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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: didjamatic on Sun, 07 March 2010, 22:10:36

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 07 March 2010, 22:10:36

I'm thinking of biting on one of these WANGs.  He's gone down several times since he first listed one.  Now he's at 27.

Wang 724 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130347078429&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1331wt_795)

Has anyone in here taken a WANG from this guy?

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: Brodie337 on Sun, 07 March 2010, 23:33:33

So... Many... Bad... Punns!!!

What are the three keys under Del/End/PgDn?

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: Brodie337 on Sun, 07 March 2010, 23:35:51

So... Many... Bad... Punns!!!

What are the three keys under Del/End/PgDn?

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: TexasFlood on Mon, 08 March 2010, 00:07:39

Quote from: didjamatic;162422

I'm thinking of biting on one of these WANGs.  He's gone down several times since he first listed one.  Now he's at 27.

Wang 724 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130347078429&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1331wt_795)

Has anyone in here taken a WANG from this guy?

Looks like a decent deal.  However looks lke you might get black, orange or pink ALPS switches and from that particular deal seemingly no cable is included so you'd have to buy or fabricate your own RJ45<>PS/2 cable to plug it in.  Actually I see now that the same vendor sells the cable separately (http://cgi.ebay.com/Wang-724-Keyboard-Cable-for-725-3770-We-make-them_W0QQitemZ130363768101QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs) for US $18.95 (or make offer) + shipping $12.58UPS ground.  Says they're making the cables since the boards didn't include them.  Certainly raises the overall cost.  Maybe not too high if it's a quality built board but might not knowing what ALPS switch you'll get be an issue?

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: TexasFlood on Mon, 08 March 2010, 00:53:42

.....he said "WANG", huhuhu.. huhuhu....
(http://www.lust-for-life.org/Lust-For-Life/Cartoons/ImageFiles/BeavisButthead.jpg)

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: sixty on Mon, 08 March 2010, 01:56:34

One of the Korean guys over at kbdmania had ordered one of the NIB WANGs.
Apparently they use black ALPS:

http://ejlabs.net/kbd/xe/?vid=kbd&mid=textyle&act=dispTextyle&search_target=title_content&search_keyword=wang&x=0&y=0&document_srl=99

Unless you plan to change switches or have some obscure fetish for terrible ALPS switches I suggest staying away until he drops them to like 10 bucks :D

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: J888www on Mon, 08 March 2010, 02:22:34

If they are from the same batch as the previous listings, then they have ALPS Black Switches = non clicky. The KBD is quite solid, much better than the Chiconys in comparison and most importantly, its new = no necessity for viral protection. The "not included" cable is a matter of concern, you would want a keyboard to be able to plug-in and usable. So if no cable then = useless. Fabricating your own cable is quite simple but if you are not definitely certain then you risk the death of your comp or KBD or both.

For those who prefer ckicky switches, it can be modified by snapping/breaking the four protruding tabs from all the corners of switch leaves. After this mod, the switches will have a "soft" click.

If this KBD is supplied with cables at the same cost, then I would definately purchase another.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 08 March 2010, 06:54:25

I contacted the seller when he first put the boards on ebay and the price was around $100 and he said they were Black switches.  Thanks for the link sixty.  
If they were dampened switches, I'd get one as I don't have a dampened ALPS keyboard.

Good call on the cable, I never noticed that before and will probably hold off because of that.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: fastbuck on Mon, 08 March 2010, 08:10:35

I got one a little while ago - feels very solid, switches are non-clicky black alps. I'm going to make the cable - Sandy showed the schematic, looks simple, though I haven't gotten to doing it yet.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: eunjea on Mon, 08 March 2010, 17:39:14

Quote from: sixty;162475

One of the Korean guys over at kbdmania had ordered one of the NIB WANGs.
Apparently they use black ALPS:

http://ejlabs.net/kbd/xe/?vid=kbd&mid=textyle&act=dispTextyle&search_target=title_content&search_keyword=wang&x=0&y=0&document_srl=99

I made cable too. ;-)
http://ejlabs.net/kbd/xe/kbd/127 (http://ejlabs.net/kbd/xe/kbd/127)

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: TexasFlood on Mon, 08 March 2010, 20:38:43

Quote from: didjamatic;162513

Good call on the cable, I never noticed that before and will probably hold off because of that.

