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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: JP on Sat, 15 December 2018, 16:28:41

Title: [Sold] Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: JP on Sat, 15 December 2018, 16:28:41: Fairly unique find (NIB) - Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro (Battlecruiser) - One of the more extensively programmable vintage keyboards around.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MCK-142-Pro-Computer-Keyboard-w-24-Programmable-Keys-Rare/173688546262?hash=item2870a4e3d6:g:newAAOSwXItcEXJE:rk:6:pf:0

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: ander on Sun, 16 December 2018, 18:15:03: 144 keys! I think that's a record, outside of this kind of thing:

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/200801191443_Japanische_Tastatur.jpeg)
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: JP on Sun, 16 December 2018, 18:27:25: Quote from: ander on Sun, 16 December 2018, 18:15:03
144 keys! I think that's a record, outside of this kind of thing:

Show Image
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/200801191443_Japanische_Tastatur.jpeg)

Well nothing tops that megalithic keyboard but there are others with more than 144 keys but it's what you can do with the keys is what matters.

Let me show you it's features:

Work Saving 24 Extra Programmable Function keys PF1 - PF24

Up to 320 programmable keystrokes per key

Great solid, "clicky feel" for keyboard users who recognize quality!

2 sets of function keys F1 - F12 (at top and left)

8k Ram total with internal lithium battery backup (non volatile memory)

8 way cursor keys; Fast Repeat Key

Caps Lock and Ctrl keys can be swapped under Windows '95-98

Works with any IBM AT compatible computer

Software included to save programming to disk and restore to keyboard

http://www.monu-cad.com/MCK142_Keyboard.htm
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: ander on Sun, 16 December 2018, 18:42:49: Quote from: JP on Sun, 16 December 2018, 18:27:25
Well nothing tops that megalithic keyboard but there are others with more than 144 keys...

In anything approaching a standard terminal-board configuration, I mean. If you had more keys than this one, you'd need to change the look of the whole board, wouldn't you? Or maybe you have some examples to shoosh me. (If so, that's fine—I'm married, and quite used to being shooshed.)
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: JP on Sun, 16 December 2018, 18:51:26: I can't remember all the boards I've seen but these come to mind.

[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: ander on Wed, 19 December 2018, 00:29:08: Quote from: JP on Sat, 15 December 2018, 16:28:41
Fairly unique find...

BTW (and it drives my wife nuts when I do this sort of thing), unique is an absolute term—you can't modify it. It means "one of a kind". So stuff's either unique or not. Okay, I'm done.

Quote from: JP on Sun, 16 December 2018, 18:51:26
I can't remember all the boards I've seen but these come to mind...

Yes, they're spook-tacular keebs, but they don't resemble standard terminal boards. I'm just saying.
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: JP on Sat, 22 December 2018, 09:08:01: How about this one then :p It's a TI Business Pro keyboard I have in my collection. Keys can be re-arraigned as desired, extra keys added, and keys could then be mapped in software. Note every switch has stabilizers even. The keyboard was way ahead of it's time in the 80's.

[attach=1]

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Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: no, the other guy on Sat, 22 December 2018, 19:49:25: This one still takes the cake:
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: JP on Sun, 23 December 2018, 09:55:44: Quote from: no, the other guy on Sat, 22 December 2018, 19:49:25
This one still takes the cake:

Nice, I don't think I've seen that before.
Title: Re: Ortek/Adesso MCK-142 Pro
Post by: ander on Mon, 24 December 2018, 02:05:39: Yep.