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Author Topic: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)  (Read 2716 times)

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Offline TacticalCoder

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Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« on: Wed, 18 December 2013, 15:18:18 »
Found this in a local ad. It's a TI99/4a complete with 11 cartridges (including one being "TI Invaders" !), two joysticks, its manual, etc.

It still boots (but has a few display glitches).

I'm very happy and how not to fall in love with the "Solid State Software" writing on the front  8)

48336-0

Keys are double-shots. The switch is original and I had never seen one like this.

I had the same computer for a few days in 1984 or so and always wanted one: now it's done!
« Last Edit: Wed, 18 December 2013, 16:50:24 by TacticalCoder »
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Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 18 December 2013, 15:23:08 »
That is awesome.
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Offline Wildcard

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 18 December 2013, 15:23:42 »
Not to mention that nice aluminum cover which reminds me of something Doc would have had in the Delorean.
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Offline jdcarpe

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 18 December 2013, 15:32:12 »
My first computer!
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Offline TacticalCoder

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 19 December 2013, 03:32:05 »
Crappy picture (camera ain't a reflex) but you can see the switch with its square peg. When you press it the two metallic parts get closer and then touch each other. Sweet.

48392-0
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Offline terran5992

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 19 December 2013, 03:35:20 »
Quote from: TacticalCoder on Thu, 19 December 2013, 03:32:05
Crappy picture (camera ain't a reflex) but you can see the switch with its square peg. When you press it the two metallic parts get closer and then touch each other. Sweet.

(Attachment Link)

How does it feel like?
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Offline ninjadoc

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 19 December 2013, 05:36:00 »
Nice find
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Offline 002

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 24 December 2013, 05:17:34 »
Nice one.
Looks like the switches used in Hi-Tek modular keyboards, or stackpole switches.
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 26 December 2013, 17:20:07 »
Quote from: TacticalCoder on Thu, 19 December 2013, 03:32:05
Crappy picture (camera ain't a reflex) but you can see the switch with its square peg. When you press it the two metallic parts get closer and then touch each other. Sweet.

(Attachment Link)


Sorry to say, but that's the crap TI-99/4a keyboard. There is an ALPS version that is much better. I have both versions. Sadly, my "new in box" TI-99/4a is that "stackpole" version and my scratched, dented one is the ALPS.
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Offline TacticalCoder

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 26 December 2013, 17:27:43 »
Quote from: terran5992 on Thu, 19 December 2013, 03:35:20
Quote from: TacticalCoder on Thu, 19 December 2013, 03:32:05
Crappy picture (camera ain't a reflex) but you can see the switch with its square peg. When you press it the two metallic parts get closer and then touch each other. Sweet.

(Attachment Link)

How does it feel like?

Quite heavy: must put a lot of pressure to actuate the keys. It's not clicky. I'd say it's linear but I'm not very good at describing the switches : )

I'll try to get a better picture when I can get my hand on a camera!

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Offline TacticalCoder

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 26 December 2013, 17:30:03 »
Quote from: mr_a500 on Thu, 26 December 2013, 17:20:07
Sorry to say, but that's the crap TI-99/4a keyboard.

oh I see... No big deal: I didn't buy this thing for its switches but because I always wanted one, since nearly 30 years now : )

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HHKB Pro JP (daily driver) -- HHKB Pro 2 -- Industrial IBM Model M 1395240-- NIB Cherry MX 5000 - IBM Model M 1391412 (Swiss QWERTZ) -- IBM Model M 1391403 (German QWERTZ) * 2 -- IBM Model M Ambra -- Black IBM Model M M13 -- IBM Model M 1391401 -- IBM Model M 139? ? ? *2 -- Dell AT102W -- Ergo (split) SmartBoard (white ALPS apparently)

Offline mr_a500

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Re: Straight from an attic, after 28 years... (with DS keys)
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 27 December 2013, 06:47:12 »
Quote from: TacticalCoder on Wed, 18 December 2013, 15:18:18
I had the same computer for a few days in 1984 or so and always wanted one: now it's done!

Strangely, I had it for just a few days back in the 80's too. I bought it from a friend, but hated the keyboard layout and the awkward version of BASIC, so I returned it. It took me another couple decades to get one again.

I really love the ALPS version - the frosty textured keycaps and clack when bottoming out. It's still one of my all-time favourite keyboards (not considering the awful layout). The "stackpole" switch is not nearly as smooth ("frictiony" and a bit too springy) and has different keycaps - slightly rounder and the plastic is different (cheaper). It's like the difference between PBT and ABS.
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