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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Shawn Stanford on Tue, 14 September 2010, 06:21:39

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Tue, 14 September 2010, 06:21:39

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-IBM-PC-jr-Keyboard-RARE-FREE-SHIP-/370430086456?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item563f5a8d38#ht_2712wt_1126

Interesting layout. I gathered from the rather sketchy info on the site that they're rubber dome. Are they in any way compatible with modern equipment?

(http://sfwish.com/ebay/pictures/80330/2588_keyboard_1.jpg)

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: TexasFlood on Tue, 14 September 2010, 07:34:20

I noticed that.  Hey, it's ten keyless, and functionless, :wink:.

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 14 September 2010, 07:36:42

They're the 2nd generation PC Jr keyboards which were standard rubber domes AFAIK. The first ones had chiclet keys that were so bad that even the most concise description of the PC Jr will inevitably mention that the keyboard sucked so hard as to be half the reason the thing never sold.

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: WhiteRice on Tue, 14 September 2010, 10:03:33

Too bad, interesting layout

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Tue, 14 September 2010, 20:59:10

That's funny, I wonder if that's why that wireless-IR Cherry keyboard has a switch that reads Jr. on one side ans Sr. on the other?  What does Sr. stand for?  Is that some other type of IR interface?  Anyone know where I can get drivers for either one?

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: DesktopJinx on Mon, 20 September 2010, 21:55:04

I remember these. The keys got wiggly and sticky pretty quickly. The PCjr has a unique keyboard cord and connector; I don't know if the underlying signaling is proprietary.

Honestly, everything about the PCjr was junk.

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: Mercen_505 on Mon, 20 September 2010, 22:09:58

I've got both keyboards. The guts are exactly the same; the only difference between the two is the top half of the casing, and the keys themselves. The rubber membrane, circuit board, and bottom casing are the same.

Really cute keyboards... terrible to type on.

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 21 September 2010, 04:14:53

Are they rubber domes or what?

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: Mercen_505 on Wed, 22 September 2010, 07:49:58

Yes, rubber dome.

Title: What's up with these PCjr keyboards?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 22 September 2010, 10:11:18

Quote from: ripster;225366

Probably the fate of all our Topres.

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