Author Topic: Hit gold painting my girlfriends piano room... (Read 3607 times)

TimIsABat · « **on:** Thu, 04 July 2013, 16:10:36 »

Behold a Dell AT101 with black alps!

My girlfriend's dad works as a chem engineer and they toss out old keyboards. He thinks it's a waste so he keeps them. He is going to look to see if they have old model m boards just chillin.

Gonna clean this baby up and then get a PS/2 to USB converter (sadly our computer here at home doesn't have a PS/2 port). I am excited to refurbish this baby.

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 04 July 2013, 16:11:48 »

I seriously LOVE that keyboard. I wrote a review on it and I often recommend it to people who want to try an Alps board. it's affordable, feels great, and is pretty well built. Good stuff.

fohat.digs · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 04 July 2013, 16:12:44 »

Some of us have a soft spot for those keyboards, although they don't get much respect around here.

Yours is one of the older ones since it does not have the Windows key.

rowdy · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 04 July 2013, 16:52:12 »

Back in the day just about all computers came with a decent keyboard.

Great find!

Wish I could find something like that ...

Guess you just have to be in the right place at the right time.

nubbinator · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 04 July 2013, 17:22:25 »

I wish I could stumble onto one of those. I've been wanting to try Alps, but I'm not willing to shell out $50+ for one. Awesome find and you'll have to let us know if you find any other awesome little keyboards in that pile.

Topre · « **Reply #5 on:** Fri, 05 July 2013, 00:40:42 »

Quote from: nubbinator on Thu, 04 July 2013, 17:22:25

I wish I could stumble onto one of those. I've been wanting to try Alps, but I'm not willing to shell out $50+ for one. Awesome find and you'll have to let us know if you find any other awesome little keyboards in that pile.

You live in California, go drive up to Apple and ask them if you can try an ALPS board. You might also be able to find an ALPS board as a point of sales keyboard. I seen a few shops with custom keycaps using ALPS.

laffindude · « **Reply #6 on:** Fri, 05 July 2013, 03:27:31 »

Quote from: rowdy on Thu, 04 July 2013, 16:52:12

Back in the day just about all computers came with a decent keyboard.

Back in the days, most people used computer for productive stuff, rather than checking facebook all day ;o

rowdy · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 05 July 2013, 05:31:23 »

Quote from: laffindude on Fri, 05 July 2013, 03:27:31

Quote from: rowdy on Thu, 04 July 2013, 16:52:12
Back in the day just about all computers came with a decent keyboard.

Back in the days, most people used computer for productive stuff, rather than checking facebook all day ;o

True. And people actually knew how to use them.

bazemk1979 · « **Reply #8 on:** Fri, 05 July 2013, 07:50:03 »

whats there to refurbish? take out keys soak them in hot water with dental tabs, wash away enclosure and clean up the plate around the switches, if it has plate I had one I sold but never had to open it up since was new. Refurbish word goes loooong way, with ebay sellers that is

Jack Karneval · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 05 July 2013, 10:27:54 »

Nice find Tim! Once you refurbish it you should take some pics and do a review of it

I'll eventually trek around and see if I can find me a Model M one of these days.

TimIsABat · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 05 July 2013, 23:23:04 »

I'm in the process of cleaning it up. I'm soaking the keys and I'll clean them using an diluted isopropyl alcohol then clean the casing and the plate. I might lube the switches once I get souldering equipment, but that is later. They are kinda sticky but it is also because of the dirt around them on the plate (which is kinda sticky). Does anyone know of a PS/2 to USB that might work on this because I don't have any computers that use a PS/2 port around here?

fohat.digs · « **Reply #11 on:** Sat, 06 July 2013, 08:30:32 »

Quote from: TimIsABat on Fri, 05 July 2013, 23:23:04

I'm in the process of cleaning it up. I'm soaking the keys and I'll clean them using an diluted isopropyl alcohol then clean the casing and the plate. I might lube the switches once I get souldering equipment, but that is later. They are kinda sticky but it is also because of the dirt around them on the plate (which is kinda sticky). Does anyone know of a PS/2 to USB that might work on this because I don't have any computers that use a PS/2 port around here?

Laundry detergent is all that it takes to clean keys. Rinse them well and shake them out. Dry on a flat T-shirt.

To clean without taking it apart, vacuum well (compressed air can force dust in rather than out) and use a small paint brush and Q-tips with alcohol to get out the board chow.

