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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: SteveH on Sun, 02 September 2012, 08:08:05

Title: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: SteveH on Sun, 02 September 2012, 08:08:05

Bit of a long shot, but I'm looking for an old 1980s NEC APC-H25 keyboard.  It's for one of these http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/big/6832/NEC-APC-Advanced-Portable-Computer/ (http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/big/6832/NEC-APC-Advanced-Portable-Computer/)

Thanks,
Steve

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 02 September 2012, 17:31:11

Welcome to Geekhack!

I can't help with your need (although I do have an NEC APC-H4100E, so I understand your liking - those old NEC boxes were very well made.

Although most of the regulars will likely see this post, your best bet would be to join in, do a few more posts, then create a thread in Classifieds where this WTB will be stored for posterity.

Have you tried online auction sites?

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: 486 on Mon, 03 September 2012, 01:03:45

Saw one recently. On eBay with the machine. Very expensive for just the board.

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: SteveH on Tue, 04 September 2012, 16:09:13

Hi rowdy, 486,

I've been looking on auctions sites like ebay for some time now and the only ones to come up so far have been in the US.  There are two full NEC APC machines currently on ebay but the sellers will only post within the US.  Not much help as I'm in the UK.

I suppose an alternative is to cobble together an interface to connect some other keyboard, but for that I'd at least need the NEC APC schematics - apparently they were provided with these beasts, but I've not managed to find them either.  I'll keep searching for a keyboard and/or schematics.

I've still got more work to do to restore the rest of the NEC APC.  You can see it's current condition here http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?18044-NEC-Advanced-Personal-Computer (http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?18044-NEC-Advanced-Personal-Computer)

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 04 September 2012, 17:29:20

Sounds like you'd need to find someone living in the US to act as a postal proxy for you.

Shipping costs would be quite high anyway - shipping from CONUS to Australia, for example, seems to be around $60 to $70 for a single keyboard.

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: digitalleftovers on Wed, 05 September 2012, 19:29:57

Since you are in the UK, you should also post a classified over at Deskthority.net

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: SteveH on Fri, 07 September 2012, 15:28:56

Thanks for the pointer, I'll head on over to deskthority.net
Cheers

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: yangdaddy on Tue, 17 October 2017, 12:44:29

hey there, did you ever end up finding one of these? I came across one and think it's pretty cool, but don't really know what to do with it. I live in Los Angeles, so a long way from the UK, but if you're still looking and willing to work with me, I'm happy to work it out.

Title: Re: Looking for an NEC APC-H25
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 02 January 2018, 21:55:33

That's quite a necro-bump :eek:

I managed to find a replacement switch for my APC-H4100E, soldered it in place, and it now works perfectly (although is very yellowed).