Author Topic: Does anyone know this seemingly perfect keyboard? (Read 4377 times)

elShoggotho · « **on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:06:28 »

I just found a stash of these. The merchant says that they're originally packaged, gives the manufacturer and part number as Cherry MX 2550. Obviously German extended AT layout, according to the merchant they come with a PS/2 mini-DIN connector. My usual web sources are unusually silent about that one, but I figured that I can't go wrong for EUR 10 a pop and ordered two of these babies.

Does anyone of you know more about that beauty?

Phaedrus2129 · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:08:14 »

Cherry's answer to the IBM 1397000?

Veeeerrrry interesting.

Actually, that looks exactly like a 1397000, only without the IBM logo. I mean, exactly. Blue labeling on the keys and all. Huh.... Maybe they are IBMs and the seller just labels all mechanicals (including BS) as "Cherry"?

And the one at the bottom of the pic has an IBM logo. So I think that's what these are; IBM terminal or terminal emulation keyboards.

kishy · « **Reply #2 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:10:28 »

We've known about these here for a while...and I want one.

Details are lacking. For example...switch type...

If it's got blues, I'm considerably more interested than I was before.

However that looks like QWERTZ, not QWERTY in the photo.

It is indeed a Cherry product. The G80-2100 is similar.

Phaedrus2129 · « **Reply #3 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:12:05 »

Bizarre.

elShoggotho · « **Reply #4 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:15:30 »

Typing on a black switch G80-3000 from 1994 right now. With any luck, I'll replace it with one of these on Monday. I'll keep you updated on switch types and everything. If they're blue switch, I might just be able to help in the acquisition of one, even though it's German layout.

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #5 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:22:41 »

I saw one of these on ebay.de a while ago, it went for less than ten bucks.
Afaik it has the exact same functionality as the 1397000. And it certainly has blacks.

elShoggotho · « **Reply #6 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:24:18 »

Not necessarily. The G80-3000, for example, comes in three switch variants.

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:26:30 »

Yes, only the G80-3000.

kishy · « **Reply #8 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:28:13 »

Quote from: elShoggotho;189742

Typing on a black switch G80-3000 from 1994 right now. With any luck, I'll replace it with one of these on Monday. I'll keep you updated on switch types and everything. If they're blue switch, I might just be able to help in the acquisition of one, even though it's German layout.

Help in that area would be wonderful but I'm terrified of what shipping from Germany to Canada might run on one...

I cannot commit to anything until I know the costs so don't take any unnecessary risks please.

Quote from: Mental Hobbit;189746

I saw one of these on ebay.de a while ago, it went for less than ten bucks.
Afaik it has the exact same functionality as the 1397000. And it certainly has blacks.

Now, do we know if this is programmable like a 2100? Black switches suck but programmability might justify it in hopes of a switch swap later.

Quote from: elShoggotho;189747

Not necessarily. The G80-3000, for example, comes in three switch variants.

We just have to hope the same applies...

Edit: damnit, ninja'd, and not in a good way

elShoggotho · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:33:25 »

Still got my semi-steampunked blue switch G80-1000 back on the shelf. I'll simply check up on everything and give a detailed report when it's here.

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:42:34 »

Quote from: kishy;189749

Now, do we know if this is programmable like a 2100?

Sadly it's as programmable as a 1397000.

elShoggotho · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:45:23 »

Does Windows accept the input from extended keyboards without hassle? One might come to the conclusion that the programming could be done in the computer instead.

kishy · « **Reply #12 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 19:55:10 »

Quote from: Mental Hobbit;189753

Sadly it's as programmable as a 1397000.

Well, that's a biznitch.

kishy · « **Reply #13 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 20:57:59 »

Hardware programmable...the G80-2100 is, the 1397000 is not.

quadibloc · « **Reply #14 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 22:18:59 »

Quote from: Phaedrus2129;189739

Actually, that looks exactly like a 1397000, only without the IBM logo. I mean, exactly. Blue labeling on the keys and all.

No, not quite exactly enough. I would think that Cherry switches are much more likely than for the keyboard to be a rebranded buckling-spring keyboard.

The blue labelling on the keys is something that is reasonable to copy to make the keyboard as useful as the real thing.

kishy · « **Reply #15 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 22:30:07 »

Rebranded buckling spring keyboards are all over the place. Boscom, Advantage, what were the others?

In any event, yeah, that's definitely Cherry.

sixty · « **Reply #16 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 01:04:17 »

I have one of these, of course they are black switches. All default cherry boards besides the G80-3000 and very early G80-1800 are only available in blacks. They are not programmable and do send pretty much identical scan codes to the Unicomp terminal boards. F keys beyond F12 do not send scan codes for those keyhs but rather send shift+f3 etc...

Not a very useful board.

kishy · « **Reply #17 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 01:24:12 »

Oh come on! Why can't they all be 2100s then?

elShoggotho · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 07 June 2010, 09:33:37 »

Got it right before me, typing this on it, actually. It's a German layout G80-2550HPD/02 with black switches. After a few test runs, it's firmly established that it sends out unique keycodes for 24 function keys and a number of special keys, which register in KeyMapper as Unknown, but are remappable nonetheless. The layout itself needs a bit of adjustment (for example, Home is in the middle of the cursor keys, and Escape is on the number pad) but the benefits are great. Types like you'd expect from a straight out of factory Cherry. I'll stay with it, and stock up in case of failure.

Point of note: These keyboards have old style double injection keys. They'll survive a LOT.

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 07 June 2010, 09:55:37 »

If you like the layout, it's certainly a great board. You can still mod it with blues if you wish, it's not difficult. Maybe you can even solder in additional switches under the blind caps?

I've been on a 2100, which I partially modded to blues, for half a year now, and I absolutely love it. I've tried dozens of other boards in the meantime, but none lasted on my desk for more than half an hour. Going back to my dear 2100 feels like coming home every time.

kishy · « **Reply #20 on:** Mon, 07 June 2010, 11:43:25 »

WHY LINEAR THOUGH?

What jackass at Cherry thought linear switches were good as a default switch in ANY keyboard?

elShoggotho · « **Reply #21 on:** Mon, 07 June 2010, 18:22:50 »

So, I finally came around to remap everything that needs remapping. Seven keys are completely without equivalent in modern OSes, not even counting the second row of function keys. Shiny new set of multimedia keys, including the SysReq key. Better than a really flimsy rubber dome key more befitting of a cheap gamepad.

I also looked inside. The function keys are on a separate circuit board, which means that modding the fnord out of one shouldn't be too much of a problem. Maybe an eight button arcade joystick working entirely through F13-F24...?

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Author Topic: Does anyone know this seemingly perfect keyboard? (Read 4377 times)