It can be tricky.  For example, this Wang 724 (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-Wang-Model-724-KeyBoard_W0QQitemZ390161146405QQcmdZ)...  Well not only is it "untested" but also shows a cord included.  However, close examination of the pictures reveals that it has RJ45 connections at both ends such as a phone cord, which would not allow it to be used.  Now, you could probably modify it to work but would be a disappointment for anyone hoping to plug it in and use it.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: InSanCen on Tue, 09 March 2010, 01:08:32

If someone grabs one, can you post the date, serial, and any other relevant numbers?

I ask because mine takes pink's, and if we get enough data points, we may be able to have a rough estimate on when they switched over.

The cord, if it's any help, should be RJ11 to PS/2. The seller has them Link (http://cgi.ebay.com/Wang-724-Keyboard-Cable-for-725-3770-We-make-them_W0QQitemZ130363768101QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs), but is not including them. It's relatively easy to make one.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: eunjea on Tue, 09 March 2010, 01:40:14

Quote from: InSanCen;162676

If someone grabs one, can you post the date, serial, and any other relevant numbers?

Here (http://ejlabs.net/kbd/img/wang724.jpg)
Black Alps

HTH

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 09 March 2010, 19:41:46

Quote from: TexasFlood;162645

It can be tricky.  For example, this Wang 724 (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-Wang-Model-724-KeyBoard_W0QQitemZ390161146405QQcmdZ)...  Well not only is it "untested" but also shows a cord included.  However, close examination of the pictures reveals that it has RJ45 connections at both ends such as a phone cord, which would not allow it to be used.  Now, you could probably modify it to work but would be a disappointment for anyone hoping to plug it in and use it.

Do those Wang 724's use the PC/AT keyboard protocol?

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: skriefal on Tue, 09 March 2010, 19:42:34

I believe I'm local to you (in SLC?) and have a 724 that I'd be willing to let go of.  It's not NIB, but no shipping cost either. :smile:  Let me know if you're interested.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: InSanCen on Fri, 12 March 2010, 17:58:24

Quote from: eunjea;162682

Here (http://ejlabs.net/kbd/img/wang724.jpg)
Black Alps

HTH

hmmmm...

Mines a 92, week 28.

If I can get some more datapoints, I'll compile a spreadsheet and see if I can a changeover perios so people can get a better idea of the liklehood of Pink or Black ALPS.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: fastbuck on Sat, 13 March 2010, 10:35:32

Quote from: microsoft windows;162836

Do those Wang 724's use the PC/AT keyboard protocol?

Yes

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: J888www on Sat, 20 March 2010, 13:51:42

Made the cord with an IBM M SDL to PS/2 cable (replaced the SDL connector with a RJ11 (6 pin) connector). The colour of the IBM cable wires did not match with the wires of the WANG. After scrutinising the SDL connector, I arrived at the conclusion that:
  Looking from the bottom of the KBD connector with Sandy55 info to match the IBM Cable wire colour.

1} KBD White wire = Clock = IBM cable Brown wire                
2} KBD Black wire = Data = IBM Cable White wire
3} KBD Red wire = N/C = Blank  
4} KBD Green wire = Ground =IBM Cable Black wire
5} KBD Yellow wire = +5V = IBM Cable Red wire
6} KBD Blue wire = Shield = Metal Wire (bare)

Please note that this applies to the IBM M SDL to PS/2 cable, other cables may have different colour coded wiring, so you will need to check which represents "Data", "+5V", "Ground" etc etc etc.

Skeptical when I connected to my PC, then powered on. To my elation, it worked perfectly with a extra pleasant surprise. I had forgotten there was a small speaker on this KBD, and every key stroke produced a bleep sound which can be turned louder or quieter from the back of KBD. So modding this ALPS Black switches KBD to become clicky is unnecessary and this bleep/noise is uniform which may/may not apply to clicky switches.
To summarise this WANG 724 = "Delightful"

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: iMav on Sat, 20 March 2010, 17:11:46

Looks like they are now available with cable.

Title: Thinking of a WANG
Post by: J888www on Sun, 21 March 2010, 04:41:31

It's more convenient to purchase with a cable, but for me, the satisfaction is to make one. For those who have cash concerns and expendable time, the cost to make = 1 old cable + £0.20/$0.30 (J11 6Pin plug), cost of cable with shipping ?
This KBD is a little more enticing than others because of good build quality and more importantly, as time passes, it will become more difficult to find one which is NEW.