80% KEYB wiht MX blue and backlight..

[tentator]

Is ther such a thing like a Mini Keyboard (so small as possible but still with arrow direction keys, so not 60% ones definitely) that has CherryMX blue and that has led backlight? USB is ok, if bluetooth it would really be the best.. but ok.. not a real must..

tent:wq

[dirge]

Have a look at the KBT Race https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/in ... tail&p=122

[Jmneuv]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/251168820323
With the choc you got to be aware of different versions, newer versions have some keys changed on the right side.

[Halvar]

The noppoo choc is definitely a nice keyboard, but not backlit. Nobody needs that anyway. Just use a lamp ...

[Muirium]

Radium legends are where its at. Still works once you've shut down.

[tentator]

Hi,
thanks for the suggestions! First I have to say that I already was looking at the Noppoo Choc Mini 84 that for the moment was my best pick, but was lacking the backlight.. then I found the Ducky DK9087 Shine II TKL White LED Backlit Mechanical Keyboard that was a bit too big and too expensive.. but now are you saying I could actually solve that by buying the noppo and then from somewhere also some radium-printed caps?? wow, where and how much? =)
Otherwise I also did not know about the kbt race (I knew only the poker, but again not good since hase no arrow keys).. seems really a good one for me! with backlight, arrow keys, a bit more expensive but still doable.. yeah.. what do you think about it?
Personally I have so far only owned (and loved) a couple of IBM Ms and a couple of cherry G80s with blue mx that I also really love, but newer trieda those brands I see recently like those kbt, ducky or noppoo..
I would also really enjoy if one of those could have options like bluetooth or maybe a couple of additional usb ports... ?? I'm asking too much I know.. but I'm getting closer..

tent:wq

[Muirium]

I was just kidding about radium. It's damaging to your health (just as radioactive as its name suggests), or rather the workers who applied it to the dials, so watch manufacturers stopped using it long ago. Does look super cool though, trapped safely under glass, if you find an old watch with it.

For KBT Race, I'd look at Qtan's store and KBT's European importer's site. The Race sounds like the closest thing to what you're after: 75% and backlit.

When I first arrived here, I was after backlights and Bluetooth too! I've soured on backlights since I found out about the limitations with their key caps. Backlit boards all use lasered ABS. The caps are thin and cut so the light can shine through the legends. That makes them pretty bad for wear, so they get the other kind of "shine" faster than PBT; and that kind of wear looks bad on lasered caps compared to double shots. I'd prefer to put quality caps on a backlit board and live with "glowing" keys rather than "shining" ones.

As for Bluetooth: there is only one Bluetooth mechanical keyboard I have ever heard of, and believe me I've asked! It's the Majestouch Wireless. Full size only, and only sold in Japan. Bluetooth's taking its sweet time to come to good keyboards. You'd think it would be faster, with iPads and Bluetooth equipped TVs and such, but progress here is slow.

Filco's put a USB hub in the little Minila. And the Topre keyswitch (and therefore expensive) HHKB has one too. Oddly enough, hubs seem to be a small keyboard feature, but even then quite rare. I don't get it!

So you like your Model Ms? Sweet. I just picked up a Model F the other day, the first keyboard of mine with a fantastic switch. It's from 1985 so I'm having to make a converter, but thankfully other people have been there and done that before me, so it should be pretty smooth going. Buckling spring is something else!

[tentator]

lol! ok well I almost belived there were some of those "radium" keycaps around..
but the race seems 140Eur from European importer (!) but definitely seems closest to what I look for..
those other kbt pure or even this Minila seem really appealing for the size but really such a small shift key.. no i think I could not survive with that.. wereas about backlight I definitely would like to have it even if it is uninportant for me it would be shiny/glowing.. some dull backlight would perfecly fit.. actually the best thing I've seen so far are ibm laptop kayboard's illumination (with a small amber led illuminating the keyboard form above.. ) but yes..
Maybe also for bluetooth and for the hub I should make a "converter" as you will do.. but just into the Model M and that's it!!

tent:wq

PS: and I really have no idea and how they compare about topre keys... and that hhk keyboards.. are they mechanical or membrane??

[Muirium]

HHKB is mechanical *and* rubber dome! But in a good way. And, I swear I'm not making this up either: the M in Model M stands for "membrane". Mechanical keyboards get more and more complex the closer you look.

If you don't mind glowing keys, you could get whatever backlit keyboard suits you best and put whatever nice caps on it you like. Perfect! I hear even thick PBT caps glow quite nicely on a backlight. There's group buys for various sets of fancy caps here fairly frequently, and Ducky Nordic and many online retailers carry decent sets, too.

You were right about the Filco Minila though. Its layout is all kinds of weird, which means it's hard to impossible to replace all the caps on it. No backlight on those anyway.

