Author Topic: DSI Big Font  (Read 4300 times)

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Offline Phaedrus2129

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DSI Big Font
« on: Fri, 27 August 2010, 22:06:14 »
So my grandma's been using a backlit Saitek Eclipse II on her computer so that she can see the key lettering in spite of poor eyesight. You know, the type of thing that backlit keyboards should be made for, instead of being marketed to 12-year-old ADD children. But I digress.

The painting on her Saitek keyboard has started to wear to unreadability and she can no longer find many of her keys, which is great hindrance when she's trying to type in my email address to send me pictures of kittens or racist jokes about Obama she found on the internet. Obviously this is a problem (for her at any rate).

So she needs a new keyboard, and I was wondering about the DSI Big Font keyboard. It's mechanical, cheap, and she'll be able to read it. However I don't know much about it. Apparently it uses yellow simplified Alps switches, but all I can find about those is that they're linear.

What's build quality like? How long will the printing last? How's the feel of yellow fake Alps? Is it worth the $31? Will the next email be about kittens or a riff on Barack HUSSEIN Obama?
Daily Driver: Noppoo Choc Mini
Currently own: IBM Model M 1391401 1988,  XArmor U9 prototype
Previously owned: Ricercar SPOS, IBM M13 92G7461 1994, XArmor U9BL, XArmor U9W prototype, Cherry G80-8200LPDUS, Cherry G84-4100, Compaq MX-11800, Chicony KB-5181 (SMK Monterey), Reveal KB-7061, Cirque Wave Keyboard (ergonomic rubber domes), NMB RT101 (rubber dome), Dell AT101W

Offline Phaedrus2129

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  • Posts: 1131
DSI Big Font
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 28 August 2010, 00:48:07 »
I'm guessing this isn't a popular keyboard.

Webwit probably has one though.
Daily Driver: Noppoo Choc Mini
Currently own: IBM Model M 1391401 1988,  XArmor U9 prototype
Previously owned: Ricercar SPOS, IBM M13 92G7461 1994, XArmor U9BL, XArmor U9W prototype, Cherry G80-8200LPDUS, Cherry G84-4100, Compaq MX-11800, Chicony KB-5181 (SMK Monterey), Reveal KB-7061, Cirque Wave Keyboard (ergonomic rubber domes), NMB RT101 (rubber dome), Dell AT101W

Offline bitflipper

  • Posts: 122
DSI Big Font
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 28 August 2010, 01:06:32 »
I think we concluded this was not a great keyboard. Terrible for touch typing. Linears that feel like typing on marshmallows. I had one, still have the guts, sold the key caps to another member.

Here's a thread with discussion and pictures.

Another discussion.

Another thread.

Offline Infinite north

  • Posts: 162
DSI Big Font
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 28 August 2010, 01:09:15 »
You should try and get her a cheap tg3 back lit keyboard. that would be high visibility.

Offline aegrotatio

  • Posts: 335
DSI Big Font
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 30 August 2010, 11:15:11 »
You should just try the Big Font Keyboard.  I have two of them and they are very good to me.  I rather disagree with negative reviews of this keyboard.  It's quieter and more solid than the ASK-6600 which is clicky.  It's usually on clearance at http://www.notestation.com and you can find prices from the same store under the user ID "dsigear" on eBay by clicking the link below.

You don't need to restrict yourself to mechanical keyboards for big fonts.  DSI produces and resells at least two other Big Font keyboards.

eBay link:
http://computers.shop.ebay.com/Keyboards-Mice-Input-/3676/i.html?_catref=1&_dmd=1&_fln=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_ssn=dsigear&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282

Big Font for $30 link:
http://www.notestation.com/bigfontkeyboard.htm
Daily Drivers: Ducky DK1087XM || DSI ASK-6600 || Rosewill RK-9000 BL, BR, BL, and RE || ABS M1 || Das Keyboard Silent || HHKB Lite and Lite 2 || DSI Big Font (kids love it)
Yearning for: Any ALPS keyboard || Any tenkeyless mechanical keyboard
Permanent collection: Poker Blue and Brown || Adesso MKB-125B || SIIG MiniTouch Geek Hack Space Saver || Chicony 5181 Monterey Blue || Chicony 5191 Clone Cherry Blues || Key Tronic 3600 || Unicomp Endurapro & SmarTrex || A crate of IBM Model M and Model M Space Saving boards || NeXTstation Slab || Amiga 3000 || BTC-5100C black and beige || SIIG MiniTouch Plus black and beige
Retired collection: SIIG MiniTouch Monterey Blue || Razer BlackWidow