Does anybody know anything about this old keyboard?

[mumstead]

Can anybody tell me anything about this old Acer keyboard? It has a very nice clicky feel and I just love typing on it. It was a disgusting mess when I got it but I took it apart and cleaned it and now it looks brand new. When I opened it up to inspect and clean it and the manufacture date of the plastic enclosure was 1989. The keys are tactile and clicky with blue colored switches mounted on a black metal backplane. The model number is KB-101AS and it was made in Taiwan. It has a 3 position switch on the back that is just labeled 1,2, & 3. I have no idea what it does. I would appreciate anything you may know about it.


Here is the switch on the back

[mumstead]

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply. I have actually read the Wiki over a few times and have been lurking the forum for a few weeks. I'm trying to decide which Filco to buy and I wanted to find out which switches I had on this keyboard so I can try to come fairly close to them. I bought my first PC in 87 so I grew up with mechanical keyboards. I didn't realize until a couple months ago that there was a resurgence. I really wish I still had the pile of Model M's I put in the trash about 10 years ago.......

[domin8r]

Looks like a great find by the way!

[Magna224]

The 3 pos switch should be to switch between AT and XT.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Even then, complicated alps like what you found is no longer made. There are some simplified alps, but you'll probably want to just stick with what you've got or get old model stuff from ebay or something.

[mumstead]

This board is going on my secondary PC for now as it does not work on my main PC with an ASUS P8P67 motherboard. I think I need a Blue Cube to get it to work. For a second board I think I'm going to try a Filco with blues when I can find one or I am thinking of even possibly trying browns as I do a lot of gaming, as well as work, on my Main PC.

[Grimey]

That board is beautiful, thanks for sharing.  The only old keyboard anyone would find around were I work are the crappy $10 Dell rubber domes.  The University I work at has a used goods shop, but all the keyboards are crappy rubber domes in either Sun or Dell origins.

[mumstead]

A coworker was cleaning out her basement and happened to mention that she had a few old keyboards packed away under the stairs. I told her not to throw them out before I looked at them. This board was in the pile. The rest were junk and not worth saving. She gave me this one and was happy to be rid of it. I spent about 6 hours restoring this to it's current state but it was worth it

[mumstead]

I got my Blue Cube yesterday and this board still will not work with my P8P67.  In fact, it wont work on either of the PCs I tried it on using the Blue Cube. When I first boot the computer the keyboard is recognized and works fine for about 15 seconds then the keyboard locks up and whatever key you last pressed repeats indefinitely. This happens on both of the PCs I tried it on. Oh well, at least I can use it with a 5 pin dim to PS2 adapter on my secondary PC. I have a Filco red for my main PC now and while it is nothing like this old keyboard I am enjoying it very much. I would really like to get a Filco blue tenkeyless also but I am having a hard time finding one.

[Atenacius]

I'm pretty jealous of all of these vintage finds. I guess I just need to know where to look. You should use the Acer for a while before considering a new mechanical. Lurk more so your final decision won't be on impulse.

Edit: Nevermind, I see that it's causing you trouble. How do you like the Reds?

[mumstead]

I love the reds for gaming and I really enjoy typing on them as well but I think I will enjoy the blues even more for typing. I really like the clicky feedback when typing. I'll just have 2 Filcos on my desk. One board for work, and one for play.

[Atenacius]

Yeah, I've thought about getting another keyboard with Reds for home just to play games but my girlfriend will kill me for having 2 expensive keyboards at home. If only the Filco Ninja Tenkeyless came with red switches...

[Atenacius]

Yeah, the biggest gripe I have is the legends wearing off. I'm not that much of a stickler for shiny keys. The doubleshots that I got for my Das were half shiny and it didn't really bother me that much (it goes with the housing). At least with the Ninjas, I wouldn't have to worry about the legends.

[VanillaCena]

I never quite got the big deal with the Ninja.

In 6 months this forum will be flooded with "ZOMG MY FILCO NINJA IS SHINY" pics.  In the meantime I haven't seen a flood of "ZOMG MY FILCO LETTERING IS GONE" pictures.  At least if you discount the occasional scratched off lettering one from fingernails and poor hygiene.

I'm getting the Ninja over the regular Majestouch-2 just because of the black logo.
I plan on replacing the keycaps with black-on-black PBT ones for a real stealth look.

[Pylon]

Can't you just Sharpie the logo?

[PlayerZero]

Welcome to Geekhack.

Ninjas don't sharpie logos.  They sharpie legos.

Show Image

Where do you get these legos??

And more on topic, I'm also pretty jealous of the people who find old awesome keyboards for free...  I asked my mom to look at work and she came back with 2 cheap rubber domes, saying those were the oldest

[PlayerZero]

Never seen Japanese figures before...  I guess there's always Yoda for me.

[andrewjoy]

That keyboard is amazing, i realy wish i could get some vintage finds, may have a look in the basement at work if i can but i am guessing its going to be all rubber dome crap.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Since someone else necroposted already — mumstead, did you get the Acer working? If so, presumably someone pointed you to the Belkin PS/2 to USB keyboard and mouse adapter? (That's the one to try if the blue cube doesn't work, and the one that I'm using for my own blue ALPS keyboard.)