I'm afraid you've given me a new obsession....I just bought one of these today.....and getting really interested in keyboards and computer history....I only just realised I lived through it all and was lucky enough to work with amazing hardware you can still find in skips! and icl is an interesting company with family ties for me.....anyway....great content.....thanks for it
I will forever be a fan of these videos. For years I had my grey badge Model M and never thought about anything else. Thanks for introducing so many people to the incredible diversity of vintage switch and keyboard designs! There's so much to explore.
I think it's time to leave an appreication comment for how you're seemingly the only youtuber that does close up reviews with his hands often in the camera and your nails are neither god-stinkin filthy nor bitten off to the point of not existing. As another male who actually takes some care of his fingers I highly appreciate that
My brother and I used to play a game where we would see how many SAT words we could fit into a conversation...This guy would win every time...."gargantuan"
I have an early Amiga 500 with that exact same 'space invader' type mechanism (with a distinct red caps lock LED). I've never seen any other Amiga ever after with this kind of keyboard.
I would love to see your review of the Akko keycaps. They're advertised as doubleshot PBT ASA (SA style profile). Unfortunately, they're MX only... sigh...
It's hard to believe those MX Browns aren't considered clicky. Even the ICL was pretty loud. How do you really draw the distinction between clicky and tactile?
+Crazy Canadian The Clicky Hi Tek Space Invaders actually actuate before the click because the clicker mechanism is completely unrelated to the contacts.
We had these at 6th form college on the ICL 386SX PCs in 1992, and I've never seen them since! The whole keyboard was excellent quality ("don't make 'em like that any more"), but rather resistive. It has to be said I much prefer the IBM buckling spring.
IBM's keyboards are hard to impossible to beat, but think of the cost. You could have more than SIX of these for the cost of just a Model M, and that's a membrane keyboard!
Chyros can't tell you his review, almost certainly due to his agreement with Tom's Hardware, but I can hazard a guess: "The switches themselves actually aren't optical, so calling them 'optical keyswitches' is actually a misnomer. In fact, the switches themselves aren't electrical at all. They're just Cherry MX variants with holes in*. It's arguable that they're the most purely mechanical switches since typewriters, as all they do is move up and down (and provide clicks/tactility, if you can call Cherry-based switches "tactile" {let's remember; Chyros doesn't like Cherry MX variants much}). The keyboard itself has embedded optical sensors; the switches merely have a hole in the sides of the cylindrical well into which the slider sinks, which is filled when the switch is pressed, and empties again when it's released, thus triggering the sensors both on and off. This may prove useful in future* for repairs, since no desoldering is necessary." *Obligatory Britishisms
Since you think they're both kind of "meh" tactile switches, do you prefer tactile Space Invaders or one of the "worse" Alps tactiles like SKCM Black/Ivory?
If you've used any fairly recent ThinkPads, you may have used an NMB then. They are among 3 OEMs for ThinkPad keyboards these days. The other two are Alps Electric and Chicony.
Ah the wonderful Logitech G610 there in black, I have that board for my 2nd system, if only it came in MX Blues but alas only Brown and Red, which are honestly so similar as to be almost pointless. They shoulda done Red and Blue oh well. Pales in comparison to the sturdiness of the 5mm thick metal upper, and loud clicky tactile heaven of the MX blue-based Ducky Legend I use on my main system, but still the G610 is a good board, and nice dense plastic, good rubber feet doesnt move around much on the desk either, much nicer than the CM Masterkeys Pro L that it replaced, which was lighter weight plastic, moved around more, and had kinda spongy feeling stabilizers on the wider keys.
I have an NMB board with one switch that doesn't register but sometimes registers and you can type fine... Any way to fix this?? Or an idea what the issue with the switch might be? Thanks!
There might be crap or corrosion on the contact hands, or the solder points might have oxidised. You should be able to clean off the former (be careful when opening the switches!) and re-flow the solder in case of the latter.
Yeah I've had about 10 of these boards in the past from building PC's. Never had a bad switch but have pulled the switch apart trying to pop the caps for cleaning. It went back together pretty easy though.
would you even need to open the switches to clean them? i would've thought you could clean them like you clean a scratchy audio jack - contact cleaner spray, wait a few minutes, click the switch up and down a bunch.. repeat a few times.
