Keytronic E03601QUS201-C all ergo weighted?

[Surly73]

Hi all:

In my relatively new GH-inspired quest for better keyboards I did a little "dumpster" diving and came across a few interesting things.  One of these things is a Keytronic E03601QUS201-C - ivory, L-shaped enter, lasered key caps, rubber dome.

On research (including this thread here) I see that these are supposed to be ergo weighted with different key weights across the board like the Topre.

Notwithstanding ripster's angst about measured weights not matching published weights, are ALL releases of this board ergo weight or must "ergo" appear somewhere on the board?  I've played with it a bunch and I cannot detect different weighting on different keys.  Something like 35g vs. 100g should be pretty easy to feel - no?

If I had to guess it is circa 1999 with PS2 connector.

[spolia optima]

the 3600 series has been ergo-weighted for about a decade IIRC. Older ones are something like 55g all around. Yours sounds like an older model.

Keytronics with ergo are REALLY obvious. the pinky finger switches feel like 10x lighter than, say, modifiers.

Try out the scroll lock key vs. the "p" key. If they feel the same, it's an older model. On an ergo model the difference is HUGE.

[Surly73]

the 3600 series has been ergo-weighted for about a decade IIRC. Older ones are something like 55g all around. Yours sounds like an older model.

Keytronics with ergo are REALLY obvious. the pinky finger switches feel like 10x lighter than, say, modifiers.

Try out the scroll lock key vs. the "p" key. If they feel the same, it's an older model. On an ergo model the difference is HUGE.

I'm straining to see if I detect a difference, so I'm going to guess that it's decidedly non-ergo.     Man, with a model number as long as E03601QUS201-C, why the heck couldn't they use a different number when they changed the design to ergo weighted keys?

Thanks for clearing that up - the "10 years" tidbit wasn't something I had seen before.  On the other hand, this may mean that a new E03600 with ergo weighting might be a perfect Topre wannabe.

[Surly73]

I had to perform some repair on the PS2 connector before the Keytronic would work so I wasn't able to do any actual typing until now.

55g?  Hmm.  This feels like an absolute feather weight compared to my model M, and even my Logitech Illuminated currently at home.  Maybe I'll have to find some nickels.  

The L enter and small backspace key are driving me nuts, though.  There's another Keytronic sitting in the same spot, but it's even older (with an AT style connector) and a model # that doesn't match this 360x series at all but it has the standard model M style layout with wide BS and enter, and \| over top of enter.  Maybe I should look up more information on it too.

[Surly73]

I have to say, in the typing I've done on this Keytronic it feels great, albeit not "perfect".  Thocky, quiet-but-solid bottoming out.  I feel like I am faster and make fewer errors than on my model M.  It has a much lighter touch than most keyboards I've been using and has a very high tactile point.  I could see a keyboard feel like this training me not to bottom out.  Of course being a membrane keyboard I must continue to bottom it out if I want keystrokes to register

[Surly73]

I also ran across a Eurotech-C.  It has a large AT-style DIN plug on it and a similar feel although the key return is a little more "plinky" than the 3601.  It does, however, have the wide Enter and Backspace, with \| above enter which is the layout that I like.

Anyone know what the biggest differences will be between a Eurotech and a 3601, other than "European Styling" (that makes me chuckle).

The Keytronic Eurotech-C info page indicates that it's also a multi-weighted ergo system, even way back in the large AT plug days.  Does that "10 years ago" comment also apply to the Eurotech-C?  I can't feel a big difference between the keys.