People who list boards with photos of the cables wrapped around them

[ander]

Around the boards, I mean, not the sellers (their private lives notwithstanding).








Why oh why do people do this?

• It looks ugly

• It obscures the board

• It makes the board look abandoned

• It makes you wonder if the cable may be bent/damaged

• It looks like the seller couldn't be bothered (so how much do they care about their buyers?)

People don't sell toasters or laptops or other stuff with the cords wrapped around them. Why is it OK with keyboards then? Chime in.

[y11971alex]

I don't know about keyboards, but I do know that it's customary to coil the Selectric power cord around the two platen knobs.  This prevents the roller from shifting around as well as secures the inner assembly to the case.  It also prevents the cable from being accidentally tugged, which could damage the power switch box inside, as it's not otherwise retained.

When I shipped my 3278, I wrapped the cable around the top part of the keyboard horizontally.   

[Findecanor]

You should not wrap cables around keyboards for storage. The cables could be made of PVC with plasticizer (softening agent) that would eat into the ABS (or PVC) of the keyboard case and keycaps if left for too long. I have seen many keyboards and other equipment with dents where there cable went. The cheapest and best way I've found is to fold the cable into an empty toilet roll for storage.
(I have ranted about this many times before ...)

[ander]

I don't know about keyboards, but I do know that it's customary to coil the Selectric power cord around the two platen knobs.  This prevents the roller from shifting around as well as secures the inner assembly to the case.  It also prevents the cable from being accidentally tugged, which could damage the power switch box inside, as it's not otherwise retained... When I shipped my 3278, I wrapped the cable around the top part of the keyboard horizontally.   :D

I looked around for a photo of a Selectric as you described, and was relieved not to find any. I believe you, that it's a good shipping precaution—but take photos of it that way, and destroy those beautiful lines? Yikes. Anyone who does that is heading back to Online Marketing 101.

And speaking of shipping, it's especially goofy when people show detachable cables wrapped around keyboards, like this Model M. Failing to detach it and wrap it separately leaves the connected end unnecessarily vulnerable.

And yes, definitely, there's what Findcanor just pointed out. Some keyboards—e.g. Dell AT101's/101W's—are so reactive to cable contact, it's practically impossible to find examples without long scars melted into them.

[y11971alex]

You mean:

I don't know about keyboards, but I do know that it's customary to coil the Selectric power cord around the two platen knobs.  This prevents the roller from shifting around as well as secures the inner assembly to the case.  It also prevents the cable from being accidentally tugged, which could damage the power switch box inside, as it's not otherwise retained... When I shipped my 3278, I wrapped the cable around the top part of the keyboard horizontally.   

And speaking of shipping, it's especially goofy when people show detachable cables wrapped around keyboards, like this Model M. Failing to detach it and wrap it separately leaves the connected end unnecessarily vulnerable.

It's also quite silly, since it makes the keyboard difficult to wrap in bubble wrap, which is a treatment that any 30-year-old keyboard deserves!