hobbit]

Someone shoot Cherry Asia's sales manager!
They're actually doing marketing there! For their mechanical switches!
That's totally un-Cherry!!!1!!!

[J888www]

I like the white PBT keycaps,  it provides a more “solid” feedback than the black POM ones do, so I like nijikon5’s choice.  The white G80-3000 with brown Cherries is the daily driver in my office.

If you prefer the build quality of G80-3000 but would like it to be Linear, goto Wan Chai Computer Centre, find a KBD (for spares/repairs) with Cherry MX Black switches. Then swap over the brown stems with the black stems. Now you'll have a G80-3000 with Cherry Red switches.

OTT. For some unfathomable reason, I always categorise people with the name of Pang from 粉嶺圍.

[lmnop]

why would he swap? G80-3494 is a souped-up G80-3000 with a new controller, steel plate and blue led. other than that it's the same as any other G80-3000.

black version has ABS casing, POM keycaps
white version has Polystyrol casing, PBT keycaps

they also make a version with Cherry MX Brown and Double Shot Keycaps I think that is the 3484.

[lmnop]

I don't see the point in swapping the G80-3494 is just a souped-up G80-3000 with a new controller, steel plate and blue led. other than that it's the same as any other G80-3000

they also make a version with Cherry MX Brown and Double Shot keycaps I think it's the G80-3484.

[J888www]

To make his G80-3000 from Browns to Reds.

Yes, they seem to make everything in the Central Kingdom and readily available at a relatively cheap price. I now have a yearning for the CHERRY樱桃键盘 G80-1863 HUMUS (茶轴).

[lmnop]

To make his G80-3000 from Browns to Reds.

Yes, they seem to make everything in the Central Kingdom and readily available at a relatively cheap price. I now have a yearning for the CHERRY樱桃键盘 G80-1863 HUMUS (茶轴).

yes but he lives in Asia he can just walk into a store and buy one if he really wants one. PCB Mounted Cherry MX Red would probably be ridiculous probably never complain about the tactile feedback of Cherry MX Browns ever again.

[pang0011]

If you prefer the build quality of G80-3000 but would like it to be Linear, goto Wan Chai Computer Centre, find a KBD (for spares/repairs) with Cherry MX Black switches. Then swap over the brown stems with the black stems. Now you'll have a G80-3000 with Cherry Red switches.

OTT. For some unfathomable reason, I always categorise people with the name of Pang from 粉嶺圍.

Steelseries 7G/6Gv2 are the only mechanical keyboards we can find in the retail market of Hong Kong.  I bought my G80-3000 from the online stores on Taobao.  

Have you ever been to 粉嶺圍? My Dad got the idea of my name from one of old Chinese stories in Zhuangzi: )

[lmnop]

Steelseries 7G/6Gv2 are the only mechanical keyboards we can find in the retail market of Hong Kong.  I bought my G80-3000 from the online stores on Taobao.  

Have you ever been to 粉嶺圍? My Dad got the idea of my name from one of old Chinese stories in Zhuangzi: )

oh sorry. well you can order them off taobao G80-3494 is in high circulation last time I checked.

[J888www]

Probably....

In that part of the World, they now have this strange trend of meeting by the corners inside a MTR station to haggle and trade, rather than purchasing from retail shops.

[pang0011]

oh sorry. well you can order them off taobao G80-3494 is in high circulation last time I checked.

Yes, absolutely.  But I am expecting the i-rocks one now, as told its number is KR-6250.

[pang0011]

Probably....

In that part of the World, they now have this strange trend of meeting by the corners inside a MTR station to haggle and trade, rather than purchasing from retail shops.

Are you serious?

[lmnop]

Yes, absolutely.  But I am expecting the i-rocks one now, as told its number is KR-6250.

taobao also has a couple Gigabyte GK-K8000 available but they are expensive

wow. any idea when this will be released on the market?

I ran it through google translator and it says this

The axes used for the Cherry MX red axis. However, the amount of red axis is basically not much. So after the production version will be out of the main shaft should be the black version.

[J888www]

Have you ever been to 粉嶺圍? My Dad got the idea of my name from one of old Chinese stories in Zhuangzi: )

When ever I return, I stay at 將軍澳 and 上水. I may just pop-over the border to suppress my yearning, been trying to get a KBD with the 1800 HUMUS format/quality for what seems an eternity.

I like old Chinese stories, many have teaching for good morality.

[pang0011]

taobao also has a couple Gigabyte GK-K8000 available but they are expensive

wow. any idea when this will be released on the market?

I ran it through google translator and it says this

You mean this one:


The production has been stopped, the price is so expensive probably because it has not been updated for a long time.  I bought mine for HK$1000 (US$128) only.

[lmnop]

yes. a Yahoo Answers question says this.

I was looking for this keyboard in the U.S. but couldn't find one. I recommend not to buy this keyboard until the company revise it.

Here is a link of one review but it is in Chinese. You may just look those pictures. Let me summarize some bads.

http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=351&t=666003

1. Not well manufactured, especially the laser inscriptions on the keys don't aligned well.
2. Not use faked switches to balance larger keys. (space, shift, enter, etc) The reviewer's space key get jammed sometimes.
3. Don't support 64 bit OS. (Vista or XP64)

I also heard that Giga-byte are disappointed with the quality and have stopped working with their original OEM company on this keyboard. They are looking for a new subcontractor now. Hopefully the bad 1 and 2 may be fixed soon.

By the way, I got a Steelseries 7G instead. It is a really good keyboard.

any truth to it?

[pang0011]

yes. a Yahoo Answers question says this.
any truth to it?

I have the same experience, I'd say to certain extent it is true.


For the i-rocks and the Red Cherries, some said the production version will be with black switchs while some said reds, but it still remains uncertain yet.. From what I read on the forums, this is a good keybard which is worth waiting, so I still have some expectations.

