geekhack

geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: riotonthebay on Tue, 25 February 2014, 05:46:56

Title: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: riotonthebay on Tue, 25 February 2014, 05:46:56
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintage-IBM-83-Key-XT-Personal-Computer-PC-Clicky-Keyboard-1503206-/181333835549?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a3856bf1d
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 25 February 2014, 06:50:23
It is hard for me to get used to the idea of an XT >$50 considered "cheap" when an AT can be had for twice that amount. An AT at 4x the price of an XT would still be preferable, in my opinion.

Luckily, an F9 is nothing to replace. Some of the keys toward the right side are seriously weird.
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: riotonthebay on Tue, 25 February 2014, 06:55:59
It is hard for me to get used to the idea of an XT >$50 considered "cheap" when an AT can be had for twice that amount. An AT at 4x the price of an XT would still be preferable, in my opinion.

Luckily, an F9 is nothing to replace. Some of the keys toward the right side are seriously weird.

I'm personally holding out for an affordable AT. This listing seems cheap compared to what I've seen lately, though it's not cheap enough for me to buy it instead of an AT.
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: E TwentyNine on Tue, 25 February 2014, 07:14:27
It is hard for me to get used to the idea of an XT >$50 considered "cheap" when an AT can be had for twice that amount. An AT at 4x the price of an XT would still be preferable, in my opinion.

Luckily, an F9 is nothing to replace. Some of the keys toward the right side are seriously weird.

I don't like that the seller doesn't list it as "for parts/untested", because it is obviously untested.

The minus key is upside down (hopefully just sitting on top and not jammed in there) and worst of all the spacebar is out of whack.  Which likely means you have to open this thing up to even think about using it and reseat the spacebar.  Not fun.
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: berserkfan on Tue, 25 February 2014, 08:43:01
It is hard for me to get used to the idea of an XT >$50 considered "cheap" when an AT can be had for twice that amount. An AT at 4x the price of an XT would still be preferable, in my opinion.

Luckily, an F9 is nothing to replace. Some of the keys toward the right side are seriously weird.

I don't like that the seller doesn't list it as "for parts/untested", because it is obviously untested.

The minus key is upside down (hopefully just sitting on top and not jammed in there) and worst of all the spacebar is out of whack.  Which likely means you have to open this thing up to even think about using it and reseat the spacebar.  Not fun.


NEVER BUY AN XT WITH SPACEBAR OUT OF WHACK FOR HIGHER THAN THE PRICE OF SHIPPING. AKA my valuation for such a keyboard is $0.00. The pain in the ass factor as you try to put the spacebar back... whew!
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 25 February 2014, 19:15:40
They are great as a parts unit for more barrels / hammers for your other, more valuable model F's. I'm going to be taking 8 barrels out for my unsavers, and another several for my AT model F.

It's a bit odd, though. Even XT model Fs were half this price last year.
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 25 February 2014, 19:36:27
XT barrels have the vertical cylindrical alignment stud instead of the buttress tab like the others, so they don't interchange universally.

Perhaps the XTant project is nearing fruition and people are stockpiling XTs for parts. I had a couple of junkers laying around that I fixed up and sold last summer, probably should have waited!
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: Pacifist on Tue, 25 February 2014, 19:37:16
XT barrels have the vertical cylindrical alignment stud instead of the buttress tab like the others, so they don't interchange universally.

Perhaps the XTant project is nearing fruition and people are stockpiling XTs for parts. I had a couple of junkers laying around that I fixed up and sold last summer, probably should have waited!

What project? I will have 3 spare XTs so I want to know what it is :p
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 25 February 2014, 19:43:53
What project?

The wet dream of most buckling springs aficionados.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51767.msg1203052#msg1203052
Title: Re: IBM XT F: $49 BIN (cheap CONUS shipping, missing F9 key)
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 25 February 2014, 20:12:00
XT barrels have the vertical cylindrical alignment stud instead of the buttress tab like the others, so they don't interchange universally.
They do if you are already drilling holes in your plate anyway like what is necessary for both the unsaver and the AT model F I mentioned.