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[berserkfan]

Recently Fohat made a post about older terminal keyboards having a casing compatible with the Model F122, then he retracted it saying he needed further investigation, and we haven't heard since.
If fohat's original examination was right, then this keyboard could be a good deal. It looks clean and probably works on its own, but if you wanted a casing for your Model F122 it also seems workable.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161130396289?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649


I have also been noticing a number of Unicomp ads on ebay recently.

Here's one that is confusing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171065456638?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

If it really is NEW and buckling spring, it seems a pretty good deal. Otherwise stay away.

Seller is willing to take offers, so you might be able to get these unicomps fairly cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250977528932?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

These are inexpensive, but I think they come from one of Unicomp's bad batches, since the keycaps are discolored.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370591480276?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This seller should be willing to sell for $30.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111187059812?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[E TwentyNine]

Here's one that is confusing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171065456638?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

If it really is NEW and buckling spring, it seems a pretty good deal. Otherwise stay away.

It's rubber dome.

[fohat.digs]

I adapted a first-edition M-122 case to fit the F-122.

My original post stated that it fit without alteration, but I was mistaken. There is a very small amount of clipping required, less than 5 minutes with tin snips or a Dremel.

Wcass posted this guide, which will allow an even newer iteration of M-122 case to work properly. The later one, which he used, requires about twice as much work as the older one, and, obviously, the newer one has the small style legs.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45089.msg940419#msg940419

I strongly recommend doing this fitting, because the Model M case is a tougher and more forgiving plastic compound than the rigid Model F case.

[PointyFox]

These are inexpensive, but I think they come from one of Unicomp's bad batches, since the keycaps are discolored.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370591480276?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Looks like finger grease.

[Pacifist]

These are inexpensive, but I think they come from one of Unicomp's bad batches, since the keycaps are discolored.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370591480276?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Looks like finger grease.

Any easy way to clean it?

[fohat.digs]

Any easy way to clean it?

Cleaning keys is supremely easy.

Pull, clean, rinse, dry, re-install.

I use a spoonful of laundry detergent in a liter of hot water. A spoonful of Oxi-clean helps if you have it.

Soak for 20 minutes with minor agitation and 99% of your keys will be squeaky clean - no rubbing or scrubbing.

Rinse well (3-4 times) and dry. If you pick up individual keys and sling out the water out onto a T-shirt, they will dry completely in minutes. If you are too lazy and just spread them out on the T-shirt, it can take hours (some will be upturned like cups).

The keys on that photo of the Unicomp will clean perfectly. Those are not even remotely "dirty" by ebay F-122 standards.

[vivalarevolución]

I bought a Unicomp EnduraPro from that seller Rawko.  The keycaps are badly discoloured and have some sparkles.  It works just as a buckling spring should work, but has some aesthetic issues.  They sold it to me for $30, I'm sure you might be able to lowball them more.

[berserkfan]

thanks for letting everyone know the market price! 

$30 is a fair price then, since the keycaps have the quality issues I was concerned about. If he has many in stock and difficulty moving them, I wonder if anyone can get away with $20. Maybe we should all wait a few months and see if he gets tired of his keyboards not selling.

But on the other hand, if people snap up his stuff at higher bids, $30 might no longer be possible...

I bought a Unicomp EnduraPro from that seller Rawko.  The keycaps are badly discoloured and have some sparkles.  It works just as a buckling spring should work, but has some aesthetic issues.  They sold it to me for $30, I'm sure you might be able to lowball them more.

[fohat.digs]

Rawko is a huge warehouse just about a mile from my office. I have been inside it, and there are computers and components in large wire bins, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. A typical order might be sending 4 pallets of 386's to Kenya, sold by weight and shipped by container. Almost all of it is filthy and ugly.

They know perfectly well exactly what everything is worth, and when they list it on ebay, it is because somebody felt that it was "special" in some way. Since they have not listed a Model F in a couple of years, those are surely going home with employees when they do turn up.

If something listed at $100 has not sold after 2-3 weeks, they might accept an offer of $60-80, but there are no "bargains" at Rawko.

Somebody was talking about a numpad that was selling for $1. When they do that, it is strictly to move junk out the door.

[berserkfan]

fohat, would it be appropriate to say that we shouldn't bother to look at Rawko's stuff then unless we are budgeting to buy near the asking price?

Something like Recycledgoods.com or txdtech, where there are also no good bargains to be had.

I am mainly curious about the pointy stick thing, which I haven't used before. I've heard that pointy sticks are the worst of the buckling springs but I want to keep an open mind and possibly try it out so am considering buying if the price is low enough. Even if the stick isn't the best or most accurate mouse in the world, if we can do all our typing with minimal moving of hands to the mouse, it probably saves a lot of energy and improves our typing experience.

Rawko is a huge warehouse just about a mile from my office. I have been inside it, and there are computers and components in large wire bins, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. A typical order might be sending 4 pallets of 386's to Kenya, sold by weight and shipped by container. Almost all of it is filthy and ugly.

They know perfectly well exactly what everything is worth, and when they list it on ebay, it is because somebody felt that it was "special" in some way. Since they have not listed a Model F in a couple of years, those are surely going home with employees when they do turn up.

If something listed at $100 has not sold after 2-3 weeks, they might accept an offer of $60-80, but there are no "bargains" at Rawko.

Somebody was talking about a numpad that was selling for $1. When they do that, it is strictly to move junk out the door.

[E TwentyNine]

I am mainly curious about the pointy stick thing, which I haven't used before. I've heard that pointy sticks are the worst of the buckling springs but I want to keep an open mind and possibly try it out so am considering buying if the price is low enough. Even if the stick isn't the best or most accurate mouse in the world, if we can do all our typing with minimal moving of hands to the mouse, it probably saves a lot of energy and improves our typing experience.

The pointy stick thing is called a "trackpoint".  Its presence or lack thereof doesn't affect the action of the keys.  At the prices you're looking at there for the PS/2 version it might be worth it to just go to unicomp and buy a USB version or wait for a better deal.

In small doses I like the trackpoint on my laptop, but I still carry a wireless mouse on the road.