clicky "microsoft desktop keyboard"?

[wellington1869]

Saw this on ebay. Claims to be a "clicky" vintage microsoft desktop keyboard. Anyone have any info on the switches in this thing?

[bhtooefr]

I'm gonna guess that it isn't actually a Microsoft keyboard, whatever that logo is sure as hell isn't a Microsoft logo.

I'd ask the seller for better pics, honestly.

[wellington1869]

I'm gonna guess that it isn't actually a Microsoft keyboard, whatever that logo is sure as hell isn't a Microsoft logo.

I'd ask the seller for better pics, honestly.

good point. I emailed him.

[itlnstln]

I think the seller confused "Microsoft" with "IBM-Compatible AT."  Just make sure it's not a Tandy 'board.

[bhtooefr]

Well, they probably saw a big Windows logo on the box.

My guess is, that thing came straight from 1995.

[lowpoly]

It has Windows keys, it's not that old.

[wellington1869]

I love how he speculates on its future worth.

It might even be worth a bunch in the future as an antique. Consider this vintage item.

[bhtooefr]

It has Windows keys, it's not that old.

Why not? The Windows key was first supported in Windows 95, which was released in August 1995, and I recall seeing keyboards with a Windows key back then.

Maybe 1996... by 1997 or so, though, it really wasn't a big deal to have a winkey.

[itlnstln]

I have had a winkey since I was born.  Oh wait...

[lowpoly]

Why not? The Windows key was first supported in Windows 95, which was released in August 1995, and I recall seeing keyboards with a Windows key back then.

Maybe 1996... by 1997 or so, though, it really wasn't a big deal to have a winkey.

He says it has been "discontinued since many, many years". That sounds like a lot more than it actually is (13 years maximum).

[wellington1869]

He says it has been "discontinued since many, many years". That sounds like a lot more than it actually is (13 years maximum).

i'm not sure the seller has much idea of what he's selling. hopefully he'll email me back...

[fkeidjn]

Probably just a piece of garbage not worth looking into.  I mean, look at the seller's username.  scumpoozie???

[lexicon]

Hey, c'mon.  Waddya want?  The photo itself sez "RARE."

Though I must say "scumpoozie" isn't a name I'd pick to sell with.

[fkeidjn]

"RARE"...

MS Paint ftw!!!

[D-EJ915]

that's from a cheap accessories brand that was around in the 90s, it's probably a piece of crap.  I've got a serial mouse from them and it's junk.

[wellington1869]

Probably just a piece of garbage not worth looking into.  I mean, look at the seller's username.  scumpoozie???

haha! ya I noticed that. On the other hand it might be a doofus selling a gem that he has no idea about  One can hope...

[wellington1869]

that's from a cheap accessories brand that was around in the 90s, it's probably a piece of crap.  I've got a serial mouse from them and it's junk.

do you remember the brand name?

[wellington1869]

"scumpoozie" offered to email me more pics, tho nothing has arrived yet.  Hope fading rapidly...

[Chloe]

The model number is kbd-win95. Here's another:
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300272682495

[wellington1869]

The model number is kbd-win95. Here's another:
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300272682495

Thanks!
more pics here.

It cant possibly be "clicky" in any good sense. Google results for details on this model though come up pretty empty.

[bigpook]

oh yeah, thats what I want. A microsoft vintage keyboard. This sounds bogus to me. Like the seller found this keyboard in the trash somewhere and is no trying to sell it.

[wellington1869]

but you gotta love the name "scumpoozie"

[bigpook]

"scumpoozie", now thats a name I can trust. : )

[bigpook]

dollar for dollar, here is something that is a real clicky keyboard.

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-IBM-computer-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-Mdl-M-silver-logo_W0QQitemZ110312268150QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item110312268150&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Why risk it with scumpoozie.....

[wellington1869]

dollar for dollar, here is something that is a real clicky keyboard.

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-IBM-computer-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-Mdl-M-silver-logo_W0QQitemZ110312268150QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item110312268150&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Why risk it with scumpoozie.....

i know, but its my weird autohotkey scripts which I've gotten used to. (I use the two alt keys for hotkeys, with my thumbs.) So spacebar cant be too long else I cant reach the alt keys with my thumbs. On the classic M layout the bar on the right side extends too far for me.  Wacky, I know. So even with clickies I'm limited to modern layouts or space saver layouts (both of which have a much shorter spacebar).

[bhtooefr]

bigpook: That one's not quite legit, either, though.

The part number is listed as 1390120, with a date in 1986.

However, looking at the picture of the board provided, that clearly is a 1390131.

It may internally be a 1390120 with the top case off of a 1390131, however... (the difference is that the 1390120 doesn't have provisions for the keyboard LEDs that the 1390131 has.)

For comparison, a real 1390120 with the cable off of a 1391401: http://search.ebay.com/220177404823

[wellington1869]

Ok, heard back from "scumpoozie", he claims that this keyboard actually clicks on the downstroke (and not from bottoming out).

Wish I could insert a poll here:
Press "1" if you think I should believe "scumpoozie"
Press "2" if you think "scumpoozie" is full of "scumpoozie"

[bigpook]

bhtooefr, your attention to detail is commendable.  I did a quick a search at ebay and saw that model, what made me pick it is that the cable looked like it was a large DIN  connected to the small DIN converter. At least thats what I think its called.
I think scumpoozie's keyboard had the large DIN connector also.

I followed the link you sent and it reminded me of a keyboard I was bidding on, didn't win it either. At the time, I wanted an old-school M,  old-school to me anyways, a model m with no LED's....

[bhtooefr]

*insert 1336 Hz and 697 Hz tones playing simultaneously*

[bigpook]

I would Press 2.....

[bhtooefr]

bigpook: The DTMF tones for pressing 2 are 1336 and 697 Hz.

[bigpook]

you know, that as a phone guy I should know that.....

[lowpoly]

This is Geekhack, the answer is always to buy more keyboards.

Did you just vote "2"?

[bhtooefr]

Yes, I just voted 2. But, that doesn't mean that the answer is to buy that keyboard.

It could mean that the answer is to go buy one of those worthless Chinesium buckling spring keyboards... based on that review, I'm getting the strong impression that a worn out Dell USB keyboard that should've never passed QC in the first place would be better... but it actually does click! (the Dells do have rather wide variability, I've typed on good examples, I've typed on downright lousy ones...)

[Ulysses31]

Now now, don't be so hard on our Chinese friends.  They work hard and are fully capable of building quality products, but if the vast majority of people in the West demand cheap crap piled high in Walmart, then that's all they're going to make.  We have only ourselves to blame.

[wellington1869]

Now now, don't be so hard on our Chinese friends.  They work hard and are fully capable of building quality products, but if the vast majority of people in the West demand cheap crap piled high in Walmart, then that's all they're going to make.  We have only ourselves to blame.

Wise Ulysses.

[bhtooefr]

This is true - I'm typing this post on my ThinkPad X61 Tablet, made in China by Lenovo.

But, it's not made of Chinesium.

Chinesium is an inexplicably cheap substance that breaks early in its life. It predominantly comes from China, but is believed to be related to Americium, which is the substance that many parts on American cars, especially Chrysler transmissions, are made out of.*

* Yes, I know, Americium is a real element, but I just had to make the joke.

[wellington1869]

This is true - I'm typing this post on my ThinkPad X61 Tablet, made in China by Lenovo.

But, it's not made of Chinesium.

Chinesium is an inexplicably cheap substance that breaks early in its life. It predominantly comes from China, but is believed to be related to Americium, which is the substance that many parts on American cars, especially Chrysler transmissions, are made out of.*

* Yes, I know, Americium is a real element, but I just had to make the joke.

Clearly you havent tried Indium yet  
Tho the upside of Indium is that its actually edible  Tastes like chicken. Spicy chicken, that is.

[lam47]

Ahh, you guys are funny with your racism

[bhtooefr]

I don't have any problem with the Chinese or Indians as a race.

I have lots of problems with the quality of many Chinese products, and with the quality of technical support from India that is caused by the language barrier.

[wellington1869]

Ahh, you guys are funny with your racism

haha! hey I get to laugh at my own race dont I?  I get as frustrated as anyone else when a tech support line connects me to Bangalore. (Tho in fairness they've been a little bit better lately than they used to be).

Seriously, India ("my people") wont get anywhere until they begin emulating Japan in their manufacturing quality and prowess. It will take a while, right now they're still focusing on quantity not quality.

Every item I bought on my last trip to India disentegrated within 6 months. No joke. Everything from blankets to backpacks to an electronic organizer thing. 6 months.
And I think they were all edible too.  Or smoke-able. You'd be amazed how many things they make out of hemp over there.  (Its actually a really good thing --they're all biodegradeable . Just wish they would'nt degrade while I was still using them!

[bhtooefr]

Although, as long as you clean out the sand, I hear that the Lister CS clones from India are perfectly reliable.

Then again, they're basically a 1930's British design, still being made today.

(They're stationary diesel engines for stuff like pumping water or running generators, FWIW.)

