8BitDo's newest retro keyboard is a pattern of the Commodore 64

8BitDo's newest mechanical keyboard is predicated on the design of a Eighties laptop, one of the iconic-looking keyboards of all time: the Commodore 64. The Commodore 64 model of 8BitDo's retro mechanical keyboard sequence is accessible for pre-order beginning at the moment for $109.99, with plans for it to ship on Might 26.

All the way down to its fairly thick brown keycaps (ABS plastic with double-shot legends) and Commodore-style rainbow brand, it's mainly the identical peripheral as 8BitDo's earlier NES keyboards. It comes with clicky Cal Field White V2 switches as customary, however they're hot-swappable if you wish to change them with one thing rather less noisy. It may well connect with gadgets by way of USB, Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz USB dongle; And there's additionally a built-in quantity dial on the highest left of the keyboard.

Coming back from the NES keyboard are the programmable “Tremendous Buttons”, which nonetheless appear like the A and B buttons of a Nintendo Leisure System controller. This time, they’re linked to a smaller joystick known as the “Tremendous Stick”. If this keyboard has the identical construct because the earlier keyboard, count on each of those equipment to be wired and plugged into the highest of the keyboard by way of a 3.5mm jack. All the keyboard makes use of a tenkeyless kind issue that omits the numpad however in any other case maintains a comparatively conventional format, and there's no RGB lighting.

Apparently, whereas the unique Commodore 64 has that cumbersome look that I sometimes affiliate with clunky mechanical keyboards, it was truly geared up with Mitsumi hybrid switches, that are a cross between a rubber dome and mechanical switches. There’s a combination. Retro keyboard YouTuber Chyrosran22 reviewed the Commodore 64C (a model of the Commodore 64 with a lighter colour scheme) in order for you a more in-depth have a look at the insides of the unique.