newbie looking for tenkey, no arrow/home etc. island

[smilr]

I've looked around this site a few times and thought it over: it's time to go mechanical, and register to ask a question with a bit of background explaining why I ask that question:

I've loved my little franken-mac keyboard since I got it in 2000. It's the original iMac / G4 tower style compact. It included the ten key, but omitted the arrow keys and insert/help/end etc. between the ten key and main alphanumeric section.

See the first picture on this website for an example.  (I'm not affiliated with them, but it's the first thing I found with google image search)

I've dropped, soda doused, disassembled and cleaned by hand, left in direct sunlight for too long, made repairs and generally kept this thing going for far too long. It's actually got a newer membrane and pcb from a donor kb as the original membrane finally corroded, and new keycaps from a different donor kb when the originals deformed from heat. Franken-keyboard has served me well. Unfortnately I've knocked it off the back of my keyboard tray again and now the m, j, u and arrow keys only work if I press in on the top edge where the rbber doe's ebrane (err, rubber dome's membrane) is pressure contacting this keyboards pcb. I could dismantle it and re-tighten the nearby screws that maintain this pressure, but enough is enough - time to let it RIP.

Problem is : my keyboard tray is weird and skinny. Only exactly wide enough to fit this oddball keyboard and my trackball side by side. It wold fit a standard keyboard, but then the trackball would have to go on a different platform/height.

I've bit the bullet and ordered a Rosewill RK-9000 with Cherry MX Browns, and will be modifying my desk to fit it. I would have preffered a mechanical keyboard with the same sort of layout and width: keep the ten key, replace bottom right modifier keys with a compact arrow key block, delete the normal stuff from in between. I haven't been able to find one: have you guys ever seen such a beast?

Also, any suggestions for what to look out for as a first time mechanical keyer?

[biszarerabbit]

I would suggest:
Noppoo Choc Mini - http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:13825
or maybe a KBC Poker - http://keyboardporn.com/files/gimgs/59_1overview.jpg

[smilr]

Looked at the choc ini, hadn't taken a close look at the Poker. I think I like the Poker's style and thin borders. But:  Both lack the 10 key (remeber I'm looking for soething truly weird). Either way - thanks for reading and helping out!

[fossala]

Here is a thread talking about what you want. http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?24474-alternative-to-tenkeyless-idea
Also check out the cherry g80-1800

[smilr]

Here is a thread talking about what you want. http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?24474-alternative-to-tenkeyless-idea
Also check out the cherry g80-1800

AH! Thank Yo! That is the stff I' talking...

danit:

AH! Thank You! That is the stuff I'm talking about. Your search-fu far exceeds mine.

[fossala]

It helps if you already know the thread exists and remeber what it was talking about.

[laffindude]

http://www.i-rocks.com/Product_detail.aspx?CLASS_ID=1056&PRODUCT_ID=1201

[Human]

http://www.i-rocks.com/Product_detail.aspx?CLASS_ID=1056&PRODUCT_ID=1201

If this thing is too hard to be found, I suggest that Thermaltake Meka is the same.

[Rizzelet]

If this thing is too hard to be found, I suggest that Thermaltake Meka is the same.

I've only ever been able to find the Meka with black switches. The good thing about the i-rocks keyboard is that you can get it in brown. Let me know if I'm mistaken.