Red Alert! (redux)

Posted in Computing on August 21, 2012.

This is the "Red Alert 2.0" key cap set that I got from a group buy on GeekHack.  It is based on a similarly-named set that was run by KBTalking forums (Korea).  While not quite as fancy, it still looks really sharp.  It comes with red-on-white and white-on-red modifiers and Fn row.

Rosewill RK9000 with white modifiers.

KBC Poker with the red modifiers.

KBC Poker Center Support Modification

Posted in Computing on August 20, 2012.

This article was put into the GeekHack Wiki.

The KBC Poker X is a compact (60%) mechanical keyboard made by Vortex.  Although it seems like it will be phased out and replaced by the Vortex Pure, it has a few advantages over it:

• The Poker uses completely standard key cap sizes so that any tenkeyless key set will work.
• The arrow keys are intuitively located both on the WASD cluster and on the lower-right modifiers.

It does have a few design problems, though.  One is that the function lock on the Esc key (tilde) and on the lower-right nav keys is not reversible while holding Fn.  Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about this.  This is a particular problem when using vi or other cases where tipost.data.page.excerptlde is often used.

The other issue is a mechanical one.  The PCB is mounted to the case at either end with screws, but there are no screws in the center.  This causes the PCB to bow up slightly in the center, giving the keyboard a bouncy feel on the middle keys.  Some folks have used a layer of thin foam between the PCB and the case to absorb this flex, but it doesn't really address the root problem.

Read more...

Vortex Race

Posted in Computing on August 09, 2012.

Here is the infamous Vortex "Race" 75% back lit keyboard.  I've been using a KBC Poker X (a 60% keyboard) for a while with my laptop, so it is nice to have a real Fn row and a nav cluster of sorts.  One has MX reds and the other MX browns.  One or both will be "ergo-clear" modded at some point (MX clear stem with a blue/brown/red spring).

Here is the back lighting in action.  It lets you set the brightness and lighting mode.  One lame thing is that it forgets all the settings whenever it is reset.  Another disadvantage is that it uses non-standard key cap sizes and profiles.  So even if you give up the back lighting, you can only get other cap sets from Vortex.  Vortex is a poorly-run company and I recommend avoiding working directly with them.  Getting these turned into a bit of a mess over on GeekHack.  The best thing is to buy them from a retailer that has them physically in stock.

Both have white LEDs.

Full lighting and WASD/Nav lighting.

Reds on Reds

Posted in Computing on April 25, 2012.

This is the CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid with Cherry MX red switches sporting double-shot "Ragnarok Red" key caps from signature plastics.  Much better than the gaudy caps it comes with.  They have more texture to them, too.

Perfect for the CM Storm.

Close up on the Rosewill.

Model M Cracked Frame Repair

Posted in Computing on April 06, 2012.

This was originally posted on GeekHack in the mods section before we were attacked by r00tworm.  I'll be moving it into the new Wiki at some point.

One of the Model M failures that is harder to deal with is cracking of the plastic plate that contains all of the key cap cylinders.  Unicomp refers to this as the keyboard "frame".  Severe cracking is usually caused by extended use with broken rivets and/or severe abuse.  Between each row are channels where the plastic is thin so that the frame can follow the contour of the backplate.  The plastic gets brittle over time and will crack along these channels.

Read more...

Custom Keyboard from WASD

Posted in Computing on March 15, 2012.

Here is a custom keyboard from WASD.  This is their V1 with Cherry MX red switches, their snap-on wrist rest, and "50A-R" o-rings.  The o-rings reduce the key travel slightly and soften the landing.  The slight bounce of the rubber o-ring gives the linear MX red switch a bit of tactility.  It is actually a nice compromise between typing and gaming, though they are a bit too soft for me to type fast.

I used their custom keyboard designer, which allowed me to customize the colors and legends of the ABS laser-etched keys.  They can also laser-engrave, which I did on the WASD cluster (very helpful, BTW).  I went with all symbols on the modifiers.  Unfortunately, they were out of dark-gray 1.25 unit modifiers at the time.  I did the RGBYO thing, instead.  A bit gaudy, but whatever.  The Futura font is nice.

Rainbow of Cherries

Posted in Computing on February 15, 2012.

My search for a mechanical keyboard that will be quiet enough for home use and yet comfortable to type on led me to geekhack.org.  Filled with copious amounts of information about modern production mechanical keyboards, I decided to give some a try.  Most of them produced today use switches from Cherry Corporation's MX line.  They use different stem colors to denote the different models.  Mechanical keyboards have been coming back, thanks in large part to the gaming community.  Four are commonly used switch types are:

• Blue - tactile with a audible click
• Brown - tactile with no click and lighter springs than the blue
• Black - linear with heavier springs than blue
• Red - linear with lighter springs (similar to brown)

Read more...

The Randomness of Unicomp Keys

Posted in Computing on February 14, 2012.

I was looking closely at my Unicomp keyboard, trying to figure out which keys are 2-piece and which are 1-piece.  Based on the keyboards I have (1 1994 Model M and 2 Unicomps), the pattern that emerges is:

• Normal keys and 1.5 unit keys (Ctrl/Alt, Tab, and backslash) are 2-piece.
• Larger keys on the Model M (ones with the guide pin, space bar, etc) are 1-piece.
• The 1.25 unit modifiers on the Unicomp keyboards are 1-piece.
• The "notched" G/H/B keys on the Endura Pro are also 1-piece.

The bottom part of the keys are a grab-bag of colors: