AZIO Retro Typewriter Keyboard. Anyone have this?

[whm1974]

I found this Keyboard over at Newegg and Amazon, and I'm thinking of getting one:
http://www.aziocorp.com/webe/html/products/index2.aspx?num=139
Does anyone have this keyboard? How good is it?

This is my current Keyboard, which I have had for four years:
http://www.acecaddigital.com/index.php/products/keyboards/full-size-keyboards/kb-6600
I only paid $50 for it, and while it works well enough, I kind of want something different. maybe something with Cherry Blue switches and O-rings(maybe).

 

[DigDog]

well ...

as i pointed out HERE you can get a "blue" +O for about $40. That azio kb you have up there is a mx blue clone, if i understand correctly, with some unusual keycaps. aaaand it's like $200.
by all means if that's what you want, get it, but for that budget, i'd get myself a full size 45g-weighted topre realforce.

 

[whm1974]

You can get it at Newegg for $100.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823839038

 

[whm1974]

No one else looking at this board?

 

[FeuerFrei]

I was immediately attracted to it, looks so tempting, but it has no media keys and is clicky. Besides, by the time that board surfaced, I'd just purchased an AZIO MGK1 keyboard, so the need isn't there.

 

[whm1974]

I was immediately attracted to it, looks so tempting, but it has no media keys and is clicky. Besides, by the time that board surfaced, I'd just purchased an AZIO MGK1 keyboard, so the need isn't there.

I don't use media keys anyway, and since I grew up using mechanical boards in the 1980's and have have hearing loss the clicky wouldn't bother me.

BTW how is the AZIO MGK1 keyboard?

 

[whm1974]

OK I think I'm going to go ahead and buy this board. Anyone want a review when get it?

 

[VirtualLarry]

OK I think I'm going to go ahead and buy this board. Anyone want a review when get it?

Sure!

 

[whm1974]

Sure!

It will be awhile since I have to save some money up and use it for a week or two.

 

[FeuerFrei]

OK I think I'm going to go ahead and buy this board. Anyone want a review when get it?

Please, sir. It's not going to review itself.

 

[mxnerd]

Youtube is the first place to search reviews. There are several.

 

[whm1974]

Youtube is the first place to search reviews. There are several.

Yeah I have watched them. Well I'm already put $50 aside for this, and will buy it in two weeks.

 

[lxskllr]

I didn't know such things existed. Definitely would like a review.

I got an old Underwood typewriter with the intention of making a steampunk keyboard, but can't bring myself to cut the keys off the fine piece of industrial art. It was in better shape than I thought, and could be a typewriter again with minimal work.

Searching Amazon for "retro keyboards" this came up also...

https://www.amazon.com/Keyboard-Alu...qid=1486933262&sr=8-4&keywords=retro+keyboard

Looks interesting, but costs more. I'll have to check my local microcenter, and see if they have something I can touch in-store.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I think one of the best-looking retro styled keyboards is the Qwerkywriter. It looks more like a retro trypewriter than the competition, but is Bluetooth and has an integrated tablet stand, so it will work with tablets as well. It's on sale now for $279, so it's not cheap. The layout is a bit different, and I don't see a numpad, so it may take some getting used to.

 

[whm1974]

There is also www.datamancer.com keyboards and keycaps as well. But Those keyboards cost more then I'm willing to pay.

 

[gorobei]

these are all basically mass market version of the datamancer

https://datamancer.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Datamancer-A...qid=1486937314&sr=8-6&keywords=retro+keyboard

i remember when his mods first came out a decade ago. he takes glass/chrome keycap covers off of vintage typewriters and makes a custom casing. the glass key caps really do make a difference in the look by adding additional depth. i imagine the azio et all may have a nicer concavity feel than the vintage but something about the ability to put custom letters for each key just seems more swag.

 

[gorobei]

also, they sell key cap sets to replace the ones on your own board. fair bit cheaper if you want a taste.

 

[whm1974]

also, they sell key cap sets to replace the ones on your own board. fair bit cheaper if you want a taste.

I did think about doing that. Getting a decent encloserless mech board and replacing the keycaps.

 

[lxskllr]

I think one of the best-looking retro styled keyboards is the Qwerkywriter. It looks more like a retro trypewriter than the competition, but is Bluetooth and has an integrated tablet stand, so it will work with tablets as well. It's on sale now for $279, so it's not cheap. The layout is a bit different, and I don't see a numpad, so it may take some getting used to.

I saw that on amazon, but no numpad is a deal breaker. I do numbers as much, if not more than letters. It's a cool looking unit though.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I saw that on amazon, but no numpad is a deal breaker. I do numbers as much, if not more than letters. It's a cool looking unit though.

I agree, and that's why I mentioned it. You could always get a standalone numpad, but it wouldn't match the aesthetics and would be more of a hassle. This would be a keyboard for typewriter enthusiasts like Tom Hanks. It would work with his iPad as well, so he wouldn't need the Hanx Writer app. Imagine the hipster cred you would earn whipping this out at your local coffee shop...

 

[whm1974]

I just hope I don't end up becoming this guy:
http://www.pcgamer.com/confessions-of-a-custom-mechanical-keyboard-obsessive/

 

[FeuerFrei]

I think one of the best-looking retro styled keyboards is the Qwerkywriter. It looks more like a retro trypewriter than the competition, but is Bluetooth and has an integrated tablet stand, so it will work with tablets as well. It's on sale now for $279, so it's not cheap. The layout is a bit different, and I don't see a numpad, so it may take some getting used to.

What does the roller and return paddle do on that thing?

 

[lxskllr]

What does the roller and return paddle do on that thing?

Dunno about the roller, but the return paddle's default function is [Enter]. It can be programmed to the key of your choice, or a used as a 5 key macro.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

What does the roller and return paddle do on that thing?

The roller does nothing, though it would be nice if it was a volume control at least. As lxskllr mentioned, the return bar is macro programmable.

Bonus: Qwerkywriter plus Hanx Writer App

 

[whm1974]

I did take a look at the Qwerkywriter keyboard, but it cost more then I'm willing to pay, it's bluetooth, and I'm not sure how well it will work with Linux.