IBM P70/P75 keyboard

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IBM P70/P75 keyboard
IBM 23F3212 -- top, flat.jpg
Layouts JIS, ISO, ANSI
Keyswitches Alps plate spring
Keycaps Dye sublimated PBT
except for ABS spacebar
Interface Proprietary

The P70/P75 keyboard was part of the IBM P70 (386) and P75 (486) portable computers, both also known as the IBM Model 8573. The keyboard would connect to the computer via the tiltable top part which also serves as a large keyboard "stand". To save weight of the unit as a whole, the P70/P75 keyboard was constructed accordingly.

The Alps SKCP series switches are PCB mounted in a snap-in case that is made of thin plastic compared to other IBM keyboards of that time, presumably also to save weight and space. The keyboard speaks the PS/2 protocol but uses a proprietary connector.[1][2] The keycaps are made of dye sublimated PBT.

Variants

With the exception of JIS, all of the following regional variants exist according to official IBM documentation. The same documentation lists the replacement cable as FRU 64F9998.[3][4]

Part EC FRU Layout Confirmed dates
65F0000 Canadian French
65F0045 C27700 65F0063 JIS 90/07
23F3229 C13310 65X1537 US English 89/07
65X1598 Belgian
23F3212 C27695 65X1601 Danish 90/02
65X1602 Dutch
65X1603 French
23F3216 C27215 65X1604 German 90/01
65X1605 Italian
65X1606 Latin Spanish
65X1607 Norwegian
65X1608 Portuguese
65X1609 Spanish
65X1610 Swedish
65X1611 Swiss/French/German
65X1612 UK English
65X1613 Turkish
65X1614 Greek
65X1615 Hebrew
65X1616 Arabic

Disassembly instructions

When attempting to open the P70/P75 keyboard one should follow the instructions on this link.

Proceed with caution to avoid breaking the case since it can be quite strenuous to open the plastic latches, particularly the ones under the function row that latch to a metal bar running all across the keyboard and are not easily accessible.

Gallery

The computer itself

Danish ISO version (P/N 23F3212)

German ISO version (P/N 23F3216)

References

  1. Sandy55 — Details about the connector used by the host computer Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  2. Imgur — Pictures of the male part of the custom connector Dated 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  3. IBM — Portable 8573 - P75 - Parts Listing, Document ID: PMYS-3X2TNA (ps-2.kev009.com) Dated 1996-10-09. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  4. IBM — Hardware Maintenance Manual - Volume 1: Laptop, Notebook, Portable and ThinkPad Computers - May 1995 (document S82G-1501-01), p. 176 (PDF page 188), "Keyboard and Mouse (P70 386)". (Ardent Tool of Capitalism) Retrieved 2024-03-17.

External links