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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: bazemk1979 on Mon, 04 February 2013, 08:55:35

Title: Help me identify this IBM (IBM gurus opinion welcomed)
Post by: bazemk1979 on Mon, 04 February 2013, 08:55:35
Does any body know anything of this keyboard, seller says he has chinesse and japanesse legends variants but I think they are korean legends perhaps? Looks like its mechanical but not sure of that either, if you have any knowledge pitch in please.
Title: Re: Help me identify this IBM (IBM gurus opinion welcomed)
Post by: kishy on Mon, 04 February 2013, 09:01:43
Not much info but see here for its previous mention on GH: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37798.0

One of our members has 2 or 3 of them. According to him, linear Alps switches.

Not usable with any existing converters and if it has the protocol I think it has, it never will be - will require controller replacement or considerable modifications.

It is not the same as a very similar looking unit that I own and which is pictured in thumbnail form on my website (that board is capacitive buckling springs).
Title: Re: Help me identify this IBM (IBM gurus opinion welcomed)
Post by: poxeclipse on Mon, 04 February 2013, 09:07:52
Have a look here:
http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/chinese-ibm-keyboard-proxy-t4688.html
It seems to be the Japanese version. It has old green Alps, which are very nice linear switches, I have them on an old Chicony, but the converter could be a big problem.
Title: Re: Help me identify this IBM (IBM gurus opinion welcomed)
Post by: bazemk1979 on Mon, 04 February 2013, 09:19:34
Cost of the keyboard is around $38 shipped, even if it was usable since its vintage by telling of the casing and also the packaging has is the double styrofoam, to me would only be a collector's item, I do like the Chinesse version better. NIB for $38 a collectors vintage IBM item, looks like a nice price and item, dont care about using it, just having it.
Title: Re: Help me identify this IBM (IBM gurus opinion welcomed)
Post by: rootwyrm on Mon, 04 February 2013, 14:55:46
As I elaborated on long ago, these were custom designed and built for a specific customer order. (There's an RPQ tag on 'em.) They were coupled to an unknown IBM Point of Sale system or terminal system used most likely by an airline. Potentially a 3588 derivative, but it's impossible to say for sure without the RPQ details. If you dig around, there's probably a Chinese made copy of it too.