Chicony E8HKB-5591

[seebart]

I picked this up recently for cheap. The overall condition is NIB / unused. The switch seems to be a clicky SMK Alps mount with a turquoise slider. The switch looks very similair in color and shape to the switch in the flickr album and the "Monterey switches and keycap" pic in our wiki. I will add the pics to our wiki or shoot better ones and add those later. The whole trackball concept is alien to me, so I doubt I´ll ever get used to it, I grew up with mice . I like this keyboard, not your avarage setup.

Update: after using this keyboard for a couple of days now I can say that Monterey switches feel (to me) like "firmer" blue Alps, with a short travel, crisp bump and loud click. I can't describe them any better right now.

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[Daniel Beardsmore]

Ah, a turquoise trackball!

jaynoon, who took this photo—http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaynoon/52 ... hotostream—is a member here and I sent him a message ages ago, but he's never checked his private messages and mine is jammed in my Outbox. His 5591 is subtly different to yours. Interestingly, both use SMK switches — it seems that some models may have only ever had one switch type.

This is the wiki page: [wiki]Chicony KB-5591[/wiki].

Edit: Hyperlink failed

[acolombo]

Very nice board! I really like the mouse buttons in that part of the case

[ShawnMeg]

That is a beautiful keyboard.

[rich1051414]

That's wonderful. A huge one up on the IBM/Lenovo pencil eraser. I actually have a lot of use for a keyboard like this, which is interesting for something as old as this keyboard. How difficult is it to convert the serial mouse connector to something modern?

[JP!]

Very neat keyboard. I imagine you could just use a simple serial to ps2 adapter and then use an active ps2 to usb adapter.

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[nickg]

jelly as fuck... hows the trackball feel? Oh man montery blue with a trackball....

[orihalcon]

If anyone else wants one of these, you can get them here from Cindy: http://www.elecshopper.com/chickony-kb- ... -nib.html/

She has done so much for the community and is getting out of the keyboard world soon I believe, and she is asking a very fair price here. Go get 'em!

[seebart]

Very neat keyboard. I imagine you could just use a simple serial to ps2 adapter and then use an active ps2 to usb adapter.

adapter.jpg

That's it, no elaborate conversion needed here.

jelly as fuck... hows the trackball feel? Oh man montery blue with a trackball....

^

Feels nice the way it should, I'm not a trackall guy but it's fun. I have seen this same keyboard with a yellow trackball.

That's wonderful. A huge one up on the IBM/Lenovo pencil eraser. I actually have a lot of use for a keyboard like this, which is interesting for something as old as this keyboard. How difficult is it to convert the serial mouse connector to something modern?

Thanks, if you like Montereys this is a great choice, like orihalcon said elecplus is selling these NIB.

[rich1051414]

Very neat keyboard. I imagine you could just use a simple serial to ps2 adapter and then use an active ps2 to usb adapter.

adapter.jpg

Oh wow, just a passive adapter(To get to ps/2)? I have never had the need to use a serial mouse, but I think I have finally found that need. I apologize for the noobness

Oh, I have plenty of PS/2 to USB active adapters, as it seems like compatibility is hit and miss with them.

[seebart]

Very neat keyboard. I imagine you could just use a simple serial to ps2 adapter and then use an active ps2 to usb adapter.

adapter.jpg

I have never had the need to use an antique mouse, but I think I have finally found that need. I apologize for the noobness

Well the trackball is at least if not more antique than any mouse.

[rich1051414]

Very neat keyboard. I imagine you could just use a simple serial to ps2 adapter and then use an active ps2 to usb adapter.

adapter.jpg

I have never had the need to use an antique mouse, but I think I have finally found that need. I apologize for the noobness

Well the trackball is at least if not more antique than any mouse.

Hah, you got in before I fixed my wording on that. It made even me feel old when I called a trackball an 'antique', true or not xD

Either way, if I got it, I would merge the two down to a single teensy anyway, as I would only ever use it on the htpc in my living room Trackballs > Trackpads.

[seebart]

Hah, you got in before I fixed my wording on that.

My speciality. No pun intended.

It made even me feel old when I called a trackball an 'antique', true or not xD

Nah come on...vintage is cool. At least vintage keyboards like the Chicony E8HKB-5591.

Either way, if I got it, I would merge the two down to a single teensy anyway, as I would only ever use it on the htpc in my living room

Cool.

[rich1051414]

I am currently typing this on a chicony 5191, no insults implied Futaba MA clicky. Maybe one day, they will get the recognition they deserve, for now, I guess I will have to feel like a hipster

[seebart]

I am currently typing this on a chicony 5191, no insults implied Futaba MA clicky. Maybe one day, they will get the recognition they deserve, for now, I guess I will have to feel like a hipster

Oh, can we see some pics plz?

[rich1051414]

I think I have posted them on the forums before, but here are some new ones. This is after retrobright treatments. It looked like a failed sunless tan experiment when I found it.

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PS: The case does not match the top. The actual model number of the PCB is 5192, not 5191, as can be seen with the iso layout. Do not try to go off the serial number to determine if a prospective keyboard has Futaba MA. The original case was damaged, and I used another keyboard that had Mitsumi Mini's(KLT-11) in it as a donor, since that keyboard was basically unusable. Horrible switch that should be ashamed of itself. The best way to describe Mitsumi Mini's would be, walking in snow. I think this keyboard can also be found with cherry mx blues as well as aristotle's.

[seebart]

Cool thanks.

[hailang215]

COOL