unknown model

[sam113101]

I've seen a IBM keyboard, that was not the model m, it had 2 rows of extra keys on the left side and the arrow keys were placed like this

-o
o-o
-o

instead of this

-o
ooo

I was just wondering if it had buckling spring, and one crazy thing is that I saw it at canadian tire, people who work there are using old computers and computer accessories, including those IBM keyboards

also, how much those keyboards are worth*?

[kishy]

Did it also have extra keys on top?

If so, refer to my signature (terminal keyboard links). That's likely what you saw.

My local CT has non-IBM brand keyboards of the same layout. The IBM ones are buckling spring.

[ch_123]

How much it's worth depends on the specific model you saw. Most of them aren't worth a lot because most of them require hacks to get them working with a PC. There are some PS/2 ones, but then you need software like Auto Hotkey to get the extra keys assigned to something useful.

[kishy]

How much it's worth depends on the specific model you saw. Most of them aren't worth a lot because most of them require hacks to get them working with a PC. There are some PS/2 ones, but then you need software like Auto Hotkey to get the extra keys assigned to something useful.

It's gonna be a real terminal keyboard. Canadian Tire's inventory system is accessed via twinax terminals.

[sam113101]

no, there wasn't any extra key on top I think

[sam113101]

what are terminal keyboards*?
should I go back to canadian tire and try the keyboard*?
it would be my first buckling spring experience

why is it hard to make them working on a pc*?

[kishy]

no, there wasn't any extra key on top I think

Sure you didn't see this?



This is closer to what I saw yesterday when I was in my local CT:

[sam113101]

I guess nothing bad could happen if I press on the blank keys*?

[kishy]

what are terminal keyboards*?

Well...they're keyboards for terminals, lol. In order to understand both that and why there is a difference, you'd need to realize that the concept of dumb terminals and mainframes is a lot older than the concept of "personal computers" in general. Consequently, the development of the keyboard interfaces wasn't exactly "in sync" with computer keyboards.

In any event, the sort in question here are pretty close to being "PC compatible"...but the minor differences they have are dealbreakers for non-techy people.

It's important to note that a computer terminal is itself not a computer...simply a set of hardware used for accessing a computer typically located elsewhere. You can't use a terminal on its own for anything, so if you were thinking of trying to get one of those terminals from CT or try to buy the same model they have, it'd be a massive waste of time and money.

should I go back to canadian tire and try the keyboard*?
it would be my first buckling spring experience

Do not attempt to mess with a store's equipment...as innocent as your goal may be, you could end up in a less-than-desirable encounter with store security and/or the police if they suspect you're attempting to alter stored information for products, etc. (as an example, they'd obviously want to prevent someone putting a $400 item on sale for $19.99, right? they don't know what you're doing and could react adversely)

why is it hard to make them working on a pc*?

It's not hard, you've just gotta know what you're doing.

I guess nothing bad could happen if I press on the blank keys*?

Maybe nothing, maybe something. All the keys send a code to the system, it just depends on if the system is set up to actually do anything with that particular key (and typically keys with no label will not be set up to do anything...or they could be duplicates of other keys and actually do something)

As for value, in good condition you could probably make a sale of such a keyboard for 20 bucks with no problem. 30, maybe. 40 is really pushing your luck and someone would have to really want one at that moment to pay that amount.