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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: MissileMike on Mon, 20 December 2010, 08:33:56

Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: MissileMike on Mon, 20 December 2010, 08:33:56
This guy has a bunch of model M keyboards going off simultaneously.  I expect several to go for under 10$.  They appear to be 52g or similar models, and from the pic, look in great condition.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-PS-2-Clicky-Keyboard-/200554806121?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb1ff7b69

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-PS-2-Clicky-Keyboard-/200554806109?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb1ff7b5d

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-PS-2-Clicky-Keyboard-/200554806101?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb1ff7b55

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-PS-2-Clicky-Keyboard-/200554806089?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb1ff7b49

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-PS-2-Clicky-Keyboard-/200554806063?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb1ff7b2f

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-PS-2-Clicky-Keyboard-/200554806042?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2eb1ff7b1a

If you're going to go for one of them, maybe post your choice in here so other members can go for different ones.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: wanabe on Mon, 20 December 2010, 09:41:53
this will be interesting to see... i wonder if geekhackers make up enough of the market for M's to effect the final price.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 10:15:49
What if they're all 71G4644s (rubber domes)?  Somebody(s) will be mighty pissed.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 10:21:36
Quote from: MissileMike;266124
They appear to be 52g or similar models, and from the pic, look in great condition.


Uhm, actually that should be "it", not "they", being there's only one pic of one keyboard that was duplicated.  For that matter, it might not even be a pic of any of the actual keyboards being sold.  Notice one of the listings says "This keyboard is missing the right shift key completely and the backslash-pipe keycap.", but the picture obviously doesn't match this description.  Also the words in all the listings, "could probably use a good cleaning" doesn't seem to match the picture off-hand.

Seller has only 58 positive feedbacks.  I'm not totally convinced myself that this will turn out to be a good deal.  But if it's cheap enough, might be worth taking the risk.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: jnsjr on Mon, 20 December 2010, 10:24:57
Giving it a shot, I'm the high bidder on the 4th link. Thanks Mike!
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: MissileMike on Mon, 20 December 2010, 10:39:15
Wait til the end to bid man!  Use EZSniper or something :)
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: theferenc on Mon, 20 December 2010, 13:20:17
You people who use technology to futz with auctions really infuriate me. Sorry, but it's just so blasted dishonest.

Sorry, I'm a little bitter about a few lost auctions that were clearly won in this fashion.

No offense, Mike, it just really rubs me the wrong way. More power to you, though.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: MissileMike on Mon, 20 December 2010, 14:01:47
Quote from: theferenc;266290
You people who use technology to futz with auctions really infuriate me. Sorry, but it's just so blasted dishonest.

Sorry, I'm a little bitter about a few lost auctions that were clearly won in this fashion.

No offense, Mike, it just really rubs me the wrong way. More power to you, though.


I would do the same exact thing manually if EZSniper didn't exist. Personally, I see absolutely no point in bidding until the final 10 seconds.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: wanabe on Mon, 20 December 2010, 14:38:24
I agree, ebay is an open market.  i do the same thing manually
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: elef on Mon, 20 December 2010, 17:24:07
Quote from: seller
I'm only getting rid of it because I can't actually use it any more and I'm quite sad to see it go.


When this is posted by the same guy in 6 different auctions at the same time and they all have the same photo, well, that doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in the honesty of the seller. Was he using all 6 until he got rid of whatever computer he used to have???
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 17:35:43
I don't use any tools myself, but don't have a problem if someone does.  As mentioned, it shouldn't really be any different than if they manually put in the same bid at the last second.  Being the auction ends at a specified time, last second snipers tend to restrict the amount of emotional bidding that goes on in bidding wars.  Sometimes bidders get caught up in it and bid more than they really wanted to, simply due to their emotional reactions.  I try to leave my emotions out of it and simply but in my maximum bid, and if someone else wants it more than me, well that's what a free market is all about.  No bad feelings there.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: porkbone on Mon, 20 December 2010, 18:29:08
Quote from: ripster;266299
Sniping is the only logical way to do Ebay.

Agreed.  Auctionstealer FTW.

Um.... HEY!
(http://com.puter.tv/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/harry_caray.jpg)

In a related story, since it was foretold here (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=265239&postcount=17) that I needed to buy a Model M now, what would be a good one to look for?  This little thread for example taught me that whatever a 71G4644s is, if I got one I'd be pissed.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 18:38:27
For the most part, Model M's all use buckling spring technology - mechanical clicky switches.  The one exception (that I know of) to this is the Model M 71G4644, which uses those awful feeling rubber dome switches.  See here for a picture and description of it from ClickyKeyboards:
http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/9608/subcatid/0/id/464118 (http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/9608/subcatid/0/id/464118)

As you can see, it looks just like the other Model M's of that era, but if you buy it thinking it's a clicky, you're in for a big surprise.

So blindly buying a Model M of this type without knowing the model number is a bit of a crap shoot as there's plenty of these things out there.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: MissileMike on Mon, 20 December 2010, 18:49:28
Yes these are a total crapshoot, but a cheap risk at least.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: wanabe on Mon, 20 December 2010, 18:50:20
porkboner just read this... http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/model-m-buyers-guide/

it's pretty much everything that you'll need to know.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 19:20:51
Quote from: wanabe;266458
porkboner just read this... http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/model-m-buyers-guide/

it's pretty much everything that you'll need to know.


That's a good guide.  One mistake though that I think is worthwhile noting.  The guide mentions the 101-key terminal boards which don't work directly with PCs.  All of these that I've seen are 102-key boards, not 101-key boards.  The legends on the key caps are normally different from those designed for PCs, but sometimes the legends aren't clear.  So I found the way to immediately spot a terminal vs. PC keyboard is to look on the right-most column of keys over on the keypad.  Terminal boards have four keys there, three regular sized, and one double size.  PC boards have only three keys in that column, one regular and two double size.

I cannot guarantee that this works for every single 101/102-key Model M, but it's held true for all that I've checked.  For any other IBM keyboards though, this may not hold true.  For example, the Model F PC AT board has four keys on the right, but is PC compatible.  Ultimately it's best to check what the connector looks like, but if that's not possible, I think my quick check will steer you correctly in almost all cases.  Someone please post if you know any exceptions to this 101 vs 102 key rule.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 20:13:55
All sniped by the same person except for one.  I suppose with combined shipping it was a pretty good deal as long as they were clickys, being they went for the $11 - $22 range.
Title: Bunch of Model M keyboards, going to go cheap
Post by: Moogle Stiltzkin on Tue, 21 December 2010, 15:36:39
Quote from: Sam;266475
All sniped by the same person except for one.  I suppose with combined shipping it was a pretty good deal as long as they were clickys, being they went for the $11 - $22 range.


I'll bet it ends up back on ebay double the price. But i guess that iss free market for you, but still; if i do buy something, i actually do bother to use it :smow: