NEC PC-9801-98-S02

hasu · 22 Feb 2013, 13:19

This is M-shiki keyboard with compromised layout for NEC PC98 from 1992. It has Alps yellows and very heavy grey on top left key.

FYI: Other M-shiki keyboards : http://qpress.jp/morita/m_keys.htm

Okeg · 22 Feb 2013, 13:23

Very nice, what kind of connector does this kb use?

hasu · 22 Feb 2013, 13:28

Mini DIN 8pin. It uses async serial 19200bps with odd parity. I wrote firmware to hook up to USB.

EDIT: Converter firmware is available here. https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/tre ... r/pc98_usb

t!ng · 22 Feb 2013, 14:19

Whats that layout?

Btw:
Dat yellowed hhkb...

http://alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/la ... -yao-l.png

Findecanor · 22 Feb 2013, 14:31

That is a variant of the M-system layout. It is a Japanese phonetic layout.
M-system keyboards are so sexy... I would love to have one.

7bit · 22 Feb 2013, 21:08

Looks similar to a PrinsValium's symmetric stagger layout and the key caps are labeled as messy as NEO or BEPO.

Did you find out the difference between the yellow and grey switches?

Is there any logical pattern?

Kurk · 22 Feb 2013, 23:14

Findecanor wrote:That is a variant of the M-system layout. It is a Japanese phonetic layout.
M-system keyboards are so sexy... I would love to have one.

I totally agree with you!

webwit · 22 Feb 2013, 23:25

That's a great vintage ergonomic/symmetric keyboard.

Daniel Beardsmore · 22 Feb 2013, 23:50

7bit wrote:Did you find out the difference between the yellow and grey switches?

Is there any logical pattern?

Doh .... another grey Alps CM switch, this time linear-LED type. Surprising how many colours exist in linear with the LED recess. Might be a stiffer spring version, to avoid accidental keypresses, same as the MX Super Black.

In the SIIG MiniTouch, the top row switches differ in that the slider blocks (that stop the slider going down too far) are 1 mm taller, reducing the travel by 1 mm, from 4 mm to 3 mm. Plus the spring is longer and more tightly coiled.

hasu · 23 Feb 2013, 02:11

7bit wrote:Looks similar to a PrinsValium's symmetric stagger layout and the key caps are labeled as messy as NEO or BEPO.

Did you find out the difference between the yellow and grey switches?

Is there any logical pattern?

With my coin stack measure,
yellow needs 60g to actuate while grey needs around 120g. Popular green Alps goes with 50g and Cherry red with 40g for comparison.

I found very very heavy Alps on PC-8801 keyboard before, IIRC it required around 230g

But it's being lost on messy desktop now

HaaTa · 23 Feb 2013, 03:02

Cool.

Now 230 g is heavy, but this weekend I measured the Honeywell hall effect switches to almost 300 g with a force gauge.

Okeg · 23 Feb 2013, 17:26

HaaTa wrote:Cool.

Now 230 g is heavy, but this weekend I measured the Honeywell hall effect switches to almost 300 g with a force gauge.

Wow... I'll get a real workout when the keypad arrives!

HaaTa · 26 Feb 2013, 16:04

Nah, different Hall Effect Switches. The normal weighting on the keypads (78g) http://deskthority.net/wiki/Honeywell_Hall_Effect.

I don't have an official weighting on the lighter and heavy versions of the switches.

Icarium · 27 Feb 2013, 22:22

Vewy pwetty!!

ohaimark · 24 Jan 2016, 04:35

I just bid on one of these... We'll see if I get it.

Redmaus · 30 Jan 2016, 04:30

Just a heads up for anyone that has yellow alps:

If they feel gritty just open the switch up and use compressed air to blow all the dirt out. I think the LED recess causes them to get dirty easily.

It will feel buttery smooth after.