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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: TexasFlood on Wed, 20 October 2010, 22:19:52

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: TexasFlood on Wed, 20 October 2010, 22:19:52

A3000 /4000 keyboard,heavy clicky stlye. AMIGA (http://cgi.ebay.com/A3000-4000-keyboard-heavy-clicky-stlye-AMIGA-/120636396047)

I've seen these before but don't really know much about them.  Anybody know what switches they use or if they're PC compatible?

(http://i.ebayimg.com/21/!B5-i2R!!2k~$(KGrHqR,!i!EycNP-NcbBMvvO,Emrg~~_12.JPG)

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: mr_a500 on Thu, 21 October 2010, 00:00:10

No, they're not PC compatible and no they're not "clicky". That's an Amiga 3000 keyboard, not A4000. As far as Amiga keyboards go, it's about middle of the line - not as good as an A1000 (Cherry) or A2000 (NMI), but better than A500 and A4000.

It's not quite a rubber dome, but it has rubber cups holding up the key with a plastic plunger over a PCB. It's made by Mitsumi.

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13101&stc=1&d=1287637191)

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: mr_a500 on Thu, 21 October 2010, 00:01:38

The A4000 keyboard is much worse. The rubber cups were replaced with springs (making the keys too springy) and the plastics were cheaper material that yellowed much more easily.

Edit: It looks like the seller is splitting up an Amiga system - selling the computer, keyboard, mouse and software separately. I hate when people do that. An Amiga computer is supposed to include the keyboard, mouse and OS. It's not like a PC, where you can easily get the keyboard and mouse from somewhere else. These things only work on Amiga.

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: zmurf on Thu, 21 October 2010, 01:59:51

I used to love writing code on my A3000 keyboard back in the days... I don't know what was wrong with me. Now when I use either my A3k or A4k I usually connect a proper PC keyboard to it through an adapter. But mostly I use my A1200 (it's my most expanded one)... which unfortunately have does horrible internal keyboards.

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: mr_a500 on Thu, 21 October 2010, 03:37:46

Quote from: zmurf;236654

Now when I use either my A3k or A4k I usually connect a proper PC keyboard to it through an adapter.

What?? I feel like shouting "Sacre bleu!" and spitting on the cold, hard ground, my eyes black with disgust.

PC keyboard?? Where's the "Help" key? Where are the Amiga keys? The "Ctrl" key is in the wrong spot! There are too many F keys! Some of the keys are the wrong size (...and smell funny). My GOD, man, what were you thinking?? :doh: :wink:

Actually... I was thinking of connecting my IBM AT Model F to my A3000 (which has USB). I used to think the A3000 keyboard was pretty good, but after a year typing on the AT keyboard, the A3000 keyboard feels like mush.

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: zmurf on Thu, 21 October 2010, 09:24:23

Quote from: mr_a500;236665

What?? I feel like shouting "Sacre bleu!" and spitting on the cold, hard ground, my eyes black with disgust.

Yeah... I then you will wave your white flag and surrender..... you French bastard! As you know, ALL Canadians are French.... And Americans! :wink:
(We have a Canadian at my work here in Sweden... we usually call him French and American just to piss him off :wink: )

But the worst isn't that I use a PC keyboard to my Amigas...
On my spare time I do some assembler programming for my Amigas. And mostly I program ON A PC and assemble it and test it in WinUAE instead of doing it directly on my Amiga. Isn't that about the worst you ever heard?!
:wink:

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: mr_a500 on Thu, 21 October 2010, 10:49:55

 :blank:

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 23 October 2010, 11:36:23

Quote from: zmurf;236654

I used to love writing code on my A3000 keyboard back in the days... I don't know what was wrong with me. Now when I use either my A3k or A4k I usually connect a proper PC keyboard to it through an adapter. But mostly I use my A1200 (it's my most expanded one)... which unfortunately have does horrible internal keyboards.

I forgot to mention that I hooked up an Apple Extended Keyboard to my A3000 - using the Griffin iMate. The Apple Extended (not AEK II) is probably the best keyboard you could connect to the Amiga because it has a Help key and the Apple keys can be used as Amiga keys.

I could also connect that USB typewriter to the Amiga. That might be good for a laugh.

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: aegrotatio on Sun, 24 October 2010, 07:13:23

I had an Amiga 2000, 3000, and 3000T and I never was fond of any of the keyboards.  Most of them were Mitsumi and were expensive to replace so they got repaired instead of replaced to save money.  I was in college at the time (no money).

The best of the lot was probably the Amiga 2000 keyboard, but not by much.  I sold that system to get the 3000T.

And, yes, thou shalt never parcel out any Amiga system.  The keyboards are too proprietary.

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: mr_a500 on Sun, 24 October 2010, 07:44:42

You should have tried an A1000 keyboard. That one was definitely the best of the Amiga keyboards. I'd describe it as similar to the SGI granite in feel. (but not exactly)

Title: Amiga A3000 /4000 keyboard $45
Post by: zmurf on Sun, 24 October 2010, 10:29:30

Well... I do have a subway usb in my a1200... so I guess that I could  connect a usb keyboard...