Great/Interesting Finds

Sankart · 15 Feb 2016, 23:31

I don't even know what kind of switch it has.
I'm pretty sure you'll be able to read something about the keyboard pretty soon, since the interested member is fairly active on this board.

Khronokrator · 16 Feb 2016, 02:16

Chyros wrote: ↑
ohaimark wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/North-gate-Comp ... 1728123578

Fairly cheap Omnikey, White Alps. What interests me is the arrow cluster -- is that an LED window I see in the up arrow? I wonder what linear they stuck in there if it is...
Not sure if those will be genuine complicated ones tbh. I know later Omnikeys used simplified switches and clones, especially the Avant version.

Someone mentioned to me a long time ago what the LED in the up arrow key was for but I forgot. It's weird though innit? XD

Pretty sure those would be simplified Alps, yes.

As I mentioned on GH, I have both a 101P and an Ultra TP and I'm pretty certain the switches I pulled out of the 101P and replaced with Matias Clicky were simplified Alps. Build quality of the boards are overall the same (except without DIP switches or the removable cable), but apparently Northgate started cheapening out on switches with every Windows model keyboard, which probably represents the last keyboards they made before they went out of business.

I believe the LED light indicates programming mode. Supposedly you could hold down the up arrow (or some combination of buttons) and then program your own combination of macros into the keyboard, which it'd save in its onboard memory or something. Like the Ortek battleship from last month (which, BTW, I also think had simplified/clone Alps), but probably less sophisticated/reliable. The LED light was supposed to indicate that programming mode was on or somesuch.

According to Robert Tibbets, the programming chip in the P models tends to "go bad" and he just outright removes them from any P model keyboard he sells.

Tuntematon · 16 Feb 2016, 03:54

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-KB-101AS-B ... SwPc9Wwok1

itzmeluigi, hoping to get lucky

ohaimark · 16 Feb 2016, 04:06

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no.

Khronokrator · 16 Feb 2016, 04:09

... Even a KB101A isn't worth that much. Sorry.

itzmeluigi · 16 Feb 2016, 04:10

Haha, hopefully as lucky as that seller who sold an AEK for $500

ohaimark · 16 Feb 2016, 04:13

Looks like I should list my DC-3014 for $700 because of the NKRO.

itzmeluigi · 16 Feb 2016, 04:35

Its worth a try, an AEK sold for $500 so anything is possible

Tuntematon · 16 Feb 2016, 04:45

It's hard to know what to expect. There was that NIB Keytrak a little while ago. It went for $256. The seller had another, which he listed for around $300 BIN and it took a while to sell. I'd personally much rather have new blue Alps than any other used blue Alps board, regardless of the model.

Khronokrator · 16 Feb 2016, 04:53

Tuntematon wrote: ↑It's hard to know what to expect. There was that NIB Keytrak a little while ago. It went for $256. The seller had another, which he listed for around $300 BIN and it took a while to sell. I'd personally much rather have new blue Alps than any other used blue Alps board, regardless of the model.

I completely agree, but given the current state of the market, and that so few Blue Alps keyboards were made in the first place (relatively speaking, when compared to the long run of the Model M or Complicated White Alps and their simplified/clone knockoffs), the odds of a NOS Blue Alps board turning up are pretty slim and any that do turn up will easily go for about what itzmeluigi is asking for on an open auction.

Blaise170 · 16 Feb 2016, 05:22

You know, it’s kind of funny, I know a really good source of Blue Alps keyboards and they are relatively cheap (by themselves about $50) but unfortunately I have to pay shipping costs from the other side of the globe which makes them much more expensive.

Hak Foo · 16 Feb 2016, 06:12

To me, even more important than blue Alps is ALPS with a normal- straight ANSI layout. Too many of them have big enters and, worse, tiny backspaces.

Chyros · 16 Feb 2016, 09:20

It looks like it's in excellent condition though =o . Come on guys, you know you want to

.

ramnes · 16 Feb 2016, 11:27

Tuntematon wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-KB-101AS-B ... SwPc9Wwok1

I came here to post that same ad.

That blue Alps trend is really becoming ridiculous.

Spikebolt · 16 Feb 2016, 11:42

andrewjoy · 16 Feb 2016, 11:50

Blaise170 wrote: ↑You know, it’s kind of funny, I know a really good source of Blue Alps keyboards and they are relatively cheap (by themselves about $50) but unfortunately I have to pay shipping costs from the other side of the globe which makes them much more expensive.

You could get them to send just the PCB to save on costs. I know i would be interested in a set for that price.

scottc · 16 Feb 2016, 11:53

Same here!

