Great/Interesting Finds

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:12

fixed the formatting

hansichen · 12 Apr 2018, 14:13

green-squid wrote: ↑Cherry MX browns for 40 cents a piece, this is MX clone territory in price:https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 2982429324

Misterious Cherry MX mx1a switch: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 8105300411

MX switches are available for around 20ct each on arrow.com. Also mx1a sounds like mx black, you should find the exact name in the wiki or datasheet of mx switches.
Edit: the "mx1a" switch looks like a clone, no cherry logo etc. The description probably says that the switch is like a cherry switch but my Chinese isn't good enough to translate it.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:29

Anyway, these NOS switch deals look amazing, especially the SKCCBs and the KPTs, and that curious Mitsumi switch, and the 3-pin Alps clone..

hansichen · 12 Apr 2018, 14:32

Nobody would ever use them and they are not really cheap, no idea who would wanna buy them from outside of 中国.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:33

hansichen wrote: ↑Nobody would ever use them and they are not really cheap, no idea who would wanna buy them from outside of 中国.

Which one(s)?

hansichen · 12 Apr 2018, 14:34

All of them

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:36

hansichen wrote: ↑All of them

Whaat! All of these have been used on keyboards in the past, besides the unconfirmed Mitsumi one. (like the NECs: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 74f1a0a75f )

hansichen · 12 Apr 2018, 14:37

Rubberdome sheets were also used in the past.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:38

hansichen wrote: ↑Rubberdome sheets were also used in the past.

But what is wrong with any of these switches (besides rubber dome, that one can go to hell)? Aren't some of these (besides the M81) good?

kbdfr · 12 Apr 2018, 14:43

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:46

kbdfr wrote: ↑

Why are you yawning?

kbdfr · 12 Apr 2018, 14:51

green-squid wrote: ↑
kbdfr wrote: ↑
Why are you yawning?

Because it takes longer than I had expected - based on your general level of excitation, you should have exploded long ago.

hansichen · 12 Apr 2018, 14:51

green-squid wrote: ↑
hansichen wrote: ↑Rubberdome sheets were also used in the past.
But what is wrong with any of these switches (besides rubber dome, that one can go to hell)? Aren't some of these (besides the M81) good?

Most of the switches are regarded as bad, especially the clones. Apart from needing a replacement switch there is no usage at all for those switches.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:52

kbdfr wrote: ↑
green-squid wrote: ↑
kbdfr wrote: ↑
Why are you yawning?
Because it takes longer than I had expected - based on your general level of excitation, you should have exploded long ago.

Is there a generic green squid excite-o-meter?

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:53

hansichen wrote: ↑
green-squid wrote: ↑
hansichen wrote: ↑Rubberdome sheets were also used in the past.
But what is wrong with any of these switches (besides rubber dome, that one can go to hell)? Aren't some of these (besides the M81) good?
Most of the switches are regarded as bad, especially the clones. Apart from needing a replacement switch there is no usage at all for those switches.

Aren't at least the SMKs liked?

hansichen · 12 Apr 2018, 14:56

green-squid wrote: ↑ Aren't at least the SMKs liked?

I don't know a single person who uses them and I know even less people who would consider building a board with it.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 14:58

hansichen wrote: ↑
green-squid wrote: ↑ Aren't at least the SMKs liked?
I don't know a single person who uses them and I know even less people who would consider building a board with it.

The clicky SMKs are well-liked, aren't they though? They made it into a certain Dutch citizen's Top 5!

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... dff2684d5c

kbdfr · 12 Apr 2018, 14:59

green-squid wrote: ↑[…] Is there a generic green squid excite-o-meter?

hansichen · 12 Apr 2018, 15:00

green-squid wrote: ↑
hansichen wrote: ↑
green-squid wrote: ↑ Aren't at least the SMKs liked?
I don't know a single person who uses them and I know even less people who would consider building a board with it.
The clicky SMKs are well-liked, aren't they though? They made it into a certain Dutch citizen's Top 5!

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... dff2684d5c

Well, then there is one person. That doesn't change that nobody uses them.

mike52787 · 12 Apr 2018, 15:05

some people like to build with those smk switches these days, mainly because LFK is producing custom pcbs for them. I believe he has a magicforce and phantom spec pcb available that works with smk.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 15:09

Han, If my Zenith Z-150 handwiring custom project is a success (I hope the yellows arrive soon!), I may consider doing a small keyboard with one of these switches in it (with a custom plate, if I can figure out how to use a linux cad tool)! Thanks for giving the idea

samuelcable · 12 Apr 2018, 15:19

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Very-Rare-Cher ... SwX~dWr72y

this has probably already been posted but i thought it looked cool as hell

Blaise170 · 12 Apr 2018, 15:40

I've seen a custom Korean build (don't remember where, Geekhack I think) with SMK switches, they aren't bad at all and I would use them if there was more PCB support for them. Some of the other switches are cool collector's pieces but wouldn't be of any real use outside of that (unless you are wanting to wire a momentary switch in some project and nothing but a keyboard switch will do).

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 15:56

Blaise170 wrote: ↑I've seen a custom Korean build (don't remember where, Geekhack I think) with SMK switches, they aren't bad at all and I would use them if there was more PCB support for them. Some of the other switches are cool collector's pieces but wouldn't be of any real use outside of that (unless you are wanting to wire a momentary switch in some project and nothing but a keyboard switch will do).

Wait, are some of these momentary switches (that stay down)? That old alps one isn't, right?

Blaise170 · 12 Apr 2018, 16:01

Switches that stay down would be considered locking switches. Keyboard switches only stay actuated for a moment, hence momentary.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 16:13

Blaise170 wrote: ↑Switches that stay down would be considered locking switches. Keyboard switches only stay actuated for a moment, hence momentary.

Oh okay! Most of these that I linked are hopefully momentary.

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 21:55

Make sure to get some Omnom 3-pin switches!

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 5142738%7D

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 22:08

Some more finds!

Chinese Vintage MX black keyboard for $17

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 2016205%7D

Pinnacle video terminal?

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 0da7532296

Curious looking keyboard unit

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 1906190%7D

Another one!

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 3d4bbb0c5e

A whole stack of those vintage black ones

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=20 ... 7550690%7D

The rabbit hole keeps getting bigger and bigger

Blaise170 · 12 Apr 2018, 22:26

Those boards are only $7/each which is a great price, but shipping outside of China would be too high to justify the cost. And is that a Chinese copy of the Focus FK boards?

green-squid · 12 Apr 2018, 22:32

Blaise170 wrote: ↑Those boards are only $7/each which is a great price, but shipping outside of China would be too high to justify the cost. And is that a Chinese copy of the Focus FK boards?

Yep, they have a lot of focus-like keyboards on TB.