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Author Topic: Scouring Akihabara for Mice/Keyboards  (Read 6469 times)

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Offline HaaTa

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Scouring Akihabara for Mice/Keyboards
« on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 06:05:50 »
This weekend, I'm off to Akihabara, to look for cool stuff, like trackballs and Topre switch keyboards.

Since I'm lazy, I'll be uploading my finds Picasa. I have my HTC Magic to automatically upload my pictures every 10 minutes or so.

If there is something you really want, I can pick it up for you, provided you pay me the cost of the item and the shipping (and that I don't want it). I'll accept request until 12-1 PM (Tokyo time) on Sunday (Dec 13th).

Please PM "serious" requests only. I'll try to include the price in the pictures. Its probably only worth your while to go through me if its very rare as shipping may suck.

I have no idea when I'll have time to visit Tokyo again (Ski season is starting :D).
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline ch_123

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« Reply #1 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 06:11:30 »
Out of curiosity, if you see a 5576-003, let me know how much they cost. I'm not interested in buying at the moment, so don't feel like you have to go out of your way.

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Offline bigpook

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Scouring Akihabara for Mice/Keyboards
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 06:47:17 »
If you would, please post pics of any trackball mice you see. I would love to see what is currently available.
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #3 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 07:01:28 »
Sure, I can look for prices, and I'm looking out for trackballs myself.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline itlnstln

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« Reply #4 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 09:35:50 »
I'm almost more concerned about the guy standing just to the right of Pikachu.  What's up with the bunny ears?
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #5 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:29:34 »
Quote from: ripster;141329
Thanks but me and my son will check it out in person this summer.  Maybe we'll dress up for the occasion.
Show Image


Lol, you'd fit right in.

Make sure you give yourself at least a day and a half if you want to see it all.
Akihabara is huge.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline itlnstln

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« Reply #6 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:34:42 »
HaaTa, during your shopping trip, could you see if there is a Cherry G80-1800 with an ISO layout available*?  I am also looking for a G80-3000 with browns in white/grey.  If so, maybe we could work something out for a sale during one of your future trips.  Thanks.
 
* I would prefer brown switches, but at this point, I'll take pretty much anything.  Reds would be a real treat, though.
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Offline joniho

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Scouring Akihabara for Mice/Keyboards
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:38:27 »
I would also be interested in their current offering of trackballs, particularly thumb-ball ones. :D

http://direct.sanwa.co.jp/ItemPage/400-MA020 This one is pretty interesting, though looks quite large even for my big hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU6NomHMwic video-ness
« Last Edit: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:51:27 by joniho »
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Offline itlnstln

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« Reply #8 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:46:56 »
Oooh.  I might even be interested in that Sanwa trackball.
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Offline joniho

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Scouring Akihabara for Mice/Keyboards
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:50:20 »
Their current full offering of trackballs for those who don't know how to navigate in moonspeak: http://direct.sanwa.co.jp/contents/sp/mouse_new/trackball.html?disp_no=
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Offline ch_123

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« Reply #10 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:54:01 »
Some of those look pretty cool. Particularly this one. Oh, word of advice - DO NOT search BeNippon for "Sanwa"...
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Offline joniho

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« Reply #11 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:55:52 »
Quote from: ch_123;141493
Some of those look pretty cool. Particularly this one.

Same one but sexier. http://direct.sanwa.co.jp/ItemPage/MA-TB38R

Quote from: ch_123;141493
Oh, word of advice - DO NOT search BeNippon for "Sanwa"...

At least it got what you were looking for in the 7th result!
« Last Edit: Fri, 11 December 2009, 16:00:22 by joniho »
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #12 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:58:05 »
Note to self, look for Sanwa Trackballs

@itlnstln: I'll keep a look out today.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline ch_123

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« Reply #13 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 15:59:11 »
Review of Sanwas

At least the Kensington Expert style sounds halfway decent.
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Offline itlnstln

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« Reply #14 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 16:05:07 »
Thanks a lot.  I appreciate it.
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #15 on: Fri, 11 December 2009, 23:48:48 »
Just found a whole store of just keyboards and mice.

With lots of red cherrys! See pics.