Wodan · 16 Feb 2016, 11:57

Anyone got an idea what type of keyboard this is:
Philips VG-8235
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Philips-VG-8235- ... 2518.l4276
They caps look pretty hot.

hammelgammler · 16 Feb 2016, 12:03

Oh wow, if that's going to sell then I wonder why I sold my Leading Edge DC-3014 for 1/3 of that price.
Unfortunately I'm not happy with that pricing of Blue Alps, it's really getting ridiculous. Sure they are rare, but I don't think Blue Alps are worth that much. And that's me saying with about 500 Blue Alps and a ANSI Blue Alps left.

scottc · 16 Feb 2016, 12:09

You know the worst part? They're totally overhyped. Yes yes, they're a nice little clicky compact modular switch. They're quite tactile. Blah blah. Yeah, they are quite nice. But nothing mind-blowing.

hammelgammler · 16 Feb 2016, 12:15

Well but I have to say they are the best switches for an ErgoDox right now! (If you like clicky switches, all personal preference of course)

Ellipse should be doing an ErgoDox Model F run in a few years. I think many people would love that, although the most like a standard layout more I guess.

bocahgundul · 16 Feb 2016, 12:31

scottc wrote: ↑You know the worst part? They're totally overhyped. Yes yes, they're a nice little clicky compact modular switch. They're quite tactile. Blah blah. Yeah, they are quite nice. But nothing mind-blowing.

This I agree with this the are quite nice but not the nicest switches for the crazy price

andrewjoy · 16 Feb 2016, 12:33

They are not worth the crazy price but they are much better than white alps IMO.

seebart · 16 Feb 2016, 14:50

Tuntematon wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-KB-101AS-B ... SwPc9Wwok1

itzmeluigi, hoping to get lucky

I really wonder where this seller get his pricing ideas? Let's see if it sells.

Redmaus · 16 Feb 2016, 14:58

Tuntematon wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-KB-101AS-B ... SwPc9Wwok1

itzmeluigi, hoping to get lucky

Wow I really like that board. Actual ANSI layout with vintage build. If this sells...

Maybe I should list my blue alps board for 1k

itzmeluigi wrote: ↑Haha, hopefully as lucky as that seller who sold an AEK for $500

Link please? I find this hard to believe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABS-M1-Keyboard ... Swll1Wv5G5

I have never seen this keyboard before. I am actually tempted to give him an offer on this.

itzmeluigi · 16 Feb 2016, 15:09

Redmaus wrote: ↑
Tuntematon wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-KB-101AS-B ... SwPc9Wwok1

itzmeluigi, hoping to get lucky
Wow I really like that board. Actual ANSI layout with vintage build. If this sells...

Maybe I should list my blue alps board for 1k

itzmeluigi wrote: ↑Haha, hopefully as lucky as that seller who sold an AEK for $500
Link please? I find this hard to believe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABS-M1-Keyboard ... Swll1Wv5G5

I have never seen this keyboard before. I am actually tempted to give him an offer on this.

Its one of my favorite vintage boards i have, but with all the Blue Alps hype, i had to list it to see what happens.

I didnt believe it at first either, i even contacted the seller again a few days after the AEK sold, the buyer did actually pay.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=79255.msg2035135

Sankart · 16 Feb 2016, 15:15

Blaise170 wrote: ↑I know a really good source of Blue Alps keyboards and they are relatively cheap (by themselves about $50)

I'd be very interested as well.

Redmaus · 16 Feb 2016, 15:16

Wow. I hope orange alps doesn't go crazy as well.

Could I send you a quick PM about this board?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABS-M1-Keyboard ... Swll1Wv5G5

It is yours right? There isn't a copycat itzmeluigi on GH?

Sankart wrote: ↑
Blaise170 wrote: ↑I know a really good source of Blue Alps keyboards and they are relatively cheap (by themselves about $50)

yeah I would like to know as well.

hypkx · 16 Feb 2016, 15:19

Redmaus wrote: ↑
Sankart wrote: ↑
Blaise170 wrote: ↑I know a really good source of Blue Alps keyboards and they are relatively cheap (by themselves about $50)
yeah I would like to know as well.

me too

itzmeluigi · 16 Feb 2016, 15:21

Redmaus wrote: ↑Wow. I hope orange alps doesn't go crazy as well.

Could I send you a quick PM about this board?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABS-M1-Keyboard ... Swll1Wv5G5

It is yours right? There isn't a copycat itzmeluigi on GH?

Sankart wrote: ↑
Blaise170 wrote: ↑I know a really good source of Blue Alps keyboards and they are relatively cheap (by themselves about $50)
yeah I would like to know as well.

Yeah i got worried Orange Alps might go crazy so i bought a few M0116's with Orange Alps just in case.

Of course feel free to PM as much as you want

Yes thats me Itzmeluigi is my name on DT, GH, and /r/mk