deskthority

E3E wrote: ↑

Chyros wrote: ↑Needs wiki . How do the pines compare to the bamboos?

I've never tried bamboo switches before since I've never played with any of the other switches that came in that variation, which are really just the late complicated switches.

To be honest, both of them have qualities that I enjoy.

Pine has a sharper, more "oomph" of a tactility that reminds me of SKCM brown. It's sharp and very definite.

Bamboo has a more rounded, fluffier feeling that's actually quite pleasant. It's not mushy, just rounded. I bet this one probably feels closer to Topre because of that, but I wouldn't know, having never tried Topre myself.


It seems like slits enhance tactility while the absence of them dulls it a bit.

Which do you have in your sample switch set, Chyros?

-

I should add that I don't feel like I have it in me to desolder any of these for the sake of a custom. These are just really pretty boards that I don't have the heart to scrap like that. It's the old Alps sympathy card. It always hits me hard.

I'll just throw blues in the Orion, I guess. Haha.

Mine's bamboo. Just as you say, it feels very rounded without being mushy, and definitely resembles Topre somewhat. Can't compare it to brown just yet as my switch hasn't arrived yet. It's definitely a pleasant feeling for sure.

Can you date the keyboards?

There is no confusing the Daybreak and the Docutech The Daybreak 6085was the evolution of the Xerox Star (as mentioned) that was first conceived by research conducted at Xerox PARC and was developed as an early form of desktop publishing. The Daybreak is rare but the Star is even rarer to find. The Xerox Star was the inspiration for the Apple Lisa and was the genesis of the graphical user interface. These keyboard look like the Daybreak keyboard but without a Daybreak, there's no telling if the same keyboard protocol is used. These keyboards are a little more interesting then their lime green key switches.

ReleaseCandidate wrote: ↑

E3E wrote: ↑ These aren't part of the Xerox Daybreak 6085 line though, these are the Docutech 135 keyboards [...]

Ah, ok, I've misread something. They're basically worthless then.

Ah, well don't you seem like a snobby fellow.

http://digitalprinting.blogs.xerox.com/ ... tBFkPkrKUk

Chyros wrote: ↑ Mine's bamboo. Just as you say, it feels very rounded without being mushy, and definitely resembles Topre somewhat. Can't compare it to brown just yet as my switch hasn't arrived yet. It's definitely a pleasant feeling for sure.

Can you date the keyboards?

Yep!

In my opinion, Brown tactile and pine Neon Greens feel remarkably similar. The bamboo stand out as being different despite being considered more common and of lesser quality. In terms of feel alone, they are unique against the pines and SKCM brown.

The pines are from the dawn of the 1990s. The bamboos are from the mid-late 1990s.

snuci wrote: ↑There is no confusing the Daybreak and the Docutech The Daybreak 6085was the evolution of the Xerox Star (as mentioned) that was first conceived by research conducted at Xerox PARC and was developed as an early form of desktop publishing. The Daybreak is rare but the Star is even rarer to find. The Xerox Star was the inspiration for the Apple Lisa and was the genesis of the graphical user interface. These keyboard look like the Daybreak keyboard but without a Daybreak, there's no telling if the same keyboard protocol is used. These keyboards are a little more interesting then their lime green key switches.

Well, apparently, many people do confuse them, case in point. I'd say they're pretty much on the same level of rarity, but for me, the 6085 is not something I care for. My prime incentive is hunting down rare switch types and neat keyboards, of which this is both. I'm not as much a vintage computing enthusiast as I am a keyboard enthusiast. I definitely admire Xerox's innovation but dear god what's with all the "myeeeh, it's not 6085 so it's myeeeeh"? Jeez, be a buzz kill, everyone.

That's meant to be light-hearted by the way. I know, the internet isn't the most emotive place.

If you guys really want 6085 keyboards, there's plenty on eBay right now.

Why do people value those Nixdorf switches again? Rhetorical.

*ahem*

Anyway, dusting off the salt on my shoulder, I'm also interested in the protocol these use.

E3E wrote: ↑

ReleaseCandidate wrote: ↑

E3E wrote: ↑ These aren't part of the Xerox Daybreak 6085 line though, these are the Docutech 135 keyboards [...]

Ah, ok, I've misread something. They're basically worthless then.

Ah, well don't you seem like a snobby fellow.

I've meant for everyone except keyboard enthusiasts/-collectors (and Xerox printer collectors, of which there will be not that many, I'd guess . Xerox workstation parts are very rare and quite sought after (because of their role in GUI history) - and pricey.

I personally don't care at all. I've always been a user, not a collector.

Sorry E3E. My intention was to say that while these keyboards are great for the rare switches, they are even better because of their lineage. I know as keyboard enthusiasts, you guys value key switches over the complete package. I'll stop talking about how they are used.

snuci wrote: ↑Sorry E3E. My intention was to say that while these keyboards are great for the rare switches, they are even better because of their lineage. I know as keyboard enthusiasts, you guys value key switches over the complete package. I'll stop talking about how they are used.

Haha, no you're fine. It's early and these keyboards have taken my heart so it's easy to get annoyed.

Nah, I agree! They are both clearly of the same lineage!

Speaking of which, there was a fifth mouse that came with the sets of boards here. Do you think it'd work with the 6085? If you ever find one for a reasonable price, I'd be happy to supply the mouse for you to try.

You could just switch out the neon greens with SKBM blacks and then resell to Xerox collectors

XMIT wrote: ↑

ohaimark wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-60s-70s ... 1529405808

Sharp looking Burroughs.

Micro Switch Hall Effect.

I'm planning to bid on it but my maximum bid will be quite low. It does have an XMT key after all.

If someone else ends up getting it please let me know.

