geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: QuincyJones on Fri, 01 July 2016, 15:25:18

Title: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: QuincyJones on Fri, 01 July 2016, 15:25:18
Why did keyboards have to drop this features - it's a great feature. I'm looking to buy something vintage - what options do I have? None of the modern day tat, just good old keyboards please!
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: Halverson on Fri, 01 July 2016, 15:26:28
I'm trying to recall keyboards with such a slot! I do like the idea of a pen holder on my keyboard.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: Moistgun on Fri, 01 July 2016, 15:35:57
How much desk space you got?

(http://wiki.geekhack.org/images/5/5e/Keyboard-ssk-frame-cracks.jpg)

you could have a ton of pens in this bad boy.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: romevi on Fri, 01 July 2016, 15:40:52
One of the many reasons I prefer wide bezels.
Lipless? More like cool...-less...
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: QuincyJones on Fri, 01 July 2016, 15:54:10
no the slot ran along the top of the kb
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: romevi on Fri, 01 July 2016, 15:57:17
no the slot ran along the top of the kb

Yes, I know.
I prefer wide bezels on modern keyboards as well because I can put my pen/cils on 'em. Thin cases don't allow that.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: Tactile on Fri, 01 July 2016, 16:13:53
I remember some with that, but don't recall any brands. The ridge along the forehead of the IBM Model M (1391401, et al) works pretty well. A lot of software in those days had the cheat sheet cards which were intended to be stuck up there and maybe keyboard vendors eliminated the slot to give a nice flat surface for those.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: QuincyJones on Fri, 01 July 2016, 16:24:05
(https://133fsb.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/dscn0689r.jpg)

something like what's between the f keys and number keys. Though that's a strange place to put it, it was normally above the f keys
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: Tactile on Fri, 01 July 2016, 16:50:39
Here's a recent one...
[attach=1]
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: chyros on Fri, 01 July 2016, 16:55:07
See if you can get a keyboard like my ITT Courier, that practically had a built-in pencil case xD .

Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: klennkellon on Fri, 01 July 2016, 17:41:25
The Model M and ALPS Bigfoots do.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: y11971alex on Fri, 01 July 2016, 18:04:52
(http://webwit.nl/input/ibm_beam_spring/3278/2.jpg)
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: 1391406 on Sat, 02 July 2016, 13:47:06
If I needed a pen / pencil tray along the top and didn't have one(a la Model M), I don't see why you couldn't just use the F-keys.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: klennkellon on Sat, 02 July 2016, 14:08:30
If I needed a pen / pencil tray along the top and didn't have one(a la Model M), I don't see why you couldn't just use the F-keys.
Yeah the F keys usually enough for you to rest some pens on, assuming the keyboard has enough bezel and has a very slight tilt towards you.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 02 July 2016, 14:57:13
Especially Mitsumi keyboards used to have them. Either as a groove or as two lengthwise bevels.

Show Image
(http://webwit.nl/input/ibm_beam_spring/3278/2.jpg)

In front of the space bar is a lid to a compartment for storing the user manual. I wonder if it is big enough for storing pens as well...
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: QuincyJones on Sat, 02 July 2016, 15:32:55
If I needed a pen / pencil tray along the top and didn't have one(a la Model M), I don't see why you couldn't just use the F-keys.

because when you press the 'f' keys, the pen bounces around and someetimes go flying off the keyboard.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: 1391406 on Sat, 02 July 2016, 17:40:50
If I needed a pen / pencil tray along the top and didn't have one(a la Model M), I don't see why you couldn't just use the F-keys.

because when you press the 'f' keys, the pen bounces around and someetimes go flying off the keyboard.

Bu**sh*t.

Not a valid vimeo URL
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: QuincyJones on Sat, 02 July 2016, 18:33:07
If I needed a pen / pencil tray along the top and didn't have one(a la Model M), I don't see why you couldn't just use the F-keys.

because when you press the 'f' keys, the pen bounces around and someetimes go flying off the keyboard.

Bu**sh*t.

