Keyboard like Ducky Limited, but 10keyless? (or: Realforce, HHKB in cheap)

[mSSM]

After I saw this post by harrisonkroeker, I couldn't help myself: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=15249

This board together with it's black on black keycaps looks just way too sexy! (My girlfriend wouldn't appreciate me saying these, alas!)

So, I have decided, I need a keyboard which looks just the same way, but tenkeyless (I am a sucker for tenkeyless!). However, I can either only find pure Otaku boards (i.e., non-printed) or those darn expensive, but very very intriguing, Happy Hacking Professional 2 or Realforce 86U boards, which are just a little out of my price range (still a student right here).

So, what I'd like to have:
+ tenkeyless
+ black keyboard
+ black keycaps with black printing (_not_ Otaku!)
+ Cherry MX brown
+ NKRO over USB
(+ removable USB cable - nice gimmick, not necessarily needed)

So essentially, that would be a Realforce 86U or Happy Hacking Professional 2 in cheap (i.e. with Cherry MX browns).

Is there something like that in the pipeline? Does Leopold offer that but I haven't found it yet?



PS: What exactly is the difference between the Realforce 86U and the 87U? Where's that key hiding?

PPS: Found it! What's that little key right next to the spacebar on the 87U (as compared to the 86U) doing right there? Compare:
http://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/se05c0_full1000_th0x0.jpg
http://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/87U_fullled_1000_th0x0.jpg

[lootbag]

You could probably buy a Filco, Ducky, etc. tenkeyless or wait for the Leopolds on EK (if they ever release) and you will be very happy with what you get.

Only problem is that they do not come with black on black keycaps.
Maybe you can check out the group thread and hop in on the either 7bits Round III GB or imsto's KB GB.

Another thing is... about the HHKB, 86U and 87U, the Topre switches feel totally different compared to Cherry switches.
Should do some research before you buy, maybe save up for the HHKB or 86U

87U is not readily available anymore outside of Korea and super expensive to get one.
The differences I know of between it and the 86U is that the 87U has a numpad built in, lighted Caps Lock and Ctrl, and the additonal Winkey.

Personally, I started off with buckling springs, then Cherry MX Brown and Blue, and finally tried the Topre switches.
This resulted in me selling my Cherry MX keyboards

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

I thought only PLU had 10keyless model with USB NKRO.

The other being Ducky G2 Tiger edition (but has the numpad full sized keyboard).


Both of them don't work so well on mac via usb nkro so i heard.

[db_Iodine]

I thought only PLU had 10keyless model with USB NKRO.

The other being Ducky G2 Tiger edition (but has the numpad full sized keyboard).


Both of them don't work so well on mac via usb nkro so i heard.

The Plu was more like 2KRO, but sure works on a MAC. The Ducky Tiger however, does NKRO with USB, but does not work on a MAC (just like the Noppoo).

[mSSM]

I have no idea what the PLU is; tried Googling it - but it only spit out cash registers. You guys not typing on cash registers, are you? :-D

Mac - no problem for me; I am a Linux lunatic. Odds are, I will try to get rid of those ghastly Windows keys (maybe I am gonna get an Ontaku after all?).

The Leopolds and Filcos out there do not support NKRO over USB?

[runeazn]

I have no idea what the PLU is; tried Googling it - but it only spit out cash registers. You guys not typing on cash registers, are you? :-D

Mac - no problem for me; I am a Linux lunatic. Odds are, I will try to get rid of those ghastly Windows keys (maybe I am gonna get an Ontaku after all?).

The Leopolds and Filcos out there do not support NKRO over USB?

PLU is a type of plastic

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12524


Sorry i must have remembered wrongly. Probably was thinking of the Noppo.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:13825

[db_Iodine]

I have no idea what the PLU is; tried Googling it - but it only spit out cash registers. You guys not typing on cash registers, are you? :-D

Mac - no problem for me; I am a Linux lunatic. Odds are, I will try to get rid of those ghastly Windows keys (maybe I am gonna get an Ontaku after all?).

The Leopolds and Filcos out there do not support NKRO over USB?

Yep, sorry we meant the PLU ML-87.

The Leopolds and Filcos only support 6KRO over USB, but imo that should be enough for any user.

You could have a look at the Noppoo Choc Mini. It doesn't have black on black keys, but close to that. It's one of the few boards with NKRO over USB.

[mSSM]

Yeah, you are right; I was just thinking about that - 6KRO should be absolutely enough, considering that I do not do any gaming.

I did read up on the Noppoo Choc Mini - the review said it's build quality could be better. And from the pictures it just seemed a little too small... Although I have to admit that its looks are indeed intriguing.

I think I rather stick with a 'normal sized' keyboard, just with the tenkeys missing. :-)

Well, gotta continue waiting for the Leopolds then. :-)

[db_Iodine]

The Leopolds are a good choice if you don't absolutely need the black on black keys. Those black on black keys can also be purchased from KBC if you feel you need them.

[theferenc]

If you don't game, even 2KRO is likely enough. That's all the Model M has, and it makes an awesome programmers tool.

So, just in case you didn't notice, be aware that the HHKB has a slightly different layout, sometimes called UNIX, sometimes called Sun Type 5, mostly just called Awesome. If you're either a vi or emacs user, it's phenomenal (though more helpful for the vi crowd).

You can replicate the layout on a buckling spring board, with a bolt mod (or an extra $20 to Unicomp). Issue there is that you don't have a tenkeyless, though their Spacesaver is about the same size is the tenkeyless Model M.

If you're a linux guy, I would definitely go with the HHKB. It's portability can almost not be matched, let alone beat. It feels amazing to type on, and it just looks so damn sexy. Especially if you add some touches of color here and there.

Hope that helped even a little bit.

[theferenc]

Why disable when you can just add it as another control key?

[mSSM]

Thank you for your reply! Indeed, I am a vim user, and I did read about the changed position of the CTRL key, too, which I think is great. Right now, I have in fact disabled caps lock, because it was too much of an annoyance (especially when writing papers using LaTeX in vim).

What I am curious about: is the key placed right next to the spacebar in fact the caps lock key or what is it used for? I have an unfortunate need for the windows key, since I use it as a modification key for my XMonad environment. I figure I could simply use that caps lock - it's placement is great.

I am seeing another character on that caps lock key - is that one accessed via the FN key?

EDIT: Now I just need to find a cheapish source of HHKBs in Europe. Hmpf :-S

[theferenc]

So, the layout on the HHKB is not that different from standard ANSI except:

• ESC is to the left of 1.
• Delete/backspace (swappable via dip 3) is at the end of the second row of keys.
• The end of the top row is \|, `~, from left to right.
• Control is to the left of A.
• Caps lock is actually FN+Tab, but only if you're in HHKB Lite mode (via dipswitch 1).
• The bottom row (by default) goes Alt, Win, Space, Win, Alt. This is remappable to Win, Alt, Space, Alt, Win via dipswitch 5.
• Right shift has been split to be right shift and FN. This results in 0 problems, based on experience.

I believe that's all of it. Like I said, it's a bit odd if you aren't used to it, but once you are, you have problems with standard ANSI. Get lots of \\\\\\\ instead of deleting characters, for instance.