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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 16:02:07

Title: Model M mini
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 16:02:07: Even though this isn't a brand new one, this looks to be in pretty nice condition.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-IBM-Model-M-Space-Saver-Keyboard_W0QQitemZ290325993928QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item4398c719c8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A3|66%3A4|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200

read the description for more information!
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wheel83 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 16:10:39: I think I bought one of these from the same seller. Thick font, Wordstar, and different CTRL ALT Buttons. I swapped em all out of course.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wheel83 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 16:29:54: this is true webwit. this is true.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wheel83 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 16:34:28: There is one for sale on Ebay. It's at 450 already with like 6 days left. It MAY be mine. It MAY also be not because that's an eff load of money. If it is mine, Pics will definitely follow. I mean I think I'm ready to buy it, but if the auction gets toooo out of hand I will readily pass.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: bigpook on Mon, 22 June 2009, 16:35:16: So I was wondering, what with the custom keys and all. I have a mini with custom keys and no numpad (odd) and it looks like it was owned by some financial outfit.

Did IBM sell these 'custom' mini's with different firmware to support some custom backend software? Not that it matters now but I was just wondering. It almost seems like the keyboards were custom fit for the particular customer. Like some sort of package deal.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: talis on Mon, 22 June 2009, 17:56:04: This seller seems to be famous for the semi-random key swaps. I got a mini from him as well with a couple of key swaps from a non-mini (didn't have the numpad digits printed on the keys). This was also the one with 16+ missing rivets.

He must have got a stock of orphan boards that had lead hard lives.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 18:14:47: wow, basically its a safe bet that any used M is going to have some rivets missing.

when i have the time I'd eventually replace all my rivets with the steel ones like in that mod in the mods section. [i know that was a horribly formed sentence... but i'm too lazy to fix it...]
Title: Model M mini
Post by: talis on Mon, 22 June 2009, 18:37:17: Quote from: ripster;98425
I just popped open my NIB model mini because of all the rivet talk and found this.

She musta been cheating behind my back!!

They were from the edges so I'm not gonna bother fixing them. Just forget it ever happened.

I blame plastic eating bacteria, or maybe keyboard rot !

It wasn't so much the rivets that bothered me (easily replaceable), it was the mismatched keys, and the fact that 20% or so of the keys had banged up/scratched up edges. I had to take a file to them before they were usable.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 19:31:57: Ok so here is me being a noob.

What are rivets and what is the use of them?
All I see are melted plastic piece on the back of the steel backplate and it seems to be holding something up. Other than that, I have no idea what it does.

Also, I just missed a deal on ebay for a '89 1391401 for $20! (sorry no link, deleted it off 'my watching list') and there are no more up for auction! (not BIN). I guess I'm never getting one =(
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 20:28:17: Quote from: watduzhkstand4;98457
Ok so here is me being a noob.

What are rivets and what is the use of them?

Rivets hold the thingmabob to the whatzit.

Their function is to gradually fall off, one by one, causing inconsistent sound quality and general disappointment among model M fans about the otherwise indestructible nature of that board.

Their function is to remind us that even superhuman 1980's IBM engineers were fallible human beings, and thus remind us of the fleeting and random nature of life on earth.

After all, does not the good book say:

Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?
Ecclesiastes, 1. 2

All is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes, 1. 14

In the place where the [strike]tree[/strike] rivet falleth, there it shall be.
Ecclesiastes, 11. 3

Quote

Also, I just missed a deal on ebay for a '89 1391401 for $20! (sorry no link, deleted it off 'my watching list') and there are no more up for auction! (not BIN). I guess I'm never getting one =(

pish posh. 139's are one of the most common boards out there, and one of the cheapest to acquire. Just remember, no matter what ripster says, you want a gray logo one.

[alright, they seem to have put too much caffeine into my Americano.]
Title: Model M mini
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 20:42:11: Thanks wellington lmao
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 21:05:48: Quote from: watduzhkstand4;98471
Thanks wellington lmao

lol, I cracked myself up so I'm glad you found it amusing ;)
Title: Model M mini
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 21:37:33: I'm just camping on a model M right now but non of them are up as a bid on ebay. *sigh anyone want to sell me a model m (working one please) for $29? xD
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 21:39:42: Quote from: watduzhkstand4;98478
I'm just camping on a model M right now but non of them are up as a bid on ebay. *sigh anyone want to sell me a model m (working one please) for $29? xD

wheels83 may be interested, PM him. If that doesnt work, put a WTB ad in the classifieds section. I'm sure there are people out there with extra Ms.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 21:41:02: Quote from: wellington1869;98479
wheels83 may be interested, PM him. If that doesnt work, put a WTB ad in the classifieds section. I'm sure there are people out there with extra Ms.

thanks for the heads up! I've never tried the classified ads but will give it a shot now!
Title: Model M mini
Post by: nowsharing on Mon, 22 June 2009, 21:51:59: There's an '87 1391401 for $30 BIN http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=270407319042
You can always wait out a better deal, but if you're only going to buy one then you might as well spend a little more for something special, like an '87.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 21:55:15: Quote from: nowsharing;98482
There's an '87 1391401 for $30 BIN http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=270407319042
You can always wait out a better deal, but if you're only going to buy one then you might as well spend a little more for something special, like an '87.

yea I missed out on an 88 for $20 shipped. That $30 BIN isn't too bad but I would like it $30 shipped =P
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wheel83 on Tue, 23 June 2009, 01:03:28: Eh webwit, touche lol

i dont think i can afford an m15 right now. crazy japs (and dutch) haha.
Title: Model M mini
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Wed, 24 June 2009, 07:29:15: Here is one BIN that I just saw on ebay but please read the description.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-1397681-Clicky-Space-Saver-PS-2-Keyboard_W0QQitemZ130314711143QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item1e575cb067&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A3|66%3A4|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200

Did he just call all of us "uber-dorks"?
Title: Model M mini
Post by: wheel83 on Wed, 24 June 2009, 07:36:25: i'm pretty sure he did, but on ebay anything can happen lol
Title: Model M mini
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 24 June 2009, 16:28:09: Quote from: watduzhkstand4;98457

Also, I just missed a deal on ebay for a '89 1391401 for $20!
(

There's a small computer shop in my hometown. Walking in there is like stepping through a time portal. Last time I was in there, he had a very nice stash of Model Ms - about 15 to 20 of them. I remember inspecting up a couple and seeing an '87 and an '86. Let me know if you'd like me to pick one or twenty up for you. Just cost + shipping. If there's enough interest here, I'll pick them all up and list them on the marketplace with photos & all. One thing, they do all have original dirt on them - cleaning would be extra :smile: