Great/Interesting Finds

[Muirium]

Using an XT is no more fuss for me than using an SSK: both need a USB converter, and so I've plugs for them both on my box.

Now if only there was a smaller buckling spring keyboard than the SSK. Model F, say, and with USB…

[Hypersphere]

Using an XT is no more fuss for me than using an SSK: both need a USB converter, and so I've plugs for them both on my box.

Now if only there was a smaller buckling spring keyboard than the SSK. Model F, say, and with USB…

Grrrr....

[seebart]

A little bit of Jedi mind trickery and a lot of grey bearded patience, youngling.

that´s NOT the Jedi wisdom I was hoping for...

If I was looking for another SSK, my search would begin and likely end with Phosphorglow's superb refurbs:

thank you for that, I had forgotten about his thread.

Overall, I find that the advantages of an XT outweigh the disadvantages.

I agree with you, of course I can only compare my Model F XT to my two M´s. I actually perfer my F AT to my XT. The layout is "easier" for me plus my XT is quite loud (ping). I don´t find the AT build quality to be less than of the XT, although I have read fellow users here say so.

Now if only there was a smaller buckling spring keyboard than the SSK. Model F, say, and with USB…

buckling spring, ssk size with usb, I would put $$$ on the table for that

[Daniel Beardsmore]

A little bit of Jedi mind trickery and a lot of grey bearded patience, youngling.

that´s NOT the Jedi wisdom I was hoping for... :lol:

I think you were looking for Harry Potter rather than Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Sadly, aren't we all?

[seebart]

Cherry MX Mechanical Key Tester

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cherry-MX-Mec ... 2c8719552a

Truly Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard - Soft Tactile - Model 207

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Truly-Ergonom ... 43cc44ab9a

IBM XT CLICKY VINTAGE KEYBOARD Model F 5150 5160

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IBM-XT-CLICKY ... 43cc2cdd7e

Cherry Mechanical Electrical Keyboard G80-3000LPCXX-2 MY 3000 USB

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cherry-Mechan ... 2c8764c38f

IBM Model M Silver Label Clicky Keyboard, Rare 5 pin connector-Cleaned+Restored!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IBM-Model-M-S ... 233d5377f2

Vintage clicky keyboard IBM Model F AT fully working

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-click ... 3a93b296bc

IBM Model M

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IBM-KEYBOARD- ... 418408954f

Cherry G84-4100 black mini compact keyboard

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cherry-G84-41 ... 43cc40c536

[Hypersphere]

That industrial SSK is overpriced IMO. The AT looks good, but shipping from Australia...

[Muirium]

= A great find if you're in Australia. We're all over the place, remember!

Here's a few more IBMs for your fellow Americans, including a $50 (inc. shipping) XT:

http://deskthority.net/for-sale-f55/ibm ... bm%20stuff

[seebart]

That industrial SSK is overpriced IMO

...no kidding

The AT looks good, but shipping from Australia...

mabey we have some Aussie members here

[Hypersphere]

@seebart and @Muirium: Of course I am well aware that we DTers are from all over the world, including Australia! Perhaps I should have added, "...from the perspective of those of us located a considerable distance from Australia, e.g., those who hail from North America or Europe, the shipping charges might prove discouraging."

[seebart]

...from the perspective of those of us located a considerable distance from Australia, e.g., those who hail from North America or Europe, the shipping charges might prove discouraging

I could not agree more with your eloquent analysis, but it´s still a good find, just really far away for most of us.

that 1000+ $ SSK was meant more ironic, I deleted that.

[Hypersphere]

@seebart: I was merely commenting, not criticizing.

Regarding the IBM SSK for > 1000 USD, I think it is useful for the community to know the magnitude of prices being asked (and increasingly, actually being paid!) for certain items. No need to delete, as far as I am concerned.

[shreebles]

I am especially interested as to what will happen to the prices when this becomes a reality:

https://www.facebook.com/PCKeyboard/pho ... omments=52

[Muirium]

If you're talking about the fabled Unicomp SSK, let's just say I'll believe it when I see it for sale.

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/uni ... comp%20ssk

I'd really like them to do it. The SSK form factor is unbeatable for Model Ms. I've no plans to sell my SSK, so I don't much care how much it's worth for resale, and I might even pick up one of these. You know… should they ever actually exist.

[shreebles]

Well I'm quite positive since they have confirmed that they are working on it several times, on social media as well as official emails. I guess the reason why we don't see any updates on this is because there are still several months until holiday season 2014.

[seebart]

In my opinion the IBM ssk prices will never drop much, with or without a unicomp production because its such an exclusive item, the industrial ssk being the ultimate collectible, rare and rarest. A new unicomp spacesaver is not in status equal to IBM or will it ever be.
I'm still ordering one though if it happens.[emoji1]

[Hypersphere]

In my opinion the IBM ssk prices will never drop much, with or without a unicomp production because its such an exclusive item, the industrial ssk being the ultimate collectible, rare and rarest. A new unicomp spacesaver is not in status equal to IBM or will it ever be.

