Author Topic: Got an Omnikey Ultra (in original box) from the local computer recycling shop  (Read 2323 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline longface

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 28
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada, eh?
Hey guys,

I've just bought an Omnikey Ultra keyboard (made by Northgate, assembled in Taiwan) from the local computer recycling shop at a very low price.  See picture below.

I know very little about this keyboard, except that Northgate being a computer mail-order company which had gone under, and the Omnikey was the keyboard they made.  I see that the key switches seem to be of white ALPS (am I right?), and the keyboard is HEAVY.  The keys are clicky, and sound pretty nice.  The balance rod under the space bar got loose, but it was a very simple fix.

Could anyone tell me a bit more about this keyboard?  Is it rare?  How much is it worth?  I'm currently using a Filco, but sometimes I feel that the Omnikey sounds a bit better.





« Last Edit: Fri, 05 April 2013, 21:22:12 by longface »
ThinkPads, tennis racquets and now, keyboards

Offline SmallFry

  • ** Moderator Emeritus
  • Posts: 3887
  • Location: Wisconsin, USA
  • Leaving 6/15; returning 6/22 or so.
Nice get! Congratulations!

Online fohat.digs

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 6533
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy
You could probably get $80-100 for it, maybe more.

Use it for a week before you let it go, however, you might grow to like it.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Reomero

  • Posts: 261
  • Location: New Zealand
  • Manual breather
Great find! ;D

Offline calavera

  • Posts: 1713
  • Location: South Korea
Awesome find!

Offline metalliqaz

  • * Maker
  • Posts: 4951
  • Location: the Making Stuff subforum
  • Leopold fanboy
That keyboard is so cool
« Last Edit: Sat, 06 April 2013, 00:51:27 by metalliqaz »

Offline omgFiRE

  • Posts: 55
  • Location: Russia
Well done!
White Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless FKBN87M/EFW2 (Cherry MX Brown), CM Storm QuickFire Rapid SGK-4000-GKCL1-US (Cherry MX Blue)

Offline longface

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 28
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada, eh?
You could probably get $80-100 for it, maybe more.

Use it for a week before you let it go, however, you might grow to like it.

Thanks.

Yes, I will use it for some time.  This is why I got all the connectors and adapters for it.  But it is a little too big for my desk space.
ThinkPads, tennis racquets and now, keyboards

Very cool. It should be complicated white Alps (clicky). Could be blue Alps, but those are very rare. 

Offline calavera

  • Posts: 1713
  • Location: South Korea
Complicated white alps. You can see them in the pics. Blues are only found only on the older and more rare omnikey keyboards.

Sorry, I'm not seeing the pics.

Offline hoggy

  • * Ergonomics Moderator
  • Posts: 1502
  • Location: Isle of Man
If you have to, get a bigger desk.   Congratulations on your find.
GH Ergonomic Guide (in progress)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54680.0

Offline babyhands

  • Posts: 80
Can you tell me how the ALPs feel compared to other switches?

Offline longface

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 28
  • Location: Vancouver, Canada, eh?
Can you tell me how the ALPs feel compared to other switches?

It is quite difficult to describe the difference.  I have Cherry MX Blue, IBM Model M buckling spring, Apple AEKII ALPS and this, and they are all different.  I even have an Everex which I like the most.
ThinkPads, tennis racquets and now, keyboards