deskthority

I held off from buying one of these keyboards last year because I was short of funds. However, I'm kind of glad that I did because 8bitdo are about to start selling Commodore 64 and Model M styled variants, and the C64 version comes with gorgeous looking doubleshot keycaps!

They're also going to be ...

Looks really nice.

I'm definitely interested in having a few sets of plates. However, I'll wait until you've finalised the design first.

How are you finding the Costar stabilisers?

One minor niggle is that they don't appear to be offering an ISO version. That's far from a deal-breaker, but I do prefer the ISO enter key.

I believe that most Japanese keyboards are based around the ISO layout. So, it might have been more appropriate for the Famicom model to be ISO.

It would ...

Those sockets are interesting, however i am not sure how would it work in this case, because here, there is no way to screw in the plate to the pcb. So you need some sort of strong mechanical connection to hold everything in place.


I haven't actually tried them yet. But from what I understand ...

This curiosity caught my eye a few weeks ago.

https://www.8bitdo.com/retro-mechanical-keyboard/

I don't normally like gaming keyboards, or keyboards that have superfluous controls above the main keys. However, I do think the Famicom edition looks strangely coherent and attractive. I particularly ...

OK. I’ve had a few further thoughts.

Firstly, I notice that you’ve left a gap around the stabilized keys because the plate was interfering with the stabilizers. I’m wondering whether it might have been better to have added cutouts to the plate to enable Cherry plate mounted stabilizers to be fitted ...

Interesting idea. I've got several g80-1800s in storage somewhere. I bought them very cheaply many years ago mainly because I liked the look of the high quality doubleshot keycaps. But I haven't used them very much because, as you've already mentioned, they feel very flimsy.

I would definitely ...

Interesting idea. I've got several g80-1800s in storage somewhere. I bought them very cheaply many years ago mainly because I liked the look of the high quality doubleshot keycaps. But I haven't used them very much because, as you've already mentioned, they feel very flimsy.

I would definitely be ...

I'm surprised that this post hasn't attracted more attention. This sounds to me like the beginning of the end for the Classic Model M keyboard, and I personally think that's a shame.

Arguably the New Model M is a better looking keyboard (although that's subjective) but the Classic Model M is still ...

Thanks for doing the review.

Do you think it might be possible to fit the inner frame from a Classic Unicomp Model M into one of the New Model M cases? I'm OK with doing some light modifications such as drilling new mounting holes.

The reason I ask is because I own a Classic Unicomp Model M which ...

Thanks for the review.

I don't suppose you could do a teardown of the New Model M at some point?

The reason I ask is because I own a fairly beaten-up full-size black Unicomp Model M, and was considering purchasing a new case for it. But it now looks like Unicomp is phasing out the full size Model ...

Unfortunately, I've had no luck tracking down these stabilisers. The closest I've found is the stabilizers fitted to some Razer keyboards. They're a similar design. However, they sit below the plate.

The nice thing about the Hcman stabilisers is that they appear to be drop-in replacements for ...

A couple of years ago, I bought a dirt cheap (but surprisingly decent) RGB gaming keyboard from a company called Hcman. There are dozens of similar no-name brand Chinese gaming keyboards available on the market. But what makes this keyboard stand out is that it has excellent stabilisers. I've ...

When I'm paying $114.00 (plus huge international shipping and taxes) for a keyboard, I care.....

If you guys are only buying APL keycaps for aesthetic reasons, then you might want to check out Unicomp's US International layout that is also two tone.

Unfortunately, it's not as pretty as the APL set. But it is a genuinely useful layout.

Somebody posted pics of the new Model M here https://imgur.com/a/C7UY6Hv

I have to admit that I am extremely disappointed, that back looks like sh*t!


Indeed. I'm baffled how a brand new mould can look so bad. It almost looks like they hacked an existing mould or something.

Another thing that ...

For what it's worth, I own a Steelseries Apex M500, and it's by far the best cherry based keyboard that I have in my collection. Once you replace the stock keycaps, it's actually a very stylish and extremely well made keyboard. IMHO Steelseries made a big mistake in marketing it as a gamers board ...

I've got some bad news for anyone who was considering buying one of the new style cases to refurbish an old Unicomp Model M. I contacted Unicomp about this, and their reply was as follows:

Greetings, XXXXX

Unfortunately, the New Model M keyboard covers will not accommodate our Classic or Ultra ...

I'm wondering whether the new full size cases can be used with original barrel plates.

I've got a couple of Unicomp keyboards that are mechanically sound but have very tatty cases. I tried cleaning one of the cases by putting it in the dishwasher, and it ended up getting bleached...

It would be ...

I'm also happy that Unicomp chose to use a full-size USB-A connector.

My first choice would have been a full size USB-B connector simply because that complies with the original USB spec. However, a USB-A connector comes a very close second.

It's worth bearing in mind that, righty or wrongly, USB-A ...

Let’s just put it this way: what would you in England have felt if the EU said no, you couldn’t have a referendum?


You sound almost as disingenuous as Nicola Sturgeon.

Just imagine if the 2016 Brexit vote had gone the other way, and Britain had voted to remain in the EU by a significant margin ...

I was under the impression that, in order to save costs, the (new) 104 key layout was designed so that it could use the same barrel plate as the (new) 103 key layout. Presumably, Unicomp would design the SSK's barrel plate to work in the same way.

Are you flexible over the switches?

The reason I ask is because the Steelseries Apex M500 ticks all of your boxes apart from the switch type.

I bought one with red switches a few days ago for £60 (~85 USD) which I thought was a bargain. And so far, I'm really liking it. It's extremely well made ...

phosphorglow wrote:
I *did* offer the bare boards previously. I'm probably done doing that. Putting together kits is another thing I don't really have time for.

That's a shame. Are you still selling the fully assembled boards?

I have to say, I do really like the layout of this board. It would never be my daily driver, but it's compact and portable enough to be used with a laptop/tablet/Rasberry Pi etc. without looking ridiculous. And the real genius of the layout is that you can just stick standard caps on it without the ...

Hi phosphorglow,

As you appear to be back, can you answer a couple of questions that I asked earlier in the thread:

I notice that you offer the circuit boards for sale on their own. I'm interested in that option but I don't want the hassle of ordering all the other components separately. So would ...

I'm beginning to wonder whether something bad has happened to him in real life.

I mean, I can fully understand someone wanting to take a break from this hobby. But surely he'd leave a message on his website to let potential customers know what he was no longer open for business.

Still no sign of phosphorglow ...

I'm beginning to think he may have gone for good.

Nope !

I don't see that as an insurmountable problem. As I said in my earlier post, you could simply manufacture different height stems for each row to compensate for the fact that most cherry keycaps are a different height on each row.

So, for example, a tall stem would be paired up with a ...

Muirium, my reading of the postal code was that, for "express mail" services, the cost of shipping counted toward the value of the parcel. In effect, this means that any package I ship that is over four pounds is guaranteed to hit that £15 cutoff even if I declare it with a value of $0.

Under 4 ...