Honestly, I don't understand why the feet are usually so _small_ on keyboards. It's just plastic and they break off easily. If I would design a keyboard, it probably wouldn't have two feet but a big one that's as wide as the keyboard itself =). No need for two tiny feet to carry the entire keyboard plus potential emotional outbursts of the user :D. btw, the keyboard on the far end will always sound more silent and duller, since they are further away from the microphone (happens in all the videos where you compare the keyboards like this)
I'm afraid you've given me a new obsession....I just bought one of these today.....and getting really interested in keyboards and computer history....I only just realised I lived through it all and was lucky enough to work with amazing hardware you can still find in skips! and icl is an interesting company with family ties for me.....anyway....great content.....thanks for it
I will forever be a fan of these videos. For years I had my grey badge Model M and never thought about anything else. Thanks for introducing so many people to the incredible diversity of vintage switch and keyboard designs! There's so much to explore.
Omg i instantly skipped 30 seconds and then this god's voices hit my ears... marry me please - nohomo
I had the exact same reaction.
The sound it makes is very peaceful. Makes me want to go to sleep.
Thomas or the keyboard
@@johnnynapalm970 the keyboard
IIIJFRIII I tend to watch the videos to relax so for me both
I think it's time to leave an appreication comment for how you're seemingly the only youtuber that does close up reviews with his hands often in the camera and your nails are neither god-stinkin filthy nor bitten off to the point of not existing. As another male who actually takes some care of his fingers I highly appreciate that
I love the sound of the tactile grey space invaders!
This is by far my favorite sounding keyboard ever.
Lubed and filmed Alpaca linears on a brass board
@@karkydoesgaming7022 hell no
Love that early 90s look with the fake vents at the top. So sexy.
Never tried the clicky ones, need to get on that.
You need to get on that :p .
My brother and I used to play a game where we would see how many SAT words we could fit into a conversation...This guy would win every time...."gargantuan"
Too see some Tape on the Sound Box because the led shine makes this channel even nicer thumbs up for the tape ^^
These switches look like lego bionicle masks
I have an early Amiga 500 with that exact same 'space invader' type mechanism (with a distinct red caps lock LED). I've never seen any other Amiga ever after with this kind of keyboard.
Yes, it also touched that the keys on the game keyboards with cherry red dreadfully dangle from side to side.
I would love to see your review of the Akko keycaps. They're advertised as doubleshot PBT ASA (SA style profile). Unfortunately, they're MX only... sigh...
Wow, this is the first time I've seen a keyboard on your channel that I actually want. I hate wobble. Thanks for the info.
It's hard to believe those MX Browns aren't considered clicky. Even the ICL was pretty loud. How do you really draw the distinction between clicky and tactile?
clicky switches click
thanks
Alex Mcauliffe np
Tactile switches make noise upon bottoming out; clicky switches make noise upon actuating.
+Crazy Canadian The Clicky Hi Tek Space Invaders actually actuate before the click because the clicker mechanism is completely unrelated to the contacts.
We had these at 6th form college on the ICL 386SX PCs in 1992, and I've never seen them since! The whole keyboard was excellent quality ("don't make 'em like that any more"), but rather resistive. It has to be said I much prefer the IBM buckling spring.
IBM's keyboards are hard to impossible to beat, but think of the cost. You could have more than SIX of these for the cost of just a Model M, and that's a membrane keyboard!
Absolutely. It might sound silly to say, but the "plastic" felt professional on these, and I actually really liked typing on them.
Would you do a review of one of Logitech's G keyboards with Romer-G switches? I find they have a fascinating design and I'd like your opinion of them.
Desmaad He did
wonderful sound.
Couldn't agree more. Love the space invaders, but clicky or linear hands down over tactile
7:28 - Who's wobbling their keycaps? My black alps feel in a nice middle ground between. :P
I want you to reveiw a keyboard with optical switches :3
I want myself to review one as well, I've got two but I can't review either :p .
Life is not fair D:
Out of curiosity, what's the reason why they can't be reviewed?
Chyros can't tell you his review, almost certainly due to his agreement with Tom's Hardware, but I can hazard a guess:
"The switches themselves actually aren't optical, so calling them 'optical keyswitches' is actually a misnomer. In fact, the switches themselves aren't electrical at all. They're just Cherry MX variants with holes in*. It's arguable that they're the most purely mechanical switches since typewriters, as all they do is move up and down (and provide clicks/tactility, if you can call Cherry-based switches "tactile" {let's remember; Chyros doesn't like Cherry MX variants much}). The keyboard itself has embedded optical sensors; the switches merely have a hole in the sides of the cylindrical well into which the slider sinks, which is filled when the switch is pressed, and empties again when it's released, thus triggering the sensors both on and off. This may prove useful in future* for repairs, since no desoldering is necessary."
