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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: f/64 on Wed, 12 September 2012, 20:52:39

Title: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: f/64 on Wed, 12 September 2012, 20:52:39: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190724675261#ht_500wt_1414 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190724675261#ht_500wt_1414)

I hadn't seen it before and can't find anything; I even crawled through old Radio Shack catalogs lol.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: f/64 on Wed, 12 September 2012, 20:58:30: Quote from: dante on Wed, 12 September 2012, 20:55:47
Looks like a keyboard.

(sorry I had to)

No problem, I expected it.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: SmallFry on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:02:05: Did you win it? That looks cool! almost like a vintage poker of sorts.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: f/64 on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:06:26: Quote from: SmallFry on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:02:05
Did you win it? That looks cool! almost like a vintage poker of sorts.

Yeah, for $20, I figured what the hell. I think one/some of the old TRS models had cherry compatible caps. If not, then it's old enough to be Mitsumi ALPS.... I think...
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:43:22: I think it is meant to replace the built-in keyboard on a TRS-80. Kinda like how you can buy replacement keyboards for laptops now.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: f/64 on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:45:19: Quote from: jdcarpe on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:43:22
I think it is meant to replace the built-in keyboard on a TRS-80. Kinda like how you can buy replacement keyboards for laptops now.

That's what I originally thought as well, but I couldn't find one that matched the metal tabs at the top on the auction board.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: Burz on Thu, 13 September 2012, 00:50:23: Quote from: f/64 on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:45:19
That's what I originally thought as well, but I couldn't find one that matched the metal tabs at the top on the auction board.
Recognized it the moment I saw the photo; It belongs to an Atari 1200XL.

http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html

Weird, huh?
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 13 September 2012, 08:29:22: 1982 so probably not domes.

Yep, that looks exactly like it, Burz. You have a good eye. Did you own one or something?
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: Burz on Thu, 13 September 2012, 09:02:23: Quote from: dorkvader on Thu, 13 September 2012, 08:29:22
1982 so probably not domes.

Yep, that looks exactly like it, Burz. You have a good eye. Did you own one or something?
I wanted one when I was small; Now I have one.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: f/64 on Thu, 13 September 2012, 12:43:56: Quote from: Burz on Thu, 13 September 2012, 00:50:23
Quote from: f/64 on Wed, 12 September 2012, 21:45:19
That's what I originally thought as well, but I couldn't find one that matched the metal tabs at the top on the auction board.
Recognized it the moment I saw the photo; It belongs to an Atari 1200XL.

http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html

Weird, huh?

You da man. Any idea what type of switches it uses? I saw it had a Mitsumi sticker on the pcb.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: Burz on Thu, 13 September 2012, 17:36:01: Quote from: f/64 on Thu, 13 September 2012, 12:43:56
You da man. Any idea what type of switches it uses? I saw it had a Mitsumi sticker on the pcb.

I remember them as feeling linear, thats all. Its been a while since I packed it away in the basement.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: sth on Thu, 13 September 2012, 17:37:12: I have the numpad from that machine, same caps. i love the feel of the switches... and yes they are linear.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: f/64 on Thu, 13 September 2012, 17:46:40: If I can't find anything to do with it, maybe I can just resell it. I read earlier that the 1200xl had a great keyboad, but it had a tendency to die.
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: f/64 on Thu, 13 September 2012, 17:56:52: Any idea if it can be converted to work on a new PC?

Edit:
From what I understand, this could work. Not for me at $170 though.
http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke_usb108.html (http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke_usb108.html)
Title: Re: Any Clue What This Is?
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 15 September 2012, 00:40:50: The easiest way might be to just forgo the old controller (Ribbon cable?) and wire the switches to a teensy directly.

Another option is to try and convert that old protocol. I know some people like Haata are good at that sort of thing.