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Author Topic: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao  (Read 3160 times)

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Offline Hypersphere

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Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« on: Sat, 13 July 2013, 15:47:25 »
Looking for IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (IBM SSK) in excellent condition. Heard there are some available on TaoBao. Seeking advice regarding purchasing security, shipping to USA, customs issues. Thanks.
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Offline mkawa

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 13 July 2013, 18:25:10 »
if you're looking for a quality old stock board to actually type on, it's a total crapshoot. i purchased a very large number of SSKs off of taobao as part of the SSKR project and about 80% of them were in horrid condition, with significant water damage, broken rivet positions literally hot glued in an attempt to keep the board usable, and so on. for me, this was fine, as i was purchasing for parts, but i would not suggest purchasing boards for use off of taobao.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 13 July 2013, 20:00:34 »
There have been a few of these turning up on eBay recently.  There are a couple of threads in Great Finds listing recent prices and stuff.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline smknjoe

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 13 July 2013, 20:03:40 »
Yeah, there have been some really good ones on ebay recently. Above average condition for $150 - $250 (not including the NIB.) I think there is one for sale in the classifieds here for $220. If you really want a good one get it from a GHer.
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Offline smknjoe

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 21:10:27 »
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 21:14:12 »
I'd love an SSK, to satisfy my Model M and TKL cravings, but these are all in the US, and shipping to Australia is silly.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Hypersphere

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 22:59:37 »
Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 14 July 2013, 21:10:27
Here are the 2 currently on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221250813183?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648 New In Box 1 hour left.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161063407595?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Great condition

Thanks again. Will definitely take a look. It appears that SSKs do indeed surface from time to time, just not nearly as plentiful as the full-size models.
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Offline Hypersphere

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:03:44 »
Quote from: rowdy on Sun, 14 July 2013, 21:14:12
I'd love an SSK, to satisfy my Model M and TKL cravings, but these are all in the US, and shipping to Australia is silly.

So, how did they get all that stuff down under if they didn't ship it there? Might take a while, but ultimately worth it. ;)
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Offline smknjoe

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:10:26 »
Shipping to Aus is EXPENSIVE! I have a friend that has booze sent there sometimes and it's at least $150 to get it shipped.

Here is another SSK http://www.ebay.com/itm/261246829981?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648
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SSKs for everyone!

Offline HolidaySHRIMP

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:18:26 »
Quote from: smknjoe on Sat, 13 July 2013, 20:03:40
Yeah, there have been some really good ones on ebay recently. Above average condition for $150 - $250 (not including the NIB.) I think there is one for sale in the classifieds here for $220. If you really want a good one get it from a GHer.

It sold last week =) it was a pristine one I bought from Kin and sold it. No winkey is a deal breaker.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:21:52 »
Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:10:26
Shipping to Aus is EXPENSIVE! I have a friend that has booze sent there sometimes and it's at least $150 to get it shipped.

Here is another SSK http://www.ebay.com/itm/261246829981?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648

Alcohol shipped TO Australia?  ROFLMAO just go to Dan Murphys!!!

http://danmurphys.com.au/dm/home.jsp

Like a warehouse full of alcohol - all retail and cheap ;D
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline smknjoe

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:25:10 »
From what I understand you don't have much of a bourbon selection there and what you do have is 2-3 x the price here.

Edit: ...and it's under-proofed for the foreign markets. Maker's Mark is $24 for 750ml at 90 proof here.
« Last Edit: Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:31:45 by smknjoe »
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 15 July 2013, 00:01:40 »
Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:25:10
From what I understand you don't have much of a bourbon selection there and what you do have is 2-3 x the price here.

Edit: ...and it's under-proofed for the foreign markets. Maker's Mark is $24 for 750ml at 90 proof here.

Ok then.  $42.99 for 80 proof Maker's Mark 700ml.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Hypersphere

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 15 July 2013, 10:36:58 »
Quote from: HolidaySHRIMP on Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:18:26
Quote from: smknjoe on Sat, 13 July 2013, 20:03:40
Yeah, there have been some really good ones on ebay recently. Above average condition for $150 - $250 (not including the NIB.) I think there is one for sale in the classifieds here for $220. If you really want a good one get it from a GHer.

It sold last week =) it was a pristine one I bought from Kin and sold it. No winkey is a deal breaker.

Got my IBM Model M SSK last night from eBay. Looking forward to using it. What's a Win key? Just kidding -- I mostly use a Mac, and there is no problem using a Model M. It can be remapped in various ways, but I remap the CapsLock as the "Command" key. When I shift focus to my Windows machine using Synergy, CapsLock then serves as the Win key, and when I shift focus to my Linux machine, CapsLock becomes the "Super" key.
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Offline HolidaySHRIMP

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 15 July 2013, 21:04:22 »
Quote from: rjrich on Mon, 15 July 2013, 10:36:58
Quote from: HolidaySHRIMP on Sun, 14 July 2013, 23:18:26
Quote from: smknjoe on Sat, 13 July 2013, 20:03:40
Yeah, there have been some really good ones on ebay recently. Above average condition for $150 - $250 (not including the NIB.) I think there is one for sale in the classifieds here for $220. If you really want a good one get it from a GHer.

It sold last week =) it was a pristine one I bought from Kin and sold it. No winkey is a deal breaker.

Got my IBM Model M SSK last night from eBay. Looking forward to using it. What's a Win key? Just kidding -- I mostly use a Mac, and there is no problem using a Model M. It can be remapped in various ways, but I remap the CapsLock as the "Command" key. When I shift focus to my Windows machine using Synergy, CapsLock then serves as the Win key, and when I shift focus to my Linux machine, CapsLock becomes the "Super" key.

Binding winkey to something via registry works but when I swap boards it messes everything up. If it doesn't change from dip switch (rf 87u) or board firmware (KMAC) I can't deal with it.

Those are the 2 boards I kept. Ditched the SSK and the HHKB.
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Offline smknjoe

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 15 July 2013, 21:13:11 »
I rarely use Windows any more (*nix) and when I do the Winkey is never used. The keycaps on the SSK and HHKB are great and have the best texture I've ever seen. It's like grip tape for your fingers!. Control in the location of Caps Lock is where it's at!

Rich, I think grave00 is looking to unload his SSK which looks like it's in very good shape. Sounds like it may have some broken rivets though. I assume you are still in the market for 2 more boards.
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Offline Hypersphere

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Re: Advice on Buying IBM SSK from TaoBao
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 15 July 2013, 22:24:40 »
Quote from: smknjoe on Mon, 15 July 2013, 21:13:11
I rarely use Windows any more (*nix) and when I do the Winkey is never used. The keycaps on the SSK and HHKB are great and have the best texture I've ever seen. It's like grip tape for your fingers!. Control in the location of Caps Lock is where it's at!

Rich, I think grave00 is looking to unload his SSK which looks like it's in very good shape. Sounds like it may have some broken rivets though. I assume you are still in the market for 2 more boards.

Thanks for the tip. You and others on GH have been really helpful. However, I suddenly seem to have found sources for SSKs. It looks like I will be all set.
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