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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 23 November 2009, 14:29:34

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 23 November 2009, 14:29:34

I have been looking for old keyboards on ebay, and have found some i may want to purchase, but wish to seek advice from the pros.  Which?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MEMOREX-AT-Style-Clicky-KEYBOARD_W0QQitemZ260505388571QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca754c61b (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MEMOREX-AT-Style-Clicky-KEYBOARD_W0QQitemZ260505388571QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca754c61b)

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-TANDY-ENCHNCED-KEYBOARD_W0QQitemZ260479170555QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item3ca5c4b7fb (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-TANDY-ENCHNCED-KEYBOARD_W0QQitemZ260479170555QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item3ca5c4b7fb)

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-NMB-RT6255T-AT-Keyboard-with-ALPS-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ360207043226QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item53de034a9a (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-NMB-RT6255T-AT-Keyboard-with-ALPS-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ360207043226QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item53de034a9a)

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-Elite-Clicky-Keyboard-5181-BLUE-ALPS-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ360172837443QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item53dbf95a43 (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-Elite-Clicky-Keyboard-5181-BLUE-ALPS-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ360172837443QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item53dbf95a43)

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CHICONY-KB-5161-Keyboard-WHITE-SLIDERS-RARE_W0QQitemZ250182953004QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item3a4010e82c (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CHICONY-KB-5161-Keyboard-WHITE-SLIDERS-RARE_W0QQitemZ250182953004QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item3a4010e82c)

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-GOLDSTAR-mechanical-KEYBOARD-Blue-Sliders_W0QQitemZ360066277350QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item53d59f5fe6 (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-GOLDSTAR-mechanical-KEYBOARD-Blue-Sliders_W0QQitemZ360066277350QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item53d59f5fe6)

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: timw4mail on Mon, 23 November 2009, 14:38:20

I would look at sellers that actually give you distinguishable pictures, first.

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: ocdonkb on Mon, 23 November 2009, 14:50:12

a lot of those have the small-sized Backspace keys, you sure you want that?

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 23 November 2009, 14:50:52

I'd get one of the following:
VINTAGE - NMB RT6255T+ AT Keyboard with ALPS SLIDERS
VINTAGE Elite "Clicky" Keyboard 5181 BLUE ALPS SLIDERS
VINTAGE - CHICONY KB-5161 Keyboard WHITE SLIDERS - RARE
These all seem to be old keyboards with Alps switches, so they should have the complicated ones.
            
VINTAGE - GOLDSTAR mechanical KEYBOARD Blue Sliders
This keyboard is interesting to say the least...never seen any with keyswitches of that type.

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: bitflipper on Mon, 23 November 2009, 15:35:57

Of the ones with keycaps pulled, the NMB appears to have NMB switches and the Elite appears to have "Monterey" switches. The Chicony looks like the only one with Alps.

The Goldstar appears to be mechanical of some kind. The Memorex and Tandy - who knows? But the seller claims the Memorex is clicky. You should ask him to post photos of those with a keycap pulled before you purchse either one.

Which one should you buy? Depends on what you're looking for. If you've never tried white alps, go for the Chicony. It should be fairly easy to recoup most of your money if you decide not to keep it.

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 23 November 2009, 15:39:30

ok thanks guys, and two other kind of random question, how many posts does it take to jump from Junior member to Member, and how do you have a "signature" on every post you make, telling people what keyboards you have?

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: bitflipper on Mon, 23 November 2009, 16:00:03

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;135657

how many posts does it take to jump from Junior member to Member, and how do you have a "signature" on every post you make, telling people what keyboards you have?

I don't know about the post count but it's > 69.

Signature is under User CP, on the left hand side under "Settings & Options" click on "Edit Signature". I think I can link to it like this (http://geekhack.org/profile.php?do=editsignature).

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 23 November 2009, 16:00:57

User CP (Top left of Screen), then find Edit Signature.

And I think you become a regular member after 100 posts.

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: zwmalone on Mon, 23 November 2009, 17:01:13

The NMB is a rubber dome with plastic slider above it.

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 23 November 2009, 17:02:42

I bought the Chicony keyboard with the white alps

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: ricercar on Mon, 23 November 2009, 17:47:03

We've got him now. Bwah ha ha!.

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: alpslover on Mon, 23 November 2009, 19:00:02

the tandy likely uses fujitsu peerless switches.

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 23 November 2009, 19:09:39

Quote from: ricercar;135685

We've got him now. Bwah ha ha!.

I couldn't be a member of a forum that is all about clicky keyboards without eventually getting one, that would just be wrong...

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 23 November 2009, 19:29:02

Quote from: ripster;135714

Yay clicky!  Why have a fancy keyboard if you can't draw attention to yourself!

the next keyboard i get will be an IBM Model M

Title: Which keyboard to get?
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 23 November 2009, 20:01:35

Good idea!