GATEWAY ANYKEY reduced from BIN $50 to $25 free shipping

[TexasFlood]

GATEWAY ANYKEY PROGRAMMABLE KEYBOARD PS/2 - MINTY ! ! ! (seller description)
Reduced from BIN $50 to $25 free shipping, not a bad deal if you're looking for one of these.

[MissileMike]

Minty yellow, that is.

If you want one of these, I'd check the thrift stores in your area- these show up there often, along with the Dell Quietkey.  Both good for rubber domes.

Still a good find for someone who doesn't have any other way of getting one.  TexasFlood, you're an ebay bulldog!

[TexasFlood]

Minty yellow, that is.

If you want one of these, I'd check the thrift stores in your area- these show up there often, along with the Dell Quietkey.  Both good for rubber domes.

Still a good find for someone who doesn't have any other way of getting one.  TexasFlood, you're an ebay bulldog!

Mints come in a variety of colors I guess, :wink:.
I try to share what I find on fleabay.
Unless of course I have an overwhelming urge to buy it myself first, hah.

[Pylon]

I have one that needs its left shift stabilizer fixed and then I'll sell it. It's a 1993 Maxi-switch model and I don't like the feel too much...the RT7D5JTW-Quietkey has better feel IMO.

Also, these have low contrast double shot keycaps that are Cherry MX compatible. Sadly, the lettering is molded in dark gray, not black, so you might be better off with say, dye sub. The contrast is lower to about equal to lasered keys.

[TexasFlood]

I have one that needs its left shift stabilizer fixed and then I'll sell it. It's a 1993 Maxi-switch model and I don't like the feel too much...the RT7D5JTW-Quietkey has better feel IMO.

Also, these have low contrast double shot keycaps that are Cherry MX compatible. Sadly, the lettering is molded in dark gray, not black, so you might be better off with say, dye sub. The contrast is lower to about equal to lasered keys.

If these weren't programmable there would be very little interest, they'd just be another vintage maxi-switch rubber dome.

[didjamatic]

People also like fact that it has a Northgate Omnikey arrow cluster that is on some Northgates, but either they don't want to pony up the price for a Northgate or they want a quiet keyboard.

[TexasFlood]

People also like fact that it has a Northgate Omnikey arrow cluster that is on some Northgates, but either they don't want to pony up the price for a Northgate or they want a quiet keyboard.

Good point, found a larger picture to show that better:

[7bit]

Good point, found a larger picture to show that better:

Show Image

Did you get that on the keyboard cemetery shown in your avatar?

[TexasFlood]

Did you get that on the keyboard cemetery shown in your avatar?

:wink: Hah, neither is mine but I wouldn't be surprised if there is one in there.

[8_INCH_FLOPPY]

$25 w/ free shipping?  That's a pretty good price for, in my opinion, the best rubber dome ever made.

[Pylon]

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread, but how much do you reckon a clean, untested AT-plug Anykey is worth?

[TexasFlood]

Untested would be a problem for me.  I doubt I'd even bid on an untested keyboard.  But if it was tested and in good shape, I see them listed for anywhere from the $25 shipped here up to around $70 (although I'd be surprised if many would actually pay that top end).  $40-50 listings seem more like the average lately.

[TexasFlood]

Untested would be a problem for me.  I doubt I'd even bid on an untested keyboard.  But if it was tested and in good shape, I see them listed for anywhere from the $25 shipped here up to around $70 (although I'd be surprised if many would actually pay that top end).  $25-40 plus shipping listings seem more like the average lately.

[7bit]

Untested would be a problem for me.  I doubt I'd even bid on an untested keyboard.  But if it was tested and in good shape, I see them listed for anywhere from the $25 shipped here up to around $70 (although I'd be surprised if many would actually pay that top end).  $25-40 plus shipping listings seem more like the average lately.

Got mine for 10 EUR:

Key caps are in good shape and taking a bath right now.

[TexasFlood]

Got mine for 10 EUR:
Key caps are in good shape and taking a bath right now.

Sounds like a good deal.  If the photo is an accurate depiction then it looks to be in good shape and not yellowed.
There is a little grime on the keys, but the bath should clean that right up.

[8_INCH_FLOPPY]

Untested would be a problem for me.  I doubt I'd even bid on an untested keyboard.  But if it was tested and in good shape, I see them listed for anywhere from the $25 shipped here up to around $70 (although I'd be surprised if many would actually pay that top end).  $25-40 plus shipping listings seem more like the average lately.

Untested?  I've acquired around 20 used keyboards, several of wich have been pulled from dumpsters, and I've never found a keyboard that had problems with the electronics.  A Gateway Anykey is going to be less that 20 years old, so it's even less likely not to work.  Whether a keyboard is tested or untested is usually of little consequence.

