Black Dell AT101 w/ matching mouse

[timw4mail]

Here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Dell-BLACK-Clicky-Keyboard-Mouse_W0QQitemZ290333425934QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item439938810e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[ch_123]

I have read somewhere that those Black Dells were prone to the lettering fading off. Does anyone know whether this is true or not? They sure look an awful lot more pretty than the regular beige ones.

[ch_123]

That's weird, the AT101W I had definitely had laser-etched legends - they were noticably rough when you felt them. A few older AT102Ws I found had more smooth surfaces. Maybe they changed to laser etching later on in production. You can tell whether yours is newer or older depending on whether it has a coiled cord or a straight one.

[ch_123]

Yeah, the one I got was the same. Dells aren't dated, but things like the type of cable, presence of Windows keys and the logo can tell you roughly how old they are. And yeah, mine were quite rough. You could see those little bumps just by looking at that.

Can you laser black keys though?

Doubt it. Probably why it used a different process to the beige ones. I don't think the black ones were made for more than a year or so.

[Viett]

I have read somewhere that those Black Dells were prone to the lettering fading off. Does anyone know whether this is true or not? They sure look an awful lot more pretty than the regular beige ones.

I bought mine used and the letters were pretty faded. Honestly, though, it doesn't look terribly bad.

[timw4mail]

I bought mine used and the letters were pretty faded. Honestly, though, it doesn't look terribly bad.

I never did understand why the world switched to black keyboards, it seems like they are much more difficult to label the keys.

[itlnstln]

I never did understand why the world switched to black keyboards, it seems like they are much more difficult to label the keys.

Because beige is ugly. *
 
Seriously though, beige is ugly.
 
Black's not all great, either, but it does age better than beige (it obviously doesn't yellow), so that might be part of it as well. Some companies, like Costar, do it (make black keyboards) better than others and very well, for that matter, and Cherry has a method of laser-etching black (or any other dark-color) keys. Double-shot molding is equally difficult in any color.
 
Lowpoly's chocolate and cream 'board, however, is the only keyboard I would murder somebody for.
 
 
 
 
*There is something to be said for nostalgia, but honestly, beige is ugly.

[timw4mail]

Because beige is ugly. *
 
Seriously though, beige is ugly.
 
Black's not all great, either, but it does age better than beige (it obviously doesn't yellow), so that might be part of it as well. Some companies, like Costar, do it (make black keyboards) better than others and very well, for that matter, and Cherry has a method of laser-etching black (or any other dark-color) keys. Double-shot molding is equally difficult in any color.
 
Lowpoly's chocolate and cream 'board, however, is the only keyboard I would murder somebody for.
 
 
 
 
*There is something to be said for nostalgia, but honestly, beige is ugly.

It only yellows if it contains those brominated flame retardants...which most beige plastics did, at some point.

Personally, I don't like seeing every piece of dust on a black keyboard. Yech.

[itlnstln]

Personally, I don't like seeing every piece of dust on a black keyboard. Yech.

That's why I prefer white or gun-metal grayish colors.
 
 
Feather duster, FTW. My black keyboards all look brand new (minus the key shine on my Filco).

[timw4mail]

That's why I prefer white or gun-metal grayish colors.
 
 
Feather duster, FTW. My black keyboards all look brand new (minus the key shine on my Filco).

Hmm...that would be really nice...an aluminum keyboard, with aluminum keycaps...

Of course, that would be rather expensive, too, I'm sure.

[Special K]

Dells aren't dated, but things like the type of cable, presence of Windows keys and the logo can tell you roughly how old they are.

Actually I think they are dated.  I took my AT101W apart for cleaning once and if you look on the underside of the top plastic portion of the keyboard, there is a grid with months on one axis and years on the other axis.  My keyboard has a physical plastic dot molded into the box that corresponds to May 2000.  I assume that refers to the manufacturing date.

I'm not sure if all AT101W's have this, but it might be worth checking out if you are curious.

[lowpoly]

Mine has faded letters too.

[CX23882]

I'd say February 18th 2002.