Not a valid vimeo URL

OMGZZZ LOL IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ME ON THIS ONE KEYBOARD THEREFORE IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE OMGZZLOL BULLSUIT LOL OMGZZZ
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: klennkellon on Sat, 02 July 2016, 18:45:43
If I needed a pen / pencil tray along the top and didn't have one(a la Model M), I don't see why you couldn't just use the F-keys.

because when you press the 'f' keys, the pen bounces around and someetimes go flying off the keyboard.

Bu**sh*t.

Not a valid vimeo URL

OMGZZZ LOL IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ME ON THIS ONE KEYBOARD THEREFORE IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE OMGZZLOL BULLSUIT LOL OMGZZZ
calm down dude
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: 1391406 on Sat, 02 July 2016, 18:48:40
If I needed a pen / pencil tray along the top and didn't have one(a la Model M), I don't see why you couldn't just use the F-keys.

because when you press the 'f' keys, the pen bounces around and someetimes go flying off the keyboard.

Bu**sh*t.

Not a valid vimeo URL

OMGZZZ LOL IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ME ON THIS ONE KEYBOARD THEREFORE IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE OMGZZLOL BULLSUIT LOL OMGZZZ

Which keyboard have you used that it happens with? In my opinion, it would only happen if you're using your F-keys as punching bags. Anyone can claim anything, though. Like I said, bu**sh*t.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: y11971alex on Sat, 02 July 2016, 19:14:34
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: 1391406 on Sat, 02 July 2016, 19:25:13
Haha.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: y11971alex on Sat, 02 July 2016, 19:28:11
Haha.
5chars only?  :(

I went through the trouble of uploading a video.  :p
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: 1391406 on Sat, 02 July 2016, 19:30:56
Haha.
5chars only?  :(

I went through the trouble of uploading a video.  :p

That video pretty much says it all. Awesome board, by the way.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: losing_ctrl on Sat, 02 July 2016, 20:31:26
I've got one of those, an Avant Stellar:

[attach=1]

The pen/pencil slot at the top does add a bit of vintage charm. On this one you could probably cram three or four writing implements in the slot. These do pop up on ebay once and awhile, including the Avant Prime, which has the pen slot but not the extra set of function keys on the left, so not quite such a battleship.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: mike52787 on Sat, 02 July 2016, 21:58:54
I've got one of those, an Avant Stellar:

(Attachment Link)

The pen/pencil slot at the top does add a bit of vintage charm. On this one you could probably cram three or four writing implements in the slot. These do pop up on ebay once and awhile, including the Avant Prime, which has the pen slot but not the extra set of function keys on the left, so not quite such a battleship.
Does that board use Alps SKBM whites like my prime did? Im working on refurbishing it and putting blue alps in it. Sweet board.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 03 July 2016, 01:02:35
I didn't reaiise how much I'd missed that feature, until I started using Model M keyboards again.  Now I've often got something resting on the top of the keyboard, and do kinda miss it with my other more modern keyboards.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: losing_ctrl on Sun, 03 July 2016, 22:41:56
I've got one of those, an Avant Stellar:

(Attachment Link)

The pen/pencil slot at the top does add a bit of vintage charm. On this one you could probably cram three or four writing implements in the slot. These do pop up on ebay once and awhile, including the Avant Prime, which has the pen slot but not the extra set of function keys on the left, so not quite such a battleship.
Does that board use Alps SKBM whites like my prime did? Im working on refurbishing it and putting blue alps in it. Sweet board.

Are you saying you have one of these and you are working on refurbishing it? If so, when you are done, please post a few pics of the process, I'd love to see what you did, and how it turned out.

To the best of my knowledge, the Avant Prime and Stellar keyboards were built with simplified white Alps, however I am not sure of anything more specific than that. I would love to get the whole official story/history behind this keyboard, more than just a company trying to copy/continue the Northgate Omnikey.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: kolec94 on Sun, 03 July 2016, 22:44:38
the only 2 i can think of are a couple old basic lenovo and dell keyboards
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: mike52787 on Sun, 03 July 2016, 22:56:10
I've got one of those, an Avant Stellar:

(Attachment Link)

The pen/pencil slot at the top does add a bit of vintage charm. On this one you could probably cram three or four writing implements in the slot. These do pop up on ebay once and awhile, including the Avant Prime, which has the pen slot but not the extra set of function keys on the left, so not quite such a battleship.
Does that board use Alps SKBM whites like my prime did? Im working on refurbishing it and putting blue alps in it. Sweet board.