[nijikon5]

Hai guyz, how do I type "K's"?

[Laggy-gaga]

According to the quantity of MX red switches i-rocks can have
I suggest dont expect too much on that one.
About GK8000
the last product manufatured by SMK(TW Strong Man)
was sold at around 1100 YUAN
U may find some listed on TAOBAO,but they are actually sold out.(only 50 or less were in the China mainland market)

[pang0011]

According to the quantity of MX red switches i-rocks can have
I suggest dont expect too much on that one.
About GK8000
the last product manufatured by SMK(TW Strong Man)
was sold at around 1100 YUAN
U may find some listed on TAOBAO,but they are actually sold out.(only 50 or less were in the China mainland market)

I wouldn't expect too much, but if it really comes with red switches I will get one for sure; however, I may also consider it even if it comes with blacks eventually.  

As you may know this keyboard is expected to be priced at as much as more than RMB2000, many members on the mainland Chinese forums bet it will disappear in the market very soon... if it really is the case this keyboard will be a rare one.  

Just like the case of kbtalking and Gigabyte K8000, both made by SMK and both are deffective, but they can hardly be found in the market now.

[J888www]

Are you serious?

Yes, there are people who take orders, cross border and on return trip, meet with purchaser to exchange goods for cash. Seems very dodgy. Seller earns the expense for his trip across the border, the buyer gets cheap goods.

[pang0011]

Yes, there are people who take orders, cross border and on return trip, meet with purchaser to exchange goods for cash. Seems very dodgy. Seller earns the expense for his trip across the border, the buyer gets cheap goods.

Yes right, these are just common nowadays: ) and thank the rising popularity of auction sites for pushing more and more people to complete their online trades in public areas, it is also common to see that people trade at MTR stations (called subway in the US?) after deals are confirmed online.  But we did it in restaurants sometimes if the trade is something like a camera, camera lens or notebooks that require tasting, "tea restaurants" are popular choices.

Like some causal charts?  about the place where we born or whatever or even the poems of Xu Zhimo "Saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again"... etc.  just pm me if you like : )

I wouldn't expect too much, but if it really comes with red switches I will get one for sure; however, I may also consider it even if it comes with blacks eventually.  

As you may know this keyboard is expected to be priced at as much as more than RMB2000, many members on the mainland Chinese forums bet it will disappear in the market very soon... if it really is the case this keyboard will be a rare one.  

Just like the case of kbtalking and Gigabyte K8000, both made by SMK and both are deffective, but they can hardly be found in the market now.

I read it again today and realize that I really shouldn't say that.  To buy something just because it will fade out is definitely pointless.  What a silly thought.

[Laggy-gaga]

the new generation of KBtalking will be non-mechanical
so the coming summer will be all bout miniguru, plu3000and  356L.
by the way, another reason for i-rocks 6250 would be the cost and disad of POM

[pang0011]

I suppose you quoted the word "shrinkage" from your link via google translation, I think the original Chinese words "皺縮" should refer to "crumple" rather than "shrinkage", this may be more appropriate and easier to understand.

In your link, one replied and asked whether black POM crumples more easily than the white ones do, the reviewer answered he hasn't seen white POM, he supposed they should be the same but less noticeable from appearance with white ones.

Yes, from what I've read on the Chinese forums, people also mentioned this problem with Cherries POM.

[Laggy-gaga]

this image shows the 皱缩

[pang0011]

yes, you may see hollow with almost every keycaps

[pang0011]

I also find a small number of "dimples" with my G80-1865's POM keycaps, they upset me before but I find them just cute now : )

[pang0011]

not so obvious with Cherries


even not noticeable

[pang0011]

It just doesn't matter for most of the users, and hard to pinpoint precisely.  Here posts last two samples:







Pics quoted from: http://www.wuji.org.cn/bbs/thread-94541-1-1.html

[Laggy-gaga]

some staff from KB factory say the only way to solve this issue is to cool down very slowly~~~~
so wonder when the pom keycaps will follow double shot keycaps

g80-186X WNV
only can be found in China mainland
BTW, the WNV painting sucks~~~
I got a non-logo one
color is aswsome but
kind of disappointing for spending 150USD on this one

[itlnstln]

BTW, the WNV painting sucks~~~

Good to know.  I was thinking about buying one at some point, but probably not now.

[pang0011]

some staff from KB factory say the only way to solve this issue is to cool down very slowly~~~~
so wonder when the pom keycaps will follow double shot keycaps

g80-186X WNV
only can be found in China mainland
BTW, the WNV painting sucks~~~
I got a non-logo one
color is aswsome but
kind of disappointing for spending 150USD on this one

The non-logo one is a G80-1863 WNV with full set of 2-shot keycaps, isn't it?  is the win key of your WNV a dome and 2-shot one?  or in any cases, do you know is there any dome 2-shot win key for MX switch in this world, to the best of your knowledge...,

I posted this questions on Chinese forums long time ago but never got answered (seems like not even the seller I know is willing to tell), so, grateful if you could give me a hand to unviel this mystery : )

[Laggy-gaga]

well
I can tell both 1863 and 1865 have non-logo WNV
but cant tell about the keycaps
normally, 1863 owns the pomand double shot
1865 owns double shot only
here is my WNV 1863 with double shot keycaps

[Laggy-gaga]

win key without dome means one thing:
havent  be verified by Microsoft
Sample as G80-1856 and early 1800series
as same as space key, all of them are made of ABS
pointless to make win key double shot

[J888www]

They are also making these KBDs with different colour casing and calling them "Limited editions". Expect more variety of colour very soon.

Maybe a Green KBD :biggrin:

[pang0011]

Thanks for your clarification : )