G81-1800HAU - brand new

XMIT · 14 Jan 2016, 21:07

When I visited California in November I found a brand new G81-1800. It was part of a rack mount tray and thus not new in box but it was clearly new and unused. I purchased it without the tray.

I finally had a chance to get some photos of the board. It is really quite pristine.

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Color calibration (these came out too yellow) :

Spoiler:

Muirium · 14 Jan 2016, 21:10

I can tell you're not a Cherry diehard. You missed out the most important part of the name. HAU!

If it was SAU, you'd be getting crazy offers whispered to you already. (Not from me of course. I'm crazy, sure, but not for Cherry.)

XMIT · 14 Jan 2016, 21:26

I'm not, more of an IBM guy. Title updated.

I did manage to RTFM for my camera's custom white balance settings and dig out a digital white card I received as a Christmas present. This looks closer to reality, at least on my screen.

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Madhias · 14 Jan 2016, 22:33

Nice, I really like 1800s! Why don't you white balance in the end then? Good thing about beige/grey/white keyboard and caps is that white balance is always easy because there is so much grey and beige or white there

photekq · 15 Jan 2016, 01:53

Lovely!

Muirium wrote: I can tell you're not a Cherry diehard. You missed out the most important part of the name. HAU!

If it was SAU, you'd be getting crazy offers whispered to you already. (Not from me of course. I'm crazy, sure, but not for Cherry.)

If he had found an 1800SAU he wouldn't just be getting crazy offers, he'd be getting insane offers (mostly from me), as it would be the only dyesub 1800 to ever be found and photographed! There is an 1800SQR, but the owner still hasn't posted pictures..

XMIT · 15 Jan 2016, 04:01

Madhias wrote: Nice, I really like 1800s! Why don't you white balance in the end then? Good thing about beige/grey/white keyboard and caps is that white balance is always easy because there is so much grey and beige or white there

Thanks!

As for white balance this is because I've been too lazy to do any post processing at all except for resizing! I'm slowly starting to incorporate some post processing. Stingy me doesn't want to pay the Adobe mafia for a Photoshop license and I haven't tried doing too much in GIMP or ImageMagick.

Instead I try to take a good photo in the first place.

At some point I'll think about moving to a RAW workflow but that comes with its own caveats.

XMIT · 15 Jan 2016, 04:53

Playing with GIMP's auto levels feature. Even that alone is a huge improvement.

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I have much to learn.

Muirium · 15 Jan 2016, 04:57

Tweaking levels is easily the single best trick in all post-processing. Nothing looks right until the picture fills the whole colour space.

The single best trick in actually shooting in the first place: more light.

photekq · 15 Jan 2016, 05:05

Lightroom is a very good tool for editing photos by the way.

Redmaus · 15 Jan 2016, 09:14

What is so special about these keyboards?

Is it the layout or just the fact that its cherry?

Muirium · 15 Jan 2016, 09:18

It's the switches! Tasty, tasty Cherry MY. [/brownfont]

Redmaus · 15 Jan 2016, 09:38

I thought those felt like wet newspaper...

Madhias · 15 Jan 2016, 10:22

Redmaus wrote: What is so special about these keyboards?

The caps and case, Cherry, everything what you clearly not like

But not in this case the switches (which can be changed with a new PCB from Leeku though). I also do have a NIB G81-1800 waiting for a new PCB from the recent group buy.

Chyros · 15 Jan 2016, 10:22

Redmaus wrote: I thought those felt like wet newspaper...

Or a dead octopus, yep. They can come with some pretty nifty caps though

.

jerue · 15 Jan 2016, 21:24

Nice find!

Good thing it's not a G80 or else I'd be very jealous

Muirium · 23 Jan 2016, 19:41

This board is currently back in California with me, on its long convoluted customs-avoiding way to its new owner. Lovely looking board. A great condition find indeed.

So, what do I make of the fabled Cherry MY switches? Oh boy. I was not disappointed. I knew about their dismal reputation already, of course. I've even got a single switch from my Mr. Interface sample box. But, if anything, their epic WTF WERE THEY THINKING??? quality is increased when you try them in person. This board is a nightmare! A damn pretty one, sure, but that feel. That evil, twisted, soul destroying feel!

I'm amazed Cherry made something so bad at the heart of something so good. The only way to type on this board is to STAB IT WITH A FINGER, one key at a time, with great emphasis so they bloody well move. It feels so heavy, and yet so dissatisfying. Criminy Pete!

So yeah, highly recommended. Must try!