Author Topic: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro  (Read 2577 times)

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Offline armani

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Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 16:54:00 »
Looking for mech keyboards that have a nice, authentic, retro look to them, like from the Windows 95 days (think beige!). Price is barely an issue, but speaking of which, I don't care much for SSKs or anything of the like though. Would prefer something with windows keys as I use them quite often. I prefer a tenkeyless or a full. Switch type isn't an issue, unless they don't have a satisfying sound and feel like a rubber dome. I want something real quality. Anyone got any suggestions?

Offline funkmon

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 17:00:29 »
Unicomp Model M. Pckeyboard.com. End the thread. That's it. That's the one.

Offline armani

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 17:03:25 »
Unicomp Model M. Pckeyboard.com. End the thread. That's it. That's the one.
I've always been questionable about Unicomp because a lot of people I watched on YouTube say they have frequent quality issues.

Offline matthewdnewcomb

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 17:26:19 »
bump
« Last Edit: Sun, 12 April 2020, 14:31:25 by matthewdnewcomb »

Offline Sup

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 17:47:36 »
Realforce 87U R1 looks pretty old school to me with its fat 4Head still retaining basic windows keys but no media keys etc thats a bummer. There is a R2 but that one looks modern.
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Offline funkmon

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 18:01:07 »
Unicomp Model M. Pckeyboard.com. End the thread. That's it. That's the one.
I've always been questionable about Unicomp because a lot of people I watched on YouTube say they have frequent quality issues.

Mine's fine and they have god-tier customer service so I wouldn't worry about it.

Offline Sintpinty

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 19:08:54 »
Looking for mech keyboards that have a nice, authentic, retro look to them, like from the Windows 95 days (think beige!). Price is barely an issue, but speaking of which, I don't care much for SSKs or anything of the like though. Would prefer something with windows keys as I use them quite often. I prefer a tenkeyless or a full. Switch type isn't an issue, unless they don't have a satisfying sound and feel like a rubber dome. I want something real quality. Anyone got any suggestions?

Apple M11010 or whatever it's called looks cool in my opinion.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 19:13:25 »
In the early-mid-1990s the best keyboards were the ones made by IBM and Northgate, but the best Northgates were the ones manufactured before Windows.

Unfortunately for the keyboard world, the explosion of personal computer sales that accompanied Windows 95 necessitated(?) cost-cutting to get the cost of a complete system down from $3K+ to <$2K, and the keyboard was one place where cost could be cut dramatically. And since you now needed a color monitor and a mouse (both expensive at the time) money cut from the keyboard was important.

The easiest and cheapest route is the Dell AT101W, and if you have a soldering iron and/or some manual skill you can upgrade the switches as far as you want to go.
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Offline matthewdnewcomb

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 20:15:04 »
bump
« Last Edit: Sun, 12 April 2020, 14:34:15 by matthewdnewcomb »

Offline armani

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 22:03:09 »
Realforce 87U R1 looks pretty old school to me with its fat 4Head still retaining basic windows keys but no media keys etc thats a bummer. There is a R2 but that one looks modern.
I heard topres feel like rubber domes, is that true?

Offline sleepy916

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 22:18:20 »
Once I typed on a IBM Model F keyboard, I never looked back. The ATs are reasonably priced if you wanted to try.

Offline rf86u

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 10 April 2020, 23:01:59 »
realforce 86u is very very retro, no led, no side legend, just clean

Offline envyy24

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 11 April 2020, 03:45:06 »
Realforce 87U R1 looks pretty old school to me with its fat 4Head still retaining basic windows keys but no media keys etc thats a bummer. There is a R2 but that one looks modern.
I heard topres feel like rubber domes, is that true?

Kind of. They are rubber dome but not your office HP or logitech kind of rubber dome. TBH with you here, you can do a bunch of research on the internet reading all the arguments and reviews, you would not know what is it like. I just recommend to buy it an try it out yourself. They are expensive for a reason. And they are very well recieved in the community you can re sell them easily if that is not your thing. Totally understandable.

Offline ollir_

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 15 April 2020, 03:24:59 »
White Dell AT101W is plenty what you want.

Realforce R1 is another option. I've had my white R1 mistaken for a piece of antique hardware by several people so there must be something retro about it.



Offline Maledicted

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 15 April 2020, 08:38:33 »
AT101W and old Realforce boards are good suggestions. If Windows keys are a necessity, you're looking mostly at Cherry MX and domes, unfortunately.

I'll throw out one vote for a new production F77. Capacitive buckling spring, windows keys, a ridiculously thick/heavy zinc case, programmable, multiple vintage color options, etc.

I have been using one of those usb foot pedals mapped as a Windows key for AT keyboards myself.

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 15 April 2020, 08:55:50 »

AT101W and old Realforce boards are good suggestions. If Windows keys are a necessity,


AT101 does not have Windows keys, AT101W does.
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Offline ddrfraser1

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 15 April 2020, 09:44:00 »
Dell Bigfoot, IBM Model M, Apple AEK

Offline Riverman

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 15 April 2020, 11:41:19 »
Don't forget the Cherry G80-3000.  It looks almost exactly like it did when it first came out in the '80s or '90s, and comes in a light grey version, as well as black.  Since its switches are PCB mounted, you can disassemble the switches easily.

Offline Maledicted

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Re: Suggestions on nice mech. keyboards that look retro
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 15 April 2020, 12:25:23 »
Don't forget the Cherry G80-3000.  It looks almost exactly like it did when it first came out in the '80s or '90s, and comes in a light grey version, as well as black.  Since its switches are PCB mounted, you can disassemble the switches easily.

Another good suggestion, at least for Cherry MX and compatibles that are PCB mount. I don't know that there are any Kailh box thick clicks that are PCB mount yet, however, and that's the only thing I have ever tried that would work with that board that I would want to type on myself.