Beige "Retro" look Cherry

[dada]

Hi there. I'm planning on buying a new keyboard for my retro gaming setup soon. Currently I'm planning on getting a white Unicomp Ultra Classic. I just love the "retro" look of white/beige and grey, and it fits really well with the beige AT tower I acquired for my retro gaming purposes.

However, I've also been really interested in trying out Cherry Blue keyswitches. I've never really used a Cherry before so I'm curious as to how they type. I'd like to give them a try. However, silly as it sounds, I'd really like to maintain the retro look. Does anybody know a good Cherry Blue keyboard that uses the old-fashioned white/grey look? Preferably one with a number key section too.

Thanks!

[davkol]

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[N8N]

WASD custom?  That seems to be the easiest way to get what you want in the US.  I'd sell a set of beige/grey doubleshots if you prefer that option.

[fohat.digs]

What?

Although I am a Model M/F lover, and all my current specimens are old, whenever a newbie posts here asking whether to buy an old Model M or a new Unicomp, I always advise the new Unicomp, for several reasons including the availability of non-beige colors.

However, in this case I will go the opposite way. If you are building a retro setup, why no go with the real deal? An IBM logo is a heck of a lot more retro in appearance than the "modern" Unicomp style, for openers.

Also, look at the Model F with Soarer's Converter instead of the M, and get full true NKRO.

[N8N]

I took the OP to mean that he was going to buy a Unicomp for sure and also wanted a board with blues, hence my suggestion.

[dada]

Although I am a Model M/F lover, and all my current specimens are old, whenever a newbie posts here asking whether to buy an old Model M or a new Unicomp, I always advise the new Unicomp, for several reasons including the availability of non-beige colors.

Well, there's actually one other thing I didn't mention (because I figured it wasn't really relevant), but I'll be using the keyboard for both my old retro setup as well as an older Mac (by changing a USB plug to a different hub). I'm using a monitor with two inputs, too, so it's a pretty nice setup. I was actually using an Apple Extended I keyboard, but I didn't really like the quality of the signal conversion to USB.

So for that reason I prefer to have a Unicomp because of the extra key in between Ctrl and Alt, which the Model M doesn't have. Without it, it's a little harder to use the Mac.

I guess some older keyboards do have an extra key there, but they're probably more difficult to find? It sounds nice to have an original, and maybe I should look into it.

Cherry G80-3000?

Thanks, I'll have a look at that one. Think I actually found it before but only black editions... but I see now it has white too.

WASD custom?  That seems to be the easiest way to get what you want in the US.  I'd sell a set of beige/grey doubleshots if you prefer that option.

Awesome, didn't know you could design your own keyboard. The ability to send in your own PDF is badass. It doesn't seem like you can change the color of the base, though.

[tipo33]

I believe chichony made some vintage looking boards with all the buttons you're looking for.

[N8N]

No...  and I don't think you can get true beige caps from WASD but you could do a light/dark grey.  Not aware of any good new keyboards with non black cases but nothing stopping you from painting one.

[dada]

The ability to send in your own PDF is def something I'll use, though I might do it some other time. I've actually always wanted to design a keyboard. This would allow me to make one that follows the US ANSI 104 standard (still the best for programming) while also having support for Japanese script (just extra labels on the keys based on the layout), and Mac OS X (my main OS). I'm not aware of any keyboard that offers this.

The white Cherry looks nicer atm although it's still not really a "retro" look. I guess it is sort of a niche thing, so there wouldn't be too many of those keyboards.

No...  and I don't think you can get true beige caps from WASD but you could do a light/dark grey.  Not aware of any good new keyboards with non black cases but nothing stopping you from painting one.

Yeah, that's something I might do in the future, I don't really have that much time to spend on it at the moment unfortunately.

[IvanIvanovich]

The current G80-3000, while 'classic' looking are not really 'retro' I would say. Unfortunately, as you see most all of these retro boards are going to be 101 layouts... so something will probably need to give if you want Cherry. Though, you may have some options in Alps like the Dell AT101W which may be suitable for you and can usually be found on ebay for less that $40. I think those do look quite retro, big and chunky.

