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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: CX23882 on Tue, 17 November 2009, 14:32:27

Title: UK: AST keyboard with Alps switches
Post by: CX23882 on Tue, 17 November 2009, 14:32:27

Has anybody seen these before?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270485717422

Same seller also has a NOS 1993 IBM M2.

Title: UK: AST keyboard with Alps switches
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 17 November 2009, 14:41:05

It's funny.  Back in the day, I remember lamenting with my dad about how AST and Laser used to be crappy computers.  Today, I'm here looking at this auction and some other threads thinking about how AST and Laser actually had some fairly decent keyboards.  Weird.

Title: UK: AST keyboard with Alps switches
Post by: InSanCen on Tue, 17 November 2009, 16:33:19

This is the same seller I bought one of my ALPS boards from. Looks like all the questions he asked have been put to use with this listing. I got the impression he had more Mechanical boards to sell.

Title: UK: AST keyboard with Alps switches
Post by: keyb_gr on Tue, 12 January 2010, 11:27:38

Not entirely identical indeed. This one should be a fairly decent rubber dome though, at least those old NMBs have a good reputation.

Title: UK: AST keyboard with Alps switches
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Tue, 12 January 2010, 12:18:57

@ Webwit: How's the keyfeel on that rubber AST?

I have an ancient Compaq with identical looking stems, made in Thailand too. Used to be my favorite board for many years due to it's super soft, yet precise feel. Unlike your AST, that Compaq is butt ugly though. I eventually retired it cause I just couldn't bear it's sight on my desk anymore. In case that AST is of similar quality, it may deserve a better fate than death in trashcan.

Title: UK: AST keyboard with Alps switches
Post by: lowpoly on Tue, 12 January 2010, 12:30:55

Mini review: AST nKB-102 (early rubber dome) (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4383)

Title: UK: AST keyboard with Alps switches
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Tue, 12 January 2010, 16:46:09

It's an older, winkeyless version of Ripster's. Also has that funny split space bar, whose left half serves as an additional backspace. Inside it's exactly the same though.

Thanks Ripster for posting the pics, while mine is still soaking in toilet cleaner. Man, that thing is dirty...