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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Tr0j4nM4x1mus on Wed, 14 April 2010, 16:49:08

Title: model m space saving
Post by: Tr0j4nM4x1mus on Wed, 14 April 2010, 16:49:08
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260586115080&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
Title: model m space saving
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 14 April 2010, 17:32:58
There's another at the same price ($80 BIN) here: http://cgi.ebay.com/CLEAN-1987-IBM-Model-M-Clicky-Space-Saver-PC-Keyboard_W0QQitemZ270563674510
It actually has a great description, and the seller offers somewhat reasonable worldwide shipping.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: prd on Wed, 14 April 2010, 17:46:26
"Yes it does have 1 piece keys." Is this for real?
Title: model m space saving
Post by: bigpook on Wed, 14 April 2010, 18:28:37
Boy, that didn't take long.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 14 April 2010, 18:31:51
Some had one piece caps, others had two. There's no real pattern to it.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: bigpook on Wed, 14 April 2010, 18:32:58
I still prefer the two piece caps myself, but its probably all in my head that they feel different.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 14 April 2010, 18:42:14
I think I prefer the older Model M construction/heavy keyboards, but with 1 piece key caps.  I thought only newer ones had 1 piece, but I have an IBM typewriter that has a buckling spring keyboard that uses 1 piece caps and it was made in 1985 (Actionwriter 1) long before Lexmark was in the mix.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: HaaTa on Wed, 14 April 2010, 18:43:45
I prefer the 1 piece caps as well.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 14 April 2010, 18:52:58
Quote from: didjamatic;172189
I think I prefer the older Model M construction/heavy keyboards, but with 1 piece key caps.  I thought only newer ones had 1 piece, but I have an IBM typewriter that has a buckling spring keyboard that uses 1 piece caps and it was made in 1985 (Actionwriter 1) long before Lexmark was in the mix.


Model Fs used single piece keycaps.

The one and only reason that Model Ms had double piece keycaps was to facilitate customers applying custom keycaps. There were no technical superiorities of one over the other, just the convenience for those who needed it.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 14 April 2010, 19:00:11
I have an '87 Space Saver with mostly 1-piece caps. A few random keys are 2-piece.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: salcan on Wed, 14 April 2010, 19:06:22
edit: missed a post above...
Title: model m space saving
Post by: ricercar on Wed, 14 April 2010, 19:16:19
Why do the $80 Model M Minis have to come when I'm out of work?
Title: Re: model m space saving
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 14 April 2010, 19:40:06
Was there a mini made with a square metal logo on the case?  I swore there was but now I'm doubting myself.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 14 April 2010, 19:44:25
Quote
Why do the $80 Model M Minis have to come when I'm out of work?
You might try messaging refresh computers on ebay, they've listed a few of these and respond fast to questions.

Quote
Functioning drainage channels is more useful to me. Only my Industrial Mini has that.
Definitely. I just know that my tea addiction is going to kill a keyboard one day. My habit of drinking yogurt from a cup could have taken out my space saver, but luckily the right hand side of the keyboard was well enough sealed to ward off the disaster.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: ricercar on Thu, 15 April 2010, 01:18:25
Aaargh. I did it. I bought the thread-starting mini. I'm now part of the Model M Space Saving club. Time to sell off some keyboards before my wifey checks our Paypal statement.

Check out my classifieds:
Title: model m space saving
Post by: Half-Saint on Thu, 15 April 2010, 02:38:43
$75 for shipping to Slovenia? w00t?
Title: model m space saving
Post by: salcan on Mon, 19 April 2010, 14:57:46
I got a mini from ebay sellers refreshcomputers. Arrive well-packed but missing two keycaps. The board was in good shape and structurally sound, but there was a lot of wear on the double-mapped keys (JKL, etc.) No surprise: it was quite dirty.

What bothers me is that the board is not the one in his auctions. That one is in better condition, doesn't have the wear, and isn't missing caps. To be fair, mine doesn't have the scraps seen on the one in the auction.

I've emailed him to see if he can send me some keys and make things right. I'd deal with him but consider yourself warned.

btw- it's a 1991, US made, with 2-part keys. grey label.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 19 April 2010, 15:08:14
Quote from: didjamatic;172215
Was there a mini made with a square metal logo on the case?  I swore there was but now I'm doubting myself.


I can say with 95% certainty that no such thing exists. I would be very interested if you found one though...
Title: model m space saving
Post by: nowsharing on Mon, 19 April 2010, 16:02:07
Stock photos: a scarry garcia tactic. I feel bad for recommending refresh computers earlier in the thread now. I hope you get things sorted out.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: nowsharing on Mon, 19 April 2010, 16:47:14
Yep. Back when I bought my space saver from Scarry (which turned out to be pretty nice for the price) he had used the same, outrageously blurry picture for four or five auctions. I'm surprised that sellers haven't started ripping off their pictures directly from clickykeyboards.com yet.
Title: model m space saving
Post by: salcan on Tue, 20 April 2010, 16:55:02
Quote from: salcan;173502
I got a mini from ebay sellers refreshcomputers. Arrive well-packed but missing two keycaps. The board was in good shape and structurally sound, but there was a lot of wear on the double-mapped keys (JKL, etc.) No surprise: it was quite dirty.

What bothers me is that the board is not the one in his auctions. That one is in better condition, doesn't have the wear, and isn't missing caps. To be fair, mine doesn't have the scraps seen on the one in the auction.

I've emailed him to see if he can send me some keys and make things right. I'd deal with him but consider yourself warned.

btw- it's a 1991, US made, with 2-part keys. grey label.


just to follow up- just got a nice call from refresh. they checked their records and they said they sent me the wrong keyboard by mistake. The other one is gone but they are sending me the missing keys and looking to replace the worn JKL keys. The person on the phone was very nice and insisted on a small refund despite the fact that I said it wasn't necessary.

So they made a mistake, but did their best to make things OK. The important thing was that the keyboard I did get was in pretty solid shape so I think they are good people.