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Author Topic: Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?  (Read 3130 times)

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Offline Z Overlord

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 47
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« on: Thu, 17 February 2011, 22:56:25 »
I have a modern mech keyboard I like (Armor U9BL) but my friend has a horrid foam or w/e keyboard whose keys are mushy and almost depressing.

He likes the clickity nature of my keyboard, but he'd never in a million years spend $100 on a keyboard.

He doesn't care for aesthetics.

What's a solution to this horrible situation?
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Offline Tony

  • Posts: 1189
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 17 February 2011, 23:03:32 »
Try to find one in Ebay and Geekhack classified. And have 50USD ready.
« Last Edit: Thu, 17 February 2011, 23:08:52 by Tony »
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Keyboard: Filco MJ1 104 brown, Filco MJ2 87 brown, Compaq MX11800, Noppoo Choc Brown/Blue/Red, IBM Model M 1996, CMStorm Quickfire Rapid Black
Layout: Colemak experience, speed of 67wpm

Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 17 February 2011, 23:36:14 »
You can generally pick up a Model M for less than $50, shipped. No guarantees on condition, though.

For $50 plus shipping, you can often pick up a cleaned/refurbished/bolt modded Model M here in the classifieds.
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HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline Z Overlord

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 47
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 17 February 2011, 23:37:06 »
ah nice, will check this out tomorrow.
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Offline Hak Foo

  • Posts: 1272
  • Make America Clicky Again!
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 17 February 2011, 23:57:23 »
A Dell AT101W might be a fair cheap choice also; they used to be really cheap, but now they're a little rarer.
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Overton130, Box Pale Blues.

Offline turbocharged

  • Posts: 298
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 08:39:27 »
Give either a Compaq MX-11800 or Cherry MX-11900 (G80-11900) a go. They are always on ebay for less than $50 shipped and have Cherry MX brown/black switches respectively. The layout is less than optimal, but its not bad once you get used to it.
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| Deck Legend Fire (MX Blacks) | KBC Poker X (MX Reds) | Cherry G80-11900LTMUS (MX Clears) |  Cherry G80-11900HRMUS (MX "Ghetto Reds")
| IBM Model M 1391401 (BS) | Goldtouch GTC-0033 Keypad (MX Browns) |

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Offline steeef

  • Posts: 156
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 09:45:24 »
Quote from: turbocharged;297184
Give either a Compaq MX-11800 or Cherry MX-11900 (G80-11900) a go. They are always on ebay for less than $50 shipped and have Cherry MX brown/black switches respectively. The layout is less than optimal, but its not bad once you get used to it.


The Compaq was my first, and it's a good introduction to browns. Once I decided not to keep it, it was really easy to sell it in the Classifieds forum.
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Cherry MX Blue: Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless. Cherry MX Black: TG3 KBA-BLTD-5RBUVS (Police Cruiser keyboard). Cherry MX Clear: KBC Poker (modded with Ergo Clears) Cherry MX Brown: Goldtouch GTC-077 USB numpad. Buckling Spring: IBM Model M 1391401 (1989-01-03 and 1991-11-21).

Offline chimera15

  • Posts: 1441
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 11:20:52 »
There are blue cherry boards out there.  I think the razer mechanical isn't much more than $50.

$80.  You can probably find it on amazon or ebay for less.

http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.211324200

Lowest I saw it was about $65.
« Last Edit: Fri, 18 February 2011, 11:24:43 by chimera15 »
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

Offline Ekaros

  • Posts: 942
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 12:19:24 »
Model M as used. On new either Blackwidow or 6Gv2. Also older boards are always possibility.
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So I should add something useless here yes? Ok, ok...
Filco 105-key NKRO MX Browns Sw/Fi-layout|IBM Model M 1394545 Lexmark 102-key Finnish-layout 1994-03-22|Cherry G80-3000LQCDE-2 with MX CLEAR
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dell AT102W(105-key SF) (Black ALPS)|Steelseries Steelkeys 6G(MX Black) ISO-FI-layout|Cherry G84-4400 G84-4700 Cherry MLs

Offline chimera15

  • Posts: 1441
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 12:37:29 »
There was a focus 2001 on ebay for about $40 the other day.  Not sure if it's still there.
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

Offline Pylon

  • Posts: 852
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 19:14:55 »
Yard sale or thrift store.
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Offline keyboardlover

  • Posts: 4022
  • Hey Paul Walker, Click It or Ticket!
    • http://www.keyboardlover.com
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 20:30:24 »
I like 'em old and cheap too...wait, were you talking about keyboard??
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Offline microsoft windows

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Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 18 February 2011, 20:47:47 »
http://cgi.ebay.com/REFURB-1995-IBM-Model-M-Clicky-Keyboard-1396790-737-/140509293659?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item20b701ac5b

Here's an IBM  Model  M with  good rivets. You can  buy it now for $35,  not including shipping. A little pricey for a Model M, but your friend can definitely get plenty of  miles on this one.
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CLICK HERE!     OFFICIAL PRESIDENT OF GEEKHACK.ORG    MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN MERRY CHRISTMAS

Offline NamelessPFG

  • Posts: 373
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 19 February 2011, 19:36:24 »
Thrift stores just might yield a good keyboard, if you're lucky. I got my second IBM Model M that way.

A Model M I wouldn't mind offering to you, if you're interested. 1370477, Lexmark, drainage channels, single-piece keycaps, and a detachable cable.
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Offline aegrotatio

  • Posts: 335
Any old or cheap mech. keyboards?
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 20 February 2011, 22:25:48 »
I recommend the DSI ASK-6600 mechanical keyboard.  it's still in production and goes on sale fairly regularly.
In fact, it's on sale again for $41 today.  DSI sells them on their site and eBay.

http://dsi-keyboards.com/kb-6600butraditionalalpsmechanicalswitchkeyboardusbps2ask-6600.aspx
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Daily Drivers: Ducky DK1087XM || DSI ASK-6600 || Rosewill RK-9000 BL, BR, BL, and RE || ABS M1 || Das Keyboard Silent || HHKB Lite and Lite 2 || DSI Big Font (kids love it)
Yearning for: Any ALPS keyboard || Any tenkeyless mechanical keyboard
Permanent collection: Poker Blue and Brown || Adesso MKB-125B || SIIG MiniTouch Geek Hack Space Saver || Chicony 5181 Monterey Blue || Chicony 5191 Clone Cherry Blues || Key Tronic 3600 || Unicomp Endurapro & SmarTrex || A crate of IBM Model M and Model M Space Saving boards || NeXTstation Slab || Amiga 3000 || BTC-5100C black and beige || SIIG MiniTouch Plus black and beige
Retired collection: SIIG MiniTouch Monterey Blue || Razer BlackWidow
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