Author Topic: Filco tenkeyless with white Alps! (Read 20547 times)

xsphat · « **on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 10:33:45 »

Another dream come true, courtesy of Japan.

xsphat · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 10:40:14 »

I'm buying this next.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:20:44 »

wow, its even a spacesaver. It really is a dream!

IS that a US layout? (looks like it). And how much is it?

Once again Unicomp, if you're listening, why cant you do this with buckling springs?!

Chloe · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:21:26 »

I wonder when they will make one with Cherry blues.

xsphat · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:33:03 »

It costs about $80, and I think it rules. It comes out Dec. 12. I am going to buy one as soon as I can afford it. I have never seen a production space saver in this layout with Alps switches before. KBDMania has some pics of really cool mods like this, but this Filco, as far as I know (and I've searched a lot) this is the first production one ever made. That's why I NEED it!

Chloe · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:38:00 »

$80 is really good. I'd rather get one of these than chance it with a refurbished SMK-85.

xsphat · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:38:56 »

Quote from: Chloe;13659

$80 is really good. I'd rather get one of these than chance it with a refurbished SMK-85.

I'm with you there.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:41:59 »

Quote from: Chloe;13659

$80 is really good. I'd rather get one of these than chance it with a refurbished SMK-85.

$80 is an *excellent* price, but how much does shipping from japan (or wherever it is) add? Doesnt it add like $40?

xsphat · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:43:30 »

I just checked, the price on the site is is $86.11, and yeah, shipping would add about $40.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:48:15 »

out of curiosity, is there tax on purchases from japan?

Chloe · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:48:52 »

I wonder who make the switches for the Zero range, they seem to be known as XM.

sashomasho · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 11:53:14 »

this news made my day... thanks guys, i'm on a mission again

i almost bought tenkeyless with black cherries because I wanted some new spacesaver

Chloe · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 12:07:28 »

Quote from: wellington1869;13661

$80 is an *excellent* price, but how much does shipping from japan (or wherever it is) add? Doesnt it add like $40?

With shipping it will cost twice as much as an SMK-85.

fkeidjn · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 12:17:21 »

How should one go about paying directly without having to pay any extra hidden fees?

fkeidjn · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 12:22:05 »

How should one go about purchasing directly without having to pay any extra hidden fees?

Chloe · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 12:22:13 »

I think you could buy from Diatec directly although now their English site says:

Quote from:

We're sorry, but at this time we can not accept an online order from foreign country.
However, if you call us, we guide you to buy our products with pleasure.

fkeidjn · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 12:23:45 »

I did, through bank transfer. Lame ol' Bank of America charged me $45 for the transaction -_-', which was what I meant by "hidden fee."

$100 FKBN104M/EB + $30 shipping + $45 bank transfer fee = $175

bigpook · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 13:41:53 »

Quote from: xsphat;13646

Another dream come true, courtesy of Japan.

So what is the scoop on white alps switches?

What makes them so special?

iMav · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 14:43:05 »

Quote from: bigpook;13674

So what is the scoop on white alps switches?

What makes them so special?

Very clicky and very tactile (more so than the blue cherries and more so than the black alps).

skriefal · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 17:19:35 »

Quote from: Chloe;13655

I wonder when they will make one with Cherry blues.

Already do. FKBN87MC/EB

bigpook · « **Reply #20 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 17:27:13 »

Quote from: iMav;13682

Very clicky and very tactile (more so than the blue cherries and more so than the black alps).

A friend of mine has the Dell AT101 which was light and clicky. Is it similar to that?

xsphat · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 17:51:13 »

Alps are light only when compared to buckling springs. They require a bit of force but less than your Model M and they click nearly twice as loud.

xsphat · « **Reply #22 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 17:52:12 »

Quote from: skriefal;13691

Already do. FKBN87MC/EB

I thought they did, but I didn't know it was available in Japan.

Bluemercury · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 17:58:28 »

Where would be the best place to buy this for Europe?In this case, Portugal. i really like my macally 96, but for windows use, its layout and some missing keys really puts it down for me. This Filco seems really nice, and i assume benippon will also sell this?

sashomasho · « **Reply #24 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 18:12:37 »

Quote from: Bluemercury;13698

Where would be the best place to buy this for Europe?In this case, Portugal. i really like my macally 96, but for windows use, its layout and some missing keys really puts it down for me. This Filco seems really nice, and i assume benippon will also sell this?

you can also try with http://www.crescent-shop.com. I used it before to get my hhkb pro and all went very well.
we can also ask benippon to add it to their list for pre-order, like they did with the first tenkeyless filco.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 18:34:09 »

Quote from: Chloe;13666

With shipping it will cost twice as much as an SMK-85.

actually 3 times as much, since I just picked up a refurbished smk-85 for about $40 shipped (dsi store on ebay, with 25% off using the microsoft live.com rebate).

and thats not counting any hidden fees or taxes... (the $40 bank transfer fee mentioned above, for instance, would make it 4 times as much...)

wellington1869 · « **Reply #26 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 18:36:04 »

Quote from: bigpook;13692

A friend of mine has the Dell AT101 which was light and clicky. Is it similar to that?

no, I believe at101w has black alps not white alps (unless this was some other version of the at101?)