Lubing a perfectly clean switch is a good thing. Lubing on top of dirt just creates stickier gunk.

TimIsABat · « **Reply #12 on:** Sat, 06 July 2013, 22:27:56 »

Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 06 July 2013, 08:30:32

Quote from: TimIsABat on Fri, 05 July 2013, 23:23:04
I'm in the process of cleaning it up. I'm soaking the keys and I'll clean them using an diluted isopropyl alcohol then clean the casing and the plate. I might lube the switches once I get souldering equipment, but that is later. They are kinda sticky but it is also because of the dirt around them on the plate (which is kinda sticky). Does anyone know of a PS/2 to USB that might work on this because I don't have any computers that use a PS/2 port around here?

Laundry detergent is all that it takes to clean keys. Rinse them well and shake them out. Dry on a flat T-shirt.

To clean without taking it apart, vacuum well (compressed air can force dust in rather than out) and use a small paint brush and Q-tips with alcohol to get out the board chow.

Lubing a perfectly clean switch is a good thing. Lubing on top of dirt just creates stickier gunk.

Thanks for the tips!

smknjoe · « **Reply #13 on:** Sat, 06 July 2013, 22:34:15 »

Quote from: TimIsABat on Fri, 05 July 2013, 23:23:04

Does anyone know of a PS/2 to USB that might work on this because I don't have any computers that use a PS/2 port around here?

To be on the safe side I'd use an active converter instead of a passive adapter. There are different ones out there but here's the one I use.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/335177/USB_to_PS-2_Converter

TimIsABat · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat, 06 July 2013, 22:36:25 »

Quote from: smknjoe on Sat, 06 July 2013, 22:34:15

Quote from: TimIsABat on Fri, 05 July 2013, 23:23:04
Does anyone know of a PS/2 to USB that might work on this because I don't have any computers that use a PS/2 port around here?

To be on the safe side I'd use an active converter instead of a passive adapter. There are different ones out there but here's the one I use.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/335177/USB_to_PS-2_Converter

More awesome tips. I was considering this one. Might pick it up when I stop by Microcenter one day.

rowdy · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 00:06:52 »

There was a GB for PS/2 -> USB adaptors around here recently.

If enough people are interested, perhaps there will be another one ...

fohat.digs · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 07:55:07 »

A lot of people here say that they have trouble except when they use expensive ones, but I have had about a dozen of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-to-PS2-Mouse-Keyboard-Converter-Cable-Adapter-BC-22-/330848044245?pt=US_USB_Cables_Hubs_Adapters&hash=item4d081484d5 (or something like them), and used them on at least a dozen keyboards on half a dozen computers and never had any trouble at all.

Halvar · « **Reply #17 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 08:40:48 »

Not a big fan of the black Alps switches, but in for that gold painted piano room.

Halvar · « **Reply #18 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 08:41:39 »

Jack Karneval · « **Reply #19 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 09:09:43 »

Quote from: Halvar on Sun, 07 July 2013, 08:41:39

.

Well said good sir!

Lupizza · « **Reply #20 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 10:34:48 »

Quote from: Halvar on Sun, 07 July 2013, 08:41:39

.

Agreed.

rknize · « **Reply #21 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 11:15:43 »

I've saved a few of these from the trash bins at work. They are clunky and the key caps are really thin, but the feel of the Alps switches are pretty decent.

tgujay · « **Reply #22 on:** Sun, 07 July 2013, 12:21:10 »

Quote from: nubbinator on Thu, 04 July 2013, 17:22:25

I wish I could stumble onto one of those. I've been wanting to try Alps, but I'm not willing to shell out $50+ for one. Awesome find and you'll have to let us know if you find any other awesome little keyboards in that pile.

I got mine for $10 shipped off craigslist, the guy had no idea what it was other than it was old.

TimIsABat · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 15 August 2013, 23:27:58 »

Even though this thread is pretty much dead...I finally got around to cleaning up the exterior!

The feel of this board is quite unique when it comes to tactility. The switches are old and some are a bit sticky, but nonetheless, it is pretty solid. I like the tactility of this board better than MX Browns, but definitely not as much as my ergoclears. It is great to have this in my collection of different switches and especially for its nostalgia. Also cleaning up a Compaq RT101 that I also found in my girlfriend's basement that has some quite unique RD switches that actually feel quite nice.

I also have to admit that the WYSE scheme keycaps are quite attractive to me. I might get keycaps from Originative to put on my Poker instead of using the black blank keycaps.