geekhack
geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: samwisekoi on Mon, 01 October 2012, 18:22:55
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Greetings!
I am new here, but not everywhere, and certainly not new to the world of proper keyboards. One of my first "real jobs" was working for the Memorex Comm Division, where we built IBM plug-compatible terminals (3270, 5051) for commercial customers. In those days -- before the introduction of the Model M -- it was a normal thing to visit keyboard manufacturers to evaluate and specify keyboards down to the component level. And to build things in the US of A! So back in the day I visited Alps, Cherry, Keytronic and probably others.
Oh, and at that point in time, the keyboards still had metal shells and double-shot keycaps.
When the PC, XT and AT came out, we had those and made clones, and I got my first true IBM keyboard.
Some years went by, and manufacturing left the US, and keyboards went bad. Then the gamers came into the world and proper keyboards are back!
I am writing this on my '93 Model M 101-key with a few custom keys from Unicomp. As a Linux user, I don't need or want the Windows and Menu keys, so life is good. (I *have* remapped Esc and added keyboard macros for Mute, VolUp and VolDn, however.)
Anyhow, it is now clear that I need (not want) one or more newer keyboards with real switches. I can't use a Model M at home and expect others to sleep, so a 101+/- keyboard with browns is my current target. Filco, Leopold, Roswell or WASD are what I am looking into, and this forum is where the best scoop can be found.
So here I am!
Very best regards,
- Ron | Samwisekoi
'93 Model M
"A noob here but not everywhere!"
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Welcome! Stick with buckling springs. Too much Cherry stuff going on here that will drain your wallet. :)
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^^ Welcome. I dont think you'll have a hard time settling in at all after reading your post! Hope you make many new friends and find some nice keycaps during your stay :D
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Welcome to Geekhack!
A very nice keyboard you have there.
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Welcome to Geekhack!
A very nice keyboard you have there.
TYVM! I like it quite a lot.
Just waiting for Unicomp to do custom printing so I can move the audio legends to the keyfaces.
- Ron | samwisekoi
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Welcome to GeekHack = )
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Welcome to GH, Ron. Thanks for the backstory!
Browns are a great place to start. Let us know how it goes.
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Welcome to geekhack
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I enjoyed your story! You seem like you definitely know the minute differences in switches if you visited all of those manufacturers! And youre totally right, nothing beats the IBM American made boards! What job do you have know, is it PC industry related?
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I enjoyed your story! You seem like you definitely know the minute differences in switches if you visited all of those manufacturers! And youre totally right, nothing beats the IBM American made boards! What job do you have know, is it PC industry related?
Thanks!
Indeed, yes. I run a network engineering and 7x24 support company in the Silicon Valley, mostly providing infrastructure to VC-funded start-ups.
- Ron | samwisekoi
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I enjoyed your story! You seem like you definitely know the minute differences in switches if you visited all of those manufacturers! And youre totally right, nothing beats the IBM American made boards! What job do you have know, is it PC industry related?
Thanks!
Indeed, yes. I run a network engineering and 7x24 support company in the Silicon Valley, mostly providing infrastructure to VC-funded start-ups.
- Ron | samwisekoi
Yes, you'll definitely fit in here!
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(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/61075086/WelcomeWally.jpg)
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Welcome to GH!