PFU, the company that makes the HHKB, is a Fujitsu subsidiary (IIRC it stands for Panasonic Fujitsu and some other company I can't remember), and the earliest PFU keyboards were made specifically for use with Fujitsu Sun SPARC servers! That's why the HHKB has the diamond on the command/meta key, it's a throwback to the old Sun meta symbol.

@JustSujC

7 жыл бұрын

Interesting.

Damn, you've opened up a whole new niche for me, thanks? I just discovered your vids but I should be studying for my final...

@0M9H4X_Neckbeard

7 жыл бұрын

it's been three months.... which keyboard did you end up buying?

@NotCreative21

5 жыл бұрын

it's been two years.... which keyboard did you end up buying?

@remiremillard8419

5 жыл бұрын

it's been three years.... which keyboard did you end up buying?

@LoverKittey

4 жыл бұрын

It’s been 4 years, which keyboard did you end up buying?

@cheater00

3 жыл бұрын

it's been 4 years and a pandemic.... which keyboard did you end up buying?

I had the same keyboard a long time ago! I owned a Sanyo 550 around 1985 and it came with it. I instantly recognized the keyboard from watching the KZread thumbnail. It has a DIN plug that is exactly the same as the original PC/XT, but I can confirm it is incompatible with it. I know because I tried. Why do I even remember this!? It was around 35 years ago! I wanted to keep the keyboard so I could use it on my next computer, a PC/XT clone, which had a keyboard that didn't feel as good. Unfortunately, even if your keyboard is still in working condition, it's definitely not compatible with the PC world out of the box. But I'm pretty sure someone has already built a converter for it. It's fascinating to see the internal mechanism. I had disassembled the computer, added RAM and an additional floppy drive (which technically turned it into a Sanyo 555), but I never had the opportunity to disassemble the keyboard. I'm into mechanical keyboards now (typing this on a heavily modded FC660C with custom Cherry MX keycaps), but I wasn't at the time. Mechanical keyboards were the norm, there was no need to be into mechs, they were everywhere. Now it's a different story. To get a decent keyboard, you have to pay extra, and actually do a lot of research. It took me years and thousands of dollars to finally come back to Fujitsu. Yes, my FC660C has Topre keys, which are made by Fujitsu... Funny. I'm not just a Topre fan. As implausible as it sounds I also like Cherry MX, reds and browns! I enjoy your videos. Keep them coming!

omfg the keyset is beautiful!

That enter key is a brute

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Definitely a fatass enter key xD .

@thevectrexlover

6 жыл бұрын

absolute unit

*keyboard demonstration* "Those noises!" *Grips chest*

@Chyrosran22

6 жыл бұрын

Heh, yeah, FLS do sound pretty great ^^ .

This is quite an impressive keyboard, especially in terms of build quality. Those vintage keycaps sort of remind me of old-school electric typewriter keys I have seen in years past. They just seem to have an unmistakable 70's/80's kind of feel to them. Another nice review.

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks :) .

One of the best looking keyboards I have ever seen!

i love the keycaps

Insta subbed for your eminent channel. I love keyboars and their different switches which makes this channel almost a must for every keyboardenthusiast :) Keep up the good work! Regards from Sweden.

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much :) .

Gorgeous keyboard. Love those keycaps. It reminds me of my first and only electric typewriter.

I had a French AZERTY version of this keyboard back in the days, when the machines were dumped. It was my first MS DOS compatible. The MBC-550 was a MSDOS compatible computer, but it was not IBM compatible. If I remember correctly the keyboard uses a different communication protocol. Also on the machine the keyboard buffer was different, causing many DOS programs not to work.

What a sweet design

I have one of these. Its a beauty even as beat up as it is, I love the caps I'd like to find the missing ones and use it.

Such retro/vintage computer goodness.

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Wait until you see next week's ;) .

@IIIJFRIII

8 жыл бұрын

Can't wait bro lol!

Sounds chunky, I love it

god these old keyboards are so beautiful...

that was clearly designed by folks who wanted it to sound lovely. there is zero plasticky rattle!

