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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ezrahilyer on Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:49:03

Title: Model M Buying Guide Started on Fleabays Guides
Post by: ezrahilyer on Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:49:03
i started writing a buying guide for restored model Ms on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-choose-a-good-IBM-Model-M-Keyboard-/10000000191270374/g.html (http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-choose-a-good-IBM-Model-M-Keyboard-/10000000191270374/g.html) not completely finished yet, what do you think?
Any ideas on what else I should add? There is so much to tell......

-ezra
Title: Re: Model M Buying Guide Started on Fleabays Guides
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:51:39
You should explain what a bold mod is, why some models have different labels, how to differentiate a model M from a model F, and also maybe give a little history.

Just my $0.02.
Title: Re: Model M Buying Guide Started on Fleabays Guides
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 16 November 2014, 13:26:44
The "label color" question is sticky. If I remember correctly, the oval beige plastic label with black printing is called "white", "beige", "gray", and "black" almost randomly and interchangeably.

There is also an actual black label that is used only on industrials, and they should be mentioned somewhere.

It seems that different plants changed components (eg lighter plates, barrel inserts instead of wire stabilizers, label color) at wildly different dates, so it is not true to say that a 1988 is "old-school" and a 1989 is not, or that a 1993 is sure to be a blue label.

I would also recommend that you discuss the cables, and the fact that the original black coiled AT cables work fine with a passive adapter. Naturally, you want to sell your USB conversions, but if you are talking to newbies then you could mention the SDL-PS/2, at least in passing.

Last, make a bigger deal of the bolt-mod and the opportunity to change layouts. That is the single most difficult thing that holds most people back from doing what you do.

You might also offer to activate "secret keys" if someone wanted to commission a special project.
Title: Re: Model M Buying Guide Started on Fleabays Guides
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 16 November 2014, 22:55:49
Is it worth mentioning the two piece keycaps?

And that it is possible to find sellers providing single replacement keycaps, or just to buy two Model M to get a full set of keycaps?
Title: Re: Model M Buying Guide Started on Fleabays Guides
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Mon, 17 November 2014, 01:08:32
Well, can always just get a set of caps from unicomp.
Title: Re: Model M Buying Guide Started on Fleabays Guides
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 17 November 2014, 02:59:52
Quote from: False_Dmitry_II on Mon, 17 November 2014, 01:08:32
Well, can always just get a set of caps from unicomp.

If you want a full set, but if only one or two keycaps are missing ...

Edit: Never mind, I keep forgetting that Unicomp sells indiviqdual blanks :))
Title: Re: Model M Buying Guide Started on Fleabays Guides
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 17 November 2014, 08:15:55
Quote from: rowdy on Mon, 17 November 2014, 02:59:52
I keep forgetting that Unicomp sells individual blanks

Shipping must be prohibitive to those of you in Oz, but in the US we have 2 great choices: Unicomp with a rainbow spectrum of colors and lots (but not enough) of interesting legends, and clickykeyboards selling real vintage IBM gear that will probably match better (although there was wide variation, even "back in the day").