geekhack

geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: HaaTa on Fri, 12 November 2010, 23:44:22

Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: HaaTa on Fri, 12 November 2010, 23:44:22
On a random web search 1 year ago, I came across GeekHack.

At the time I was only looking for information about this so called "Colemak" layout and other alternative keyboard layouts. I already had 3 mechanical keyboards in my possession.

But a slow day at work, and my previous searches on mechanical keyboards brought me back to GeekHack to see what was available in the world of keyboards (and so I registered).

Ended up making my first post 7 days later (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=134367&postcount=126).

First planned purchase due to GeekHack was a trackball. And being in Japan at the time, I decided I should go to Akihabara (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=8081) to get one.

Really, the first keyboard I got via GeekHack was my Model F AT from trievalot (Australia) in February, but it was all downhill from there...

Minus "interesting" boards, my collection is nearly complete. Maybe then I'll get some time to write that Linux keyboard layout wiki I've been preparing for the last 8 months.

I even managed to get my hands on some boards I had on my long-term "I might be able to acquire" list: SMK Montereys, NEC Sliders and Beam Springs.

All in all, a fairly successful year.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: msiegel on Fri, 12 November 2010, 23:52:08
Quote from: HaaTa;246201
my collection is nearly complete


a fine collection, hats off to you :D :D

ps- *you* bought the datatrain? :lol: sweet
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 13 November 2010, 00:02:00
Quote from: msiegel;246205
a fine collection, hats off to you :D :D

ps- *you* bought the datatrain? :lol: sweet


A little story behind that actually.


Back when I was in Japan, I found this:
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6WOoTO_7VuQ/S3k67EpBOiI/AAAAAAAAAnA/4rMbLYmDeQY/s800/feb15_1252.jpg)

Now kishy thought it was interesting, and wanted it. So when I came back to Canada in June, I sent it to him. As my paypal account was being an ass at the time. I just requested a discount for a later time.

Fast forward to this week. Kishy's birthday. Feeling slightly like an ass, and moving to Cali this January, I decided to cash in on the favour while I was in the area. So I asked kishy if he had anything interesting to discount me for the $10.
After listing through all of his merchandise/junk he forgot that he had that Datatrain board. I thought it was cool, plus had this nifty $10 discount. so what the hell. It's got double-shots, and switches I've never used before.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: msiegel on Sat, 13 November 2010, 00:15:41
aww :hug:

plus, futabas should be interesting :)

hey where's mr_a500 to check out -- what appears to be -- an amiga mouse clone
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 13 November 2010, 09:24:27
Quote from: kishy;246220


Quote from: HaaTa;246207
junk


Grumble grumble...


Haha, sorry I was tired. Let me rephrase that to "stuff, obviously cool and somewhat useful, but would end up taking space in my closet doing nothing".
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 13 November 2010, 09:58:57
Quote from: ripster;246287
Time to fill up that bag with some Blue Cherries!
Show Image
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5172109332_c9a853710c_z.jpg)


I've tried blues, just never got around to getting a board with them yet, as they are somewhat "common" in mech switch land.
And it gives me an excuse to buy one of those Truly Ergonomic keyboards if they ever happen.

55g Topre is probably coming from Elitekeyboards. And might as well buy from there when I'm in the area (January).

I was going to get a Deck with MX Clears, but since I already have a backlit keyboard now, I'll probably just look for some other interesting board with Clears.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 November 2010, 12:23:17
Quote from: msiegel;246216

hey where's mr_a500 to check out -- what appears to be -- an amiga mouse clone


Oh, I checked it out, believe me. I said, "Hey, that looks like a... why those copying sons of bit-...... Damn them."

Of course, the original Amiga mouse was made in Japan. The company making them probably just "borrowed" the design and reused it for PCs.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 13 November 2010, 12:27:38
Here's more pics if you want them: picasa (http://picasaweb.google.com/TrIpLeHaaTa/NeosMouse#)
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 November 2010, 12:55:41
 :blank:
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 13 November 2010, 16:08:07
Quote from: kishy;246339
Oh cool, I didn't realize HaaTa did take-apart pics.


Yeah, I had misplaced those pics for a while, then magically found them when I was going through some of my bike trip pictures.

Quote from: kishy;246339

HaaTa you shoulda got your keyboard today, I think. Status?

Edit: yup, attempted delivery, didn't find you, it's at the post office. Cool.


Yeah, been too busy. I'll probably get some time on Monday to pick it up.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: Sam on Sat, 13 November 2010, 23:35:52
Mr_a500,

Being you seem to be an Amiga expert, does vintage Amiga hardware have much collector's value?  Back when Commodore first came up with the idea of marketing the Amiga, I was a developer for Commodore at the time and they wanted me to port some of the software written for the C64 to the Amiga.  They sent me a full set of their prototype hardware.  I think I might still have it in storage, unless I tossed it.  The Amiga was a very nice machine at the time, ahead of what others were doing.  But my work took me in a different direction and after doing the one port, I dropped all further Amiga development.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 November 2010, 23:43:40
Quote from: Sam;246573
Mr_a500,

Being you seem to be an Amiga expert, does vintage Amiga hardware have much collector's value?

Amiga prototype hardware is worth nothing. I can take it off your hands for a few bucks. :wink:

No, if you actually do have prototype Amiga hardware, I'm sure you can cash in and laugh all the way to the bank. (...before the bank rips you off and you cry all the way home)

An Amiga prototype sold on eBay a few months ago. I think it went for a couple thousand. (I stopped watching. It was too painful. Otherwise, I'd give you the exact amount it went for.)
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: Sam on Sat, 13 November 2010, 23:48:54
A few thousand, wow, I had no idea.  I'll have to check to see if I still have it.  I recon that would be enough to buy a mini-cache of beam spring boards, which would be much more useful to me than a computer I haven't touched in over 20 years.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 13 November 2010, 23:51:08
What software did you port? I'd like to try it out on my Amiga.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: Sam on Sun, 14 November 2010, 00:07:07
I ported a home finance software package.  I'm not sure if it was ever actually marketed for the Amiga.  When Jack Tramiel left Commodore and bought Atari, so did the Commodore connections I/the company I was working with.  After finishing that project I stopped all contact and interest with Commodore.
Title: This day 1 year ago, I discovered GeekHack
Post by: woody on Sun, 14 November 2010, 08:39:06
Hmm, I have a C64 that hasn't been used at all. It's not NIB per se, just never used - I believe it could've been faulty at production, so it ended up for repair. I opened it, and it's all new inside. Would that be interesting?