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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: KaminKevCrew on Sat, 24 October 2015, 14:13:53

Title: Should I get this board?
Post by: KaminKevCrew on Sat, 24 October 2015, 14:13:53
This keyboard is a DEC LK201. I know from deskthority.net that it's a membrane board, but it has a spring under each switch, similar to a topre (so far as I can tell) and it has the most solid, and linear feel of any membrane board I've ever seen. Is it worth picking up?

Oh, also there's an IBM type writer here that looks like it uses a model f for the board, it's $10. Is that worth taking apart and trying to do something with the board, or would that not work? (http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/24/0c6d5c4dd7197fc2aedae5a2bb781778.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/24/8564643f0b48ad0ca4e6d3ebb5b34bc6.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/24/6de42df4c166b42654846057a341a5e7.jpg)
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 24 October 2015, 16:54:07
From all that I have heard, the LK201 has a horrible key feel. It talks DEC's old proprietary protocol.

Do get the typewriter if you would want a buckling spring keyboard in that layout. It does probably have flippers and membrane like the Model M though, not Model F innards.
Sethstorm has converted a similar one with a Teensy (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=55676.0).
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: SamirD on Sun, 25 October 2015, 19:40:23
If you like the DEC and can use it, why not?

Those typewriters are what we used in high school.  It was a really nice feel.  For the trouble of converting one of those to be used with a computer, I'd just get a F or M and leave the typewriter be.
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: 1391406 on Sun, 25 October 2015, 20:26:07
Which Wheelwriter is that? Some are worth pretty good coin.
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: Kola93 on Sun, 25 October 2015, 21:10:26
That is a cool looking vintage keyboard, but I think it's down to whether you actually like it or not.

There are many good keyboards out there. ^-^
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: Kad on Sun, 25 October 2015, 21:14:12
The only way to know how much you'll enjoy typing on it is to buy it, and I get the impression from your post it isn't very expensive so if I was in your situation I'd go for it, you may enjoy it!
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: RenegadeParadox on Sun, 25 October 2015, 22:00:11
For $10 doesn't seem like that much of an investment to worry about. If you are interested, for how expensive our hobby can be $10 is a drop in a deep deep bucket. Worst case you don't like it and you can play with it for a bit pull it apart and try to salvage whatever is worth salvaging.
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: noodles256 on Sun, 25 October 2015, 23:24:45
or nah
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: KaminKevCrew on Mon, 26 October 2015, 12:56:04
Fair enough. For some reason, my phone didn't get any of these notifications... So I'll head over my next day off and see if they're still there. If not, I'll see if they have anything else interesting, hopefully even an actual model F. We will see.
Title: Re: Should I get this board?
Post by: 0100010 on Mon, 26 October 2015, 12:59:02
The wheelwriter is worth the $10 bucks for the Code key (for future custom split spacebar Model F boards).