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Offline esprit

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Please help me identify this keyboard
« on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:15:55 »
I just found this keyboard, but I am not sure what it is.  It feels very smooth, non-clicky, non-tactile. The cord is coiled and the connector appears to be PS/2.  Caps and Ctrl keys are switched.
I was able to figure out that the switches are NMB HI-TEK (as printed).  Does anyone know more about this board?

Thanks!

EDIT: added one more picture, that shows the switch assembly with the top on
« Last Edit: Mon, 28 July 2014, 13:18:31 by esprit »
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:17:42 »
A HiTek RT101 keyboard, the switches are NMB "Space Invaders" switches in the white slider Linear version. More information here.
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Offline Firebolt1914

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:20:39 »
Also, welcome to geekhack!
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Offline esprit

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:28:56 »
Thanks for the reply.  I just hoked it up and typing this message on it.  This thing is smooth as butter; I am impressed.  Did you notice that the Line Feed and Setup keys?  Line Feed seems to be mapped to the print screen feature.  Setup doesn't seem to do anything.  There is also an option button that doesn't seem to do anything.  The Ctrl button operates as caps lock and Caps Lock serves as control.   I wonder if the PS2->USB adapter has remapped those two buttons. 

Is it safe to take apart for cleaning? What should I watch out for while cleaning it?  I have a WASD keycap puller, which seemed to take out the top of the switch assembly along with the key cap.

Thanks guys!

Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:20:39
Also, welcome to geekhack!
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:42:33 »
I'm not too familiar with Space Invaders boards. However, perhaps these links could help you out:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=8643.0
http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/nmb_hitek_sw.html
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60707.0

And check any of the links at the bottom of the Deskthority article.
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Offline esprit

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:43:11 »
Quote from: Firebolt1914 on Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:20:39
Also, welcome to geekhack!

Thanks!

I've been lurking for a while.  In the process, managed to purchase a Rosewill RK-9000  (Cherry MX Brown), a Rosewill RK-9200 (Cherry MX Blue) and a Unicomp classic.  These things are contagious!

 
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Offline esprit

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:47:10 »
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 28 July 2014, 12:42:33
I'm not too familiar with Space Invaders boards. However, perhaps these links could help you out:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=8643.0
http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/nmb_hitek_sw.html
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60707.0

And check any of the links at the bottom of the Deskthority article.

Great, thanks for the links.
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 13:06:49 »
Pretty rare one... it's very uncommon to come across space invaders with a true ANSI enter key and the \| key in the correct place.
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Offline esprit

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 13:16:34 »
I've been unable to find this board on Google.  The Option button is mapped to Ctrl as well.  The Break button seems to operate as scroll lock and toggles the LED labeled as 1.  Looking at the white sticker on tbe back (has different part number,) I wonder if this keyboard was bundled with something.
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Offline dorkvader

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 16:15:56 »
Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Mon, 28 July 2014, 13:06:49
Pretty rare one... it's very uncommon to come across space invaders with a true ANSI enter key and the \| key in the correct place.

I think fohat.digs might have had one, but he wasn't a fan of the font.

Excellent find! I think nmb spaceinvaders are some of the better linear boards! They are usually very well made internally, the keys travel well on off-axis hits, and the dyesub PBT keycaps are nice.
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Offline esprit

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 16:57:38 »
I sent him a PM to see if he can tell us more about the board.  I have been using it for 5 hours and I love it so far.  I was using a rosewill mx cherry brown here at work, but I feel like I am getting more feedback from these switches than I do from the brows. 
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 18:15:35 »
Yes, I have one of those.

I replaced the white switches with black (quite an undertaking, not least because there are 4 delicate wires on each switch), and made a clicky board out of it.

It is pretty stiff, but I have not given it much break-in yet.

The legends are horrible (although I love the green) but the caps are very nice heavy PBT.

I suppose that I will just have to ignore the Apple-esque layout and enjoy the fact that it is true ANSI underneath.

Great find! Enjoy it.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline esprit

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 18:46:30 »
Thanks for replying.  I am surprised that I am enjoying the linear feel so much.  The noise level (very low) is perfect for the office.  Do you have any guesses as to what computer it was made for?  The left Ctrl and Caps lock are switched, the right control says "Option", the print screen button says "Line Feed", the Scroll lock says "Break" and Pause/Break says "Setup". I wonder if this was made for a terminal or something.  There may be a standard that matches that layout.  Most images of similar boards I found have a sticker on the back with the model number, whereas this board has that painted straight on the plastic, also in green.  However, there is an additional label with a P/N 910001; makes me wonder if it was packaged with something.  It is not branded in anyway - no name, no logo.  It would also be great to find out approximately when it was manufactured. 

I agree, the green letters are very nice and yes, the font kind of sucks (letters are too small.)

Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 28 July 2014, 18:15:35
Yes, I have one of those.

I replaced the white switches with black (quite an undertaking, not least because there are 4 delicate wires on each switch), and made a clicky board out of it.

It is pretty stiff, but I have not given it much break-in yet.

The legends are horrible (although I love the green) but the caps are very nice heavy PBT.

I suppose that I will just have to ignore the Apple-esque layout and enjoy the fact that it is true ANSI underneath.

Great find! Enjoy it.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 19:34:32 »
Anybody will tell you to be very careful removing key caps. With all other caps, I grab opposite corners on the diagonal and pull straight up. With these, you need to grab the sides and rock gently back and forth, side to side.

Mine booted up with no drama via PS/2 and all the keys registered as they should in ANSI. I am just ignoring the legends and typing as usual.

I am disappointed with my transplant so far. The keys feel clunky and not the way my "virgin" Hi-Tek blacks feel. I am hoping that it is a break-in issue but wonder if it is something else. They really feel like they need to be lubed, but I don't even want to think about that.

After doing it and testing everything good, I used it for a couple of hours and quit.

After your post, I got it back out again. Coming off a heavily modded Model F, everything else is just a big step down.

Bottom line, keep the white Hi-Teks and enjoy the smoothness.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline esprit

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Re: Please help me identify this keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 28 July 2014, 22:06:57 »
Great, thanks for the advice.  I will have to carefully take off each cap and clean it.  For now, I just wiped the tops and cleaned it with compressed air.  There is a ton of dust stuck to the caps but under the cap, it was very clean.  I don't think this keyboard was ever used on a daily basis. 

I noticed your comment on the model F.  Unless I am missing something, those do not come with the standard 4 arrow keys, and I don't think I can live without them. 

I will keep using this hi-tek as my daily at work, hoping that switches don't quit on me.  I still wish I could find more about what setup it came out of.  Those keys (line feed, setup, options) are intriguing.

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