Modding the 1st (metal) 60% Keyboard

We’re back! And today with a small mechanical keyboard history lesson: to relive the beginnings of the 60% keyboard layout and it’s iterations from the Apple M0110 in 80’s, through the HHKB Professional in the late 90's and early 2000’s, all the way to the popular KBC Poker and KBT Pure from Vortex in the 2010’s.

While at it, I also modded my first modern production mechanical keyboard: the metal encased KBTalking Pure Limited Edition (which I bought in early 2013) to update it for today’s use in my mobile setup (with Zeal PC switches and TX stabs).

https://youtu.be/jtTXFQVu60M

In this video we rediscover the first modern, popular and widely available 60% keyboard (and then mod the living daylights out of it!): The Vortex KBTalking Pure Limited Edition from 2012.

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🔌 VIDEO SPONSOR - PCBWay.COM

If you are a hobbyist or a veteran consumer electronics product designer, check out how PCBWay can help you bring your creations to life: https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=486900 

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MAIN FEATURED PRODUCTS (affiliate links are marked with “*”):

*BenQ LaptopBar Laptop Monitor Light👉 https://amzn.to/3tRGPjX

*HHKB Professional👉 https://amzn.to/3O28LbC

Vortex Poker👉 https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3527

*KEMOVE Snowfox DK61 👉 https://amzn.to/4be8FrF

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FULL LIST OF PRODUCTS LINKS:

(some links are part of affiliate programs)

▶ checkout my Divinikey affiliate link here👉 https://divinikey.com/?ref=f9gUCCXYe4hKuq

- Adjustable Desk Extender Arm Wrist Rest: https://amzn.to/420rytB

- Single Laptop Desk Mount Stand: https://amzn.to/3SidPvb

- TX stabs: https://bit.ly/txstabs

- KBDfans PE Foam switch pads: (KBDFans) » https://kbdfans.com/r?id=l6oo5c | (Divinikey) » https://bit.ly/kbdfanspe

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- Krytox XHT-BDZ: https://bit.ly/3SV9Q64

- 2 mm Poron Foam Sheet (30cm X 30cm): https://bit.ly/zoroporonsheet

- 4 mm x 1mm O-rings: https://amzn.to/3b2GNbA

- Aluminium Switch Opener - Kailh/MX Type: https://amzn.to/2Uq4ohu

- Hakko FR301 Desoldering Tool: https://amzn.to/3tHI7hy

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MY KEYBOARD TYPING SOUND RECORDING SETUP:

https://www.iosamfranco.com/post/my-views-on-keyboards-typing-sound-demos

REFERENCED ARTICLES:

Deskthority - KBC Poker👉 https://deskthority.net/wiki/KBC_Poker

Deskthority - KBT Pure👉 https://deskthority.net/wiki/KBT_Pure

Deskthority - KBC Poker review by "sixty"👉 https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=125

Deskthority - KBT Pure review by "sixty"👉 https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=1126

Ripster's Keyboards: KBTalking Pure Aluminum👉 https://imgur.com/a/nQTKA

Ars Technica - Cherry MX2A review👉 https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/hands-on-with-cherry-mx2a-switches-a-lot-less-wobble-a-little-more-confusion