F104+SSK+122+62+77+50+Ergo orders now open! New Kishsaver+Industrial Model F Keyboards

[Elrick]

But I would think about what you want the site to do first. Asking for a best website is like asking for the best keyboard.

The MOST important thing is to make a very simple website that loads into everyone's browser almost immediately. Don't use Java, Flash or some other inane browser plug-in to see it.

We already know what your keyboard is about and all we want is to BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. So make sure you have a shop front with a working paypal set up and then you can watch the moolah pile on in for your rare keyboard.

Above all else keeping a website simple means we can get in make our orders and then get out again without fuss.

Too many idiot websites now force you stay within their site to buy worthless stuff so never go down that path. Only provide what's needed and desired for and then have the necessary cash rushing in for you to package and ship all the keyboards.

[Samir]

Back in the day there was a rule on web design where you should be able to reach what you want within 3 clicks. Most modern sites have really gone away from this concept, but the mobile phone has made it relevant again.

You can never make anything too easy for the user.

[Spaceman1200]

Man this project looks so awesome, Wish i could have the cash for this, probably would if i could sell some keyboard parts..

[chalks]

Ellipse, with regard to taking payments via Paypal, are you going to setup as a business so you can accept direct card payments rather than just Paypal payments?

[Samir]

Ellipse, with regard to taking payments via Paypal, are you going to setup as a business so you can accept direct card payments rather than just Paypal payments?

I would highly recommend this. One of the best things I thought through before careful execution back in the day.

[0100010]

Options for both barrel placements ...

• top right : 2x (backspace) or 1x + 1x Blue
  Enter : ANSI or ISO Green
  Left shift : 2.25x ANSI or 1.25x + 1x ISO Red

Options for "standard" barrel placement only ...

• Right shift : 2.75x standard or 1x + 1.75x stepped Brown

Option for "HHKB style" barrel placement only ...

• Right shift : 1.75x stepped + 1x ONLY Purple

Crudely illustrated :

[Ellipse]

Yep Chalks and Samir I set it up so you can pay with a debit or credit card if you do not have a PayPal account.

I will work on the web site in the coming weeks and post it for feedback. Thanks all for the tips.

[Elrick]

I will work on the web site in the coming weeks and post it for feedback. Thanks all for the tips.

So will the website be up and running before the 13th of November?

Just wondering if the purchasing of your keyboards still remain for that date or has it been pushed back?

[Ellipse]

If the prototypes ship this week there is a good chance they arrive by Friday if they use DHL Express. But I would plan for some delays of a week or so at least; who knows what delays will come up. And there will be longer delays if the prototypes are not good and/or the flipper resin does not work well.

[Firebolt1914]

Hate to ask this again but are the flippers comparable to the original model f ones? I'm not sure if it's the picture, but the angle on them does not look very 'sharp'

[Ellipse]

Yep the flippers are exact replicas of one version of the original flippers. There was a thread on DT showing the various F flipper types if you are interested.

[Elrick]

If the prototypes ship this week there is a good chance they arrive by Friday if they use DHL Express. But I would plan for some delays of a week or so at least; who knows what delays will come up. And there will be longer delays if the prototypes are not good and/or the flipper resin does not work well.

Sorry in harassing you for more info here (due to my immature excitement) about when these babies will go up for purchase because this is one SALE I do not want to ever miss.

Feel like a "schoolie" yet again, when it comes to something as important as this, a once in a lifetime opportunity .

[0100010]

One question - how many barrels / flippers are going to be included - with the F62 for example? Just thinking in terms of layout flexibility, one may need 65 barrels / flippers to use every available slot on the F62. Spares purchase-able?

[fohat]

There was a thread on DT showing the various F flipper types if you are interested.

Any idea where this is? My search did not turn up anything appropriate.

[Ellipse]

There will be enough for your chosen layout. I can include a few extras if you make a note on the order form. And yes you can buy extras too of any component!

Fohat here is the link: http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/mode ... t9715.html

[Ellipse]

Would anyone be interested in acquiring one or both of the very first Model F F77/F62 protototype units produced from new components in 20+ years, after I receive the final production units in 1-2 months? These would be at a premium and you could be recognized as a project supporter if you'd like. Please PM me to talk.

No updates yet from the factory. Hopefully everything ships out this week or early next week.

[Ellipse]

A recap of the thread for those who have not read the entire thread:

I am not only making two prototype Model F keyboards. You can buy as many of these F77s and F62s as you want for $325 each. Anyone can buy them and I ship internationally. They are all being made to order in a month or so in China and then the group buy will be done. There are already 183 pre-orders for these!

