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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: OldIsNew on Thu, 08 February 2018, 00:33:41

Title: Data General Dasher D200, xwhatsit USB
Post by: OldIsNew on Thu, 08 February 2018, 00:33:41
I've posted about this board elsewhere, but it's a cool old board so I though I'd post here too. I grabbed this board when it came up recently and now I see it appears there were several on ebay recently! It's A Data General Dasher D200 board:

[attach=1]          [attach=4]          [attach=5]

The switches are a  foam and foil type I hadn't come across before:


[attach=6]          [attach=2]          [attach=3]



The original foam and foil was shot and had to be replaced:

[attach=7]


Then went about wiring up the xwhatsit,  retrobrited the keys and using the board now.

[attach=8]          [attach=9]

Short video of typing on board:


Title: Re: Data General Dasher D200, xwhatsit USB
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 08 February 2018, 08:30:40
Just beautiful! How is the typing feel of those foam and foil switches?
Title: Re: Data General Dasher D200, xwhatsit USB
Post by: mogo on Thu, 08 February 2018, 09:28:16
I appreciate the brevity of your post, straight to the good stuff! What a gorgeous old board! Looks like it's a fairly smooth linear action. How does it feel to type on? I admittedly haven't watched any of Chryos' reviews of foam and foil yet.
Title: Re: Data General Dasher D200, xwhatsit USB
Post by: OldIsNew on Thu, 08 February 2018, 21:42:02
Just beautiful! How is the typing feel of those foam and foil switches?

... What a gorgeous old board! Looks like it's a fairly smooth linear action. How does it feel to type on?...

Thanks! I do like the board, it certainly qualifies as different looking.  As far as the feel of the switches, I'd say they're OK. The are smooth linear, but the springs are a bit on the stiff side and the keys have a  bit of side to side wobble.  I think the springs are the primary issue. Not bad and I do enjoy using it, but I can't say they are great switches. I'm a big fan of vintage KeyTronic F&F switches - so I'm not anti F&F. I'm not sure who actually manufactured these switches, but I do think the typical vintage KeyTronic F&F  I've used before are superior.