[msiegel]

pulled from dumpster

aka "pulled from working system"

b/c you just never know...

[TexasFlood]

Untested?  I've acquired around 20 used keyboards, several of wich have been pulled from dumpsters, and I've never found a keyboard that had problems with the electronics.  A Gateway Anykey is going to be less that 20 years old, so it's even less likely not to work.  Whether a keyboard is tested or untested is usually of little consequence.

Seems like little cost and risk pulling an untested keyboard from a dumpster.  The question was what an untested keyboard was worth so I was just stating that I would be unlikely to bid and pay shipping on an untested keyboard.  Testing a keyboard is quite simple to do so I get suspicious when they are listed as untested particularly when there are most likely other ones out there that have been tested.  Pulling that same keyboard out of a dumpster, presumably for free isn't the same thing.

[Pylon]

Actually untested is an issue even for fairly young keyboards. I had a Lexmark Model M (pending sale) that I thought worked perfectly, but after some thorough testing found out that the / key on the numpad didn't work.

The thing is that I don't have an AT-DIN -> PS/2 adapter. I may be able to build one however.

[TexasFlood]

Actually untested is an issue even for fairly young keyboards. I had a Lexmark Model M (pending sale) that I thought worked perfectly, but after some thorough testing found out that the / key on the numpad didn't work.

The thing is that I don't have an AT-DIN -> PS/2 adapter. I may be able to build one however.

And that actually makes sense to me.  That someone would end up with a keyboard having an AT plug but no AT adapter.  Not as much for folks on this forum than the general population, :wink:, hah, but still makes sense.

AT-PS/2 adapters can be quite hard to find in most stores these days.  You can get one off of ebay for $2-3 any day or if you watch & wait might get lucky and pick up a small lot of them for $1 or less.

Anyway, just offering my opinion that testing might increase what you'll get for the keyboard.

[8_INCH_FLOPPY]

My point was simply that keyboards don't generally have problems that are not readily visible from the outside, particularly membrane keyboards.  It's very unlikely that it has a problem.  Few *normal* people have DIN 5 to ps/2 converters with which to test older keyboards.

[Hak Foo]

People also like fact that it has a Northgate Omnikey arrow cluster that is on some Northgates, but either they don't want to pony up the price for a Northgate or they want a quiet keyboard.

Some Focus boards (2000+, 9000, possibly others) also have the 8-arrow cluster.

[TexasFlood]

Few *normal* people have DIN 5 to ps/2 converters with which to test older keyboards.

I assume you're not counting the average Geekhacker as normal, :biggrin:?

[8_INCH_FLOPPY]

I assume you're not counting the average Geekhacker as normal, :biggrin:?

Nope

Some Focus boards (2000+, 9000, possibly others) also have the 8-arrow cluster.

I once saw a really nice programmable keyboard with the 8-arrow cluster on Ebay that was labeled by the seller as "Magitronix" brand.  from what I could tell by looking at the photographs, it looked like a really nice keyboard.  I got into a bidding war, but in the end I was not willing to put up more than $30 for it.  This was a while before I discovered this forum, so I never asked around here.

[Pylon]

So how would you go on testing one of these things? I finally got an AT -> PS/2 adapter built.

[TexasFlood]

So how would you go on testing one of these things? I finally got an AT -> PS/2 adapter built.

I'm sure there are other ways, but what I would do is...  If on Windows, use Aqua's Key Test software.  If on Linux, I've done a "sudo showkey -a" command which will echo keystrokes back allowing a test.

[Pylon]

Alright, thanks. The Linux program so far is proving to be really useful.

[TexasFlood]

Alright, thanks. The Linux program so far is proving to be really useful.

Glad to hear it!  I would guess that a lot of folks who call themselves testing a keyboard probably open up some sort of text or word processor and test what they can that way.  But as geekhackers we can do better, :wink:.

[Pylon]

Ad posted.
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?p=254045#post254045


I actually did not know what most of the scan codes meant, and I didn't really test most of the F-keys, though they probably work.

[TexasFlood]

Ad posted.
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?p=254045#post254045


I actually did not know what most of the scan codes meant, and I didn't really test most of the F-keys, though they probably work.

I would guess that 9 times out of 10 you're looking primarily at if the keys make contact, but it's nice to see the code if you can interpret it.

[microsoft windows]

It's too bad my Gateway2000 computer didn't come with an Anykey keyboard. I had one of those on my very first computer (I regret getting rid of it). I liked those diagonal arrow keys and the programmability.

But at least I got the cow-print mouse pad. And a good Windows 3.1 system.