Greetings from the 70's

[Ictinike]

GeekHack,

  Greetings.  I am Ictinike (Ick-tah-knee-kay) or Icky (Ick-ee) for short and would like to introduce myself.

  I am of the 70's generation, 73 to be exact, so that likely makes me older than most here statistically.  Oh sure, there are the exceptions and I'm sure there is some resident 'old guy' like me who hangs around teaching all you young-fry how it was 'back in the day', amright?

  So I'm a 20+ year .. 'victim' .. of the IT world from the early '90's until this very day.  Software Engineer by day and father/husband by night (which a whole lot of gamer in between) I have been using various types of tech since their origin and one that I never really adopted, until now hopefuly, are mechanical keyboards.

  See, back in the day (oh crap, there's that saying again), most of the keyboards I had used were in fact mechanical and while I don't remember specifics I don't remember anything different because there were little differences but most where already mechanical.  Since then, like most, I've adopted the membrane and really for what I do [coding, emailing, threatening employees of mine] these have done well but upon investigating some recent images I've seen of the Planck and Preonic on MassDrop; I've decided to jump back in the kiddie-.. Gentlemans-Pool again with mechanicals.

  I see much has been going on and things are up-and-coming and that excites me.  I never really had a preference until I read I should have a preference (lmao) so I'm jumping in with both feet on a new OLKB Preonic w/ 65g Tactile Zealio's (who I've been reading here awhile before joining, woo! go ZealPc!) from MassDrop.  I'm sure I'll have fun building it and only when I've shown my 2 sons, now 17 and 15, did it spark something inside of them (unless it was gas from the previous 'Taco Tuesday') so I may be in this for the long run, which if we calculate as well take into account family histories; really only has me lasting another 28.64 years, LOL.

  So, just wanted to come in and spray some urine around like most old dogs do trying to carve out their piece of the territory.. So if I happened to splash a little extra your way or you happened to take offence of anything I might have stated, well.. yeah.. Sorry?

~Icky

[jaffers]

hi

[Olumin]

Ya youngsters with ya clicky-boards, back in my day I used to type on a typewriter, now that's what I call a real keyboard, not these flimsy sheets of plastic, Bah!

Don't worry, just joking! I'm only 19, but collect and still use typewriters, welcome to the forum! 

[xtrafrood]

All that time spent with mechanical keyboards and you don't remember the specifics? Blasphemy I say!

[pr0ximity]

The older the better! Keyboards, people, scotch, you name it 

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

There are quite a few more mature members here, child, and most have deep technical knowledge that they are able to impart in an easily understandable way, often with pictures, and usually as they have gone down those roads many times themselves over the centuries.  I mean years.

There is a love of vintage keyboards too, and it's amazing how we took them for granted back in the day, and then for some reason didn't miss them at all until suddenly we are faced with a modern mechanical keyboard

[Ictinike]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone but due to my age it may take me a bit to process it all.. lol

Welcome to Geekhack!

There are quite a few more mature members here, child, and most have deep technical knowledge that they are able to impart in an easily understandable way, often with pictures, and usually as they have gone down those roads many times themselves over the centuries.  I mean years.

There is a love of vintage keyboards too, and it's amazing how we took them for granted back in the day, and then for some reason didn't miss them at all until suddenly we are faced with a modern mechanical keyboard

Yes, literally took them for granted back in the day..

It's a shame but I am so happy the new generations are picking up where we failed at times.. Well, OK with keyboards mainly cause the rest of the world's problems.. That's the generations before me (lmao, it's always that way, huh? )

The older the better! Keyboards, people, scotch, you name it 

Ahh yeah.. There's something about the smell of a vintage keyboard, scotch.. umm, OK well maybe not people.  I do find myself exhibiting quite the array of smells lately, lol

Ya youngsters with ya clicky-boards, back in my day I used to type on a typewriter, now that's what I call a real keyboard, not these flimsy sheets of plastic, Bah!

Don't worry, just joking! I'm only 19, but collect and still use typewriters, welcome to the forum! 

Ha! yeah I really remember my High School typing class, back when they still had them.  I really enjoyed it because I was quite proficient, compared to the other teens at that time with me, because of all my programming done on my C64!  Glorious days! 

It's good to see the next generations picking up and expanding our legacy, lol

All that time spent with mechanical keyboards and you don't remember the specifics? Blasphemy I say!

Show Image

I know, right?  I do remember some like the old IBM keyboards working with an AS400 back in the day and others but as stated by others I took them from granted and they became as common as 64k boot and double sided-double density disks! :)

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

There are quite a few more mature members here, child, and most have deep technical knowledge that they are able to impart in an easily understandable way, often with pictures, and usually as they have gone down those roads many times themselves over the centuries.  I mean years.

There is a love of vintage keyboards too, and it's amazing how we took them for granted back in the day, and then for some reason didn't miss them at all until suddenly we are faced with a modern mechanical keyboard

Yes, literally took them for granted back in the day..

It's a shame but I am so happy the new generations are picking up where we failed at times.. Well, OK with keyboards mainly cause the rest of the world's problems.. That's the generations before me (lmao, it's always that way, huh? )

The new generation has backlit keyboards.  And coloured aluminium cases.  And fancy keycap sets.  And matching USB cables.

What happened to the old beige boxes with matching beige keyboards?  Everyone had the same thing, and you just used them.  We didn't worry about customising them back then, in fact there wasn't much you could do to a keyboard.  Except type on it, that is.

I wouldn't necessarily say we failed at anything, just that the younger generation likes shiny flashing things, whereas we were content to just do our work and get away from the computer to enjoy life more.  Maybe.  Sometimes.