I tried out the Saniwa trackballs. They feel very cheap in general, I wouldn't really recommend them unless you have a low budget and live in Japan.

I may pick up a keyboard as well tomorrow but I'm torn between the reds and the Topres.

I may be able to convince my friend in Tokyo to pick up some keyboards with reds if there is enough interest
« Last Edit: Sat, 12 December 2009, 02:04:39 by HaaTa »
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline chimera15

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« Reply #16 on: Sat, 12 December 2009, 08:38:35 »
Quote from: HaaTa;141636
Just found a whole store of just keyboards and mice.

With lots of red cherrys! See pics.

I tried out the Saniwa trackballs. They feel very cheap in general, I wouldn't really recommend them unless you have a low budget and live in Japan.

I may pick up a keyboard as well tomorrow but I'm torn between the reds and the Topres.

I may be able to convince my friend in Tokyo to pick up some keyboards with reds if there is enough interest

That was my impression of the Sanwa I got too.  The axis even felt off!  This was before I found sakasa of course.  But it also had annoying artifacts that when you spin the ball really fast it would occasionally backfire, and go the opposite way you were rolling the ball.  

That looks really awesome. I really love the kids Japanese keyboard with giant kana keys.  Surprisingly I don't see anything that really interests me, with the exception of the split keyboards, but the price is horrendous on them.  Maybe I'm finally happy with my keyboard collection as it is. lol
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #17 on: Sun, 13 December 2009, 02:37:49 »
There were a bunch of stores I found with Red Cherries. I think I also found one with an ANSI layout.
I also tried a full 55g Realforce keyboard, I may consider it in the future.
Seeing as I was able to try ALP, Black/Brown/Blue/Red Cherries and Topres on this trip, I think I was successful in terms of keyboards. Once I have some spare cash I'll probably be able to decide on another keyboard.

I did pick up a Slimblade trackball, as out of the ones I saw, it had the best build quality.
So far in using it, its been awesome. I haven't used a trackball since 1996. Though its going to be a while until I unconsciously say "Slimblade" instead of "Slimeball" when reading the name quickly.

ripster, the pictures are here, as per my like in the opening post.
This is one store you'll want to go to ripster:

There are 3 different shops with the same name. This one just has keyboards and mice. This one definitely has the most keyboards on display. Though Yodabashi has a larger selection of try-out mice (its the stupidly huge department store in Akihabara, with mostly electronic stuff).

I was disappointed that I didn't find many older keyboards (minus the dumpster worthy "Made in China" rubber dome keyboards). Oh well.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline ch_123

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« Reply #18 on: Sun, 13 December 2009, 05:34:32 »
I saw a pic of a shop in Akihabara that had a Unicomp Customizer from the days where they made black keycaps. Not sure where it was though...
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Offline ch_123

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« Reply #19 on: Sun, 13 December 2009, 11:29:02 »
Is that a uTron I see in the background?
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #20 on: Sun, 13 December 2009, 19:06:04 »
It is!
Its stupidly expensive too. It was over 50 000 Yen.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline itlnstln

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« Reply #21 on: Mon, 14 December 2009, 08:11:18 »
I want that Cherry with the reds (it even had an ANSI layout).  How much was it?
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Offline itlnstln

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Scouring Akihabara for Mice/Keyboards
« Reply #22 on: Mon, 14 December 2009, 09:05:40 »
That would be fine; I spent more on my Cherry 3000 w/browns.  Shipping will be killer, but it would be worth it.
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #23 on: Mon, 14 December 2009, 19:34:46 »
Stuff in Japan is usually more expensive. But as a bonus they don't have +sales tax retardedness.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #24 on: Mon, 14 December 2009, 23:01:51 »
Hahaha, lol.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline Rajagra

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« Reply #25 on: Tue, 15 December 2009, 01:19:49 »
Quote from: webwit;142110
That's just silly. Who would buy a keyboard with wobbly keys and a Japanese layout for such a price? You'd have to be mad.


I questioned his sanity when I saw him set the board up this way:

I suppose it makes more sense if you bear in mind the way the µTron is staggered to start with, but even so if he wanted a non-staggered layout, there are cheaper ways to achieve it.
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