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Author Topic: No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay  (Read 4107 times)

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Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« on: Wed, 20 May 2009, 21:05:21 »
I am sure that some will surface as time goes by. I think its just a lull.
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Offline Celos

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 22 May 2009, 02:10:41 »
Long time lurker, first-time poster....

I got one of the NIBs earlier this week. It'd be interesting if I got the "last" one. I suspect they'll be back, as well. Seems like the general cultural awareness of (and demand for) Model Ms and variants ebbs and flows. Early this year they seemed to be pretty popular. I lost out on many auctions earlier this year as the prices soared to well over $200 USD. I got mine for ~$150 USD, which I still felt was quite a lot of money.

I had a Model M already, and now I guess I have a collection. It's, of course, exceedingly small by geekhack standards. :)
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Offline huha

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 22 May 2009, 05:16:42 »
Quote from: Celos;92042
Long time lurker, first-time poster....

[...]

I had a Model M already, and now I guess I have a collection. It's, of course, exceedingly small by geekhack standards. :)


THAT will be your downfall!

-huha
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Unicomp Endurapro 105 (blank keycaps, BS) // Cherry G80-3000LSCDE-2 (blues, modded to green MX) // Cherry G80-3000LAMDE-0 (blacks, 2x) // Cherry G80-11900LTMDE-0 (blacks, 2x) // Compaq G80-11801 (browns) // Epson Q203A (Fujitsu Peerless) // IBM Model M2 (BS) // Boscom AS400 Terminal Emulator (OEM\'d Unicomp, BS, 2x) // Dell AT102DW (black Alps) // Mechanical Touch (chinese BS) Acer 6312-KW (Acer mechanics on membrane) // Cherry G84-4100 (ML) // Cherry G80-1000HAD (NKRO, blacks)

Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 25 May 2009, 10:56:57 »
Quote from: ripster;92568


A NIB Mini just appeared.  This seller knows his stuff and will ship worldwide.  He was one of the ones that has been consistently cranking them out.

Other members have bought from him so I assume he's OK.

Boring though - can't find anything in his listing to make fun of.  Well, here's one:  WHY TAKE A PICTURE OF THE LABEL AND NOT ZOOM IN!!


I just emailed the seller and asked what year it was actually made in. I tried enlarging the picture but still can't make it out.
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Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 25 May 2009, 12:01:49 »
Quote from: ripster;92586
How's that elbow??


I am using a brace to mitigate the pain.  I looked on-line and think that I may have tennis elbow. I haven't gone to a doctor yet, but am hoping I won't have to.

I can no longer mouse on the left hand side which is  a bummer.
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Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 25 May 2009, 12:22:09 »
Its all good. From what I read I just need to take it easy and not over use the elbow.

The lesson learned here is that if it doesn't feel right, then simply stop using the device. Maybe when you are younger you can prevail, but I guess I am getting older and it bit me on the ass.
Its a drag mousing on the right hand side too.
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Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 25 May 2009, 14:27:21 »
The seller reposted a better picture of the label. It looks like it was made in '91.

Does anyone have any information on the model years and how many units were actually produced?

The reason I ask is that I have yet to see an '89, '92 or '93 to name a few.
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Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 25 May 2009, 14:40:26 »
lol, yeah, I thought so...looks good with the black keys though.
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Offline watduzhkstand4

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 28 May 2009, 23:55:00 »
« Last Edit: Fri, 29 May 2009, 01:35:34 by watduzhkstand4 »
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KEYBOARDS
Cherry Blue *Filco Tenkeyless w/ blank keys* w/ red ESC key thanks to Megarat
Cherry Red Noppoo Choc Mini
IBM Model M 1391401 12/15/88
Siig Minitouch w/ White Alps

SOLD
HHKB Pro 2 white w/ blank keys red ESC key and blank WASD keys
HHKB L-2
Cherry Brown Compaq mx11800
Dell AT101W
Cherry Red Leopold 104-key Otaku FC500RR/ABN

Offline wellington1869

  • Posts: 2885
No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 29 May 2009, 01:31:52 »
$99 M spacesaver "buy it now" on ebay. '87 model.
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-Clicky-Space-Saver-PS-2-Keyboard-1391472_W0QQitemZ310145392762QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item48361b207a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I'd buy it but my tastes are so specific now that I want a '91 or '92 model. (I like the slightly deeper sound and slightly lighter touch, lol). Gray label only, of course. ;)
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline wellington1869

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 29 May 2009, 02:31:27 »
ya, it looks kinda grungy ;)

Quote

Hey, I saw that! EVERYBODY knows Blue Label '93 is THE ONE


lol
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 29 May 2009, 04:08:14 »
I would pass on that. It looks like it had a hard life.
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Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 30 May 2009, 10:24:12 »
Quote from: ripster;93382
Well, ironic given my post title but here's another used mini.



love the dark/shadowy picture.

reminds me of a restaurant I ate in once, the lights were down so low you could hardly see the food. maybe that was a good thing. : )
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Offline wellington1869

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 30 May 2009, 21:57:27 »
the sellers rating on ebay is a relatively lousy 98%. "trust me" she says in the ad. yea well maybe if she had 100%. Else i'd ask for more pics and with the flash on.
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline wheel83

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 01 June 2009, 22:05:42 »
i wonder if she smoked mad blunts around it lol
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Offline iMav

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 02 June 2009, 04:54:08 »
Hey guys.  Let's not make this an uber mini thread.  Fine for discussion, but please post any new Model M mini sightings in their own new thread.  Each "ebay find" should have its own thread...even if an existing thread of the same type of 'board exists.
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Offline wellington1869

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 02 June 2009, 12:08:31 »
by the way, why isnt anyone buying this one at $89 and free shipping?  Is it the 98% rating and dubious pics? (She did shine a flashlight on them now, tho how much that helps I dont know).

