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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: rdh on Mon, 27 July 2009, 23:00:48

Title: Cherry G81 keyboards
Post by: rdh on Mon, 27 July 2009, 23:00:48

I was digging around in a little hole-in-the-wall used computer parts shop (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&view=map&q=computer+recycling+service,+seattle&vps=7&jsv=168d&sll=47.701675,-122.340746&sspn=0.042109,0.098019&gl=us&ie=UTF8&latlng=10420926020631288063&ei=S2puSvioOYrIsAPBl6jqBw&cd=1&usq=computer+recycling+service,)  in Seattle, and ran across a small stash of Cherry G81 point-of-sale keyboards:

G81-8000LPCUS (two of these)
G81-7000LPCUS
G81-1901HSU

They're a bit dusty, but all of them seem to have a full complement of key caps (after I re-attached a stray) and no obvious damage.  They have magnetic-card readers built in, but I didn't spot any evidence of the optional barcode readers.

He's selling them for a little under $20.  Pretty pricey by his standards: he sold me a Kinesis Maxim -- an adjustable-split ergo board with rubber dome switches -- for $4.

Title: Cherry G81 keyboards
Post by: Rajagra on Tue, 28 July 2009, 09:30:17

Quote from: rdh;104927

G81-7000LPCUS

If you update the firmware, don't have them connected through a KVM switch like I did. The data transfer caused a KVM disconnect.

(When you run the key programmer software it launches the firmware upgrade if needed.)

I managed to reflash after a system reboot. Phew. Nearly lost a £1 investment there!

Title: Cherry G81 keyboards
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 28 July 2009, 09:44:51

I've always liked those Cherry keyboards with the little credit card readers in them. I still see them in the supermarket.