Compaq Deskpro 286 AT Keyboard

[terrpn]

i am assumming this will work with the adapter

anybody know what kind of switches?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Do you have one, or is this one on somewhere like eBay? AT keyboards work, but you may need to try a couple of PS/2 to USB adapters before you find one that works — my Tulip 286 keyboard (Monterey K101) won't work with a Blue Cube, but does work with a Belkin adapter.

If you have the keyboard, you'll need to pull a keycap and upload a photo — I can't find anything on this keyboard anywhere. There are no tell-tale signs that I can pick up on from the keycaps or case. The caps lock key reminds me of Keytronic foam and foil, but that's all I can think of.

[terrpn]

no but was thinking abt grabbing one

was hoping someone knew abt the switch...............probably isn't mx

i feel you abt the converters.............so far the only one i have tried that is bullet proof on everything is my zio tek

my belkin died last month

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Well, one can only hope that, over time, enough people make the effort to add their keyboards to the Deskthority wiki (or similar — not sure how far off the Keyboard Database is) such that it will be possible to look up most "notable" keyboards in existence and get basic details. I'll let you calculate the odds on that happening.

I'll also let you ponder on what a "notable" keyboard would be. With a database-driven site, it should be fairly easy for everyone to simply post every single keyboard they have access to, good and bad.

My wild guess for the Compaq is either NMB Hi-Tek linear (corner LEDs definitely supported) or Key Tronic foam and foil (don't know if corner LEDs are actually supported with those), but it could be anything, and I have no idea. The LED positions rule out Alps, and imply not Cherry either (not unless it's pre-MX). Someone recently found a Scandinavian microcomputer keyboard that turned out to have Honeywell Hall Effect, so you can have some real surprises.

[terrpn]

Well, one can only hope that, over time, enough people make the effort to add their keyboards to the Deskthority wiki (or similar — not sure how far off the Keyboard Database is) such that it will be possible to look up most "notable" keyboards in existence and get basic details. I'll let you calculate the odds on that happening.

I'll also let you ponder on what a "notable" keyboard would be. With a database-driven site, it should be fairly easy for everyone to simply post every single keyboard they have access to, good and bad.

My wild guess for the Compaq is either NMB Hi-Tek linear (corner LEDs definitely supported) or Key Tronic foam and foil (don't know if corner LEDs are actually supported with those), but it could be anything, and I have no idea. The LED positions rule out Alps, and imply not Cherry either (not unless it's pre-MX). Someone recently found a Scandinavian microcomputer keyboard that turned out to have Honeywell Hall Effect, so you can have some real surprises.

yeah............keytronic foam was what i was thinking

when u say nmb linear do you mean space invaders?

if i grab one of course i will give you whatever you ask for the wiki

awesome site!!

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Yeah space invaders. Doubtful, though.

[terrpn]

looks like maybe this whatever this is........................?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Key Tronic buckling rubber sleeve — tactile foam and foil.

[terrpn]

Key Tronic buckling rubber sleeve — tactile foam and foil.

u da mannnnnn

[Daniel Beardsmore]

The picture above is from a different keyboard to the one I was looking at, which is this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161132205544

Here's the basic unbranded version without the black styling:

http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/keytro84.htm

The only branding is the "K.T.C" (Key Tronic Corporation) on the PCB. Even the switches are not branded.

Looks like they just altered the case of this model to Compaq's specification. Same layout including LED style, same font, everything.

Switch:

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Key_Tronic_foam_and_foil