BTC-53

[ianxblog]

Got a fully working BTC-5339R-0 for U$D 6.

Like this:

It's feel is identical to Cherry MX red, from what I read.

It has cherry-like keycaps. Opened it up. the switch itself it's a foil with a stem.

Is it a capacitive switch? The actuation point is in the middle of the keycap travel.

Feels awesome so far. First "mechanical"? keyboard.

[jdcarpe]

Keytronic Foam-and-Foil switches?

[ianxblog]

Keytronic Foam-and-Foil switches?

From what I just googled; exactly.

Are they good? Also, compared to Cherry MX.
Are they mechanical or capacitive or just foam-and-foil?
How much does this keyboard cost? (Obviously the owner didn't know what he was selling)

[jdcarpe]

Linear capacitive switches.

Are the keycaps double shot? Can you post a pic of the underside of one?

[ianxblog]

Linear capacitive switches.

Are the keycaps double shot? Can you post a pic of the underside of one?

Answer my other questions please 

Naah, they are pad printed (You can see the pad-printing outline)

Are they compatible with MX keycaps?
Also, is it yellow-ish because it was white and it's old or just made that way?

[jdcarpe]

Are they good? I have no idea, because I've never used them.

How much does it cost? As much as you paid for it, I guess...

How do they compare to MX? Again I don't know, but maybe close to reds?

It seems like the keycaps might be compatible with MX caps, but I'd have to see the underside of one to know.

It most likely started life as a beige color, which has yellowed over time. If you wanted to try and restore it, do a search for retrobrite.

[ianxblog]

Intro key.

[CPTBadAss]

http://deskthority.net/wiki/BTC_foam_and_foil
http://deskthority.net/wiki/BTC_53_series

[Aer Fixus]

I have a very similar board and it is very inconsistent. Some keys actuate in the middle, some actuate much lower. Some barely work at all. Mine feels like it should have NKRO, but after pressing a bunch of keys, the controller freaks out and starts sending incorrect key presses.

Foam and foil keyboards tend to age particularly badly, especially heavily used ones. One of my teachers considers foam and foil keyboards one of the worst creations ever simply because of how quickly they can be worn down in a work environment.

The foam can deteriorate and the foil can be worn down unevenly over the keys, making for a very irritating typing experience.

I love the feel of typing on the keyboard. The keys are very light and enjoyable (minus the ones that don't actuate at the correct places). I'd almost say that it is lighter and smoother than MX reds. It just feels so nice. I wish mine worked properly. I toyed with the idea of designing my own longer-lasting mechanism for the board, but gave up as that would require work and I'm already pouring time into every other part of my life including other keyboard stuff...

Also: excuse the possible rambling. It's very late. Er... Early. And my brain doesn't like working properly at this hour.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Interesting — I've never seen that specific design of plastic moulding before (the raised "plinth" around the slider is normally single level and octagonal). I wonder if that's a really old keyboard, as BTC have appeared to be very consistent about how they mould that "plinth" area.

I have a very similar board and it is very inconsistent. Some keys actuate in the middle, some actuate much lower. Some barely work at all. Mine feels like it should have NKRO, but after pressing a bunch of keys, the controller freaks out and starts sending incorrect key presses.

OK, that's odd. Capacitive keyboards shouldn't ghost. Must be some sort of bug.

One of my teachers considers foam and foil keyboards one of the worst creations ever simply because of how quickly they can be worn down in a work environment.

You have a teacher who knows what foam and foil is? How odd.

[Aer Fixus]

You have a teacher who knows what foam and foil is? How odd.

He's familiar with Geek Hack and some of the more notorious members here before the kerfuffles a while back. He has a Topre RealForce with the different weighted design that he uses regularly. It's not that weird to me considering I know him and we've had long conversations regarding keyboards and stories of him and co-workers/students working with computers many years ago.