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geekhack Community => geekhack Media => Topic started by: Photekq on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:15:34

Title: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Photekq on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:15:34: Wanted to share some photos of this very rare and very interesting keyboard I got today.

Judging by the markings on the PCB this was made in 1988. It has vintage black switches and a linear white spacebar switch. It is the only board known to have the famous clear switch tops.

The keycaps are fairly thin and are a mix of doubleshot and engraved/infilled. You can see the caps lock switch is tripleshot (or doubleshot with another method used for the window). I don't know the material.

You can see that some of the keycaps have o-rings. All keys did have these originally, but they are just rubber.. Over time they started to disintegrate. There are no fully intact ones on this board.

Overall, very interesting keyboard. Probably the most interesting one I own alongside the G80-2000 by Cherry. The switches are without a doubt the best linears I've used. They are perfectly smooth, lubing does not improve them.

A few pics below, the rest here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/115722906@N08/sets/72157649966202859/

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16136068747_d01d568e3e_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7532/16134499900_78d05b65a2_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7552/16134509700_81709172ff_b.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/15701858923_75d7496bde_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: digi on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:23:25: That's sick dude, grats on the get. That's cool how some of the switches are mounted sideways like that.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Michael on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:29:03: Are these OEM (Cherry or Nixdorf) o-rings?

Nice get!
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Photekq on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:32:14: Quote from: Bro Caps on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:29:03
Are these OEM (Cherry or Nixdorf) o-rings?

Nice get!
Yep, the board came with them for sure. I say this because the rubber is falling apart, so it's clearly old. Also, Sixty's version of this board had them too.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: cooldiscretion on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:35:24: Sweet find. What are your plans for it?
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:37:06: Congrats Photekq! You find the coolest stuff! ;D
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Sent on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:38:50: Damn, dude...my jealousy continues to grow. Awesome awesome pick up.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Evo_Spec on Mon, 19 January 2015, 19:51:48: Damn this is cool!!!
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: strict on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:05:29: Congrats Photekq! I never knew those came from the factory with orings! I assume the origin of the name soft-touch is related to them shipping with orings?
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: demik on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:10:30: how soft are the keys tho
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Photekq on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:13:30: Quote from: demik on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:10:30
how soft are the keys tho
I'm talkin' topre soft. Cloud of boobs soft. Not even kidding/exaggerating. As soft as it gets, no doubt.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: hwood34 on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:18:25: Damn man, you got the nicest hook-ups
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: demik on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:21:34: Quote from: Photekq on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:13:30
Quote from: demik on Mon, 19 January 2015, 20:10:30
how soft are the keys tho
I'm talkin' topre soft. Cloud of boobs soft. Not even kidding/exaggerating. As soft as it gets, no doubt.

interesting. i wanted to try them but epzy was a ***** and didn't want to sell me some.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Mon, 19 January 2015, 23:56:31: In the words of CPTBadAss...

Thanks for proxying for me!
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: pichu23 on Tue, 20 January 2015, 01:48:36: Need to make a trip up to Wales to "ogle" on your boards one day :p
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: byker on Tue, 20 January 2015, 01:52:51: Wow, very cool, always wanted to try some nixdorfs, hoping to eventually find one for an esc key.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: ComradeSniper on Tue, 20 January 2015, 09:45:47: Nice find. I hope to get my hands on some nixdorf blacks someday, I guess I should keep an eye out on eBay!
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Battou62 on Tue, 20 January 2015, 10:00:48: So nice, I am not jelly or anything.

(http://img.pandawhale.com/post-31776-Liar-Liar-laughing-gif-Jim-Car-4PHD.gif)
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Binge on Tue, 20 January 2015, 11:13:14: Very VERY nice. Great to see you get this Pho. I know it's in good hands. :cool:
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: 3Love on Tue, 20 January 2015, 14:37:15: It has very rare switches.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 20 January 2015, 16:19:20: I like the squared-off look of the keycaps too!
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: b7ad on Tue, 20 January 2015, 16:28:08: Very nice man! As always beautiful photos too :thumb:
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: hwood34 on Tue, 20 January 2015, 17:33:09: Quote from: 3Love on Tue, 20 January 2015, 14:37:15
It has very rare switches.
(http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/03/thumbs-aloft.gif)
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Puddsy on Tue, 20 January 2015, 21:17:09: Quote from: hwood34 on Tue, 20 January 2015, 17:33:09
Quote from: 3Love on Tue, 20 January 2015, 14:37:15
It has very rare switches.
Show Image
(http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/03/thumbs-aloft.gif)

(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5fixuaJKY1qa8xb8.gif)
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: demik on Tue, 20 January 2015, 21:27:08: Quote from: hwood34 on Tue, 20 January 2015, 17:33:09
Quote from: 3Love on Tue, 20 January 2015, 14:37:15
It has very rare switches.
Show Image
(http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/03/thumbs-aloft.gif)

inb4 photek gets offered thousands
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: Photekq on Tue, 27 January 2015, 06:21:08: Quote from: demik on Tue, 20 January 2015, 21:27:08
inb4 photek gets offered thousands
Not too far off. Kek.
Title: Re: Nixdorf 'Softkeys' Keyboard
Post by: billnye on Tue, 27 January 2015, 06:24:46: Quote from: Photekq on Tue, 27 January 2015, 06:21:08
Quote from: demik on Tue, 20 January 2015, 21:27:08
inb4 photek gets offered thousands
Not too far off. Kek.
ok pal