Looking for similar sound/feel. Please help.

[pcross84]

Hi there - I'm looking for a keyboard with a certain feel and sound. Right now, I'm using a Dell AT101W and it's kind of close, but what I'm looking for is more of a plastic "clack", kind of like the terminal keyboards they used to have at the library. (WYSE)

The BEST keyboard I ever used was when I was 17 and worked at the telephone company. It was a Nortel TOPS IWS Keyboard (Nortel Part #NTNX51HH). I cannot buy one because I don't have a carrier license. If anyone knows what kind of keyswitches this one had, and if there's a consumer keyboard with those same switches, please let me know!

Buckling spring keyboards are too metallic sounding, and require too much force.

This AT101W has almost the right sound, but the force is still too high.

I may be looking for something with both a spring and a membrane. Not sure.

Thanks for your help!

[lowpoly]

http://www.industrialpartner.com/enterprise-networking/specialty-product-enterprise-networking/nortel/ntnx51hh/

[lowpoly]

Did you go through the keyboard audio clips yet?

[pcross84]

Yes, I sure did. It gives a great clue as to how a keyboard would sound. I'm just wondering what kind of mechanism I'm looking for. This particular keyboard made a plastic "clack", but did not require much force. It was a really satisfying sound and had great spring-back.

I'm still learning the terminology like "bottoming out".

Thanks for helping the noob.

[Manyak]

http://www.cdrinternational.net/products/NORTEL%20NETWORKS/pg415.php#thumb

About the closest I could get to actually buying it.

Have you tried calling up Nortel or the phone company and asking them? Maybe they'll be able to tell you.

[pcross84]

Nortel requires licensing for this product, and since I don't run a carrier-class company, I can't get licensed. Plus, these aren't in production.

I could try calling the phone company, but, when I worked there, systems and metrics information were "proprietary", so, I doubt they'd even discuss it with me.

[lowpoly]

Drop by your old company and while you say hello pull a keycap. :smile:

[pcross84]

LOL sure, I'll just waltz right past the guards and pray that the doors unlock without a keycard

Blue sliders maybe? capacitive? hmm...

[Manyak]

Well I guess your best bet would be to try out a bunch of cheap keyboards with all types of switches until you find the ones you want.

[cchan]

Old wyse keyboards generally have cherry black switches. Take a look at the cherry mx11900 (also called g80-11900) on ebay. It's a black switch keyboard with an inbuilt touchpad. If you're lucky, you can get one for about thirty bucks...

[pcross84]

Okay, I just got my Apple Extended II in the mail, and the touch and feel, and sound (click-clock) is absolutely the best feeling thing -- ever. It's light, but the bump is affirming.

Also, I dyed it with the instructions in the mods section. Pics to follow.

Thanks for everyone's help!

[pcross84]

After searching high and low, I found a Japanese site with information about the keyswitches used in the Nortel IWS keyboard. They're called black axis and they're by Cherry. A filco majestouch has those in it, right?

[IBI]

After searching high and low, I found a Japanese site with information about the keyswitches used in the Nortel IWS keyboard. They're called black axis and they're by Cherry. A filco majestouch has those in it, right?

They're probably the Cherry MX linear switches then. Lots of keyboards use them, all of Cherry's G80 range is availible with them for example.

I'm surprised it's those ones though, since they've got pretty strong springs.

[bhtooefr]

You can get a Majestouch with those, yes.

The only one with blacks that EliteKeyboards (the US distributor for Diatec) carries is a tenkeyless, though: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=filco_keyboards,majestouch_87key&pid=fkbn87mleb

Alternately, if you'd rather have a numpad, the Deck Legend also has blacks. Or, if you're dirt cheap, there's a few variants of the Cherry G80-3000. (I forget exact model numbers.)

[Manyak]

You can get a Majestouch with those, yes.

The only one with blacks that EliteKeyboards (the US distributor for Diatec) carries is a tenkeyless, though: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=filco_keyboards,majestouch_87key&pid=fkbn87mleb

Alternately, if you'd rather have a numpad, the Deck Legend also has blacks. Or, if you're dirt cheap, there's a few variants of the Cherry G80-3000. (I forget exact model numbers.)

Don't forget the Steelseries 7G!

[IBI]

Don't forget the Steelseries 7G!

And the Steelseries 6G! And the Raptor-Gaming K1!

[pcross84]

ftw. wish I had it.

[pcross84]

pic didnt post. Here's the link:

http://item.taobao.com/auction/item_detail.jhtml?item_id=9d8c3e53741f62c744c2df9135e3aa98&x_id=0db2

[keyb_gr]

Looks like that particular one has Cherry blacks. Lots of special and custom-labeled keys there, too.