259K views · Dec 23, 2017 · 15:15 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2019–2023
A review of the Symbolics Space Cadet keyboard, with its Honeywell Hall effect switches, including how it sounds and feels, and a typing demonstration. It is part of a series of vintage keyboard reviews.
Why Hacker News points people here: Linked in Lisp machine threads as the go-to video on the Space Cadet keyboard and how its switches differ from the Knight keyboard.
“Chyrosran22 on Youtube explains all this”HN comment, 2020
“Thomas Ran has YouTube videos on the Space Cadet keyboard”
Space Cadet keyboard video.
This is more Deskthority link country I'd think. Thomas Ran has YouTube videos on the Space Cadet keyboard this video and several other Hall-effect specimens.
“Chyrosran22 on Youtube explains all this”
Explains Space Cadet and Knight keyboard switch differences.
As gumby says, the Space Cadet keyboards, being Microswitch Hall effect-based, were a bit spongy due to the big plastic case, but the switches themselves were dreamy. But the whole experience was still not as satisfying as the original Knight keyboards, I suspect because the Knight boards used the original, larger switches, while the Space Cadets used the smaller. Chyrosran22 on Youtube explains all this ( link and this video ). By the way, after 40 years of despairing over the loss of Hall effect switches (I nursed a Space Cadet Livermore Labs clone from a group buy for some years into the mid-80's), there are now two keyboards using this technology, and I'm loving the one that's actually available. Steelseries Apex Pro is what's now shipping, and it's a dream. ( link ) The Input Club Keystone is still coming, slowly ( link ), but I'm also really looking forward to trying it.
“And same reviewer on an original Space Cadet”
Review of an original Space Cadet keyboard.
Review of the keyboard: link And same reviewer on an original Space Cadet: this video NSFW language here and there.
