Keycool 84

bebuxe · 27 Jul 2012, 12:16

Yeih! It works just like advertised!

Getting used to reds MX.

h;urei
^proof it is 6KRO on USB

them pics (excuse the quality, only have a cell phone atm):

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The case:

: The case; pic2_case.jpeg (175.71 KiB) Viewed 16152 times

Inside the Case:

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Le Contents:

: The contents, with the added stuff.; pic4_contents2.jpg (404.33 KiB) Viewed 16152 times

The bags:

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That keyboard:

: tan tan TAN TAAAN; pic6_da_kibord.jpg (370.67 KiB) Viewed 16152 times

Yes they are cherry red:

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The back:

: The back; pic12_le_back.jpg (312.52 KiB) Viewed 16152 times

The legs:

: The legs; pic14_showing_leg.jpg (309.62 KiB) Viewed 16152 times

The port:

: The port; pic21_usb_port.jpg (259.31 KiB) Viewed 16152 times

Pros:
1)cheap MX USB de-attachable keyboard, with all the actual necessary ISO/IEC 9995-2 inputs, and more.

Bloopers:
Print_screen Scroll_lock and Delete are First
With FN: Num_lock Pause and Insert
[who gets that?]

Adding a part 2

fossala · 27 Jul 2012, 12:22

How cheap does it feel, what can you compare it too? Have you tried a Choc mini?

bebuxe · 27 Jul 2012, 12:28

Part 2:
More on the USB port:

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For the LED maniacs:

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Those weird FN inputs:

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Adding part 3

>fossala
Do not know how to answer that. Plastic cheap? But Red MX feels awesome, like I am pressing on butter pellets. But let me finish lol. Please read my profile too.

bebuxe · 27 Jul 2012, 12:49

Le manual:

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If you can read:

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Height:

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part 4 coming up, after "My Life as a Teenage LoveBot"

fossala · 27 Jul 2012, 13:17

How does it compare to the Choc Mini then?

bebuxe · 27 Jul 2012, 13:34

Part 4, the dawn of doom

The keycap size:
Base: 1.8cmx1.8cm
Top: 1.25cmx1.4cm
Height: max 1.2cm, dip 1.1cm
Images for fun:

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And yes it works. I typed some of it on it:

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Song playing in my head while doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lNZ_Rnr7Jc

I need to do usb-devices and the other commands later on fedora.

Tell me what others to try. I feel like a fledgling anyways.

Any questions?

bebuxe · 27 Jul 2012, 13:42

>fossala
Dubs, check 'em:

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bebuxe · 28 Jul 2012, 01:13

Deetz from fedora:
usb-devices:

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lsusb -v

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woody · 28 Jul 2012, 11:28

bebuxe wrote:Any questions?

What key combos are hardwired via the Fn key? Scan codes would be cool, too.

bebuxe · 28 Jul 2012, 14:20

nice idea....
running xev would a pain though.

Also I forgot to say some Cons:
USB hole for the cable is improperly designed, and it causes the wire to compress. I even made a dent on the insulation. But nothing a knife a can fix.
From the build, there are no screws. And looks to be glued shut. So no hacking, unless you got glue, and a knife.
That Delete key up on the top confuses me, esp. when doing Shift + Fn + Insert. But there is always setxkbmap.

Caps do not feel like ABS from Noppoo, but the letter are sticker, or what ever it is called.
I guess winkey is non standard size.

Hopefully I will some free time tomorrow to test them all.

blighty · 29 Jul 2012, 16:29

Nice review. I ordered a black one with black switches last week, mainly to use as a backpackable gaming keyboard (hopefully is shows up in the next week or so). The main attraction I had to this board over the Noppoo was the detachable cable. The Race has a removable cable as well I realize, but I like the fact the the Keycool mini has the connection underneath with the cable crimped, to prevent accidental unplugging. By your comments about the USB channel compressing the cable, it sounds like it will meet my needs nicely.
fossala was asking about "cheap" feeling of the board. I'm not expecting too much for the price, so I figure plactikoting the case may add a bit of ruggedness to it.
Have you taken off the spacebar to see what it's compatible with? It looks like it's Filco length, just curious if the mount points line up.

bebuxe · 29 Jul 2012, 22:44

>blighty
Well, for the cable being compressed worries me about cable's durability. But that is why you have a knife with you always.
And I can't still answer a question like that. It's like saying, "How red does it feel?" And I would have to answer the same, "Red feely?". If he means something like, "What type of materials is it composed of, esp. the Keycap and base exterior plastic?" I would have a more definite answer: "I apologize, but I do not have testing materials or the resources to test the Plastic, or the motherboard."
I will check the space bar later. Tried fidgeting with it, but I got to run to work. The life of a full time worker is not easy. Tell me the dimensions of a filco kb's space bar.

blighty · 30 Jul 2012, 03:44

The DT wiki http://deskthority.net/wiki/Space_bar puts the Filco's space bar at 6.25 units (118mm (just over 4 3/8 inches) wide, 3 mounts, 50mm apart). From eyeballing the pic it looks the same, but no way to tell about the mount points without looking underneath.

As for build quality, do you think the case would break/crack if you had to hit someone over the head with it a few times

(or at least survive a 2 or 3 foot fall) ? Plastic bat vs wooden vs aluminum I guess. I suppose I can decide for myself when it arrives.

bebuxe · 30 Jul 2012, 23:57

>blighty
I'll check tomorrow.
Build.: You can mash someone head 3 times and it will break. A 10 feet fall would make break. Between Plastic - wooden.
>woody
Kinda busy for xev map. Need to orchestrate it. Scripts are welcome.

woody · 31 Jul 2012, 00:11

bebuxe wrote:Kinda busy for xev map. Need to orchestrate it. Scripts are welcome.

A short compiled combo list like for example "Fn+A gives ...." is still a good start.
"xev | grep keysym" is a quick way to filter the output, but you'll still get on/off/repetition events. Of course you don't need to check the codes for the regular keys.

raptorized · 31 Jul 2012, 01:15

i just got my white keycool 84 with red switches

bebuxe · 31 Jul 2012, 09:47

>raptorized
nice.

>woody
I did it the simple way:

Spoiler:

raptorized · 31 Jul 2012, 10:11

Spoiler:

woody · 31 Jul 2012, 10:35

@bebuxe: Thanks!

bebuxe · 31 Jul 2012, 12:40

>raptorized
NICE. But I am making/buying/getting my own caps later (opinion/taste difference, nothing wrong with that).

>woody
You are welcome. The total will be 22 USD with State Tax. Will it be paypal or check?

>et al.
Anyone got any other Qs? I shall be lazy enough not to document this on the wiki (were most of this should be).

woody · 01 Aug 2012, 10:44

bebuxe wrote:>woody
You are welcome. The total will be 22 USD with State Tax. Will it be paypal or check?

I don't know.

You have somebody else in mind with respect to the quoted price. Please check again.

blighty · 03 Aug 2012, 20:25

Just so everyone knows, a filco spacebar fits the mini84 with a replacement stabilizer (I got one from wasd keyboards) and moving the stabilizer mounts to the outer positions. It's rad that all the keys can be swapped with aftermarket keycaps with a little modding.

raptorized · 05 Aug 2012, 07:09

Have you tried to remove the case? I don't know how to do it safely

bebuxe · 05 Aug 2012, 10:12

No, I have not. An I do not want to yet. Until I can get better at typing on the typematrix 2020. Plus, I do not got time to get glue and hack my way at the keyboard. Unless I buy another, lol.