geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: HydraDyne on Fri, 26 December 2014, 03:54:39
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I want to join the IBM Model M club, but I just can't seem to find any... I've searched on Classified and Ebay, but since I live in Australia nothing seems to be very good value... I've found one which is around $70, but its nothing special, what should I do?
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What you really want is a SSK... ;) (Model M Space Saving Keyboard)
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What you really want is a SSK... ;) (Model M Space Saving Keyboard)
Ohh I would love one, but my wallet wouldn't...
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What you really want is a SSK... ;) (Model M Space Saving Keyboard)
Ohh I would love one, but my wallet wouldn't...
I got an SSK sent from the United States to Australia and long story short..
Was saving for a new computer, saw SSK, resulted in the decision that I could make do with my current computer for at least another year.
Worth it....... but totally not worth it.
I think that getting a good deal on Model Ms in Australia is difficult, you either buy from US and pay bulk shipping or you sit and wait for one to come up in Australia and hope it that no one runs up the price/seller puts price high initially.
I've only been watching the bay for Model Ms for a few months but I would say its going to cost 70-100 to pick anything up locally and even then you have to wait for something to come up which seems to take a while.
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I've found one which is around $70, but its nothing special, what should I do?
If that is $70 Australian including shipping, then I would say that is a fair and reasonable price.
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I've found one which is around $70, but its nothing special, what should I do?
If that is $70 Australian including shipping, then I would say that is a fair and reasonable price.
Fohat I suspect it is not including shipping. $70 AUD is incredibly cheap considering how much it costs to ship to Australia, so the seller must be making nothing.
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I've found one which is around $70, but its nothing special, what should I do?
If that is $70 Australian including shipping, then I would say that is a fair and reasonable price.
Fohat I suspect it is not including shipping. $70 AUD is incredibly cheap considering how much it costs to ship to Australia, so the seller must be making nothing.
I'm quite sure with shipping it's twice that sum.
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What about that A1 place in Melbourne? I think they have keyboards there. Would that be a better deal for you?
http://www.a1usedcomputers.com.au/shop/prodList.asp?idCategory=8
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I'm quite sure with shipping it's twice that sum.
It was my impression that the $70 keyboard was already in Australia, somewhere.
I consider $50-60 + shipping to be "the going rate" in the US, but yes, $78 via US Post Office game board box is probably the cheapest postage you will find to Oz if it is coming from here.
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eBay would be the best place to find one, but since you're Australia, shipping will probably be a deal killer. Look around at some thrift stores, or ask some recycling centers, though a good deal won't just let people look around at the stuff
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Shipping from the US to Australia is a killer, I have sent 3 model Ms (2 M101s, and 1 M122) and the shipping has been between $40usd to $50usd which will make any good deal you find here into a not-so-good-deal.
Best thing to do is put up a wanted ad on your local version of online classifieds, and then look up Electronics recyclers within driving distance and ask them if they have old ibm keyboards and if you can come look.
Watch for local electronics junk days, go to garage sales, check flea-markets, check second-hand stores.
Look for ads from computer repair places and call them and ask them if they have any in back rooms.....
Persistance pays off. There are lots of them around, you just have to keep knocking on the right doors.
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There you go (http://deskthority.net/for-sale-f55/g80-1129-hpd-g80-1501-had-acer-6312-k-model-m-iso-de-more-t9482.html).
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I decided a Model M would be nice, and waited. Eventually I found someone on eBay selling two for $30 or something like that. Plus they were only about 10 minutes away from where I lived at the time, so it was a no-brainer to just pick them up.
They were both missing cables and keycaps, but I fabricated one replacement PS/2 cable from an old rubber done keyboard, and bought one of orihalcon's SDL to USB cables for the other Model M (and ironically that one cable cost more than both keyboards put together).
With the generosity of a GH member, I acquired a few keycaps that were missing from the combined collection of keycaps to make one complete Model M.
I would still like an SSK though - the Model M takes up too much room.
Oh, and A1 Computer seems to have a lot of terminals for sale - I have bookmarked that site for future reference (my SA terminal keyboard project ... one day ...).
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but like you found one right? if you want one nvm the bad value
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What about that A1 place in Melbourne? I think they have keyboards there. Would that be a better deal for you?
http://www.a1usedcomputers.com.au/shop/prodList.asp?idCategory=8
Are there any Model Ms there?There you go (http://deskthority.net/for-sale-f55/g80-1129-hpd-g80-1501-had-acer-6312-k-model-m-iso-de-more-t9482.html).
But Mom, I don't want ISO! :p
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Shipping from Germany could be expensive :eek:
Also try to get one with all the keycaps, otherwise you'll be up for replacement cost (plus shipping) for either individual replacements, or a full replacement set from Unicomp.
Plus try to get one with a cable. If not, you might consider one of orihalcon's cables, which are excellent, but expensive.
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/orihalcon/m.html?item=280862986246&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
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I would like a model m later when I got more room but shipping is always a problem in hawaii too. Maybe not as bad as being in a different country but still.....
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Here's another site for you! (http://www.phosphorglow.net)
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$70 is around the going price for them on eBay Australia. They do vary in price, one sold on eBay Australia last month for $180!
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221601228259
Garage sales are also a good source of old keyboards.
elecplus on Deskthority may be able to get a new one, but it will cost more than a used one. Also, freight to Australia will be around $60:
http://deskthority.net/vendors-f52/a-long-list-of-ibm-pn-t9475.html
I have purchased 2 new keyboards from elecplus. An SSK for around US$220 and a square label for US$140 (prices include freight).
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shipping is always a problem in hawaii too.
The US Post Office has the "large flat rate game board box" that goes anywhere domestic for $17.
I once sent a Model M from Atlanta to Alaska in one of them and it went door-to-door in under 72 hours!
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What about that A1 place in Melbourne? I think they have keyboards there. Would that be a better deal for you?
http://www.a1usedcomputers.com.au/shop/prodList.asp?idCategory=8
Are there any Model Ms there?
Seems all the Model M's at the A1 place are terminal versions. That's not bad at all. It's a consideration.
http://www.a1usedcomputers.com.au/shop/prodList.asp?idCategory=97
You might want to ask if they have any others sitting around.
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You can save a search on eBay, so that when a new item is listed that satisfies your search parameters you will get a notification via email. Great feature.
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Here's another site for you! (http://www.phosphorglow.net)
Such exquisite and loving restoration of Model M keyboards :D
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You can save a search on eBay, so that when a new item is listed that satisfies your search parameters you will get a notification via email. Great feature.
Are you trying to send me bankrupt.
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You can save a search on eBay, so that when a new item is listed that satisfies your search parameters you will get a notification via email. Great feature.
Are you trying to send me bankrupt.
Then there would be moar keyboarden for teh rest of usses.
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*Ahem* Unicomp with Windows key *Ahem*
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I do have a NIB blue label Model M that is just dying for a new home... :P
In all seriousness, your best bet is clickykeyboards.com to get one in fantastic condition. Shipping to Australia may be pretty pricey, but arguably worth it for the board you'd be receiving. Search thrift shops and keep looking on ebay.com.au if you want to find a used one that needs some TLC. One is bound to pop up eventually.