I'm semi-tempted with this one, despite the dubiousness. Its not a bad price now (and probably with a little cleaning up could probably legitimately resell it if necessary).

What else can go wrong with an '87 used mini other than needing a good cleaning? They're pretty much built like tanks arent they?
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline wellington1869

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 02 June 2009, 12:25:17 »
Quote from: ripster;93926
Thread arises.

I didn't notice she lowered it by $10.  It's looking better than the ones sold lately - used normally $100 to a high of $157.


what are the risks? (other than spending 2 hours taking it apart and cleaning it)
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline wellington1869

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 02 June 2009, 13:44:16 »
update: its been bought. (Anyone from here? I'd be curious to know what kind of shape it was in, lol).

Its a good thing it was bought. Thats one temptation from my life thats been removed, lol.
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline talis

  • Posts: 195
No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #19 on: Sun, 07 June 2009, 01:03:49 »
Quote from: wellington1869;93220
$99 M spacesaver "buy it now" on ebay. '87 model.
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-Clicky-Space-Saver-PS-2-Keyboard-1391472_W0QQitemZ310145392762QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item48361b207a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I'd buy it but my tastes are so specific now that I want a '91 or '92 model. (I like the slightly deeper sound and slightly lighter touch, lol). Gray label only, of course. ;)


I bought one of the ones from this seller.  Finally arrived today, and all I can say is.... Dirty Dirty Dirty.  Even worse, I got the nice surprise of 11 broken rivet heads bouncing around in the bottom of the case.  Luckily most of them are from the right hand side of the board, and most are intact in the keyfield.  There was a bit of yellowing of the case (around the keyfield, which was a bit odd) but its hardly noticeable.  After a couple of hours of cleaning, its much nicer to type on then the first one I got which had 16 missing rivets, all along the bottom of the keyfield.

Unless I was looking for a project board, I'd be a bit careful buying from this seller again.  Even tho it cleaned up nice in the end (I'm almost convinced a nice layer of crap on a board actually protects it), I hate opening a box and not wanting to touch the contents without giving it a good cleaning first.
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Offline talis

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #20 on: Sun, 07 June 2009, 01:58:37 »
The unfortunate thing is the number of broken rivets is the hardest thing to see in an e-bay sale, but has the largest effect in the usability of a keyboard.  I doubt even asking a seller will get any sort of response.

Unfortunately, I've only got socket head 4-40 screws right now, which have heads that are too tall to repair the first row of rivets.  I'll try and get some that are low enough profile sometime this week, and maybe post a guide on repairing them (tho I know there are others already on the net).

The yellowing is very minor, and I didn't even notice it until I had the top half of the case off, and was washing it under a faucet.  The pattern is very strange, and only extends about 1/4" from the keys.

The oddest part is that the keys are all 1 piece, except for the F and J keys, which are two piece.  I suspect that means that the majority of the keys are actually replacements, and not original.  I've never seen a keyboard with a mix of 1 part and 2 part keys.
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Offline javifast

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 07 June 2009, 02:27:28 »
What´s the problem if some rivets are broken?
How does it affect the operation of the keyboard?. Thanks.
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Too many keyboards....

Offline talis

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #22 on: Sun, 07 June 2009, 03:02:28 »
Quote from: javifast;94584
What´s the problem if some rivets are broken?
How does it affect the operation of the keyboard?. Thanks.



If there's just a few rivets missing, or the ones that are missing are randomly spaced over the board, you probably won't notice anything at all.  When there are a number missing in a row however, you can potentially notice a distinct difference in key sound in the area where the rivets are missing.  How severe the difference is depends on how many are missing.

Even with 1/3 or more of the rivets missing the key presses always register, the difference is purely in the sound that is made.  While that doesn't render the keyboard non-functional, you'd hope for a bit more when you pay $100 (plus several body parts in shipping) for a keyboard.  Since most of the sound is actually made by the spring buckling against the key stem, I'm sort of surprised there is as much difference as there is, but there is definitely a noticeable difference on the keys in the area that are missing a lot of rivets.
« Last Edit: Sun, 07 June 2009, 03:06:36 by talis »
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Offline javifast

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #23 on: Sun, 07 June 2009, 03:32:47 »
Thank you, very good explanation.
Anyway I found this website very interesting.
http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/repair_model_m.html
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Offline bigpook

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No More IBM Model M Minis on Ebay
« Reply #24 on: Sun, 07 June 2009, 08:22:33 »
I had gotten an '87 mini off of ebay and saw the same thing. Broken rivets, filthy and single key caps with the exception of the f and j keys.
It had a layer of grime under the keys that can't be seen unless you remove the keys.
I was able to clean it up though. But the springs felt worn to me. All jangly and bouncy, especially the enter key.
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