geekhack

geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Parak on Sun, 28 November 2010, 17:06:44

Title: Kaypro II keyboard
Post by: Parak on Sun, 28 November 2010, 17:06:44

$20 BIN (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260700153615)

Title: Kaypro II keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 28 November 2010, 17:31:39

I've used one of those (or at least a slightly later version).

Boring linears.

Title: Kaypro II keyboard
Post by: Sam on Mon, 29 November 2010, 00:11:21

I always liked the looks of some of those old Kaypro keyboards with the blue keys.  I think Mr A500 has one of these and recall he mentioned there being a difference between the early boards and the later boards, with the early boards being the preferred ones.  Maybe he or someone else with knowledge of these will chime in.  Anyone know what sort of an interface they used?  AT, XT, proprietary?

Title: Kaypro II keyboard
Post by: mr_a500 on Sun, 05 December 2010, 13:17:37

Quote from: Sam;253685

I always liked the looks of some of those old Kaypro keyboards with the blue keys.  I think Mr A500 has one of these and recall he mentioned there being a difference between the early boards and the later boards, with the early boards being the preferred ones.  Maybe he or someone else with knowledge of these will chime in.  Anyone know what sort of an interface they used?  AT, XT, proprietary?

This keyboard uses a proprietary interface and won't work on PC. There isn't much quality difference between the earlier and later CP/M Kaypro keyboards. The key material is slightly thinner on the later ones (and font is different), but key presses on the later ones are actually a little smoother (don't jam as much). Feel is linear, but I like them because of the quality of the plastic and nice vintage look.

Kaypro later made x86 PC compatible models and those keyboards might work on PC, but they look like standard boring PC keyboards.