Found in my garage... any good?

[natgab]

My brother had this with his junk in the garage.  So I grabbed it.





It is a Keytronic model # E03601QLPS2, assembled in Mexico with a PS/2 connector.  The keys are kind of soft, is this a mechanical or dome?  Looked in eBay, but only finding storefront listings.  Nothing from an individual that might go to the trouble of adding specifications.  It does have a little opening in back with markings XT/enhanced AT along where the power cable is tucked in but not a DIP switch thing.

It is heavier than my cheap black MS keyboard.  My black Apple keyboard is heavier though.  Closest I found on eBay was this, but it has a C at end of the model number and has Windows keys:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KeyTronic-E03601QLPS2-C-Keyboard-/170998576733?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item27d04f365d

P.S. I used mild soap and water on a paper towel.  KB noob, any suggestions?

[ishumprod]

carefully pull a key off ( a little on, like the Q ) and show us a picture of what's under the keycap ( the switch )

[lazerpointer]

Yeah, the switches could be of some value. Other than that, it looks like the epitome of "old ass keyboard"

[IvanIvanovich]

Its just an old Keytronic, which are nice rubberdomes but nothing special.

[DavinDidIt]

I sometimes use one of these at my work.  Keytronic keyboards are amongst the highest quality rubber dome keyboards there are, not including topre of course.

If you don't have anything else, this is actually not too bad of a keyboard to type on!

[natgab]

carefully pull a key off ( a little on, like the Q ) and show us a picture of what's under the keycap ( the switch )

--Opened up the keys.  Not a cherry switch, I'll post a picture in a bit.  My phone is stupid and won't cooperate.

EDIT: Here is the key w/o keycap:

[natgab]

I sometimes use one of these at my work.  Keytronic keyboards are amongst the highest quality rubber dome keyboards there are, not including topre of course.

If you don't have anything else, this is actually not too bad of a keyboard to type on!

--Since it was outside in the garage.  Would the dampness affect it?  I'm in Southern California, so I'm not talking freezing weather or snowstorms.  Just cold and moisture, I'm near the beach.

[DavinDidIt]

--Since it was outside in the garage.  Would the dampness affect it?  I'm in Southern California, so I'm not talking freezing weather or snowstorms.  Just cold and moisture, I'm near the beach.

Just like any other electronic device, it probably wouldn't respond too well to moisture and exposure.   Depending on how close you are to the beach, I would think that this effect would be magnified by the amount of salt/sand particles in the air there.  Rubber and metal don't like salt and sand either

Best way to find out is to try it

[nsrexler]

--Since it was outside in the garage.  Would the dampness affect it?  I'm in Southern California, so I'm not talking freezing weather or snowstorms.  Just cold and moisture, I'm near the beach.

Only one way to find out! Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you have a broken keyboard to throw out.
(Well actually the WORST case scenario is that it shorts out your motherboard, but I'd say that's pretty unlikely.)

[natgab]

--Since it was outside in the garage.  Would the dampness affect it?  I'm in Southern California, so I'm not talking freezing weather or snowstorms.  Just cold and moisture, I'm near the beach.

Just like any other electronic device, it probably wouldn't respond too well to moisture and exposure.   Depending on how close you are to the beach, I would think that this effect would be magnified by the amount of salt/sand particles in the air there.  Rubber and metal don't like salt and sand either

Best way to find out is to try it

---I live about 1.5 miles (3 km?) from beach.  So we do still a bit of dew in the mornings.  I tried out the keyboard in Windows, both with the PS/2 and with my PS/2 - USB sex changer thing.  No response, since I just brought it from outside I'm hoping it still just needs an overnight drying out / climate adjustment to come back to life.

I feels pretty good for a dome switch.  If I revive it, I think I will use it to try and learn Colemak.

[sicaine]

It does look horrible and doesn't have any real switches. I would throw it away

[Findecanor]

I would keep it as a backup keyboard, if I did not already have any and if I don't mind the "big-ass" Enter and small Backspace.

Key Tronic rubber domes are widely considered to be among the better rubber domes. They do not become mushier with time and use as much as other rubber domes.

[natgab]

I would keep it as a backup keyboard, if I did not already have any and if I don't mind the "big-ass" Enter and small Backspace.

Key Tronic rubber domes are widely considered to be among the better rubber domes. They do not become mushier with time and use as much as other rubber domes.

--Seems to be dead.  I tried again on my PC under Windows, I have used other PS/2 devices before, so its not the connector.  Also tried my laptop with a USB - PS/2 adapter.  Does not show up.

[davkol]

I have quite few KeyTronic 'boards in the closet, and most of them actually don't work only because the membrane sheet is out of position. It doesn't mean yours suffers from the same issue, though.

[natgab]

I have quite few KeyTronic 'boards in the closet, and most of them actually don't work only because the membrane sheet is out of position. It doesn't mean yours suffers from the same issue, though.

---Is there a particular trick to opening them up?  Or just try and pry the part where the keyboard comes together.  I think I will try to see if something is loose on my keyboard.                                               

[laffindude]

--Seems to be dead.  I tried again on my PC under Windows, I have used other PS/2 devices before, so its not the connector.  Also tried my laptop with a USB - PS/2 adapter.  Does not show up.

PS2 is not hotplug. Make sure you reboot.
Dumb adapter won't work. You need an active converter.

[davkol]

I have quite few KeyTronic 'boards in the closet, and most of them actually don't work only because the membrane sheet is out of position. It doesn't mean yours suffers from the same issue, though.

---Is there a particular trick to opening them up?  Or just try and pry the part where the keyboard comes together.  I think I will try to see if something is loose on my keyboard.                                               

Either that, or there are screws under the black pads on the bottom side. IIRC mine have some screws.

[DavinDidIt]

Either way, the case and keys on that keyboard are in dire need of a bath!

[natgab]

Either way, the case and keys on that keyboard are in dire need of a bath!

---LOL, yeah took the picture before I did any cleaning.  Looks a little better.  Didn't have time to fiddle with it, maybe tomorrow I will take it apart.  Trying to find some how to videos, but didn't find any.  I guess I will try and check the black pads for screws like davkol suggested.