I suggest signing up for the interest form in my first post (see the Google Docs link) if you are interested. Once the prototypes have been fully tested I will open up the order form.

They are definitely unique in that they are the only Model F keyboards that have been made from all new parts since the 80s to my knowledge. If you are familiar with buckling springs of a Model M, these Model F keyboards were the earlier design before the Model M was designed to reduce the costs of the Model F by sacrificing metal and component quality.

So you don't need to spend a lot more to buy a prototype - you can buy any F62 Kishsaver or F77 at $325 each, bring your own keys; the keys you buy from Unicomp will fit these keyboards (I am doing a group buy for keys and will install them for free!).

[Karura]

I love how the prototypes turned out.

Is there any chance to introduce feet to the bottom of the case?

I noticed that the Kishsaver (atleast the one I tried out) did not have flip-out feet at the bottom, and the typing angle was a little negative (the angle was tilted down, even).

It wasn't too difficult, but was just wondering if this is something possible, to make it more like a SSK/Model M with feet.

[andrewjoy]

At least for the 107 there is a slot in foot that goes into the 2 little holes. I hope we have that in this or thats a big no no for me.

[Hypersphere]

Unless Ellipse is planning to include something like self-adhesive silicone rubber feet, I plan to do this myself -- big ones on the back and small ones on the front. I would actually prefer this to having a long metal add-on piece.

[Ellipse]

Let's discuss keyboard feet: what do people want to order? Please list product links like those from McMaster-Carr or the like.

As one option I will offer some McMaster Carr cork feet.

Karura/Andrew there will be no keyboard foot bar or retractable feet - a foot bar would have added $10,000 in injection molding tooling costs to re-create. But I will consider drilling holes at the bottom if people want really sturdy rubber feet. If I have some holes drilled at the bottom, what size would you want and how many? 2 or 4? Even IBM seems to have replaced the foot bars with bumpers with a threaded screw for many of the refurbed F107s and F50s I have come across.

Would people want screwed on bumper bottoms like these: http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-rubbe ... rs/=zr655b These would probably only work for the upper 2 due to the length of the threads.

[andrewjoy]

A rubber foot into a threaded hole is fine. have you got an orginal 4704 foot to test it with to make sure its the same height ?

[Karura]

I'd be happy with screwed on rubber feet.

To make it clear that we're not confusing the front and the back, let's use the terms "far side" and "near side", as in, near to the user, or far from the user.

The near side would probably be too thin for screw in feet, so would it be possible to have round/flat recess/indents into the case, then stick on a rubber feet, whether it's 3M or something?

For the far side, I would like to see 4 rubber feet in total.
2 being the same as the near side, indent/recessed circle for adhesive bump-on/stick on rubber feet (3M or better), so if someone wants to use it flat, they will have 4 equally sized rubber feet.
Then 2 more rubber feet, being the screwed-on type you mentioned, and replicated to the same height as the original Model F's.

To quickly recap what I just said:
6 rubber feet in total

near side: 2 slim-profile ones that stick/adhere directly onto the case (hopefully there can be an indent on the case, so the rubber feet will not slide around)

far side: 2 slim profile ones, and 2 screw-in rubber feet for an angled typing experience.

I've had quite a few custom keyboards, and hope this will be a possible solution! Love to hear the thoughts of everyone else regarding this.

[Muirium]

Rubber is definitely required. Remember how heavy these little keyboards are! 3 kilos for the 62 key. They'll eat your desk for breakfast, lunch and tea! There's also a lot of reverberation thanks to the metal case, rubber's a good damper so that doesn't spread through your desk.

I use my Kishsaver flat. Like how I use all my boards. So low profile rubber feet, front and rear, are what I suggest.

[webwit]

I don't. Maybe do it like Korean keyboard releases. Offer different sizes of feet (small and large).

[Muirium]

Feet are cheap. Supply both. 4x small, 2x large.

[chzel]

Yeah, these http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-rubbe ... rs/=zr73ck look good for the tall far side feet and for the "normal" I think the usual cross-hatched rubber stick-on feet are fine.

[Firebolt1914]

Can I possibly get more pictures of the flippers?

[0100010]

I would prefer screw on rubber feet as well. I had stick on rubber bumpers on my F107 - but they did not last. 'Upgraded' to bolted on rubber feet, running the bolts through the original foot holes - no issues since.

Used a pair of these : http://www.homedepot.com/p/Shepherd-7-8 ... /100148565 with 1/2" long #8 nuts / bolts.

[webwit]

I vote cork over puny rubber!