[Ictinike]

The new generation has backlit keyboards.  And coloured aluminium cases.  And fancy keycap sets.  And matching USB cables.

What happened to the old beige boxes with matching beige keyboards?  Everyone had the same thing, and you just used them.  We didn't worry about customising them back then, in fact there wasn't much you could do to a keyboard.  Except type on it, that is.

I wouldn't necessarily say we failed at anything, just that the younger generation likes shiny flashing things, whereas we were content to just do our work and get away from the computer to enjoy life more.  Maybe.  Sometimes.

Well stated my friend, well stated!

 

[Metapunk]

Oh, you are my age.

I started with typewiters. First electronic keyboard was a Commodore VC 20.

[rowdy]

Oh, you are my age.

I started with typewiters. First electronic keyboard was a Commodore VC 20.

Colour?  Built in sound?  Luxury!

[Metapunk]

Colour?  Built in sound?  Luxury!

That's obviously the point.

[rowdy]

Colour?  Built in sound?  Luxury!

That's obviously the point.

My first computer had 128x48 graphics (monochrome) and 16KB RAM.

[Metapunk]

My first computer had 128x48 graphics (monochrome) and 16KB RAM.

TRS-80?

I was 5 years old when that one came to market.

[rowdy]

My first computer had 128x48 graphics (monochrome) and 16KB RAM.

TRS-80?

I was 5 years old when that one came to market.

System 80 - Aussie version of the TRS-80.  It has a built-in cassette player and a wood grain pattern on each end of the plastic case.

So 70s!

[izilla]

I am also in software development and I pretty new and green 5 years or so experience and I have always enjoyed a great keyboard. Its like a chef who has a good understanding of their knives. I never really got that from my first years in Uni but as you begin courses in design and patterns a logical connection between and the tactile and product is a clear analogy. Especially now that I care about what I create (software wise) and how I create it. You would never know the difference between a nice meal created with sharp can lid and some fancy hand-built cutting knife but of course the enjoyment of the process is for the Chef and not you the consumer likewise a well written novel scribed into the sand with a stick would not be any less enjoyed than one penned with $1000 fountain pen.zzzz

[cozmonort]

Welcome to Geekhack!!

Always good to have some more mature members, my kids sometimes make me feel ancient....

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!!

Always good to have some more mature members, my kids sometimes make me feel ancient....

Kids always make you feel old, especially as they seem to grow up so quickly.

[hippiepete]

Colour?  Built in sound?  Luxury!

That's obviously the point.

My first computer had 128x48 graphics (monochrome) and 16KB RAM.

sounds like a beast !!

[rowdy]

Colour?  Built in sound?  Luxury!

That's obviously the point.

My first computer had 128x48 graphics (monochrome) and 16KB RAM.

sounds like a beast !!

It was heavy enough!

[eohmiller]

Must have been fun to grow up with such cool keyboards everywhere(:

[khirin]

Welcome to geekhack!.  I'm from 70s too.   When people  here say vintage keyboards, those kb are actually of keyboards I used when I was a teenager or so. Things have gone fast.

[rowdy]

Must have been fun to grow up with such cool keyboards everywhere(:

You didn't even notice back then, you just used them and appreciated all that wonderful new technology.

It was only when the good keyboards were gone and membrane keyboards became widespread in the interests of cheaper manufacturing costs that we started to miss the old keyboards.

[Ictinike]

Ha!  I love the responses and too many and too good to quote them all!

I'm glad there are other members of my age bracket and yes my kids also make me feel old when they ask things like, what were regular phones like?  Regular phones?  Yeah the corded to the wall ones that you had to spin the dial to call someone.  Ugh..

I remember the 80's and 90's as well the Rotor (a TV antenna calibration device, because we did not have cable) and my very first Commodore which I still have to this day; keyboard/cpu as well 5 1/4 disk drives and the elusive cassette tape loader!  Maybe I should pull out the 'ol Commodore and take some vanity shots, lol..

Again, thank you all for the warm replies and after receiving my first mechanical, the MagicForce 68key off Amazon; I know I made the right choice picking up both the Preonic and Planck as well others from abroad and MassDrop.  I'm going to be in mechanical heaven around June to Aug!

Cheers,
~Icky

[rowdy]

I don't know about the US, but the old rotary dial phone used to be on a small stand in the middle of the hallway.  If you wanted to make or receive a phone call, you had to stand in the hallway.  We had a notebook and pencil for taking messages.  And everyone shared the same phone.

Sounds unbelievable in today's world where nearly everyone has a mobile phone.

[xtrafrood]

I don't know about the US, but the old rotary dial phone used to be on a small stand in the middle of the hallway.  If you wanted to make or receive a phone call, you had to stand in the hallway.  We had a notebook and pencil for taking messages.  And everyone shared the same phone.

Sounds unbelievable in today's world where nearly everyone has a mobile phone.

AFAIK US base housing had those rotary phones during the 80s. I was an industrious little three year old but I couldn't figure out how to dial out with it. I blame Ghostbusters ) I think it was one of the ones with a clear dial assembly but I could be mistaken

[HoffmanMyster]

I'm sure there is some resident 'old guy' like me who hangs around teaching all you young-fry how it was 'back in the day', amright?

Ah, yes.  I believe you are looking for fohat.digs. 

Welcome to geekhack!  Enjoy your stay, and try not to get sucked in too far. 

[rowdy]

I'm sure there is some resident 'old guy' like me who hangs around teaching all you young-fry how it was 'back in the day', amright?

Ah, yes.  I believe you are looking for fohat.digs. 

Welcome to geekhack!  Enjoy your stay, and try not to get sucked in too far. 

Personal text "weird funny old guy" - seems to match the profile!