Chloe · « **Reply #27 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 22:28:50 »

Quote from: skriefal;13691

Already do. FKBN87MC/EB

Thanks. I couldn't find this model on the Diatec site:
http://www.diatec.co.jp/products/list.php?cate_c=1&subcate_sq=2

They have it in their shop:
http://www.diatec.co.jp/shop/det.php?prod_c=589

bigpook · « **Reply #28 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 01:20:11 »

I posted with Crescent-Shopping, am waiting to hear back on pricing for the blue cherry and alps Filco tenless keyboards....

wellington1869 · « **Reply #29 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 02:38:41 »

Quote from: bigpook;13735

I posted with Crescent-Shopping, am waiting to hear back on pricing for the blue cherry and alps Filco tenless keyboards....

wow, are you getting both? Thats quite a haul under the xmas tree

alexlzl · « **Reply #30 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 02:50:45 »

Have you considered Unitek K-258? It is a "space saver" model intended for rack use. I scored one like new from local warehouse last week for $0.75.

It is a white Alps (with Alps printed on the switch). Saw an eBay listing early for $79.

bigpook · « **Reply #31 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 03:12:39 »

Quote from: wellington1869;13738

wow, are you getting both? Thats quite a haul under the xmas tree

: ) nah, just checking on availabilty.

iMav · « **Reply #32 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 03:35:51 »

So, Filco mini's avaiable in Cherry black, Cherry blue, and Alps white.

Diatec deserves some mad props.

bigpook · « **Reply #33 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 03:53:14 »

Quote from: iMav;13742

So, Filco mini's avaiable in Cherry black, Cherry blue, and Alps white.

Diatec deserves some mad props.

and Cherry browns....ditto on the props. Would it be too much to ask for them to offer the mini with BS keys?

zwmalone · « **Reply #34 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 03:59:47 »

Theoretically they could. IIRC, the patents expired last year...

bigpook · « **Reply #35 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 04:18:20 »

Quote from: zwmalone;13744

Theoretically they could. IIRC, the patents expired last year...

I would buy one straightaway if they did.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #36 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 04:32:01 »

Quote from: bigpook;13745

I would buy one straightaway if they did.

I would start saving up for one rightaway

zwmalone · « **Reply #37 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 04:55:53 »

I don't know if they would though. Their boards are just rebranded Costar boards and the problem with that is, it's easy for costar to just solder a switch to a PCB, I doubt they would go for building their own switches with custom parts just for some Filco boards. I believe Buckling Springs aren't nearly as popular in Asia as Cherry switches so I don't see it happening anytime soon:(

wellington1869 · « **Reply #38 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 04:58:40 »

I think I want to be buried with my M.

iMav · « **Reply #39 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 08:37:50 »

Quote from: bigpook;13743

and Cherry browns....ditto on the props. Would it be too much to ask for them to offer the mini with BS keys?

The one version that I actually owned for a bit.

I've always loved the Cherry blues, so I may see if I am able to acquire one of them. (but it would also be interesting to have a white Alps-equipped one as well)

bigpook · « **Reply #40 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 11:54:56 »

Quote from: iMav;13756

The one version that I actually owned for a bit.

I've always loved the Cherry blues, so I may see if I am able to acquire one of them. (but it would also be interesting to have a white Alps-equipped one as well)

I have the filco mini with browns and have a das with blue cherries, which I dismissed at first but am now liking. A friend has the Dell with black alps which felt light and clicky(which was nice, I just didn't like the full size layout of the keyboard) . I have not tried the white alps.

I am liking the form factor of the filco mini and it seems to be a very well built keyboard, the fit and finish are exemplary. I can see myself getting another mini, but don't know which keyswitch to go with.

bigpook · « **Reply #41 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 11:58:12 »

Quote from: wellington1869;13749

I think I want to be buried with my M.

And many centuries from now, when some archeologist recovers your grave site, will find your model m, get an adaptor, plug it into whatever passes for a computer in the future, and you know what, it will probably still work : )

wellington1869 · « **Reply #42 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 14:20:36 »

Quote from: bigpook;13767

And many centuries from now, when some archeologist recovers your grave site, will find your model m, get an adaptor, plug it into whatever passes for a computer in the future, and you know what, it will probably still work : )

Haha! Like that volkswagon in that woody allen movie ("sleeper", I think: "They really built these things!")

bigpook · « **Reply #43 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 14:32:48 »

Quote from: wellington1869;13771

Haha! Like that volkswagon in that woody allen movie ("sleeper", I think: "They really built these things!")

I remember that scene.....made me laugh to think about it again.

xsphat · « **Reply #44 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 15:49:58 »

Quote from: bigpook;13767

And many centuries from now, when some archeologist recovers your grave site, will find your model m, get an adaptor, plug it into whatever passes for a computer in the future, and you know what, it will probably still work : )

Uhh, ... it's pretty hard to get THAT smell out metal, much less plastic. Model M of the Dead.

yuck!

wellington1869 · « **Reply #45 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 16:18:05 »

Quote from: xsphat;13780

Uhh, ... it's pretty hard to get THAT smell out metal, much less plastic. Model M of the Dead.

yuck!

not to mention my ghost will be haunting it, trying to finish my last paper... they'll freak out that it sometimes 'types by itself'

xsphat · « **Reply #46 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 18:39:08 »

wellington1869 · « **Reply #47 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 19:05:08 »

hilarious! what is that from? A game?

bhtooefr · « **Reply #48 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 19:36:31 »

I believe that was an attempt at a House of the Dead style typing game.

See zombie with letters, type letters, shoot zombie, I do believe.

Anyway, the BS patents expired 11 years ago, not one year ago.

zwmalone · « **Reply #49 on:** Fri, 05 December 2008, 19:57:44 »

That would be what? Right around the time Unicomp bought the patents (give or take a few years) I wonder why Unicomp never bothered to renew them?

News:

Author Topic: Filco tenkeyless with white Alps! (Read 20547 times)