Are you saying you have one of these and you are working on refurbishing it? If so, when you are done, please post a few pics of the process, I'd love to see what you did, and how it turned out.

To the best of my knowledge, the Avant Prime and Stellar keyboards were built with simplified white Alps, however I am not sure of anything more specific than that. I would love to get the whole official story/history behind this keyboard, more than just a company trying to copy/continue the Northgate Omnikey.
here she is. Case is a bit warped from the sun damage, and I gave it a light coat of paint to cover the yelowing. Pulled out the ****ty simplified white switches and am going to replace them with SKCM blues I have on the way via TaoBao. Such a sweet board, northgate build quality with windows keys.  :D
Here is the original pic from the ebay listing I got it from.
(http://i.imgur.com/Fjdp0N5.jpg)
Here it is after being painted.
(http://i.imgur.com/2ECRtB3.jpg)
Ill keep you updated on the progress on this board, its good seeing another avant lover on here.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: chyros on Mon, 04 July 2016, 02:34:40
I've got one of those, an Avant Stellar:

(Attachment Link)

The pen/pencil slot at the top does add a bit of vintage charm. On this one you could probably cram three or four writing implements in the slot. These do pop up on ebay once and awhile, including the Avant Prime, which has the pen slot but not the extra set of function keys on the left, so not quite such a battleship.
Does that board use Alps SKBM whites like my prime did? Im working on refurbishing it and putting blue alps in it. Sweet board.

Are you saying you have one of these and you are working on refurbishing it? If so, when you are done, please post a few pics of the process, I'd love to see what you did, and how it turned out.

To the best of my knowledge, the Avant Prime and Stellar keyboards were built with simplified white Alps, however I am not sure of anything more specific than that. I would love to get the whole official story/history behind this keyboard, more than just a company trying to copy/continue the Northgate Omnikey.
here she is. Case is a bit warped from the sun damage, and I gave it a light coat of paint to cover the yelowing. Pulled out the ****ty simplified white switches and am going to replace them with SKCM blues I have on the way via TaoBao. Such a sweet board, northgate build quality with windows keys.  :D
Here is the original pic from the ebay listing I got it from.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/Fjdp0N5.jpg)

Here it is after being painted.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/2ECRtB3.jpg)

Ill keep you updated on the progress on this board, its good seeing another avant lover on here.
Nice! Does it work? I've heard the programmable ones tended to be super unreliable =o .
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: mike52787 on Mon, 04 July 2016, 08:26:09
Nice! Does it work? I've heard the programmable ones tended to be super unreliable =o .
Short answer: no.
Slightly longer answer: There are a few caps on the controller that look old and dried up. I will try that, but if all else fails I will probably just try to find a Leeku 3000 pcb to put in it.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: chyros on Mon, 04 July 2016, 08:54:53
Nice! Does it work? I've heard the programmable ones tended to be super unreliable =o .
Short answer: no.
Slightly longer answer: There are a few caps on the controller that look old and dried up. I will try that, but if all else fails I will probably just try to find a Leeku 3000 pcb to put in it.
IIRC people tend to just rip out the programming chip or something since that's apparently the thing that ****s up. People have definitely gotten these to work despite the electrical/electronic flaws though.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: mike52787 on Mon, 04 July 2016, 09:02:15
Nice! Does it work? I've heard the programmable ones tended to be super unreliable =o .
Short answer: no.
Slightly longer answer: There are a few caps on the controller that look old and dried up. I will try that, but if all else fails I will probably just try to find a Leeku 3000 pcb to put in it.
IIRC people tend to just rip out the programming chip or something since that's apparently the thing that ****s up. People have definitely gotten these to work despite the electrical/electronic flaws though.
It already looks to be missing a chip, so im not sure. That mod maybe was already tried.
(http://i.imgur.com/QbDimzU.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/8w3Zt3l.jpg)
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: chyros on Mon, 04 July 2016, 09:34:31
Well ****balls, in that case I don't know either Oo .
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: losing_ctrl on Mon, 04 July 2016, 10:37:23
I've got one of those, an Avant Stellar:

(Attachment Link)

The pen/pencil slot at the top does add a bit of vintage charm. On this one you could probably cram three or four writing implements in the slot. These do pop up on ebay once and awhile, including the Avant Prime, which has the pen slot but not the extra set of function keys on the left, so not quite such a battleship.
Does that board use Alps SKBM whites like my prime did? Im working on refurbishing it and putting blue alps in it. Sweet board.

