Zenith Data Systems

[mobbo]

Hey guys,

So a friend of mine found this keyboard collecting dust in his lab. There's some pictures below (sorry for the quality and lack of photo on the back). My friend only knows that I'm interested in keyboards and this caught his eye. Just wondering if it might be worth having :3

 Thanks for all your help, hopefully I'll be able to get a picture of the back from him tomorrow.

[CPTBadAss]

Could be nothing, could be a board with SKCL Green Alps switches. Can you get a picture of the back at all? I'm like 80% sure it's a Green Alps board but Alps anything is tricksy so it's worth asking.

[mobbo]

Could be nothing, could be a board with SKCL Green Alps switches. Can you get a picture of the back at all? I'm like 80% sure it's a Green Alps board but Alps anything is tricksy so it's worth asking.

Yeah I'm hoping I can get him to take a picture of the back tomorrow. Sorry for the lack of information, he literally just sent me these pictures via text and left the lab right after.

[engicoder]

Pretty sure is a ZKB-2, which means Green or Yellow alps...pot luck. Its a great board though. Very well built and has a neat little key press sound made by a peizo that can be turned on and off.

Mine is green alps and has a manufacture date of November 1987. If this one is of similar age or older, its probably green. I think they switched to yellow at some point, but not sure when.

[Bucake]

looks like a ZKB-2 indeed.
see if you can carefully lift up that beige logo? some models came with a switch under the logo (to switch between AT and XT).
if you prefer not to touch the logo, you could also see if there's something under the logo by opening the thing up : )

i wonder what that big B is on the top right of the case..? is it a sticker?
i'm also curious to the switches and keycaps : ) it's hard to see if there's any discoloration. if you decide to take a cap off to see the switches, make sure you flip the keycap around so the bottom of it shows in the picture. : )

it does look like it's in excellent shape, though!

[jbondeson]

Should have SKCL Green or Yellow switches, with the former being the more highly sought after.

And it definitely looks like it's in amazing shape for that old of a keyboard.

[chyros]

Definitely a ZKB-2. Regardless of the switch it's worth having.

If it's green Alps; I'm running a Classifieds (that the mods are yet again slow to approve ) to trade a keyboard with thick Cherry winkey doubleshots with no shine or yellowing at all for a board just like that .

[mobbo]

looks like a ZKB-2 indeed.
see if you can carefully lift up that beige logo? some models came with a switch under the logo (to switch between AT and XT).
if you prefer not to touch the logo, you could also see if there's something under the logo by opening the thing up : )

i wonder what that big B is on the top right of the case..? is it a sticker?
i'm also curious to the switches and keycaps : ) it's hard to see if there's any discoloration. if you decide to take a cap off to see the switches, make sure you flip the keycap around so the bottom of it shows in the picture. : )

it does look like it's in excellent shape, though!

I'll see if I can get the board tomorrow and answer your questions (with some pics). I think the B is a sticker

And it definitely looks like it's in amazing shape for that old of a keyboard.

I was surprised by the condition as well! Looks like it's literally been sitting on that shelf since unboxing.

Definitely a ZKB-2. Regardless of the switch it's worth having.

If it's green Alps; I'm running a Classifieds (that the mods are yet again slow to approve ) to trade a keyboard with thick Cherry winkey doubleshots with no shine or yellowing at all for a board just like that .

I'll definitely keep you posted

[chyros]

I'll definitely keep you posted

Cool!

Here's a copy of that page on another website btw: http://deskthority.net/for-sale-f55/cherry-g80-3000-hfmgb-thick-bow-abs-doubleshots-t11966.html

[engicoder]

I hope this trade happens...looking forward to the resulting review.

[mobbo]

Hey! No promises haha. I've never tried Alps, so who knows maybe I'll fall in love

[SamirD]

That's a nice board.  Get it while it's cold!

[Mattr567]

Nice find. Linear Alps are always great. Better layout than my Zenith Z-150 w/ SKCL Green Alps