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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: EDI on Sat, 18 January 2014, 13:41:11

Title: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: EDI on Sat, 18 January 2014, 13:41:11

http://www.ebay.com/itm/I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155-Model-68-OUTSTANDING-CONDITION-/231138587128?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d0eef1f8

Does someone know is the keyboard of this thing any good?

Title: Re: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 18 January 2014, 13:45:18

The keyboard is totally awesome (aside from awkward layout). That price is way too high though.

Title: Re: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: jdcarpe on Sat, 18 January 2014, 13:46:27

Now THAT'S a luggable!!

Yes, it's an XT Model F keyboard, which is very nice. You could use it with a modern PC using a Soarer's converter.

Title: Re: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 18 January 2014, 13:55:51

 :blank:

Title: Re: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: bcg on Sat, 18 January 2014, 14:22:10

I have one of these and the keyboard is nice, same as the XT

I have some issues with mine though, I think the plastic case is actually a problem when compared to the XT

I was getting a lot of "phantom" keystrokes that I couldn't explain... then I realized that it might be that steel plate wasn't grounded and my body was actually triggering the capsense controller

I'd definitely recommend running a wire connecting to connect the steel plate to the case of your PC, that seemed to make things a lot more stable for me.  One of the wires inside the RJ11 connector does is connected to the steel plate already, I can't remember which one though

Also these are a pain to get open if you need to, I actually broke a small piece of the plastic case before I figured out the right method to get it open.

Nice connector mr_a500, do you have a link where I could order that?  I've been looking for something just like it

Title: Re: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: bcg on Sat, 18 January 2014, 14:23:15

Quote from: EDI on Sat, 18 January 2014, 13:41:11

http://www.ebay.com/itm/I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155-Model-68-OUTSTANDING-CONDITION-/231138587128?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d0eef1f8

Does someone know is the keyboard of this thing any good?

Woah I just saw that price on that.... outrageous... should be more like $50 without shipping

Title: Re: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 18 January 2014, 14:28:43

I haven't had any problem with phantom keystrokes - at least while connected to the actual 5155 computer - and I've got two of these keyboards. Maybe I'll have problems when trying to convert to USB. One of my keyboards is much heavier than the other, so there are probably variations in construction.

I got the connector here:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/190983996689 (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/190983996689)

I just hope the connector is big enough to fit the Teensy, or I might have to do some cutting. There are other connectors out there that are much bigger (too big actually), but I wanted to try this smaller one first.

Title: Re: I-B-M-Personal-Portable-Computer-5155
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 18 January 2014, 14:33:19

Quote from: bcg on Sat, 18 January 2014, 14:22:10

Also these are a pain to get open if you need to, I actually broke a small piece of the plastic case before I figured out the right method to get it open.

Ah, so I was right to worry about that. Many times I considered attempting to open one, but didn't want to cause damage or loosen it. I like the case being firm and non-flexing.