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Author Topic: IBM KPD8923  (Read 4053 times)

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Offline RickCHodgin

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IBM KPD8923
« on: Sat, 11 March 2017, 20:01:09 »
I have two IBM KPD8923 keyboard I bought around the year 2000.  They're both still working great.  But last week something dropped on one of them and it broke off the trackpoint arm.  I was able to super glue it back on and it works fine, but either the crash or the super glue seems to have damaged the trackpoint assembly and/or shorted out the circuit used for the device.  Since the trackpoint arm and mounting area are just plastic, I assume it is actually something internally that's damaged.  The left and right mouse buttons also no longer work, for example.

I was hoping somebody could point me in the right direction to get it repaired.  I would be willing to simply buy the entire assembly and replace it all with one that's known to work if someone has those parts for sale.  Or, I'm willing to take it apart and test and replace individual parts.

If you can help get me started, please let me know.  Thank you in advance.

Update:  I believe this is the part which broke:  http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2uiP-mGY9II/THqGzfuwq-I/AAAAAAAAWpA/tBbkZ9QrHAo/s912/201008251960.jpg ... either that or the board it connects to (or both).

- Rick C. Hodgin
« Last Edit: Sat, 11 March 2017, 20:03:26 by RickCHodgin »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 11 March 2017, 20:06:54 »
You  can probably buy a new keyboard cheaper than you repair an existing one.
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"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."
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Offline RickCHodgin

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Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 11 March 2017, 20:16:03 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 11 March 2017, 20:06:54
You  can probably buy a new keyboard cheaper than you repair an existing one.

Okay.  Where can I buy one?  I looked online before coming here and I found some eBay references, but they are from several years ago.

- Rick C. Hodgin
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Offline klennkellon

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Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 11 March 2017, 22:05:22 »
I actually do not know of any cheap (or expensive) new full sized keyboards that have a trackpoint, the only ones with trackpoints I can find are laptop keyboards or small form factor.                         

Only one I actually know of is a Unicomp EnduraPro which is a really nice buckling spring keyboard that has a trackpoint. http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/EnduraPro

Finding repair parts for that keyboard may be difficult and expensive and I can't even find anyone on ebay selling the KPD8923 with the trackpoint so I think the Unicomp may be your best bet.


                                                   
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Offline RickCHodgin

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Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 12 March 2017, 13:12:43 »
Quote from: klennkellon on Sat, 11 March 2017, 22:05:22
Only one I actually know of is a Unicomp EnduraPro which is a really nice buckling spring keyboard that has a trackpoint. http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/EnduraPro

That one looks good.  I love the buckling spring feel.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 12 March 2017, 15:15:09 »
Quote from: RickCHodgin on Sun, 12 March 2017, 13:12:43

That one looks good.  I love the buckling spring feel.


A Unicomp is a huge step up from the 89*3 line, although they are some of the best rubber dome keyboards.
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"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 RickCHodgin

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Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 12 March 2017, 19:03:18 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Sun, 12 March 2017, 15:15:09
Quote from: RickCHodgin on Sun, 12 March 2017, 13:12:43
That one looks good.  I love the buckling spring feel.
A Unicomp is a huge step up from the 89*3 line, although they are some of the best rubber dome keyboards.

I have one of their keyboards I bought back in 2013.  It is a 104 key keyboard without a trackpoint.  I bought it because I was looking for a modern IBM Model-M replacement.

I received the keyboard and it works (except the left Ctrl key doesn't make a buckling sound, and doesn't always work without wiggling it a little bit), but overall the keyboard is odd.  It feels plastic and flimsy compared to the original IBM Model-Ms I've used, and some of the keys make different buckling spring clicky noises, so it's not a consistent sound when tapping the keys.  And on this particular one, the right-shift key is particularly loud.  It's like you type tap tap tap tap tap BANG tap tap tap.  It prevented me from using it after I bought it.  I thought it had been damaged in shipping to be honest, but I couldn't find any damage on the box or keyboard.

But even beyond that, I've read generally good reviews of Unicomp keyboards so I've always assumed I got a fluke and was willing to give them another chance.  I do wish they had their trackpoint keyboard available in white though.

I've spoken with my wife and our budget will allow me to get a new Unicomp keyboard.  I'll post a follow-up in a week or so on how the new product goes.

I was also wondering in the back of my mind if I could possibly take out the trackpoint assembly from the new Unicomp keyboard and mod it into the KPD8923 as the KPD8923's trackpoint assembly is held on with three small screws and could be swapped out.  I have always found that keyboard to have the second best feel to any keyboard I've ever tried (in my personal opinion the order goes (1) IBM Model-M, (2) KPD 8923, (3) IBM Model-F ... I would prefer the IBM Model-F if it had just a little bit more resistance when typing.  As it is, it's a little too soft of a feel).

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 12 March 2017, 19:08:33 »
Quote from: RickCHodgin on Sun, 12 March 2017, 19:03:18

except the left Ctrl key doesn't make a buckling sound, and doesn't always work without wiggling it a little bit

the right-shift key is particularly loud.  It's like you type tap tap tap tap tap BANG tap tap tap.


Buckling springs can be slightly off in the way that the springs are seated in the assembly.

You can pull out the key stem and attempt to re-seat it with everything lined up properly.
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"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 klennkellon

  • Posts: 1278
  • Location: Southern California
  • I like bottoming out
Re: IBM KPD8923
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 12 March 2017, 22:52:57 »
I think the trackpoint is part of the barrel plate so I doubt one could even access the components.

You could also seek out an original Model M13 with a trackpoint (most were made by Maxi-Switch iirc). They're somewhat harder to find than a normal Model M and not even as good as the Lexmarks according to what I have heard but have not actually been able to confirm this.
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