Are you saying you have one of these and you are working on refurbishing it? If so, when you are done, please post a few pics of the process, I'd love to see what you did, and how it turned out.

To the best of my knowledge, the Avant Prime and Stellar keyboards were built with simplified white Alps, however I am not sure of anything more specific than that. I would love to get the whole official story/history behind this keyboard, more than just a company trying to copy/continue the Northgate Omnikey.
here she is. Case is a bit warped from the sun damage, and I gave it a light coat of paint to cover the yelowing. Pulled out the ****ty simplified white switches and am going to replace them with SKCM blues I have on the way via TaoBao. Such a sweet board, northgate build quality with windows keys.  :D
Here is the original pic from the ebay listing I got it from.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/Fjdp0N5.jpg)

Here it is after being painted.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/2ECRtB3.jpg)

Ill keep you updated on the progress on this board, its good seeing another avant lover on here.

Great! Thanks for the pics, looking real good so far. Yes, I am definitely a fan of the Avants, but replacing the switches with blue Alps seems like it would be a huge upgrade. Good luck.
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: xtrafrood on Mon, 04 July 2016, 11:41:35
So many of you appreciate some pens on your keyboards! Holy guacamole :eek:
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: 1391406 on Mon, 04 July 2016, 13:49:26
So many of you appreciate some pens on your keyboards!

If I worked in a mechanics shop or something, a pencil tray would probably be useful. Personally, I don't need one, but that's me.

Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: xtrafrood on Mon, 04 July 2016, 14:14:55
So many of you appreciate some pens on your keyboards!

If I worked in a mechanics shop or something, a pencil tray would probably be useful. Personally, I don't need one, but that's me.

I've always used a cup. I've tried the pen on the keyboard trick back when I was using buckling spring keyboards all the time and it didn't always work out. I would forget and place the pen in a cup. When I use a pen often enough I slip it behind my ear, it looks goofy but idc 
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: chyros on Mon, 04 July 2016, 15:02:01
So many of you appreciate some pens on your keyboards!

If I worked in a mechanics shop or something, a pencil tray would probably be useful. Personally, I don't need one, but that's me.

I've always used a cup. I've tried the pen on the keyboard trick back when I was using buckling spring keyboards all the time and it didn't always work out. I would forget and place the pen in a cup. When I use a pen often enough I slip it behind my ear, it looks goofy but idc
5 floppy disks + cable ties = amazing pencil cup
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: xtrafrood on Mon, 04 July 2016, 15:30:38
So many of you appreciate some pens on your keyboards!

If I worked in a mechanics shop or something, a pencil tray would probably be useful. Personally, I don't need one, but that's me.

I've always used a cup. I've tried the pen on the keyboard trick back when I was using buckling spring keyboards all the time and it didn't always work out. I would forget and place the pen in a cup. When I use a pen often enough I slip it behind my ear, it looks goofy but idc
5 floppy disks + cable ties = amazing pencil cup

Oh man, that completely obliterates the whole vinyl record trick.  I need to try that sometime. Maybe someone can make some kind of 3D printed holder for the disks or something haha
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: ime1729 on Mon, 04 July 2016, 16:19:51
I typically put my Pilot DR Grip right to the left of the numpad vertically on my Unicomp.

Given the size of that pencil, I'm pretty sure that any other pencil would fit inside that improvised slot. (No, I don't really use the numpad, or even the d-pad that much, considering that I spend the majority of my time within emacs)
Title: Re: keyboards with a little pen 'slot' at the top of them
Post by: Malenky on Mon, 04 July 2016, 20:52:26
I have a membrane keyboard somewhere that has a single pen 'pot'.