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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: WhiteRice on Sun, 01 August 2010, 23:41:08
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Hey guys,
As part of my summer internship I had to learn and write functions in Dyalog 12 APL. Now one thing led to another and I found myself in the magical world of mechanical keyboards.
I've been lurking around for a few weeks, and I've come to the conclusion that I want to pickup a minitouch or model m space saver. As the model m's seem to be impossible to find I decided to try and find a minitouch.
A few questions:
When looking on ebay is there anything other than the plus designation to determine which ones have switches?
There must by a guide to modding an AT cable to a ps/2 on a keyboard. I mean if there is a cable adapter then I must be able to open it up a solder one on.
If I want to get colored keys for the minitouch where should I look?
So any tips on shopping around locally? Thrift/pawn shops and garage sale I imagine.
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I'll let the hardware geeks answer the questions about the cabling and etc. If you want a minitouch, buy the Geekhack Space Saver from Didjamatic:
http://www.5k177.com/more/
The minitouch uses ALPS switches so anything that fits an ALPS board will fit on it. You may have to resort to harvesting keycaps from other boards with keycaps you like though because it's not easy to find a bag of colored ALPS keycaps for sale.
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I'll let the hardware geeks answer the questions about the cabling and etc. If you want a minitouch, buy the Geekhack Space Saver from Didjamatic:
http://www.5k177.com/more/
The minitouch uses ALPS switches so anything that fits an ALPS board will fit on it. You may have to resort to harvesting keycaps from other boards with keycaps you like though because it's not easy to find a bag of colored ALPS keycaps for sale.
Thanks for the swift reply!
I would love to support a forum member, but the price is a bit steep on an intern's wage. I will keep it in mind if nothing comes up in a few weeks.
I was reading up on dying keycaps, so I may go that route for colors :)
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If you're on a budget, you might need to expand what you're willing to accept. The small form factor boards all tend to be more expensive and rarer than their full sized counterparts. People score crazy finds at thrift shops and garage sales all the time. You could get lucky, but your odds are much better if you're looking for something that's more commonplace.
If you're willing to make a compromise on the size of the board, Triege (http://geekhack.org/member.php?u=3365)'s got some full sized Model M's for $35 that are all in good working order.
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I got an ABS M1 for 30 shipped. Still looking for a minitouch though. :3 The geekhack one is looking mighty tempting, but I think i'll see if I can get one for ~$50 first.
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I'll let the hardware geeks answer the questions about the cabling and etc. If you want a minitouch, buy the Geekhack Space Saver from Didjamatic:
http://www.5k177.com/more/
The minitouch uses ALPS switches so anything that fits an ALPS board will fit on it. You may have to resort to harvesting keycaps from other boards with keycaps you like though because it's not easy to find a bag of colored ALPS keycaps for sale.
You could also buy an old, grimy one on Ebay for $20.
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You could also buy an old, grimy one on Ebay for $20.
restoring stuff is half the fun, but yea those geekhack board are looking mighty tempting. I'll have to see how much my 8600gt goes for on ebay.
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You could also buy an old, grimy one on Ebay for $20.
Maybe. I don't see any up there at any price right now. I think Bob Tibbetts of Northgate Keyboard Repair (http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/) has some NIB ones for $125.
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Does Bob make you listen on the phone to "This Land Is My Land, This Land Is Your Land" before he gives you pricing and availability?
Unfortunately, that torture is not included in the selling price, but is nonetheless part of the price you pay for one of Bob's keyboards.
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Does Bob make you listen on the phone to "This Land Is My Land, This Land Is Your Land" before he gives you pricing and availability?
I wouldn't be surprised but really can't say since we discussed it in email. :usa2:
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Unfortunately, that torture is not included in the selling price, but is nonetheless part of the price you pay for one of Bob's keyboards.
Wait, what's that sound? Woody Guthrie spinning in his grave?
(http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/images/thislandisyourland.jpg)
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There is a minitouch on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320568541389) now.
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There is a minitouch on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320568541389) now.
Right you are. And cheap right now, only $16.50 shipped to me. Odds are though, based on what I've see in the past, that it end up going for a lot more than $20. Maybe it will go cheap cause many won't find it in a search, as I didn't, because "SIIG" doesn't seem to be anywhere in the title or description. Of course now that it's posted here...
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There are a bunch of minitouch's on ebay right now -- are not all of them mechanical? Please forgive my ignorance :D
EDIT: Nevermind, I forgot that the PLUS is the one with rubber domes
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EDIT: Nevermind, I forgot that the PLUS is the one with rubber domes
That's actually not a bad thing to bring up regardless of if you know the answer or not. A lot of people here have been disappointed when they get their auction winnings and found that either they didn't realize they got a rubber dome version of a board or that the seller really had no clue what he or she was selling.
Best to do your homework...
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Right you are. And cheap right now, only $16.50 shipped to me. Odds are though, based on what I've see in the past, that it end up going for a lot more than $20. Maybe it will go cheap cause many won't find it in a search, as I didn't, because "SIIG" doesn't seem to be anywhere in the title or description. Of course now that it's posted here...
Oops - Hope I didn't screw that up for anyone, but if I did
:fear:
at least I didn't put it in the ebay section I was gonna, but I put it here cuz I read this thread first...
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Oops - Hope I didn't screw that up for anyone, but if I did
:fear:
at least I didn't put it in the ebay section I was gonna, but I put it here cuz I read this thread first...
Now up to $35 plus shipping with over 2 days to go, think it will likely continue to climb.
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/facepalm
It's ok though. I've decided to get a ghss. Waiting for some stuff to sell on ebay,
I found the best result on ebay by searching "minitouch -adesso -plus"
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$40+shipping, and rising... :sad:
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$40+shipping, and rising... :sad:
I got my M-1 in the mail today, and I ordered a ghss. After looking around it is quite apparent how good of a deal it is. :D
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I will admit it; I was the one who won the Minitouch :D
I've heard very good things about this board and I'm a sucker for a good deal.
My apologies to anyone I may have smited ;)
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Wouldn't that be "smote"? That doesn't seem right either though. Smitten? Smoted? Ah - "SMUD!"
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Smited sounds good enough.
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Wouldn't that be "smote"? That doesn't seem right either though. Smitten? Smoted? Ah - "SMUD!"
XD
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I will admit it; I was the one who won the Minitouch :D
I've heard very good things about this board and I'm a sucker for a good deal.
My apologies to anyone I may have smited ;)
Looks like it went for $58.67+shipping? Not bad, but an odd number - 67 cents?
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r291/CatHat_Dev/Aaah_Smite-1.jpg)
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Looks like it went for $58.67+shipping? Not bad, but an odd number - 67 cents?
Some people don't make any cents
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Wouldn't that be "smote"? That doesn't seem right either though. Smitten? Smoted? Ah - "SMUD!"
"Smoten" :D
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smitten like kitten.
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naww. That sounds too warm and fuzzy.
I'm going to adopt "SMUD" as a new past unreal conditional tense of "to smite" - ie "anyone I might have 'smud'" - You know as in, "your name is mud!" =D