Cherry MX5000 ErgoPlus US Layout NIB

[xyzzy]

One of the best ergo keyboards available, "maybe" a bit pricey though.

Auction link: http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/118070672
Google translated: http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=n&u=http%3A%2F%2Fpage.auctions.yahoo.co.jp%2Fjp%2Fauction%2F118070672&sl=ja&tl=en

Bids start at JPY 110.000 (US$ 1.130), BIN option for JPY 120.000 (US$ 1.230). And if you're not in Japan, remember to add broker fees + import duties :wink:

[itlnstln]

"Maybe" would be an understatement.  I would love this, but I am not going to spend a mortgage payment on a keyboard.  As much as I love Cherry browns and ergo layout, there is not well over $1000 of joy in that 'board.

[xyzzy]

Yeah  I'm pretty sure the seller would never get the asking price even if it was the last ergo keyboard on earth.

I'd keep an eye on Yahoo Auctions for the next couple of months, maybe he'll relist it at a more reasonable price.

[itlnstln]

With the way some of these auctions have been going lately, I wouldn't be too suprised if hes did sell it at that price (at least to someone not in Nigeria).

[rnak92a]

This isn't a bad 'board by any means, but it's no M15.  Also, it's too rich for my mongrel blood.  

Cheers,
~rn

[eugenius]

If by "it's no M15" you mean it's better than a M15, then yes, "it's no M15".

[itlnstln]

If by "it's no M15" you mean it's better than a M15, then yes, "it's no M15".

Nice.

[MANISH7]

given the demand for this keyboard, why don't they make it in production? its not like the cherry switches are uncommon or prohibitively expensive. my only fear is if they did make it they'd overprice it to make a nice margin (as you see with topres, aerons, etc.)

[itlnstln]

I would buy an MX5000 if they started making them again.  I think part of the problem is that ergo designs aren't very popular.  It seems to me that keyboard enthusiats covet space saving designs, and ergo 'boards hog space almost by design.  The MX 5000 is one of the better ergo designs space-wise, but it is still kinda large.  The only other thing about the MX5000 is that it is kinda ugly.  The Topre, Filco, etc. probably wouldn't be too excited about it, either.

[lowpoly]

The MX-5000 also has a minor construction problem. If you pick it up the wrong way it feels like you could easily break the flimsy connection part in the middle. This has been addressed with the rubber dome clones from Fujitsu-Siemens and Kinesis.

[xyzzy]

given the demand for this keyboard, why don't they make it in production? its not like the cherry switches are uncommon or prohibitively expensive. my only fear is if they did make it they'd overprice it to make a nice margin (as you see with topres, aerons, etc.)

Quoted from Cherry site, http://www.cherry.de/english/service/ergonomics_requirements_keyboards.htm

Although studies have shown that the "split keyboard layout" offers the best possible positioning of the hands, model tests carried out over the past few years have achieved an extremely low acceptance for this unusual keyboard design on the market. As early as 1994, Cherry  launched the G80-5000 keyboard model with spilt layout design. Low sales figures, however, resulted in the model being removed from the market again after just three years. According to a number of surveys and the opinion of many experts in the sector, the reason behind the low acceptance of these keyboards is the long adjustment period required due to the unusual layout. Even 10-finger typists require up to two months before they can operate the keyboard without problems. In light of this experience, Cherry has decided to focus on improving the generally accepted standard layout with regard to ergonomic requirements, and make working with the keyboard more pleasant for the majority of buyers, as opposed to introducing an ergonomically optimized product to the market which is only used by < 1% (source: GfK) of consumers.

[D-EJ915]

They probably would sell more keyboards if you know...they actually sold them at places people could find them.  Their keyboards are impossible to find, I don't think anybody will argue against this fact, and back in 1994...maybe 3 people knew about a place that sold those ergo boards lol.

[lowpoly]

They mainly sell the G80 type keyboards to offices, medical supply, etc. It were probably the same channels back then. I've never seen a G80 in a store.