[tentator]

haah those skulls do really look for typical office use!!! =)

anyway problem would be that buying a kbt race + a set of PBT kyecaps would cost me a fortune!! =(

tent:wq

[Neal]

As for Bluetooth: there is only one Bluetooth mechanical keyboard I have ever heard of, and believe me I've asked! It's the Majestouch Wireless. Full size only, and only sold in Japan. Bluetooth's taking its sweet time to come to good keyboards. You'd think it would be faster, with iPads and Bluetooth equipped TVs and such, but progress here is slow.

Don't forget the KBTalking Pro!

[Muirium]

Aha! That was still to be announced the last time I checked. Good news! Once they have TKL and distribution in Europe, they could be a real contender.

Converters / controllers are the way to hack your own features like Bluetooth, custom layers and macros. Two Teensy boards are in the mail, headed in my direction. They're the USB powered and programmable chip of choice for this kind of work. One is going straight into Soarer's converter so I can use my Model F. The other will go into my all metal custom 60% keyboard that Matteo's getting laser cut for me. Go take a look at his work. He's doing a group buy where you design your own layout!

Every keyboard has a controller. If you build your own, you can give it whatever capabilities you want. Bluetooth requires a second chip and I'll be investigating that too. If you want to mod an existing keyboard, like a Model M, you can go inside and replace the original controller with one of your own. Again, Matteo's ahead of me there. The easiest route is by an external converter so I'm trying that first. My Model F's so pretty and metal that I'm intimidated to go inside unless I have to!

[Neal]

Lovely project Matteo has there, I'm also looking for a lightweight small form factor bluetooth board. For traveling purposes, can't have no metal in there though! Heavy!

[Muirium]

Indeed. My metal custom will live proudly on my desk. For traveling, I'd have to suggest something scissorswitch instead of mechanical, unless you've got a big bag. There's a ton of slender Bluetooth travel keyboards to choose from (I use Apple's standard desktop one) which is why I was surprised to find Bluetooth still stuck as a niche feature in mechanicals. It's mainstream in the mainstream.

[tentator]

Mu: you really are opening to me some crazy ideas now.. firstly thanks for pointing me out to Matteo.. and actually I'm also Italian..
Maybe in the end I would spend same or less mony in also try to join and do the keybord directly myself!!
I have no problems with soldering irons at all and so I could play with mods like led backlight (for me best is just glowing backlight and NOT single key transparent shine) and bluetooth controller addition.. maybe even a small usb hub with two ports.. wow that would really be a custom made dream come true..

tent:wq

[Muirium]

I've been here just long enough to be dangerous!

Matteo's current design (Brownfox) is all about the slim, bare metal look. The only place to fit a controller is behind the space bar! A Teensy by itself gives you USB and huge freedom in layers and programmability (to alter layouts, and put multiple functions on keys, which I need for my tiny 60%). He's looking into Bluetooth but it's not in the current design.

The sweet thing about this kind of hand wired custom keyboard body, is that you can open it up and alter things later. I might figure out how to add Bluetooth to mine! (Could even add a new layer of height to fit!) If I can't, no big deal, I'll build another custom later on based around yet more of the gorgeous group buy caps in the works.

The current design is so nice I'm happy to use it as plain USB. Everything else is a bonus.

If you want a constant keyboard-wide backlight: easy! Cherry MX switches all have an LED mounting hole built into them (that's how Ducky etc. fit back lights too) so you can fit LEDs yourself if you like. Running them at constant brightness is easy. Making them do logic-based stuff requires programming and a bigger (or second) controller. I wouldn't mind getting on to doing that stuff myself, but it's way down the list after Bluetooth.

A USB hub? I'd cheat and fit an off the shelf model inside, with the Teensy hooked up to one of its ports.

[IvanIvanovich]

Keycool 84? Has everything you are looking for except bluetooth. Seems to come in several color of led choice.

[Muirium]

Keycool's definitely a place to start. I'd save up for something nicer, but they've got a good price for a Cherry MX keyboard plus backlight. Other recent entrants in the market include Noppoo, PLU and HPE. I haven't looked into them extensively, but they seem feature heavy and what you'd expect in build quality.

Small form factor mechanical keyboards definitely need shaking up, so it's great they're in the market.

[tentator]

wow indeed it really seems what I'm looking for..
@Mu: do you think it is not so nice because of the ABS kyecaps or some other low quality issue.. does it feel cheaper compared for instance to a poker II?

tent:wq

[Muirium]

If you like the look of it, give it a shot. The legends seem lame to me, but that's just personal taste. I've heard they wear down fast too, at least for some people. Wear in this case means great glowing globs where the letters used to be.

The Poker II is a step up in quality and has its fans. They're meant to be quite solid. More durable PBT caps too. Still got ugly legends though, and no backlight.

Frankly, it's tricky to find a backlit board that looks good. You have to find your own caps.

[tentator]

yea, those ugly legends on the poker II were also a big no when I saw it first time..

by the way.. do you know if there exist some cherry mx blue with pointing stick (a la lenovo laptops) maybe? of course not pretending with backlight.. and I also know thet miniguru project also seems to be dead..

tent:wq

[Muirium]

To quote 7bit…

You mean this?

It exists! Kinda, sorta. Coming soon. (And not necessarily with that particular layout.)