⨯ Every article tag can be clicked to get a list of all articles in that category. Every article tag also has an RSS feed! You can customize an RSS feed too!
  • Forum
  • Hardware
  • 8BitDo introducing NES and Famicom-style mechanical keyboards
8BitDo introducing NES and Famicom-style mechanical keyboards
Pengling Aug 1, 2023
I just saw this and figured that there are probably enough retro-gaming fans here on GOL for it to be worth posting about.

8BitDo has unveiled their Retro Mechanical Keyboard - an 87-key keyboard using Kailh Box White V2 switches (clicky, with an actuation-force of 45g), which is available in designs fashioned after the Nintendo Famicom, and its Western equivalent the Nintendo Entertainment System. It can be connected via USB, 2.4GHz wireless, or Bluetooth, and contains a 2000mAh lithium-ion battery with an estimated 200 hours of battery-life per charge, and a 4-hour recharging time.

To protect your privacy, external media requires approval to load. Source: i.imgur.com
View cookie preferences.
Accept & Show Accept All & Don't show this again   Direct Link


The Famicom-style version is somewhat reminiscent of the Family BASIC keyboard that was available for that console in the early 1980s, and, likewise, the NES-style version slightly resembles the never-released Nintendo Advanced Video System, which was a home-computer-styled NES prototype.

Aside from looking nice, they're both supplied with "Dual Super Buttons" - a separate device bearing two programmable keys that resemble oversized gamepad buttons. However, I'm unsure how or if these would be usable under Linux, as the official web-page only mentions compatibility with Microsoft Windows and Android, and it appears that the "PC" software for customising the functions of the keyboard is Windows-only.

Anyway, hopefully someone out there enjoys these!

Last edited by Pengling on 2 August 2023 at 12:29 am UTC
StoneColdSpider Aug 1, 2023
That would go well with their mouse.......

Last edited by StoneColdSpider on 1 August 2023 at 10:04 pm UTC
Grogan Aug 1, 2023
You can pry my big old IBM clickety clack keyboard from my stiff, dead hands. One of the first PS/2 keyboards from the 80's, I snagged it from an old pharmacy computer that was going to the dump. I've been using it for 30 years.

I'm not sure if it will be practical to get a motherboard with a PS/2 port so I might have to get a new one when I finally get around to upgrading. Last I checked you could still get boards with one PS/2 port (autodetecting keyboard or mouse for IRQ assignment) but that wasn't recently.

I hate cheap membrane keyboards. They make too many typing mistakes :-)
StoneColdSpider Aug 2, 2023
Quoting: GroganYou can pry my big old IBM clickety clack keyboard from my stiff, dead hands.
Im the same..... Though mines a much newer Unicomp Model M.......
wvstolzing Aug 2, 2023
My Unicomp died on me, so I was bereft of a decent mechanical keyboard for a few years. They aren't available where I live, so I had to get something else eventually, with 'brown' key switches. They're *entirely* unlike buckling spring switches; but I really like them so far.

Quoting: GroganI hate cheap membrane keyboards. They make too many typing mistakes :-)

Mushy membrane keyboards, 'chiclet keys', etc. etc., hurt my fingers after extensive use.

By the way, these 8bitdo keyboards appear to have mechanical switches as well.
Cybolic Aug 2, 2023
While I quite like the look of this, I'm still waiting on 8BitDo to let me update the firmware on my Pro 2 controller. Seeing as that used to be possible with their older controllers and they've since removed any possibility to do so outside of using Mac or Windows, they'll have to start doing better by their consumers before I consider purchasing any of their products again.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
Login / Register

Or login with...
Sign in with Steam Sign in with Google
Social logins require cookies to stay logged in.
Register Forgot Login?
★ Support Us
Popular this week
Search or view by category
Contact
Latest Comments
Latest Forum Posts
Misc