Great/Interesting Finds

seebart · 05 Apr 2017, 17:40

Harshmallow wrote: ↑Well, you guys lasted almost a whole thread page before bashing them again, so I guess that counts for something.

Edit: Can someone tell me anything about Sun keyboards before Type 4? T'was a serious question!

I'm one of the few people here who does not bash F&F.

Sun keyboards before Type 4 are Oak Full-Travel Membrane but I don't know if there are other variations:

http://kbd.rzw.jp/membrane/sun_type3/

wiki/Oak_Full-Travel_Membrane

Mupo · 05 Apr 2017, 17:48

Vintage g80:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Cherr ... SwB-1Y4nhE

Harshmallow · 05 Apr 2017, 19:00

seebart wrote: ↑
Harshmallow wrote: ↑Well, you guys lasted almost a whole thread page before bashing them again, so I guess that counts for something.

Edit: Can someone tell me anything about Sun keyboards before Type 4? T'was a serious question!
I'm one of the few people here who does not bash F&F.

Sun keyboards before Type 4 are Oak Full-Travel Membrane but I don't know if there are other variations:

http://kbd.rzw.jp/membrane/sun_type3/

wiki/Oak_Full-Travel_Membrane

Thanks Seeb! I've actually never tried it yet. I will one day, and I'll make sure to get one in like new condition if possible. Has anyone actually replaced all of the foam pads with new foam and restored one? Do they still feel too mushy? There must have been SOME benefits to these things as they were so commonplace at one time. I can't imagine all of those manufacturers purposely picked a terrible feeling switch mechanism.

Hypersphere · 05 Apr 2017, 19:49

Harshmallow wrote: ↑ <snip> ... <snip> ...
I can't imagine all of those manufacturers purposely picked a terrible feeling switch mechanism.

Examples, anyone?

seebart · 05 Apr 2017, 19:59

Harshmallow wrote: ↑Thanks Seeb! I've actually never tried it yet. I will one day, and I'll make sure to get one in like new condition if possible. Has anyone actually replaced all of the foam pads with new foam and restored one? Do they still feel too mushy?

Not sure if you should bother really but why not if it's cheap. I'd love to try a NIB Key Tronic where the foam is in really good shape myself. Non-discrete tactile BTC foam and foil which uses buckling rubber sleeves like in my BTC 5100 is kinda nice but you might as well just go for the regular BTC dome with slider without the F&F part. I have seen auctions for replacement pads on ebay, but changing all those pads must be fun.

wiki/BTC_foam_and_foil

Harshmallow wrote: ↑There must have been SOME benefits to these things as they were so commonplace at one time. I can't imagine all of those manufacturers purposely picked a terrible feeling switch mechanism.

Cheaper production for example, the foam must have been cheap.

Hypersphere wrote: ↑
Harshmallow wrote: ↑ <snip> ... <snip> ...
I can't imagine all of those manufacturers purposely picked a terrible feeling switch mechanism.
Examples, anyone?

Examples of why F&F was more common? Good question. I'm not actually sure how widespread they were at their height?

//gainsborough · 05 Apr 2017, 20:05

http://www.ebay.com/itm/132139064426?ul ... fresh=true

wowwwwwww this went for a lot of money o.O!

ekeppel · 05 Apr 2017, 20:06

seebart · 05 Apr 2017, 20:08

//gainsborough wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/132139064426?ul ... fresh=true

wowwwwwww this went for a lot of money o.O!

Not really considering the insane Alps hype.

//gainsborough · 05 Apr 2017, 20:17

seebart wrote: ↑
//gainsborough wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/132139064426?ul ... fresh=true

wowwwwwww this went for a lot of money o.O!
Not really considering the insane Alps hype.

I guess that's true - and it's a gold logo omnikey!

seebart · 05 Apr 2017, 20:19

//gainsborough wrote: ↑
seebart wrote: ↑
//gainsborough wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/132139064426?ul ... fresh=true

wowwwwwww this went for a lot of money o.O!
Not really considering the insane Alps hype.
I guess that's true - and it's a gold logo omnikey!

Exactly! Less nice blue Alps boards have gone for double that. Still a lot of $$$.

ekeppel · 05 Apr 2017, 20:22

Well, if you're going to buy an Omnikey, this is *the* Omnikey to buy -- Gold Label w/ blue Alps. There is a premium on that, I suppose.

dokyun · 06 Apr 2017, 01:50

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leading ... 2147013796

Anyone near L.A.?

Tuntematon · 06 Apr 2017, 01:52

dokyun wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leading ... 2147013796

Anyone near L.A.?

Ahhh, the low starting bid, local pick-up only auction. Worst mistake an eBay seller can make.

Harshmallow · 06 Apr 2017, 02:09

seebart wrote: ↑
Not really considering the insane Alps hype.

I guess that's true - and it's a gold logo omnikey![/quote]

Exactly! Less nice blue Alps boards have gone for double that. Still a lot of $$$.[/quote]

Also consider that the seller seriously modified those photos. The board is definitely way more yellow than shown. And for a 'collector' who's 'letting one go from their collection', how many times do they have to refer to them as ALP switches. Lol, that little 's' was bugging ths shit out of me way more than it should have.

