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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: jdcarpe on Thu, 29 January 2015, 08:54:38

Title: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 29 January 2015, 08:54:38
NIB IBM Japanese Lettering Typing Computer 102 Keyboard Letter Type 6112884 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/380994210683)

Yes, new in box.

Currently BIN $24.95 plus shipping. Seller has 10 left.


Uses tee Alps switches, which ring and ping with every keystroke! Can be converted to work with a modern PC.

Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 29 January 2015, 08:57:42
Same seller has them in Chinese too (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-IBM-Chinese-Lettering-Typing-Computer-102-Keyboard-Letter-Type-Model-6113442/381019318430?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D28901%26meid%3D34dd38d059cb4b739872c81a308a08d6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D380994210683&rt=nc).  I bought mine off of him via e-mail.  Very nice and easy person to work with.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 29 January 2015, 10:01:18
just for anyone interested, the Pingsavers have smooth alps with high actuation.

I don't know why but to me they feel pretty awful. So this is very subjective, and YMMV is the best way to look at it.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 29 January 2015, 10:16:47
They're fun keyboards, the kind you pull out for a lark.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 29 January 2015, 10:19:47
They're fun keyboards, the kind you pull out for a lark.

I would be happy to sell mine, but shipping would cost too much. Really, as I'd said, YMMV.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: Touch_It on Thu, 29 January 2015, 10:20:48
Yes.  I'm having a hard time justifying any purchase atm though, beings I have keyboards yet to touch/convert and just spent a boat load of money on my 107.  Been wanting to try these switches + the keyboard looks pretty cool.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 29 January 2015, 10:24:53
I kind of want one for wall decor.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 29 January 2015, 11:44:40
Personally, I think they look pretty cool. I'm curious how the switches feel and if they're really that bad. Clicky? Actuation force? I don't know. I wish I had an extra $45 laying around to give one a whirl.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 29 January 2015, 11:46:52
The switches are linear green tee Alps, right? I haven't pulled a cap off mine, yet. :)

It's worth the $50 just to be able to open a NIB vintage IBM keyboard, IMO. You break that seal (tape) and open the foam for the first time, take a whiff of pristine plastic and metal....hnnnnng!
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: engicoder on Thu, 29 January 2015, 12:23:19
The switches are linear green tee Alps, right? I haven't pulled a cap off mine, yet. :)

It's worth the $50 just to be able to open a NIB vintage IBM keyboard, IMO. You break that seal (tape) and open the foam for the first time, take a whiff of pristine plastic and metal....hnnnnng!

With these Pingsavers...the whiff is likely to make you a little light headed, at least the one I bought did...years worth or outgassing I guess. If there is a new keyboard smell, these have it!!
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 29 January 2015, 12:26:40
The switches are linear green tee Alps, right? I haven't pulled a cap off mine, yet. :)

It's worth the $50 just to be able to open a NIB vintage IBM keyboard, IMO. You break that seal (tape) and open the foam for the first time, take a whiff of pristine plastic and metal....hnnnnng!

Ideally I'd buy two. One to use and another to stow away as a collectors item.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: Joey Quinn on Thu, 29 January 2015, 13:23:28
Those caps look like they may fit an MX switch, do they? I'd buy it for the caps if this is the case.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: MGH on Thu, 29 January 2015, 13:43:41
I've been eyeing it for a while but I'm not sure if I need it :-\
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: orihalcon on Thu, 29 January 2015, 17:07:40
What would all be required to convert them to USB? Doubt they have the same type of pinouts or detachable controllers as the regular 4704's to use an xWhatsit without special wiring?
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 29 January 2015, 17:18:25
Didn't photoelectric convert hers with a Soarer's converter? I thought it was possible, if I'm remembering correctly.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: HPE1000 on Thu, 29 January 2015, 17:18:29
What would all be required to convert them to USB? Doubt they have the same type of pinouts or detachable controllers as the regular 4704's to use an xWhatsit without special wiring?
All you need is a teensy afaik

Those caps look like they may fit an MX switch, do they? I'd buy it for the caps if this is the case.
I do not believe they fit on MX swtiches.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: Xonar on Thu, 29 January 2015, 20:44:11
I'll pick up at least one of these. :) I was totally unaware of this auction until now. I had my eyes on another NIB example of one of these for $125, but I sure am glad I passed on that before I saw this.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: jacobolus on Thu, 29 January 2015, 22:21:02
These have been posted at least 5-6 times. Neat boards, great keycaps.

These are tee-mount Alps. The caps are not compatible with MX switches.
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: hwood34 on Thu, 29 January 2015, 23:13:46
Just a tip, the pinging and most of the noise from the boards can be fixed by taking out the PCB and handwiring it. Not a particularly easy solution, but it works nonetheless
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 29 January 2015, 23:19:20
Just a tip, the pinging and most of the noise from the boards can be fixed by taking out the PCB and handwiring it. Not a particularly easy solution, but it works nonetheless

But the pinging is half the fun!
Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: orihalcon on Thu, 29 January 2015, 23:28:41
Yeah, if you were to hand wire and use diodes, it can be NKRO with a teensy, but I've been waiting for someone to try it with a hand wired Xwhatsit instead. Xwhatsit says his controllers will work that way too. I'd prefer that for the ease of programming over the Teensy, but have still yet to get around to actually trying it. Need to trying it with a few switches with diodes as a proof of concept before going after a whole board.

Idea is similar to this Apple M0110 (which also uses T-Alps interestingly enough) and also has a sound clip showing how much quieter it is without the PCB, though they also changed out the springs as well:

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/the-apple-m0110-today-t1067.html

Title: Re: Anyone still interested in these Pingsavers?
Post by: jacobolus on Thu, 29 January 2015, 23:30:16
http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/the-apple-m0110-today-t1067.html

Or the original version here at geekhack: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=20898.0