Hello :) Fujitsu N860 "Sanyo" use port is ? my computer have only usb port Plase Help me :(

The first IBM clone had this keyboard, I forgot it's name, but I saw it on ebay with the full computer. The early clones were "compatible", I kinda wish I had the money to buy the system, the whole thing had that Gamecube "Platinum" paint.

7:01 the num pad arrows are in a t nav config!

The Sanyo MBC 555 was my first PC. I loved that keyboard. I thought all keyboards were that good.

5:01 Love those strange details that ONLY your perceptive keen eyes and ears spot for us

@Chyrosran22

7 жыл бұрын

When I review keyboards, I go all the way ;) .

Does anyone make these Fujitsu style switches new? These keyboards look a lot more modern than a 70s IBM or Honeywell, and close enough in performsnce to be excelent daily use keyboards.

Would love to get measurements for those caps, row by row. Then recreate them in 3D printing

@rich1051414

7 жыл бұрын

Too aggressive and tall spherical keys are worse than flat imo, however a shallow spherical feels amazing. Only downside is getting used to it after typical keys. In my opinion, the standard to go for is 'DSA'. Search for that when looking for keycaps, and you will get the spherical offerings, but I must give fair warning that your wallet is going to hurt. I have a 3d printer and have successfully 3d printed keycaps, but they feel cheap and require too much cleanup to get a good fit and finish. In most cases I would rather pay the money. However, $60-90 for an incomplete set of sphericals is insanity.

I cant believe how long they kept using those switches i wonder if it was just from a huge over stock of them or were they just cheaper than using something like a cherry MX switch or Alps?

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

They were probably roughly the same cost as Cherry MX or Alps CM. Fujitsu pushed their Peerless switch in the 90s, which was a lot cheaper. I guess they kept the leaf spring switches for specialist applications.

those caps tho!

I wonder if it's worth anything?

I don't suppose you are willing to sell this keyboard? I came across a Sanyo MBC-555 but I can't find a suitable keyboard anywhere!

@RetroMarkyRM

5 жыл бұрын

I have one that I might sell although it won't be cheap as they're pretty rare!

Those caps are so gorgeous, gggghhhh

HHKB winkeyless is my end game layout, too bad there are 0 mx compatible cases on the market or in GBs

@DerComputerist

4 жыл бұрын

8cow why would you need an aftermarket case for the HHKB? Big part of its charm is due to the all-plastic construction. Gives it a more pronounced “thock”.

Does any of the larger companies make mechanical boards nowadays?

@Chyrosran22

7 жыл бұрын

Not really, no :/ .

@Eddies_Bra-att-ha-grejer

7 жыл бұрын

How did it work back in the 00s when no mechanical keyboards besides Point of sale keyboards seem to have been made?

@Chyrosran22

7 жыл бұрын

Well basically exactly what you said, only PoS keyboards were being made :p . It's basically what kept Cherry afloat.

Is there some sort of adapter to PS/2 for the terminal version of this keyboard?

@Chyrosran22

7 жыл бұрын

No, unfortunately it doesn't appear to be very adaptable to modern computers.

@connormason7907

7 жыл бұрын

It's a shame how some of these brilliant (and sometimes forgotten) keyboards are unusable today.

@Chyrosran22

7 жыл бұрын

Yes. Apparently this one goes as far as having completely different electronics Oo .

0:45 Fear the Rubber Dome Menace!

Another keyboard that uses 3rd generation Fujitsu leaf springs is that of the original Tandy 1000. You may have some more luck getting one of those to work. ;-) Edit: Oh! Just seen a review of the Tandy 3000 keyboard with 3rd gen. leaf springs you did a while back.

Round caps look so good. What is your primary keyboard?

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

I change it every week to test whatever keyboard I review next :) . At my office I use my Zenith ZKB-2.

@FluffyDragonKitten

8 жыл бұрын

Chyrosran22 Thanks

@PoopPheast420

8 жыл бұрын

oooooh

6:01 loss?

I want to move to your part of the UK, the skips appear to be full of keyboards!

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

To be fair, this is my only skip find xD .

