Author Topic: Battle Of The Esc Keys (Read 9163 times)

rdjack21 · « **Reply #50 on:** Wed, 12 August 2009, 22:21:27 »

Quote from: quadibloc;109328

I would have to admit that I'd be unlikely to choose the version with blank keycaps. And having to shift in order to use the backspace key does strike me as odd; why do pencils have erasers?

Well actually it has a dip switch where you can change that. You can either have Backspace or delete as the primary. I flipped that switch on mine because I use it more than the delete key.

rdjack21 · « **Reply #51 on:** Wed, 12 August 2009, 23:58:41 »

Quote from: ripster;109366

I use a kinda weird variation of the HHKB layout but it makes sense to me. \ becomes Backspace, BS becomes Delete. That way I have easy access to both. It corresponds to the HHKB layout when FCN key is used as a modifier. The rest of the FCN Key HHKB layout is garbage to me because I want to use my right hand less not more so I shift it over to Raj's left handed WASD layout.

Show Image

I'm the opposite I use my left hand quite a bit (Alt/Control combo keys) in the code editors I use all day. So the right hand Fn key actually moves some of the work over to my right hand which helps balance things a little better. Even though it would be nice to have a Fn key on the other side of the board. I actually figure that is why they put the Fn key on the right to begin with. It is called the Happy Hacking Keyboard for a reason. It was orginally layed out for coders who heavily use Ctrl and Alt all the time. And to be honest the more I use it the more I like it. But I would swap Home/End with PgUp/PgDn mostly because I use them more and where they are at is a streach.

megarat · « **Reply #52 on:** Fri, 14 August 2009, 15:34:29 »

I just posted about this in the eBay finds forum, but here's another (presumably) unmodded, wild-type keyboard with a red escape key.

Here's the item photo, transplanted:

cmr · « **Reply #53 on:** Fri, 14 August 2009, 17:09:27 »

Quote from: itlnstln;107130

You know what, that was it. I remember I was looking for a "Panic" button. I think bhtooefr has one that was a Cherry replacement key, or something, and I went to search Google to fime something similar. The ones I had originally found were adhesive (not stickers like Hooleon's, though). Nevermind.

iFail.

my 'X%&#!' key had an adhesive pad on the bottom, but when i peeled it away, behold, it was merely a cherry key cap.

quadibloc · « **Reply #54 on:** Fri, 14 August 2009, 20:44:55 »

Quote from: megarat;109774

another (presumably) unmodded, wild-type keyboard with a red escape key.

I see that your link reveals what I was going to mention - that this keyboard is from the EPSON QX-10 computer, the one with the VALDOCS operating system to protect your valuable documents.

In the meantime, I took another look at the Happy Hacking keyboard, thought about it, and came up with a suggestion for something more moderate with wider appeal. Remember that the original PC keyboard combined the numeric keypad with the cursor keypad? That would be one way of "getting rid of" most of the space the numeric keypad takes up without losing it entirely.

Well, why not take it one step further, and also use the numeric keypad as a substitute for the function keys?

nanu · « **Reply #55 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 07:37:49 »

Quote from: ripster;109796

guy took a dremel tool, sacraficed a Cherry Key and epoxied on the stem. That is a lot of work and requires more precision than it first looks.

I'm thinking I must do this now, to use arbitrary keycaps with a cherry stem. It beats molding and casting which some kbdmaniacs are doing, since I'm reluctant to get all the stuff needed for that..

What I first tried for stem conversion is epoxying aquarium tubing, but it's flexible material. The current revision is to use a straight pin through the tubing as an anchor so it stays on longer.

It is noticeably wobbly—if you strike the key oddly, it will twist; a good sign to take a break, maybe.

rdjack21 · « **Reply #56 on:** Mon, 17 August 2009, 11:13:59 »

Quote from: nanu;109850

I'm thinking I must do this now, to use arbitrary keycaps with a cherry stem. It beats molding and casting which some kbdmaniacs are doing, since I'm reluctant to get all the stuff needed for that..

I may have to look that up. I keep thinking I want to try molding my own keys mostly so I can get some cupped keys on a modern keyboard. But also so I can play with different materials as well. Do you have a link to the thread for this?

Bollwerk · « **Reply #57 on:** Mon, 17 August 2009, 16:16:57 »

Quote from: ripster;110195

EliteKeyboards now advertises the Red ESC key as a included item with their Filco Cherry Switch keyboards (he generally shipped them depending on availability gratis).

What? I ordered just recently, but befor that. I hope, I'll get one as well...^^
hope hope hope hope... xD

ohdh2003 · « **Reply #58 on:** Fri, 21 August 2009, 08:43:00 »

Here are two examples of metal (aluminium) keycaps.

timw4mail · « **Reply #59 on:** Fri, 21 August 2009, 08:52:29 »

I want aluminum keycaps!

How do those feel in comparison to the plastic keycaps around them?

sixty · « **Reply #60 on:** Fri, 21 August 2009, 09:10:29 »

Quote from: ohdh2003;111022

Here are two examples of metal (aluminium) keycaps.
Show Image

Show Image

Wow this is totally awesome. Did the poster say how much one cost to make and how long it took?

