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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: SmokinWaffle on Thu, 17 May 2012, 06:33:53

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: SmokinWaffle on Thu, 17 May 2012, 06:33:53

Just found this keyboard in my cupboard, won it in a freebie on OCN aaaaaaaages ago.

(http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/_DSC4616.jpg)

It's a Wang 724, from what I can see it has some sort of ALPS switch, can't tell which colour because I'm colourblind and have trouble seeing it. :(

All I know is I think I prefer it to the feel of my Filco.

(http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/_DSC4620.jpg)

With a little research, I've been told (from an ebay listing) that they can work via with a USB to PS/2 adapter along with the AT to PS/2 adapter. As I have a PS/2 port, am I right in thinking that all I'd need is an AT to PS/2 adapter? Is this connector even AT?

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: Parak on Thu, 17 May 2012, 18:20:11

Yep, all you need is one of these (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10414&cs_id=1041401&p_id=1128&seq=1&format=2) or similar. Bendy types are better than nonbendy types.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: REVENGE on Thu, 17 May 2012, 22:13:27

Quote from: ripster;594903

OCN gives away vintage peach alps?

Vintage doesn't go well with that crowd.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: REVENGE on Thu, 17 May 2012, 22:18:44

The ALPS engineer was probably color blind.

Or maybe he was just Asian.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: SmokinWaffle on Fri, 18 May 2012, 05:17:51

Quote from: ripster;594903

OCN gives away vintage peach alps?

Yep. This was late 2011. Got it from some guy in the US. He's not too sure if it works, but I guess we'll find out.

Quote from: Parak;594970

Yep, all you need is one of these (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10414&cs_id=1041401&p_id=1128&seq=1&format=2) or similar. Bendy types are better than nonbendy types.

Many thanks. :)

I ordered one before your post yesterday, non-bendy one for £1.50 from eBay. Damn the UK's high prices. Still, we'll see if it works soon enough.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: SmokinWaffle on Fri, 18 May 2012, 06:59:08

Ooh, the adapter came this morning and the keyboard works. Gave it a quick wipe over and hoover so now I don't feel as disgusted whilst using it. Small enter key is irritating, but I'll get used to it. Plan to use it for a while.

(http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/_DSC4639.jpg)

Has a speaker in the back too which makes a click/tap noise each time you press a key, which works perfectly, as well as the volume control for it which is also on the back. Turned it off, quite irritating.

Now, for my next question, is there a guide anywhere on removing ALPS keys, or are they as simple as Cherry MX to remove? Any rules I should follow? I only ask because I don't want to break any, and it still has 25~ years of crap underneath the keys that I need to deal with.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: smknjoe on Fri, 18 May 2012, 17:53:31

Didn't they have Wang PCs in Electric Dreams (http://http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087197/)?

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 18 May 2012, 18:21:14

Quote from: smknjoe;595543

Didn't they have Wang PCs in Electric Dreams (http://http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087197/)?

When Miles was purchasing his computer the sales woman mentions "Apple, Pear, Wang..." But the computer that "Moles" settles on purchasing is a Pinecone, at cost.

Spoiler alert:
We later learn that Moles' computer is named Edgar.

Now I'll have to break out my VCR and watch it again. :)

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: SmokinWaffle on Wed, 23 May 2012, 05:56:51

Took it totally apart. Album of PCB and everything inside is here (http://s552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/Keyboard%20Cleaning/?start=all) for those of you interested. Wasn't really any picture of it online, so I thought it might help. Also disconnected the speaker as it didn't turn all the way down, and clicked whenever I pressed a key. Soaked the keys in warm water with 6 denture cleaning tablets, looks new now. :)

Before:

(http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/_DSC4616-1.jpg)

After:

(http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/Keyboard%20Cleaning/_DSC4802.jpg)

Mmm, 27 years of crap. From 1985 as it turns out.

(http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/Keyboard%20Cleaning/_DSC4694.jpg)

A lot of the marks on the board were corrosion, and this one huge spot of rust. This is why you don't spill things on your keyboard! :p

(http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj334/moshmonkey24/Keyboard%20Cleaning/_DSC4712.jpg)

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: Occi on Wed, 23 May 2012, 06:28:42

Is it just the lighting used, or did you wash the keyboard as in the "frame" aswell to the point that it turned from yellowish to clear white? If that's the case it's rather disgusting to see how a whole keyboard can change color like that, not just the keys.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: zirb on Wed, 23 May 2012, 06:55:35

Wow really nice cleaning job SmokinWaffle!

Really great pictures as well, hope you have fun with that keyboard! :)

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: SmokinWaffle on Wed, 23 May 2012, 06:56:25

I gave it all a wash and disinfected it all, the light contributes to the yellowing a little, but not much. It was pretty close to that colour. Gross.

Thanks, Zirb. Just wish I had the top left key! :(

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: Occi on Wed, 23 May 2012, 07:15:09

Wow, I thought maybe those keyboards had that yellowish color in the plastic, but appearantly many of them are just really dirty. In todays era of black keyboards I guess we don't notice it as much..

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: SmokinWaffle on Wed, 23 May 2012, 07:50:51

They do have a beige tint to them, but not yellow.

Then again, I am colourblind so I can't really comment.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: Occi on Wed, 23 May 2012, 08:00:45

I guess beige is the word I was looking for yeah.

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: TexasFlood on Wed, 23 May 2012, 08:38:37

Quote from: Occi;598215

Wow, I thought maybe those keyboards had that yellowish color in the plastic, but appearantly many of them are just really dirty. In todays era of black keyboards I guess we don't notice it as much..

Think it's mostly damage from UV rays from the sun. There are lots of good articles out there about the causes and cures, some samples below, including one from geekhack.

Why does old white plastic turn yellow? (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_old_white_plastic_turn_yellow)
Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines (http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189)
How to Whiten Yellowed Plastic (http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-whiten-yellowed-plastic/)
The “Retr0bright” Project (http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/)
RetrObrite - Get Rid Of That Yellow Piss Look (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:9099)

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: zirb on Wed, 23 May 2012, 08:42:47

I'm sure you'll find a cool 1,5(?)unit replacement key for that eventually :)
What's the function of that key? Destroy universe? (If so, please do not press)

Also, I just realized that you have a good luck key (above top arrow) :D

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: TexasFlood on Wed, 23 May 2012, 08:55:31

Quote from: zirb;598254

I'm sure you'll find a cool 1,5(?)unit replacement key for that eventually :)
What's the function of that key? Destroy universe? (If so, please do not press)

Also, I just realized that you have a good luck key (above top arrow) :D

Isn't it "HELP!!!" :wink:

Title: Wang 724?
Post by: zirb on Wed, 23 May 2012, 09:17:00

Quote from: TexasFlood;598262

Isn't it "HELP!!!" :wink:

Sadly I have never seen that keyboard before, hence I don't know ^^
But yeah, HELP (http://www.9999hp.net/keyboard/Wang/Wang_724_-_PN_725-3771_UK.jpg) it is!