Very interesting board. Is it at all similar to the Fujitsu N860-5632D025F2051-B0002-A3490153? In all seriousness, I don't think that Gaterons are lubed. The stem housing is extremely smooth. Maybe try soaking the stem and MX casing in 91% isopropyl alcohol to make sure that they're not lubed?

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

I don't know what they did, but it feels oily.

@altarofmelektaus0032

8 жыл бұрын

Gateron still cannot compare to vintage linears in terms of sound though, that's a major downside of MX-style switches. They just sound so hollow and plasticky, not deep and full.

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

There's not that many advantages to MX-style switches when you look at it, really xD .

@altarofmelektaus0032

8 жыл бұрын

Only thing that I can think of is keycap compatibility, availability and the lack of binding.

@dalriada842

8 жыл бұрын

I'd like to see an acoustic spectrogram of the complicated blue Alps switches in his Acer keyboard. I've seen plenty of force curves, but none relating to the sound. If switches with satisfying sounds are to be produced in the future, the sound of good old-time switches needs to be documented.

Where do you find most of your keyboards you're reviewing?

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

I found this one in a skip, many others at recycling centres :) .

@abdomination

8 жыл бұрын

Chyrosran22 you're in the UK?

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Yes.

@abdomination

8 жыл бұрын

Chyrosran22 the quality of our second hand shops in US isn't so grand when it comes to electronics unfortunately. Model M is the nicest bit we can usually find.

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Nonsense, your "thrift stores" have tons of gems! I've seen lots of US guys with amazing keyboards they bought for a pickled egg in some of them. Mind you I don't find boards like this regularly ;) .

I just want those caps

I think I made a converter a long while back.

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Noice! Where do I sign up? 8)

@haata

8 жыл бұрын

Well, I haven't tested it in forever...but. You'll need a Teensy 3/3.1/3.2 Some breadboard + hookups A female connector flic.kr/p/HX41Kq github.com/kiibohd/controller/blob/master/Scan/MBC-55X/scan_loop.c Might even work with a Teensy 2.0++, but that's really really not tested. Sadly, the keyboard doesn't produce release codes...only ASCII characters and a few other things. So it doesn't really make a useful USB keyboard.

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Assness! How could this have been an IBM compatible?! xD

omg please lube at least the num pad switches so we can get a sound test on those?

an idea for a video: show how you score internet and shop deals. teach us wise one!

@Chyrosran22

8 жыл бұрын

Uh, just frequent eBay? xD

@aranegames9622

8 жыл бұрын

yeah, but i don't know what you're doing but you are sure doing it right, even a dell at101 at its lowest on ebay for the past week is about 20 quid not including postage... i'l try the local flee market but i doubt they will have anything

@thedrofevil

8 жыл бұрын

The problem with a video like that is it would go out of date so quickly that it would hardly be worth it. The best advice I could give is go with your gut, try to stick to auctions (unless you know it's a great Buy it Now) and set the price you want to spend, so you don't end up over paying in a zealous bid war :P

@aranegames9622

8 жыл бұрын

thedrofevil thanks, how does 30 pounds sound (20 pound postage) for a dell at101w?

I would kill to have someone buy the patents for these Keycaps and put them back on the market.

Almost certainly electrically incompatible. I have a Sanyo MBC-555 and it does not play nice with standard AT keyboards at all, refusing to boot at all with one plugged in. Unfortunately these keyboards are quite hard to come by so I've never been able to use the thing :/

Want.

It really is a pain in the ass to find this specific keyboard 😩

Soldering from the 80's are way better because it has lead which is illegal to use now. Lead-free solder is inferior.

keycaps sexy af

rip my dynex will probably last 20 years :P

"God knows what THESE feel like when lubed."

Lol you don’t use your thumbs

"potential buggeration"

Made by the Japanese so you know its quality.

Lol Fujilly really?

These keyboards will ONLY work with the SANYO MBC-550/555 machines as they use completely different electronics so don't be deceived by it's similarity to the IBM PC 5pin din keyboard. This is typical of japanese hardware of the period. Not compatible with anything, and don't care. in reply to:- geekhack.org/index.php?topic=86335.0