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VPE-151

Posted: 17 Aug 2015, 14:54
by klikkyklik
Sure is a colorful thing. Picked this up for $21.14. Off a video production system of some sort. Cherry MX blacks. No standard PC connector. I will be doing a teardown and photo shoot later in the year. Full metal case. Weighs 6lbs, 7.7oz.
vpe-151.jpg
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Posted: 17 Aug 2015, 16:34
by terrycherry
very nice MX keycaps,if change them to 80% it would be nice.

Posted: 17 Aug 2015, 18:51
by Chyros
Yeah that's a video editing board all right, the coloured caps and weird legends are a dead giveaway. It looks awesome, that could make any desk look good :D .

Posted: 17 Aug 2015, 21:42
by klikkyklik
Thanks, Thomas!

Posted: 05 Sep 2015, 23:17
by Ozric
Really cool looking board, would love to see more pictures of it. Has anyone ever converted this into a regular keyboard?

Posted: 05 Sep 2015, 23:32
by Muirium
2.94 kg by my calculation. Almost as heavy as a Kishsaver! Guess the metal's not quite as thick…
Spoiler:
Image

Posted: 06 Sep 2015, 13:22
by klikkyklik
I'm going to be diving into the board later when I have a bit more time; I will be sure to post pictures here. I intend on making the board one of my daily drivers, which will probably involve replacing the MX blacks with blues, at least in the alphanumeric block ("Blues?! You Heathen!" I can hear Muirium moan), as well as changing the keycaps to something more accessible. Not sure exactly, just throwing some ideas around.

Posted: 06 Sep 2015, 16:52
by Hypersphere
Looks almost like something from Star Trek. Maybe you could wire it up to emit little beeping sounds with each keystroke.

Posted: 06 Sep 2015, 23:52
by ramnes
Wow, awesome! I want those pictures!

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 13:05
by Chyros
How can you even CONSIDER changing those caps?! XD

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 13:05
by klikkyklik
Whoa! Whoa! OK, OK! Sheesh!

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 13:16
by sth
i like the "KEY" key. very zen.

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 15:35
by kbdfr
Chyros wrote: How can you even CONSIDER changing those caps?! XD
Very simple: he is considering selling them to a real addict.
Dibs! :mrgreen:

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 15:52
by Chyros
kbdfr wrote:
Chyros wrote: How can you even CONSIDER changing those caps?! XD
Very simple: he is considering selling them to a real addict.
Dibs! :mrgreen:
:lol:

Clever, Mr Bond... :D

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 15:53
by klikkyklik
kbdfr wrote:
Chyros wrote: How can you even CONSIDER changing those caps?! XD
Very simple: he is considering selling them to a real addict.
Dibs! :mrgreen:
Ahem...

A higher-res picture to keep you guys happy for now. Definitely needs a cleaning!
vpe-151.jpg
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Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 15:56
by klikkyklik
Hey, I finally found the right key for the toilet keyboard!
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Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 16:10
by Muirium
sth wrote: i like the "KEY" key. very zen.
What does the KEY key do? It, alone of all the keys, sees its own essence and is enlightened.

Man, that one's blowing my mind. I'm off to request 7bit includes it in Round 5soundofonehandclapping…

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 16:33
by klikkyklik
Not particularly "portable." ;)
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Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 16:33
by Touch_It
My plan.

1. Obtain Diss key

2. Have it mapped to type insulting remarks.

Probably not as funny as it was in my head but I'm super tired :D

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 16:49
by sth
Muirium wrote:
sth wrote: i like the "KEY" key. very zen.
What does the KEY key do? It, alone of all the keys, sees its own essence and is enlightened.

Man, that one's blowing my mind. I'm off to request 7bit includes it in Round 5soundofonehandclapping…
it may have something to do with setting chroma key options (ie green screen shenanigans)

Posted: 09 Sep 2015, 18:12
by Spikebolt
That's my house!!! Probably just my chair but gtfo of my chair!!

Actually super scary because I think the UPS is the same as well. Calling home now, pick it up!

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 09:42
by Crazy Canadian XXIV
Hot damn, that thing's cool! It's like a terminal keyboard, but even more oddball. That double row on the top looks like a prime candidate for double function row keycaps. Hopefully you plan on keeping the alphanumeric keys as-is!

Shame it's Cherry MX though, at least for me. Still, nice find. Have you done anything of note with it yet? Any luck getting it to work with a normal PC?

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 12:11
by klikkyklik
Thanks for the interest! Yeah, it's an odd one for sure! Currently there are no plans to change up the keycaps. Chyros made sure of that! :)

I know what you mean about Cherry - at least the black MX - I've never liked them, but they might be an OK changeup in my lineup.

I will open it up when I have more spare time, probably in the next couple of months. Will be interesting to dive into it.

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 12:33
by Crazy Canadian XXIV
Couple months, eh? I'm not sure I can last that long. I might have to track you down and crack it open myself!

I jest, of course. I'm a patient man. I can certainly get excited, though! I'm sure cracking it open will be quite the adventure. In the meantime, what interface does it use?

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 12:41
by Chyros
klikkyklik wrote: Currently there are no plans to change up the keycaps. Chyros made sure of that! :)
;D

What are the dimensions btw? It looks colossal.

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 12:53
by klikkyklik
Unknown on the interface - it has a female DB9 labeled "JOG," a male DB9 labeled "POWER," and a female DB25 labeled "RACK." I'm hoping to locate standard power and control signals routed through one of them and build a simple DBx to PS2 adapter. Hopefully it will be that easy.

21 11/16" (55cm) wide, 9 11/16" (24.6cm) deep, 3 13/16" (9.7cm) high at the back.

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 14:46
by Oobly
What you done need now is one o' dese thingumajiggers:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Grass-Valley-Gr ... 1684999191

That'll sort you out. 's a digital viddie doodah.

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 14:50
by klikkyklik
Yup, I might have actually seen one of those in the same shop that I got the keyboard from. I didn't look at it close. Who knows, maybe it's still there - but I don't really have much interest in it. Was probably a pretty cool machine in its time!

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 15:39
by Chyros
klikkyklik wrote: 21 11/16" (55cm) wide, 9 11/16" (24.6cm) deep, 3 13/16" (9.7cm) high at the back.
Hmmm, that's pretty big, but it's not actually as HUEG as I expected from the pictures =o . Is the case particularly thick or not really?

Posted: 29 Sep 2015, 15:51
by klikkyklik
Rough gauge with a tape (not calipers) is 3/32".

This might give you a better idea of its size.
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