[wellington1869]

Then again, they're basically a 1930's British design, still being made today.

India is a great place to shop if you're nostalgic for mid-century British design.  Their mainstay automobile (the Ambassador) was a 1957 rip-off of a 1920's Oxford Morris. And they kept the basic design in production thru the 1990s!  Its a little like riding in a Model T everytime you step out.

They still make a lot of household items out of tin (rather than plastic). It can be pretty neat actually. Noisy but sturdy. And they still write with ink pens for the most part, which are messy but fun. Its all changing fast though.

China is definitely ahead in manufacturing right now. Indians would give their left arm to be able to produce Lenovos.

[bhtooefr]

I'll note that my main pen is a Lamy Safari... which is a modern (well, designed in 1981, IIRC) fountain pen, mainly used as a student pen in Europe, but positioned as an entry level pen here. (It's in the $30 area... well, mine's actually an Al-Star (the aluminum version,) which is $40.)

And, I find that it writes better than a ballpoint, and it's never exploded in my pocket, unlike many ballpoints I've used...

[wellington1869]

I'll note that my main pen is a Lamy Safari... which is a modern (well, designed in 1981, IIRC) fountain pen, mainly used as a student pen in Europe, but positioned as an entry level pen here. (It's in the $30 area... well, mine's actually an Al-Star (the aluminum version,) which is $40.)

And, I find that it writes better than a ballpoint, and it's never exploded in my pocket, unlike many ballpoints I've used...

My desk pen is a parker rialto FP.  Its a slightly lighter version of the parker vendome (which in turn was a heavier version of the old standard parker vector). I like the stiff nibs that parker makes, never liked flexible nibs.
I dont take it outside the house though. Although I recently bought a rialto ballpoint for that purpose. Love it. Sturdy and short and discreet.

[bhtooefr]

The Safari's got a quite stiff nib because of the fact that it's a student pen, and they figured students would abuse their pens. Imagine that. It's actually survived a nib-down drop without any damage.

Of course, I dropped it once with the cap on, and the cap no longer attaches securely unless I really push it together... (which is actually how the nib-down drop happened - I had the thing clipped to my t-shirt, and the pen came out of the cap) and the only damage I can see shouldn't affect how securely it attaches. I'll probably buy another Al-Star, and run this one with Noodler's Black ink or something (that stuff, you do NOT want to run in a daily use pen...)

[wellington1869]

It's actually survived a nib-down drop without any damage

wow, I dont think my parker would survive that.  Even though I think I could easily use it for self defense should the need arise

[fkeidjn]

Seriously, India ("my people") wont get anywhere until they begin emulating Japan in their manufacturing quality and prowess. It will take a while, right now they're still focusing on quantity not quality.

It's probably an infrastructure issue

Every item I bought on my last trip to India disentegrated within 6 months. No joke. Everything from blankets to backpacks to an electronic organizer thing. 6 months.
And I think they were all edible too. Or smoke-able. You'd be amazed how many things they make out of hemp over there. (Its actually a really good thing --they're all biodegradeable . Just wish they would'nt degrade while I was still using them!

They're really made of hemp?  There's gotta be something to make them last longer.

[bhtooefr]

Hemp is actually a good idea... much better land utilization than cotton for fabrics, and much more renewable than wood for paper.

And, actually, marijuana is illegal because of paper and fabric companies that had invested heavily in wood and cotton intentionally confusing industrial-grade hemp and marijuana to the public, then once the public thought they were the same, spreading myths about marijuana, and tossing in a bit of racism against blacks and Mexicans to help things along. (This was back when said racism was OK, of course.)

(I'll note that I've never used marijuana, but I do support people's right to choose what enters their bodies, and therefore support legalization. Add in the fact that all evidence points to marijuana having much less negative effects than, say, alcohol, which is legal...)

Anyway, what inks do you run in your Parker?

I'm running Diamine Umber in my Safari right now, but it's not what I wanted, and I don't really care for how it flows... last time, I ran Noodler's Squeteague, and I'm definitely going to buy a bottle of that...

[wellington1869]

It's probably an infrastructure issue

definitely an infrastructure issue, from roads to powergrid to plumbing.  Powergrid issues are going to be helped tremendously by the nuclear deal with the US (controversies aside, the only ones who have seriously opposed it are the communists and thats just because they still havent gotten over the fact that the US won the cold war

They're building highways at an incredible pace, including a national standardized highway network for the first time. The new york times had a wonderful piece on that recently. For the first time families are hopping in their ambassadors and touring the country on their own. (As opposed to hopping on the fantastic railway network the British left behind).

Plumbing... well thats another issue.