deskthority

Posted: **23 Jun 2016, 17:48**

Hi, everybody. Got my hands on one of these rarities today and decided to share some photos and observations.

: The keyboard itself in all its custom AT layout glory. The LCD seems to have seen some better days though unfortunately.; DSC_0253.JPG (418.19 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

: Back of the keyboard, nothing to say.; DSC_0258.JPG (338.25 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

: Side of the keyboard with contrast wheel for the LCD.; DSC_0259.JPG (169.63 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

: The Key-caps are pad-printed ABS and despite what it might look like, they're not cherry compatible as the + is slightly narrower. (Compared with a MY key cap here); DSC_0245.JPG (394.44 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

: The switch itself with LED (boy its dirty down there). Its a clicky switch with a feeling thats somewhere between a blue alps and a buckling spring. (As in, louder than a blue alps but not as loud as a BS, more Tactile than the alps but not as tactile as a BS etc.); DSC_0254.JPG (372.54 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

: The switch is highly modular and can be removed/put back with almost no issue at all.
To my surprise, i found what looked like a capacitive plate underneath, wonder if it is.; DSC_0251.JPG (343.42 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

: Close-ups of the detached switch, Those white things appears to be click leaves and it seems to be using the spring as part of the contact mechanism. Interesting.; combine_images.jpg (97.3 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

: My Biggest problem with the keyboard though, as you can see the connector is a DIN-8 rather than a DIN-5 and i have no way of knowing whether the keyboard works or not. From what i heard though, it should be IBM Compatible. (If it belonged to a Xen-i rather than a normal Xen that is, i have no clue which one it is); DSC_0257.JPG (253.76 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

So any thoughts guys? Even if it doesn't work you gotta admit its a nice looking keyboard with some interesting switches.

Posted: **23 Jun 2016, 18:39**

The thing below the module looks very much like a membrane tbh Oo . Either way, the board looks badass!

Posted: **23 Jun 2016, 18:45**

Looks like membrane to me too, those removable switches are interesting indeed !
Waiting for wiki Lords around here they will know more

Posted: **23 Jun 2016, 18:50**

Chyros wrote: The thing below the module looks very much like a membrane tbh Oo . Either way, the board looks badass!

Hm, you're probably right. I've never taken apart a spring over membrane keyboard before, hence my confusion

Posted: **23 Jun 2016, 20:14**

Jimi14 wrote:
Chyros wrote: The thing below the module looks very much like a membrane tbh Oo . Either way, the board looks badass!
Hm, you're probably right. I've never taken apart a spring over membrane keyboard before, hence my confusion

Spring-over-membrane switches come in all kinds of bizarre shapes and forms really, some of the weirdest switches I know fall into this category xD .

Posted: **23 Jun 2016, 22:30**

(Update)

Decided to crack open this thing to see if i could find any clue who made it, but beside some of the components being Toshiba made and some Unknown logo which is not Apricots, i found none.

Spoiler:

Any Ideas? I also found a tiny B stamped on he switch.

Posted: **27 Jun 2016, 17:20**

It should be the sort of capacitive integrated dome. I have seen lots of Japanese brand keyboard having the never seen slider with that PCB.
Please take out the metal lock just like the keyboard with Alps plate spring or the Micro Switch ST.

Posted: **28 Jun 2016, 00:21**

Why capacitive, it's got a membrane :p .

deskthority

Apricot XEN (I?)

Apricot XEN (I?)