*Obligatory Britishisms
I think I have a Bloody optical keyboard review on Tom's Hardware coming out in not too long, maybe they even already released it.
Do you prefer these tactile Space Invaders or dampened cream/white Alps?
Since you think they're both kind of "meh" tactile switches, do you prefer tactile Space Invaders or one of the "worse" Alps tactiles like SKCM Black/Ivory?
SKCM black and ivory, purely because you can linearise them into a better switch xD .
Is there a switch/keyboard that has such a nice and crisp as the keystrokes in your intro?
Emirkagan D Acer KB101A maybe? (blue ALPS version of course).
Yes, the sounds were recorded off my KB-101A.
That's gonna be my next keyboard purchase, the tactile clicks sound way too good to not annoy my friend on voip with. Thanks for the info!
Get your wallet ready.
It's the best-sounding mechanical switch out there, but also rare and quite expensive. Whatever you do, get one that's CLEAN!
I know that NMB made the AC Adaptor that came with the HP DeskJet 670C that I had at school, I don't know if I've ever used their keyboards though.
If you've used any fairly recent ThinkPads, you may have used an NMB then. They are among 3 OEMs for ThinkPad keyboards these days. The other two are Alps Electric and Chicony.
Wow 9 views and already two likes? Nice.
I used to work for Fujitsu/ICL!
Ah the wonderful Logitech G610 there in black, I have that board for my 2nd system,
if only it came in MX Blues but alas only Brown and Red, which are honestly so similar
as to be almost pointless. They shoulda done Red and Blue oh well. Pales in comparison
to the sturdiness of the 5mm thick metal upper, and loud clicky tactile heaven of the MX blue-based
Ducky Legend I use on my main system, but still the G610 is a good board, and nice
dense plastic, good rubber feet doesnt move around much on the desk either, much
nicer than the CM Masterkeys Pro L that it replaced, which was lighter weight plastic,
moved around more, and had kinda spongy feeling stabilizers on the wider keys.
It sounds quite mushy, not necessarily a bad thing, I just noticed it.
Question: Do you have keyboards from Sinclair computers?
I have an NMB board with one switch that doesn't register but sometimes registers and you can type fine... Any way to fix this?? Or an idea what the issue with the switch might be? Thanks!
There might be crap or corrosion on the contact hands, or the solder points might have oxidised. You should be able to clean off the former (be careful when opening the switches!) and re-flow the solder in case of the latter.
Yeah I've had about 10 of these boards in the past from building PC's. Never had a bad switch but have pulled the switch apart trying to pop the caps for cleaning. It went back together pretty easy though.
would you even need to open the switches to clean them? i would've thought you could clean them like you clean a scratchy audio jack - contact cleaner spray, wait a few minutes, click the switch up and down a bunch.. repeat a few times.
I used to use a ICL keyboard from 1993. It was some kind of membrane keyboard though.
ICL had a wide variety of keyboards with many different switches made. They're kind of a lottery.
Yeah, but the one I had was rubber dome, but I used it for several years. It was also Swedish, and I don't even like ISO that much in general.
Hey Chryrosan22, what is the difference between tactile and clicky?
I have a QKT video in which I describe and show precisely this in detail. Have a gander: ua-cam.com/video/bG0DwHniqu8/v-deo.html
By the way he was sat saying it, I couldn’t tell weather or not it is
Wubble, wobble, or wooble
Honestly, I don't understand why the feet are usually so _small_ on keyboards. It's just plastic and they break off easily. If I would design a keyboard, it probably wouldn't have two feet but a big one that's as wide as the keyboard itself =). No need for two tiny feet to carry the entire keyboard plus potential emotional outbursts of the user :D.
btw, the keyboard on the far end will always sound more silent and duller, since they are further away from the microphone (happens in all the videos where you compare the keyboards like this)
That keyboard is pretty
8!
+1 sub
You sound a lot like the narrator in an old Christian movie I used to watch as a kid.
I sound like a Christian? xD
kinda looks like the chinese character "囧"
The Chinese call them "fury bear" IIRC.
Another keyboard with a boringly long model number. LOL.
Could say the same thing about your name
Flynn Kelsey that's true
5th comment!