Thanks for posting this!

ohdh2003 · « **Reply #61 on:** Fri, 21 August 2009, 09:37:58 »

Quote from: sixty;111031

Wow this is totally awesome. Did the poster say how much one cost to make and how long it took?

Thanks for posting this!

I don't know the cost and time for making. They're maniatic production so, you may not buy them. I guess makers of them may not make anymore.

ohdh2003 · « **Reply #62 on:** Fri, 21 August 2009, 09:44:18 »

Quote from: timw4mail;111028

I want aluminum keycaps!

How do those feel in comparison to the plastic keycaps around them?

I have chance to touch an aluminum keycap, the red one. The weight was similar to plastic one. It was not much cold as I thought.

lowpoly · « **Reply #63 on:** Fri, 21 August 2009, 09:46:10 »

Quote from: ohdh2003;111041

It was not much cold as I thought.

That's what I wondered. Thanks for posting these.

keyb_gr · « **Reply #64 on:** Fri, 21 August 2009, 10:58:49 »

I'd guess keeping the keycap mass down helps.

ohdh2003 · « **Reply #65 on:** Sat, 22 August 2009, 05:30:44 »

Quote from: ripster;111039

That is just awesome. Check around KBDmania for details.

That PS/2 cord looks like it has been RitDyed!

Good observation:) that chord painted by sort of spray like this http://itempage3.auction.co.kr/DetailView.aspx?itemNo=a520189843&frm3=V2

clickclack · « **Reply #66 on:** Tue, 25 August 2009, 16:46:04 »

This thread is really unhealthy

now all I want to do is mod the crap out of stuff (more so than I already do)
*smacks forehead*

I really need to find out which keyboards have what stem and what tolerances/heights so I can figure out what's compatible with what I have.

hmm.... *scurries off*...

timw4mail · « **Reply #67 on:** Tue, 25 August 2009, 17:52:25 »

Anyone know of a way to get a set of blue aluminum keycaps?

timw4mail · « **Reply #68 on:** Tue, 25 August 2009, 22:05:46 »

The double-shot molding on the Next keyboard certainly seems to be more precise than on the Cherry key, though.

ohdh2003 · « **Reply #69 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 07:05:59 »

Quote from: webwit;111845

More from those maniacs:

Show Image

The more I see colored keys, the less I want them. Well, that's probably not entirely true. But that korean photo forum manages to make them look tired.

That's truly awesome. Because that was made with "gold". (You may know the gold protect for the teeth.) So that gold keycap is very experimental and very expansive.

Rajagra · « **Reply #70 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 08:00:30 »

Quote from: webwit;111845

The more I see colored keys, the less I want them. Well, that's probably not entirely true. But that korean photo forum manages to make them look tired.

Don't mean a thing if it ain't got that bling:

(doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah)

itlnstln · « **Reply #71 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 08:06:56 »

Quote from: ripster;111908

Actually I think that's an optical illusion because of the different texture (the Cherry is pretty textured). If you look at the extreme closeup you can see the lines where the plastics meet.

That, and Cherry uses a goofy, bubbly font where NeXT, and everyone else, uses fonts with crisper edges.

itlnstln · « **Reply #72 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 09:29:42 »

Quote from: ripster;112019

Bubbly font is an apt description. Any of our German members ever figure out what this font is??

Fugly Sans-Serif Bold

Bollwerk · « **Reply #73 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 09:33:45 »

We've got something here called "Normschrift". It would be sort of standard lettering.

We use it for traffic signs, technical drawings and other stuff. It looks a lot like that.

EDIT: Maybe DIN ISO 3098

quadibloc · « **Reply #74 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 10:02:36 »

The sign in your photo appears to show printing in Copperplate Gothic.

I don't recognize the font in which the letter R is on the key in your photograph.

As to the letters on many computer keyboards in the old days, they are indeed drafting-style letters, made with a particular tool, about which information is available here:

http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KELeroy/1960Brochure/1960KELeroyBroch.htm

Because you can choose the diameter of the pen used in this, you can produce letters made from thin lines, or letters made from thick lines the rounded ends of which are obvious.

It's difficult to find photos of old-style computer terminals quickly on the Web, but in addition to my 122-key keyboard from Memorex-Telex, another example is at:

http://world.std.com/~jdostale/kbd/SpaceCadet.html

the famous Space Cadet keyboard. One recognizable thing about the font is the very wide % sign.

itlnstln · « **Reply #75 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 10:21:46 »

Quote from: quadibloc;112033

The sign in your photo appears to show printing in Copperplate Gothic.

This was in reference to a running joke. The pic is from a show in the US called New Yankee Workshop where the host (in the pic), Norm, builds incredible furniture. Ripster was playing on words using the host's name, Norm, as the joke.

