Author Topic: The most awesome super rare alps compact keyboard ever. (Read 12177 times)

chimera15 · « **on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 13:50:21 »

So in my compact mini keyboard thread I kept turning up all these alternative names for siig minitouchs and other alps keyboard compacts. I came across the Ortek brands which had various labeling. I happened upon a medical supplier and asked for a quote, never thinking they had any left, but took a shot. They said they had one of these left that they'd sell to me. I took a chance because their labeling was different from the Japanese site I had seen Ortek boards on. This was a mkb84sx, the only result that comes up when you search for it on google, so I thought they must have something wrong. All the others are mck84sx or fx, but today I got it and it seems to be just like the others I had seen. It's like 100 times better than the siig. It has real non fake alps sliders!!! It's the only compact alps keyboard that has real alps keys I've ever seen. The numbers on the back are: mkb-84sx gm8mck-84bpad ortek. I now wonder what the difference is between the sx and the fx. The mck appears to be the fcc id, and the mkb is the ortek designation. Anyway, I'm so blown away by this keyboard.

Anyone know what the heck the gameport would be used for? lol Can I plug it into a game port and use it that way? lol

chimera15 · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:00:36 »

The upside down return key is taking a bit to get used to since I'm used to siigs that have that huge L shaped key, but overall the keys have a much much better feel to them than the siigs. Since it's a used board, probably in the medical field, used a lot(needs a good cleaning too) the keys have a real light feel to them, but still very consistent, I'm pretty fast on it, and it's probably half the db of the siigs. This is actually, when I think of it, my first true white alps keyboard, so I'm not really sure how a brand new board would feel since I only have fake simplifieds to compare to.

chimera15 · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:10:26 »

I'm also noticing now that the insert and delete key are placed to the left of the spacebar, pretty odd! lol

It also doesn't have a function key or a numpad..which is really odd. lol I suppose I can fix that with software.

One thing I really like about it is that it's a much heavier board than Siigs, it has a much more sturdy better put together feel to it overall.

chimera15 · « **Reply #3 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:18:31 »

Ahh.. interesting..

On this page..this guy just has an mkb-84 with no sx. So it doesn't have the port on it.

http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/mck-84.html

What the heck is the port...hmm Maybe he describes it in Japanese..going to have to do a translation...

IBI · « **Reply #4 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:19:14 »

Quote from: chimera15;91782

The upside down return key is taking a bit to get used to since I'm used to siigs that have that huge L shaped key

As it's an ISO enter key I wonder if it's a copy of a full ISO model, that would be an interesting find.

chimera15 · « **Reply #5 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:21:27 »

Ah look!!
http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/ortek.htm

This page shows an 84 fx.. It has fake simplifieds!!! Wow!! So the sx must be the better version with reals and the port... interesting.

chimera15 · « **Reply #6 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:23:08 »

Quote from: IBI;91786

As it's an ISO enter key I wonder if it's a copy of a full ISO model, that would be an interesting find.

What's an iso? I'll have to look it up. Right now I'm thinking the port is for a number keypad since that would explain it not having a function key.

itlnstln · « **Reply #7 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:25:49 »

ISO and ANSI are just the different layouts based on their standards. Europe (and others) use the ISO layout, and the US (and others, of course) use ANSI.

ISO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO
ANSI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansi

itlnstln · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:38:16 »

Quote from: ripster;91798

Oh yeah, and I don't give these out every day but this gets a:

That helmet sure doesn't, though.

Mercen_505 · « **Reply #9 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:43:49 »

I'm trying to locate a (relatively) cheap white Alps keyboard, just to play around with. I've got an AT101W on the way so I can check out the action of the black Alps.

chimera15 · « **Reply #10 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 14:48:38 »

Quote from: ripster;91792

Isn't that a RS232 port?

Since it came from a medical place I think it's to attach the Vulcan Mind Meld Helmet.

Show Image

roflol That's great. I really think it must be for a number pad right now. I need to translate that Japanese page, probably later tonight. It seems to have a lot of information about it.

chimera15 · « **Reply #11 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 16:04:44 »

Quote from: ripster;91792

Isn't that a RS232 port?

Since it came from a medical place I think it's to attach the Vulcan Mind Meld Helmet.

Show Image

It's a da-15 port, like for a joystick. Actually that's a good idea. I should try to plug an old ch joystick I have into it and see if it functions..but that's strange, a joystick port in a keyboard??? lol

chimera15 · « **Reply #12 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 16:19:59 »

nope. no go on the joystick. I didn't reboot though..hmm I'll probably give a better test later on that if I can't figure anything else out. My best guess is still that it is for a number pad though. Nothing I've googled so far though has come up with a da15 numberpad...

chimera15 · « **Reply #13 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 16:42:12 »

The Japanese page keeps calling it a D-SUB 15 connector, but that doesn't make much sense, since D-SUB 15's are like for vga, 3 lines of plugs and much shorter. I don't think it's much help to figuring out what it is now. sigh

chimera15 · « **Reply #14 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 16:44:28 »

Aha!

専用マウスコネクタ用らしい

Mouse connector!!

chimera15 · « **Reply #15 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 16:48:19 »

Found a db15 mouse... lol pretty sad looking though.

itlnstln · « **Reply #16 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 16:51:10 »

Quote from: chimera15;91823

Found a db15 mouse... lol pretty sad looking though.

