8BitDo's NES-inspired retro keyboard drops to an all-time low of $79 for Prime Day
More than nostalgia
There's always room for some funky-looking gadgets on any geek's desk, and if you're into gaming — especially retro gaming — then this deal may pique your interest. This keyboard from 8Bitdo brightens up any setup with its nostalgic retro look and additional giant button accessory. But it's not just for looks, this keeb comes complete with an array of keyboard features.
At Amazon, you can pick up the 8Bitdo retro mechanical keyboard on sale for $79, which is the cheapest price that it's been available direct from Amazon according to the Camelizer price checker. Sporting the same color scheme as that of a retro Nintendo games console from the 80s, it includes two oversized buttons reminiscent of the ones on the NES controller.
The layout of the keyboard is similar to a TKL with the number pad removed. There are 87 keys, with perfectly matched Nintendo-colored dye-sub PBT keycaps giving that awesome aesthetic. The switches used are Kailh box white V2s, although the PCB is hot-swappable. You can always swap to a preferred switch if the included Kailh box white switches aren't to your liking.
8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard: now $79 at Amazon (was $99)
Keyboard size: 87-key TKL
Switches: Kailh Box Switch V2 White
Hot-swappable: Yes
Keycaps: Dye-sub PBT
Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless 2.4 GHz, or wired
This fun retro-inspired keyboard from 8Bitdo looks like a favored NES console from the good old days. It comes with a set of dual giant buttons which is similar to a Nintendo controller styling. This keeb has multi-function connectivity and a unique look that's perfect for a gaming enthusiast.
The dual super buttons are programmable and can be mapped to any key or shortcut you desire. The same goes for the keyboard, where you can use Ultimate Software V2 for all your custom keyboard mapping and macros. You can choose to connect the keyboard via a wired cable, Bluetooth, or 2.4GHz wireless, and a handy switch on the keyboard for selecting modes.
This really is an attractive keyboard. And when you can grab a few extra dollars off the overall price — makes for a very tempting deal.
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Stewart Bendle is a deals and coupon writer at Tom's Hardware. A firm believer in “Bang for the buck” Stewart likes to research the best prices and coupon codes for hardware and build PCs that have a great price for performance ratio.
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OneMoreUser Reply
That I don't get. The C64 was ugly back then and it is still ugly today. Sorry.King_V said:I'll probably eventually wind up getting the C-64 themed version.
It was a fun machine at the time, the games and the crazy programming you could do, like for example using the 6502 in the disc drive to work as a sort of co-processor. But it wasn't pleasing to the eye and there wasn't a feel of quality hardware either. -
bit_user Reply
I think nostalgia can have an outsized influence on aesthetics. When I looked at the C64 version, I thought: "no... I never had a C64 so this does nothing for me".OneMoreUser said:That I don't get. The C64 was ugly back then and it is still ugly today. Sorry.
Considering its aesthetics, in abstract, I agree that it's objectively disadvantaged relative to the others. However, even though I kinda think Famicom version might even look a little better, I would only seriously consider getting the NES edition. -
35below0 Reply
Nostalgia is not about looks, but about nostalgia. GameBoy was hardly a sex machine.OneMoreUser said:That I don't get. The C64 was ugly back then and it is still ugly today. Sorry.
It was a fun machine at the time, the games and the crazy programming you could do, like for example using the 6502 in the disc drive to work as a sort of co-processor. But it wasn't pleasing to the eye and there wasn't a feel of quality hardware either.
As for me, i might end up buying the ZX Spectrum Next. And don't tell me i'm not an idiot.
If they were smart, they'd sell the keyboard. -
King_V ReplyOneMoreUser said:That I don't get. The C64 was ugly back then and it is still ugly today. Sorry.
Exactly this. It's about the memories it evokes.35below0 said:Nostalgia is not about looks, but about nostalgia.
Hey, the C64 was my machine from the early/mid-80s onward, then I wound up with a Commodore 128 later on, which I used until about 1996 or so on a regular basis, at which point, I got my first PC, a Dell XPS 133 with, you guessed it, a 133MHz Pentium.