Dumb question: why do people buy these keyboards today, in 2024?
Besides the collectors, I mean. Is it because they want to run terminals, terminal emulators, or point of sale stations?
I have some not-so-fond memories of the 3270 PC. My company bought many of those, and then doggedly insisted on depreciating them over the industry standard five year lifespan of all other office equipment. Notwithstanding the rapid pace of technological innovation that made them practically obsolete, in much less than five years.
Yes, they're big, and in some ways, still impressive. Would I want one on my desk today, to type on? No thanks. There are better choices.