Show Image

Hmmm... http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/nes-gamepad-mouse-is-the-most-amazing-piece-of-industrial-design/

chimera15 · « **Reply #17 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 17:40:16 »

Quote from: ripster;91829

LOL - that Mindset mouse IS real sad looking.

Cover up the connector with electrical tape and forget it ever existed.

lol Yeah I hate having ports that I don't know what they're for though. I mean what if it's for a tricorder or something. roflol

watduzhkstand4 · « **Reply #18 on:** Wed, 20 May 2009, 19:55:29 »

sick ass keyboard you got there!

chimera15 · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 21 May 2009, 00:53:40 »

Quote from: ripster;91864

The perfect accessory for your new keyboard.
Just cover up that connector and fuggetabottit. :tongue:
Show Image

lol

sandy55 · « **Reply #20 on:** Thu, 21 May 2009, 11:54:48 »

Quote from: chimera15;91820

The Japanese page keeps calling it a D-SUB 15 connector, but that doesn't make much sense, since D-SUB 15's are like for vga, 3 lines of plugs and much shorter. I don't think it's much help to figuring out what it is now. sigh

Hi chimera!

I think the connector is also called as D-SUB 15 which is different from VGA connector with 15 pins in 3-lines.
Please check this example.

Originally MCK-84 was made with real ALPS switches like yours. Latter on it was equipped with simplified switches like mine.
The connector is actually for associated Num Pad ( not for a mouse, I have to correct my page ). MCK-18 with real ALPS and 15 pins connector was an associated num pad of the board. Then the connector was changed to usual PS/2 port for latter models of MCK-84 and associated pad is called as MCK-22 with simplified switches.

You can see brief introduction of this board at Keyboard Maniacs.

sandy

chimera15 · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 21 May 2009, 19:39:04 »

Quote from: sandy55;91927

Hi chimera!

I think the connector is also called as D-SUB 15 which is different from VGA connector with 15 pins in 3-lines.
Please check this example.

Originally MCK-84 was made with real ALPS switches like yours. Latter on it was equipped with simplified switches like mine.
The connector is actually for associated Num Pad ( not for a mouse, I have to correct my page ). MCK-18 with real ALPS and 15 pins connector was an associated num pad of the board. Then the connector was changed to usual PS/2 port for latter models of MCK-84 and associated pad is called as MCK-22 with simplified switches.

You can see brief introduction of this board at Keyboard Maniacs.

sandy

Ah!! So that was your page!?? Thanks so much! I was reading about the mck-18 and 22, but couldn't quite make sense of it, I didn't make that association, and couldn't find them listed anywhere else on the web. Thanks so much for that clarification and thanks for that page, it really helped me find this keyboard!!!

The d-sub 15 thing might be a difference in cultures/computers/language and what became known as what in computers. If you google d-sub 15 it's clear that vga connectors come up, and db-15 comes up with the type of connector, in english anyway.

Anyway thanks again, yer awesome!

ありがとう　ございます　p(*＾-＾*)q m(_ _)m

chimera15 · « **Reply #22 on:** Thu, 04 June 2009, 22:20:55 »

Pretty interesting Sandy, don't know if you'll read this.. Found an mck-18-m It has a ps/2 plug on it though

Red October · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 04 June 2009, 23:22:36 »

D-sub 15 is correct nomenclature. The VGA connector is an HD-D-sub -HD being "High Density". The shell size is an "A" size shell. The smaller one used for 9-pin RS232 and the 15 pin video is an E size, so the display connector is a DE-15-HD. Parelell and full-size RS232 are size B, hence "DB-25". "DC-37" is the longer one sometimes used for disk interfaces. There is also a "D" size which is a big sum***** usually with has 3 rows of pins natively and 4 in its "HD" form, for 50 and 78 pins respectively. Used in test equipment, specialized minicomputer/mainframe applications, and the like. Old SCSI kit will have all sorts of big D connectors, alongside the Amphenol connectors (usually called Centronix connectors after the printer interface, but those who got their start doing telephone work will know it as a "Telco Connector".

Maxrunner · « **Reply #24 on:** Thu, 27 September 2012, 12:24:56 »

Quote from: chimera15 on Wed, 20 May 2009, 13:50:21

So in my compact mini keyboard thread I kept turning up all these alternative names for siig minitouchs and other alps keyboard compacts. I came across the Ortek brands which had various labeling. I happened upon a medical supplier and asked for a quote, never thinking they had any left, but took a shot. They said they had one of these left that they'd sell to me. I took a chance because their labeling was different from the Japanese site I had seen Ortek boards on. This was a mkb84sx, the only result that comes up when you search for it on google, so I thought they must have something wrong. All the others are mck84sx or fx, but today I got it and it seems to be just like the others I had seen. It's like 100 times better than the siig. It has real non fake alps sliders!!! It's the only compact alps keyboard that has real alps keys I've ever seen. The numbers on the back are: mkb-84sx gm8mck-84bpad ortek. I now wonder what the difference is between the sx and the fx. The mck appears to be the fcc id, and the mkb is the ortek designation. Anyway, I'm so blown away by this keyboard.

Anyone know what the heck the gameport would be used for? lol Can I plug it into a game port and use it that way? lol

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

I actually have a Ortek MCK-84FX and the supposed SX, but it only says SX in the box, the model number doesnt show SX only the FX one but they seem to have different switches because the FX seems to be a bit more clicky. Compared to this beside the switch it looks nearly the same.In your image i cant see the white stem didn you dismount it?

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Author Topic: The most awesome super rare alps compact keyboard ever. (Read 12177 times)