Best MX keyboard to replace the controller for a unix keyboard?
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- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Main keyboard: Poker Pure Pro
- Main mouse: Zowie ZA12
- Favorite switch: Cherry Red
- DT Pro Member: -
The title summarizes it pretty nicely - I've been running a HHKB and I adore the layout but I'm not a topre lover - I'd prefer a MX board. What keyboards are easy to replace the controller on, plain looking with PBT caps? I'm agnostic on formfactor and which MX switch is utilized.
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- Location: n. bellmore, ny
- Main keyboard: Corsair K70
- Main mouse: Logitech M100 ambidextrous
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue, going to try more.
- DT Pro Member: -
Diy it?
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- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Main keyboard: Poker Pure Pro
- Main mouse: Zowie ZA12
- Favorite switch: Cherry Red
- DT Pro Member: -
From PCB up? That's one of my plans, but I'm not exactly a craftsman - anything I produce would be of low quality at best. I'd rather something nice with a teensy stuck in the case somewhere or some such thing.pingmaster wrote: ↑Diy it?
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- Location: n. bellmore, ny
- Main keyboard: Corsair K70
- Main mouse: Logitech M100 ambidextrous
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue, going to try more.
- DT Pro Member: -
No, buy some switches, a premade 60% pcb and case and some MX keycaps. Solder it together and boom you are done.
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- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
Most DIY PCBs in 60% form factor support the HHKB layout.
You might have to go a little wider on the space bar and use 1.25u modifiers but that's it. (The HHKB has a 6u space and most key sets are 6.25u)
You might have to go a little wider on the space bar and use 1.25u modifiers but that's it. (The HHKB has a 6u space and most key sets are 6.25u)
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- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Main keyboard: Poker Pure Pro
- Main mouse: Zowie ZA12
- Favorite switch: Cherry Red
- DT Pro Member: -
thanks for the advice guys ill look into the diy pcbs and such more. last I looked they were fairly expensive to the point of premades with a teensy being chepaer.
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- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Main keyboard: Poker Pure Pro
- Main mouse: Zowie ZA12
- Favorite switch: Cherry Red
- DT Pro Member: -
My research informs me the phantom tkl is a good choice, affordable and nice. I generally don't go for such large keyboards but I think it will be nice. I'm having trouble finding any cases though, do you know anywhere to buy cheap cases or should I buy some wood and screws? Also, is the teensy 3.2 compatible?
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- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Main keyboard: Poker Pure Pro
- Main mouse: Zowie ZA12
- Favorite switch: Cherry Red
- DT Pro Member: -
Few more questions - could a wood mounting plate work, or no plate at all? AFAIK both of those should be fine right?
- Halvar
- Location: Baden, DE
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M SSK / Filco MT 2
- Favorite switch: Beam & buckling spring, Monterey, MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0051
Yes, you can use PCB mounted switches like Cherry does in their classic G80 keyboards, then you don't need a plate.
Your PCB needs to support this kind of switches, they need additional holes in the PCB.
wiki/Switch_mount
Your PCB needs to support this kind of switches, they need additional holes in the PCB.
wiki/Switch_mount
- pixelheresy
- Location: Åland
- Main keyboard: Pok3r Vortex (work); IBM Model M (home)
- Main mouse: Rollermouse Pro
- Favorite switch: IBM Buckling Spring; Alps SKCM Orange
- DT Pro Member: -
If you are looking for a good office premade my recommendation would be a CODE with clears or a Das Keyboard with Blues or Blacks. Blue/Green CODES are obnoxiously loud and Browns feel like shit. A Das with the solid case and PCB mount sounds nice and especially non-annoying to office mates with O-rings. Was my daily driver for years.
If you can go DYI, that's kind of fun. Also USB modding an older Model M is great (particularly since with Soarer's or TMK you can program the shit out of them) or get a new Unicomp, but those of course aren't MX. Fun for coding though.
If you can go DYI, that's kind of fun. Also USB modding an older Model M is great (particularly since with Soarer's or TMK you can program the shit out of them) or get a new Unicomp, but those of course aren't MX. Fun for coding though.