Bollwerk · « **Reply #76 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 10:24:31 »

Maybe it isn't standard lettering. Or an older one than the current. Frankly, I'm not sure, what the hell it could be...

clickclack · « **Reply #77 on:** Wed, 26 August 2009, 14:27:06 »

Quote from: ripster;112029

Show Image

My family and I call him the anal retentive carpenter (everything he uses is like laser guided, screwdriver, ruler, bandsaw...haahaa)

Anywho.... moving on...
I just thought I would mention that I have seen many more rubber dome keyboards that have double shot keys than mechnaical boards. I just figured that was an interesting tid bit.
:)

o2dazone · « **Reply #78 on:** Thu, 27 August 2009, 13:39:13 »

Quote from: webwit;112321

This guy just the Internet:
http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/photo/860813

he just my Internet as well...damn

wellington1869 · « **Reply #79 on:** Tue, 01 September 2009, 20:09:51 »

It looks like wet paint. Nice.

never mind which keyboard it came from, which keyboards will it fit?!

msiegel · « **Reply #80 on:** Tue, 01 September 2009, 20:15:12 »

Quote from: ripster;113819

I'll post tomorrow the keyboard it came from.

that thing looks amazing

is there a good source of double-shot alps keycaps, anywhere?

rdjack21 · « **Reply #81 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 01:40:56 »

Nice... Looks like you put it on your Filco tenkeyless board. So I'm guessing that key cap came from some cherry board.

AndrewZorn · « **Reply #82 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 01:57:48 »

if you want smooth, why not just polish an already famous/good/owned double-shot key?

quadibloc · « **Reply #83 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 08:12:10 »

Isn't plastic too soft to really allow itself to be polished well?

itlnstln · « **Reply #84 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 08:16:35 »

That key is from a Cherry keyboard. The font is a dead giveaway. It would either be a G80 or G81 series model.

rdjack21 · « **Reply #85 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 11:42:59 »

Oh man no bonus points for guessing that you put it in your Filco Blue Cherry Tenkeyless board.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #86 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 12:26:03 »

Quote from: rdjack21;113968

Oh man no bonus points for guessing that you put it in your Filco Blue Cherry Tenkeyless board.

rdjack - the t-shirt in your avatar is Da bomb. I havent attempted to make one yet. One day it'll be avail on cafe press though, for sure, lol. I'll see to it

rdjack21 · « **Reply #87 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 13:10:10 »

Quote from: wellington1869;113977

rdjack - the t-shirt in your avatar is Da bomb. I havent attempted to make one yet. One day it'll be avail on cafe press though, for sure, lol. I'll see to it

I just hope webwit doesn't throw a fit when he sees it

He is the one that photo shopped it. But even if he does I just needed a little soft landing today.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #88 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 13:48:45 »

Quote from: rdjack21;114014

I just hope webwit doesn't throw a fit when he sees it He is the one that photo shopped it. But even if he does I just needed a little soft landing today.

thats a soft landing alright

MsKeyboard · « **Reply #89 on:** Wed, 02 September 2009, 13:56:41 »

webwit,

Quote

You owe me.. ONE MILLION DOLLARS

I hope you had the accent right!

quadibloc · « **Reply #90 on:** Fri, 04 September 2009, 21:45:26 »

Quote from: nanu;109850

Show Image

The keycap you're converting from happens to be exactly the same style as is on my Memorex-Telex 122-key keyboard.

sixty · « **Reply #91 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 09:10:55 »

almost!

Shawn Stanford · « **Reply #92 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 16:17:53 »

The best four minutes of Python's best movie. You are my hero...

Hak Foo · « **Reply #93 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 20:29:15 »

I want a Commodore-style Run-Stop key.

msiegel · « **Reply #94 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 22:37:18 »

Quote from: Hak Foo;115971

I want a Commodore-style Run-Stop key.

how about an atari-style reset key, that makes a farty sound? XD

you guys must remember that

Hak Foo · « **Reply #95 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 22:40:17 »

Well, the VIC 20 and 64 had those gorgeous cupped keys.... did the Atari 800? I know the XL series had non-cupped keys (I've got a 600XL and 800XL)

quadibloc · « **Reply #96 on:** Tue, 08 September 2009, 22:47:11 »

Quote from: Hak Foo;115993

did the Atari 800?

Yes, definitely. It was only after the IBM PC started the trend, by noting that cylinder keys were almost as good - and lent themselves much better to stickers on the top face of the keys - that everyone else switched too, because suddenly cupped keys looked old-fashioned.

itlnstln · « **Reply #97 on:** Thu, 05 November 2009, 12:27:55 »

Nice comparison, ripster.

itlnstln · « **Reply #98 on:** Thu, 05 November 2009, 12:55:06 »

The Cherry ones don't look dirty, but they are more of a cream color than stark white.

clickclack · « **Reply #99 on:** Mon, 09 November 2009, 03:41:27 »

Quote from: ripster;130707

And although it is a repost I just want to show this one to the KBDMania guys because, well, if you're American you might as well be obnoxious since everyone expects you to be.

Haahaaa, living the dream! =P

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Author Topic: Battle Of The Esc Keys (Read 9163 times)