I tend to agree. Even if the vaporous Unicomp SSK should materialize (and for everyone's sake, I hope it does and that it will be a quality product), there are those (myself included) who would place a high value on having a "real" IBM SSK. Prices for genuine IBM SSKs could actually increase with the advent of a Unicomp look-alike.

[Hypersphere]

<snip>

Overall, I find that the advantages of an XT outweigh the disadvantages.

I agree with you, of course I can only compare my Model F XT to my two M´s. I actually perfer my F AT to my XT. The layout is "easier" for me plus my XT is quite loud (ping). I don´t find the AT build quality to be less than of the XT, although I have read fellow users here say so.

<snip>

And I agree with you about build quality. I would not say that the build quality of the XT is necessarily better than that of the AT; they are just different designs with some different materials choices. My own design preference is for the XT. I like the fact that the plastic top of the case wraps around to join the metal back of the case so that there is no seam showing in the front. It is also rather neat that the whole thing is held together with just two screws. The overall design and materials choices make the XT seem more solid than the AT (at least to me) with less flex and creak in the case. However, with respect to layout, it is easier to modify the AT to an ANSI layout, which I prefer.

[seebart]

heathkit computer HN09-29 HN-89-29 BJ486E

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Vintage-Antique- ... 19f0a7f527

IBM P70/386

http://www.ebay.de/itm/IBM-P70-386-RARI ... 19f0727cdc

[jacobolus]

IBM P70/386
http://www.ebay.de/itm/IBM-P70-386-RARI ... 19f0727cdc

For what it’s worth, I really like the keyswitches in this board: nice amount of tactility, nice light weight, and a bit of bounce at the bottom of the stroke. Very fast to type on.

Unfortunately, the rest of the keyboard feels like crap: there’s no metal plate, only a PCB reinforced by some thin aluminum strips; the case is very flimsy plastic which easily flexes in all directions, and gives the clicky keyswitches a hollow echoey plastic sound. The keycaps are dye-subbed PBT, but extremely thin and pretty cheap feeling (though all the caps bigger than 1x1 units, except for ctrl/alt, are nice thick PBT).

If you take the PCB out of the case, replace the keycaps with something nicer, and just set the PCB on a thick piece of wood on your lap, the typing experience immediately improves dramatically. I imagine that with a proper case and nice keycaps these switches could make a very nice keyboard indeed.

[xwhatsit]

Don't know if this was already posted, but what a pretty board:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-1720A-INS ... 35d999af49

Description says it's clicky. Wonder what sort of switches?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

If the 1720A keyboard has the same switches as the Y1700, they're linear:

http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/y1700.html

However, I don't know that anyone's ever seen a switch on the 1720A keyboard.

[Laser]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PBT-Keycap-Set- ... 41833afed4

(also the black ones)

[mr_a500]

Here's one of those blue switch IBM monstrosities - starting at $0.99 :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibm-Keyboard-3104-/111412375637

And here's a Displaywriter at the highest BIN price I've ever seen for it - $400!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Displaywrit ... 1464612110

I wish sellers would stop reading Deskthority.

[Muirium]

Well I'm quite positive since they have confirmed that they are working on it several times, on social media as well as official emails. I guess the reason why we don't see any updates on this is because there are still several months until holiday season 2014.

The renders they've shown around, all created by M'er Forever quite a while ago, look audacious. My money would be on an actual release next year at the soonest, forget about the holidays.

I do wish them the best of luck. I think they'd be wiser making a more classic SSK, by modifying the tooling and designs that they already have for fullsize Ms, and testing the waters with an actual product. But they've chosen the longshot. Don't fail us, Unicomp!

[Sayso]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Displaywrit ... 1464612110

I wish sellers would stop reading Deskthority.

Wow it seems to be in a very very good shape

[Hypersphere]

IBM 3104 keyboard.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibm-Keyboard-31 ... 19f0b1f055

[Halvar]

So much great stuff over in the US -- look at this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-09F4230-Wir ... 4d185141ae

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Desko-Unknown-M ... 4d208c3563

[snoopy]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/ibm-tastatur-seh ... 1536612339

so, who got it?

[mr_a500]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/ibm-tastatur-seh ... 1536612339

so, who got it?

Oh shit! God damn it! That's the one keyboard I want. EBay Germany stuff doesn't come up in my eBay searches.

[Hypersphere]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/ibm-tastatur-seh ... 1536612339

so, who got it?

Oh shit! God damn it! That's the one keyboard I want. EBay Germany stuff doesn't come up in my eBay searches.

Das ist wirklich schade! However, I may have a similar one to sell after I have completed the restoration and conversion to USB, although I have given Muirium the first option.