Harshmallow · 06 Apr 2017, 02:12

dokyun wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leading ... 2147013796

Anyone near L.A.?

I'll be in LA for a week in June! If I'm super lucky they'll have to keep re-posting that for 3 months haha. Not likely though...

Tuntematon · 06 Apr 2017, 02:19

Harshmallow wrote: ↑ Also consider that the seller seriously modified those photos. The board is definitely way more yellow than shown. And for a 'collector' who's 'letting one go from their collection', how many times do they have to refer to them as ALP switches. Lol, that little 's' was bugging ths shit out of me way more than it should have.

Definitely some yellowing there, and no mention of it in the listing. And four photos all showing pretty much the same thing, no bottom shot. I'm willing to bet the key feel falls short of "incredible" as well.

fohat · 06 Apr 2017, 02:40

//gainsborough wrote: ↑
seebart wrote: ↑
//gainsborough wrote: ↑
http://www.ebay.com/itm/132139064426?ul ... fresh=true
Not really considering the insane Alps hype.
I guess that's true - and it's a gold logo omnikey!

That does not look like a desirable keyboard to me. Layout is poor and it is not in good condition.

Much better to buy an Omnikey in the layout you want and transplant top-notch switches into it.

I have 2 Omnikey 101s: 1 with fresh blue Alps and one with essentially new faux-orange Alps.

Hypersphere · 06 Apr 2017, 04:28

@fohat: I tend to agree about going for the layout that a person truly likes. The Omni 101 with its ANSI layout and solid build is an excellent board, and for me, white Alps in excellent condition provide a very satisfying typing experience.

However, although I continue to refurbish full-size and XT-type Alps boards, I am coming to the realization that the end-game Alps board for me will probably need to be a custom build with a 60% form factor and HHKB layout. Compactness and symmetry!

Harshmallow · 06 Apr 2017, 05:15

There is no endgame - there are only more keyboards. Stop lying to yourselves and embrace it!

emdude · 06 Apr 2017, 05:36

dokyun wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leading ... 2147013796

Anyone near L.A.?

I think I can pick this up so I may throw in a low snipe. I am only interested in the keyboard, not sure what to do with the rest of the system.. So I won't mind if an enthusiastic vintage computer collector snatches it!

taylorswiftttttt · 06 Apr 2017, 05:39

removed

Tuntematon · 06 Apr 2017, 05:52

Hypersphere wrote: ↑@fohat: I tend to agree about going for the layout that a person truly likes. The Omni 101 with its ANSI layout and solid build is an excellent board, and for me, white Alps in excellent condition provide a very satisfying typing experience.

However, although I continue to refurbish full-size and XT-type Alps boards, I am coming to the realization that the end-game Alps board for me will probably need to be a custom build with a 60% form factor and HHKB layout. Compactness and symmetry!

HHKB seems to be pretty close for a lot of people. Needs refinement, in my opinion. Too many inefficiencies and it could be more symmetrical still.

//gainsborough · 06 Apr 2017, 06:38

taylorswiftttttt wrote: ↑Something's bugging me about that omnikey. Where the hell did he get 2 extra SKCM blue alps?

I was wondering that as well. And why two extra white alps switches?

seebart · 06 Apr 2017, 11:40

//gainsborough wrote: ↑
taylorswiftttttt wrote: ↑Something's bugging me about that omnikey. Where the hell did he get 2 extra SKCM blue alps?
I was wondering that as well. And why two extra white alps switches?

Not only that but the way he displayed them in front of the keyboard. Obviously knew what he was selling. Another example of GREED_BAY.

dede4metal · 06 Apr 2017, 17:05

Guys I have bought this one, http://www.ebay.it/itm/122432633764?_tr ... .S2.R1.TR3
I have no idea what to expect...

taylorswiftttttt · 06 Apr 2017, 17:39

removed

UnFocused · 06 Apr 2017, 18:23

Slom wrote: ↑Popcorn!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252843230774

That's from the same seller who sold the magnetic valve one.

There's a very passionate person on /r/retrobattlestations who restores Symbolics computers. I mentioned that to some people, Symbolics are the holy grail in keyboard collecting. He went on a bit of a rant about that:

https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlesta ... g/dfwf11m/

//gainsborough · 06 Apr 2017, 18:40

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-00031285-4 ... SwhQhY5mec

Oh man! Here we go! Will the trend continue?

seebart · 06 Apr 2017, 18:55

dede4metal wrote: ↑Guys I have bought this one, http://www.ebay.it/itm/122432633764?_tr ... .S2.R1.TR3
I have no idea what to expect...

Could be Hi-Tek Series 725 but I'm not sure really.

wiki/Hi-Tek_Series_725

//gainsborough · 06 Apr 2017, 19:13

seebart wrote: ↑
dede4metal wrote: ↑Guys I have bought this one, http://www.ebay.it/itm/122432633764?_tr ... .S2.R1.TR3
I have no idea what to expect...
Could be Hi-Tek Series 725 but I'm not sure really.

wiki/Hi-Tek_Series_725

I think you're right, seebart. The caps look very similar to space-invaders boards.