geekhack
geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Sam on Sun, 19 June 2011, 21:30:22
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Here's something different. An IBM XT board (they usually go for about $15-$25), but with an active converter to adapt it for PS/2 or USB use. Will be interesting to see if it sells. I personally doubt it, being IBM PC AT boards typically sell for less, and most people much prefer the AT layout to the XT layout.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250841925031 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250841925031)
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Very interesting. I can't remember if you can easily swap keys and hammers in the XT? Because if a sane layout could be achieved, it would be an excellent board.
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is the build quality of the xt vs the AT different? I have an xt, but I'm getting my AT tomorrow.
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is the build quality of the xt vs the AT different? I have an xt, but I'm getting my AT tomorrow.
Yes, the bottom of the case is metal in the XT. The board is slightly higher quality overall.
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OOoo, didn't know the AT was all plastic. Keyfeel any different?
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OOoo, didn't know the AT was all plastic. Keyfeel any different?
The key feel is vaguely different. The AT is not "all plastic", as it still has a metal backplate. In fact, I hesitate to call the XT a "better built" board. They are both exceptionally well built boards.
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I agree with Daniel Beaver's assessment. XT's are built ever so slightly better, but it's actually not really worth worrying about, unless maybe you're planning on frequently dropping your keyboard off the roof. The metal plate in the AT is really all you need in my opinion, and the metal bottom on the XT is simply overkill. I like the feel of the XT switches ever so slightly over the AT's, but again, very similar. I do not like the cursor pad placed right next to the typing area on the XT. I like that small gap there that the AT has. I actually owned one of the first XT's on the market (wasn't even an 'XT', but just a 'PC', without any hard disc drive). I fell in love the that original keyboard, but very quickly adapted to the AT layout when that came out. After using the AT and Model M layouts for so long, I think it would be hard for me to go back to the XT layout, even with some modifications.
One weak point on either the XT or AT are the grips on the left/right side for opening/closing the legs. They tend to break off easily, if the keyboard is dropped and hits on it's side. Even without the tabs, legs can still be opened and closed, with just a bit more effort. If there was one thing about the keyboards that you could call a design flaw, that would be my nomination.
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Thanks for the impressions