[N8N]

If you want a AT101W I will send you one for the cost of shipping (~$15 usually, maybe less) and if you feel charitable throw in money for a beer or something.  It's old and the caps are worn, and it's really not that great feeling a board, but maybe opening the switches and giving them a clean/lube may bring them back.  When it comes to Alps, the SGI Granite is where it's at, but I don't know that that's available in a winkeyful version.  (BTW the AEK2 uses the same switches, but I tried one and didn't like the ADB to USB adapter either, made everything a little laggy which isn't good for typing.  Oddly the PS/2 to USB adapters seem to work fine, I'm using one right now and you wouldn't know that I'm typing this on a PS/2 board connected to a PC with only USB ports.

Once you know how to open your particular keyboard's case, painting it would probably take less time than swapping keycaps.  If you wanted, say, a beige Filco, you could paint the case to match some old Cherry doubleshots in an hour or so really.  Would take longer to select the correct paint and wait for it to dry than it would to disassemble/reassemble.

[486]

SGI granite is a good board for cream alps. Same with AEKII. But as N8N has said, ADB to USB sucks.
however, this has come up http://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Silicon-Graphics-Indigo-2-indy-fuel-Octane-Keyboard-NEW-NB-VINTAGE-CLICKY-/390444898042?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item5ae85456fa
It has the cream alps and ps/2 and those scandinavian caps which are all the rage.

[N8N]

I don't think that that is a cream alps board, seller's claims of "clicky" to the contrary - pretty sure it is a NMB made board w/ domes.  It doesn't look anything like the board on which I'm typing right now, which is the same size/shape as an AT101 (and in fact says "U.S. AT-101 Keyboard" on the label.)  Also I believe OP wanted winkeyful which is why I didn't suggest just getting a Granite.

[dada]

If you want a AT101W I will send you one for the cost of shipping (~$15 usually, maybe less) and if you feel charitable throw in money for a beer or something.  It's old and the caps are worn, and it's really not that great feeling a board, but maybe opening the switches and giving them a clean/lube may bring them back.  When it comes to Alps, the SGI Granite is where it's at, but I don't know that that's available in a winkeyful version.  (BTW the AEK2 uses the same switches, but I tried one and didn't like the ADB to USB adapter either, made everything a little laggy which isn't good for typing.  Oddly the PS/2 to USB adapters seem to work fine, I'm using one right now and you wouldn't know that I'm typing this on a PS/2 board connected to a PC with only USB ports.

Oh yeah I'm definitely interested in that! I live in the Netherlands so idk how expensive it is to ship but I'll definitely take you up on that, and I'm not adverse to throwing in some money of course aside from shipping. I'll send you a PM with my details

Also searched for SGI Granite, it looks nice but it seems to be a bit rare to find? In any case it doesn't look like it has a winkey, so I'd prefer one with it.

Oh, by the way, what do you mean by "scandinavian caps", 486? Do you mean the vertical enter key (+ other minor differences to US ANSI)? Personally I rather like the US horizontal enter key setup.

Once you know how to open your particular keyboard's case, painting it would probably take less time than swapping keycaps.  If you wanted, say, a beige Filco, you could paint the case to match some old Cherry doubleshots in an hour or so really.  Would take longer to select the correct paint and wait for it to dry than it would to disassemble/reassemble.

Yeah, I guess that's true. It probably won't take very long. Just take off the top and bottom parts of the outer casing and paint it, probably with spray paint, then maybe for it to be done right use a coating afterwards.

[sth]

if it only takes an hour to paint it's probably not going to look good for long.

fwiw leopold's FC200R in beige is not a perfect match but it is pretty close, and it looks really good with white cherry DS IMO. the spacebar is also about as close as you're going to get since the moogle kits never seem to get that right for one reason or another.