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Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:17 am
by blindguy
Sign me up!! I would be more interested in a breadbin but will pick up at least 1 set at $40.00.
Any chance these would also fit the c128? If they would fit more than one box maybe there would be more support.
New Keycaps!! Next I want a new breadbin case!!
Great work Jim, keep the commodore wheel rolling!!

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 12:46 pm
by 3D-vice
Sign me up, too! I've been a backer of the original Phase-5 IGG campaign and I'm still patiently waiting ...

As for the keys, I like the breadbin-ones better than the C64C-ones, since their front sides are printed too and I think that just looks awesome. However, since there a only new C64C cases around till now, the C64C-keys would fit better probably.

Just a hint: The breadbin-style keys do look sweet on a C64C case, have a look:
C64C_Reloaded_Mk2_solo.jpg
Assuming thet you'll go with the C64C style-key, do you plan to go for the original light-beige color only, or you you intend to add a limited amount of color variants?

Anyway, this sound pretty interesting and I'm hooked!

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:14 am
by Zippy Zapp
This is good news. I think the 64C keys is definitely the way to go. I also agree with Eric that 1000 key sets is attainable. I know myself I would buy 3 keysets. Especially if you offered different colors and a translucent color like blue, purple or frosted clear or something. I would bet that many people would also buy more than one.

I don't think you have to worry about the PhaseJive campaign because he has missed every date he has given and I don't see that changing and do believe he is just stringing people along.

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 3:46 pm
by JimDrew
I wonder if some sort of hybrid between the original breadbin and C64C shape would be something people would be interested in. The keycaps are very close in shape, just minor differences in the contours (the C64C keycaps tops are more rounded). The printing is definitely different though! The C64C keycaps are not printed on the face at all. I wanted the keycaps so the graphics characters are printed on the face like the original breadbin.

I was more concerned about the shape, but I think the difference everyone sees is how the keycaps are printed. Maybe nobody but me noticed the shapes are any different?

As far as colors go, the minimum run I can make for a color change is 250 sets. So, with 1000 sets I could have 4 different colors. I personally only care about clear. I find it hard to believe that anyone would want the original breadbin brown color because there are literally millions of sets out there (and they don't really yellow). I suppose white (bright? eggshell? off-white?) and black would be popular. The dilemma here really is the unknown number of sets that will be needed, which will dictate the number of possible colors.

So: clear (crystal clear or frosted?), white, black, and ??? Any other colors that would "popular"?? (don't insert your favorite color here! - I am not running "organic teal" just because you like it). :)

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 5:11 pm
by JimDrew
Here is the difference between the breadbin (top) and C64C keyboards in the C64C case:
c64-1.jpg
Here are the close-up views:
C64-2.jpg
C64-3.jpg
C64-4.jpg
C64-5.jpg

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 7:00 pm
by Zippy Zapp
That is interesting. I have an early C64c that has the symbols printed on the front just like the original 64. It has a 1986 board revision with 6581 SID, 2 RAM chips and a regular PLA and none of the new 85xx chips. To me it seems more like a transitional 64c until they finished the new board design and the new chips. Commodore probably had a ton of mainboards in stock that were not the new cost reduced versions and so used them.

I didn't realize the shape of the keys are different between the 64 and 64c.

As to colors I agree that brown probably wouldn't be a favorite. But the brown keys do yellow as well. I have a couple keyboards that the letters did indeed yellow. This is because the keys, as you probably know, are dual shot keys and the letters are not printed on but actually white plastic. Trying to retrobright them often ruins the brown color.

As for colors, for sure a clear color. I am not sure how usable a crystal clear would be though because based on other clear keyboards I have seen it makes the letters really hard to see since it is so clear. Frosted for sure helps visibility as do other colors that are translucent like Red, Blue and Green.

But yeah, Translucent, Black, White or perhaps light Gray are colors that can match almost any case I would think.

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:00 am
by 3D-vice
JimDrew wrote:So: clear (crystal clear or frosted?), white, black, and ??? Any other colors that would "popular"?? (don't insert your favorite color here! - I am not running "organic teal" just because you like it). :)
I think some sort of gray would be interesting, maybe the gray that has been used on the C16 back then:
C16_Datasette.jpg
I think that the gray color could match nicely to black or SX-color-style cases.


Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 10:59 pm
by hansliss
Sign me up too, for one or two sets. If you do open a campaign, I'll try to post it on as many other fora as I can think of. This thread has taken me a lot of googling to find, and I'm sure there are lots of people who would be interested that would never even see it.

Also, have you explored the possibility of producing Cherry MX compatible keysets with the same profile? I've seen several people working on Cherry keyboard replacements for C64 and VIC-20, and the main obstacle in every single case is the keycaps. I've made a design for a replacement keyboard for VIC-20 and I'm currently using 3D-printed adapters. This works, but proper MX-compatible keycaps would be far better.

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 10:49 am
by JimDrew
I made 3D models of the various keycap shapes. The plunger is a separate tree in the model, so that can be easily replaced with any type of receptacle instead of the C64 key plunger. I will need to look at a Cherry MX switch plunger, but I think it might be possible to only need to have a new bottom mold made to handle a different receptacle. The same top side mold (the basic key shape) and gating would remain the same with just the bottom different. If that is possible, then I could make original keycaps for the Cherry MX switches.

Re: Commodore 64 C64 Keycap Market Research Poll

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 10:56 am
by intric8
If that is possible, then I could make original keycaps for the Cherry MX switches.

Jim,

If I'm understanding you correctly, I believe I could mail you a 3d-printed adapter for you to analyze and merge into a keycap 3D model, if you're interested. When MtnBuffalo created his Mechboard64 keyboard replacements, in the box camesmall custom 3D printed adapters and iirc I have some spares left over.

I could drop one in an envelope and shoot it your way if you'd like to check it out.