Canon typewriter keyboard review (SMK 2nd Gen tactile inverse-cross)

[Chyros]

SMK tactile switches, the lesser-known cousins to Montereys! Hope you enjoy the review .

[Findecanor]

Looks real nice despite the inconsistent switches. So now I will have to look out for Canon typewriters then...

[jacobolus]

The delete key was just to delete the previous letter. Delete word is some kind of secondary function (I think the star key might have been used to do the functions printed on the fronts of the keys? I’m not precisely sure though.) Back space just goes back by one space, without deleting the character. Remember on a typewriter you might want to change position on the page without changing the physical letter printed there.

The layout was standard for Canon typewriters all through the 1980s. I think the SMK ones are from like the 1988–1990 range. Before that they used Alps keyboards with (approximately) the same layout and similar keycaps.

[Chyros]

Looks real nice despite the inconsistent switches. So now I will have to look out for Canon typewriters then...

Tbh inconsistent as they might be, the typing feel is legit. They're good switches.

[snuci]

I'll have to dig out the Canon Cat and check for inconsistency on my keyboard. I guess it's close to a typewriter

[Chyros]

I'll have to dig out the Canon Cat and check for inconsistency on my keyboard. I guess it's close to a typewriter

You're right, I hadn't noticed, but they're actually really similar! Same switches, too, I see. Well, this thing is really no match for the Cat, that thing's a beaut .

[XMIT]

If more people realized how awesome SMK tactile switches are there would probably be a huge rush for them. I picked up a full ANSI board with them for $30 shipped. I'm looking forward to HaaTa putting one of these under his force gauge to see what he finds.