If I get a chance, I'll post pics of mine that is identical. It's a beautiful board and has "white gold" in it (a white ceramic chip for chip collectors).

snuci wrote: ↑ If I get a chance, I'll post pics of mine that is identical. It's a beautiful board and has "white gold" in it (a white ceramic chip for chip collectors).

Did someone say header image?

Redmaus wrote: ↑

snuci wrote: ↑ If I get a chance, I'll post pics of mine that is identical. It's a beautiful board and has "white gold" in it (a white ceramic chip for chip collectors).

Did someone say header image?

Good idea! Will do.

Redmaus wrote: ↑You could just switch out the neon greens with SKBM blacks and then resell to Xerox collectors

I actually thought of putting switches back into the board after desoldering one, haha. Yeah, not a bad idea, but think of the collateral damage if someone from the keyboard community bought one thinking it had neon greens.

Think of the misinformation! "Xerox Docutech keyboards also come with SKBM Black"

NEVER.

I wish they weren't so cool looking, dammit.

This has gone down in price again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Video-Data-Syst ... 2019817945

I'll be bidding on the auction below. Your first reaction when seeing one of the model numbers may be "Blue Alps OMG," but I did the research and 5160AT models came with Omrons. If someone else gets it, I'd like the 5160.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chicony-Mix-mod ... 1561613605

Did anyone here get this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-PC-Ta ... 1555271874

Would be interesting to see what switches it has.

ohaimark wrote: ↑This has gone down in price again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Video-Data-Syst ... 2019817945

My guess is either Micro Switch, Cherry MX black, or foam and foil. Could be anything.

Don't want to pay to find out which.

hkrak wrote: ↑Did anyone here get this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-PC-Ta ... 1555271874

Would be interesting to see what switches it has.

Chance of blue alps with that one.

Looks like Coolermaster is selling Novatouch stems now:

http://www.cmstore.eu/spare-parts/perip ... -stem-set/

courtesi wrote: ↑Looks like Coolermaster is selling Novatouch stems now:

http://www.cmstore.eu/spare-parts/perip ... -stem-set/

wow, they now their market alright
a nice company move, unlike those lazy boggers at Unicomp

Scottex wrote: ↑

courtesi wrote: ↑Looks like Coolermaster is selling Novatouch stems now:

http://www.cmstore.eu/spare-parts/perip ... -stem-set/

wow, they now their market alright
a nice company move, unlike those lazy boggers at Unicomp

I wish Unicomp would go bankrupt already so somebody can scrape up what's left and do something meaningful with it. I have a rather harsh view of people/companies like this. If you're not going to do anything you deserve to lose everything.

Tuntematon wrote: ↑

Scottex wrote: ↑

courtesi wrote: ↑Looks like Coolermaster is selling Novatouch stems now:

http://www.cmstore.eu/spare-parts/perip ... -stem-set/

wow, they now their market alright
a nice company move, unlike those lazy boggers at Unicomp

I wish Unicomp would go bankrupt already so somebody can scrape up what's left and do something meaningful with it. I have a rather harsh view of people/companies like this. If you're not going to do anything you deserve to lose everything.

The ultimate wet dream would be for MechanicalKeyboards.com to buy them up. They could stay where they are at and use their facilities for distribution/warehousing. After that they can bring Ellipse in as a consultant/employee/etc. to get the ball rolling again on honest to goodness made in the USA Model F's and keycaps!

That would be incredible. Though I'm okay with Chinese manufactured Model Fs. They are expensive enough already!

Yeah I can't shell out 350$ on Ellipse's GB.

Whole deal about BS is that its best switch at the best price

ohaimark wrote: ↑This has gone down in price again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Video-Data-Syst ... 2019817945

I'll be bidding on the auction below. Your first reaction when seeing one of the model numbers may be "Blue Alps OMG," but I did the research and 5160AT models came with Omrons. If someone else gets it, I'd like the 5160.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chicony-Mix-mod ... 1561613605

Prepare to be disappointed. I asked about the colour of the switch and it's white. I think it's MX White based on the keycaps, though it could be Futaba clicky. I should have been more specific. Could be Omron if they happened to pull the space bar. Now I am full of doubt. If it had turned out to be blue I'd have to confirm if it was Alps or Cherry haha. Chicony and their switch shenanigans

Blaise170 wrote: ↑ Chance of blue alps with that one.

Yeah, I asked for a picture of the switches, but it was sold before I got a reply.

Not completely keyboard related: https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anz ... 9-228-7967

Amiga 500, 1200, a few joysticks plus a Philips monitor for 10 euros...

I've found this osmehow interesting http://www.ebay.es/itm/IBM-3178-Model-F ... SwBLlVcTwW

But I'm not good with prices... It's ok?

Excelso wrote: ↑I've found this osmehow interesting http://www.ebay.es/itm/IBM-3178-Model-F ... SwBLlVcTwW

But I'm not good with prices... It's ok?

That's OK for a Model F, looks to be in pretty good condition. That one would need to be converted to actually use it.

keyboards-f2/ibm-3104-display-terminal- ... hilit=3104

wiki/IBM_Model_F

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMT Goupil Golf SX Portable Computer

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Vintage-SMT-Goup ... Swll1WyF8I

IBM 1390584 ISO

http://www.ebay.de/itm/IBM-Tastatur-Typ ... SwB4NWvdBK

Commodore CBM 8032

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Commodore-CBM-80 ... Swx-9WywV7

Topre ZA0100 Wired USB Type Heaven Keyboard

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Topre-ZA0100-Wir ... SwVL1WC0Oi

Cherry G80-1501HAD

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Cherry-MX-1500-m ... Swx-9WxGFm

The listing says that an xwhatsit is installed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chicony-Kb-53 ... true&rt=nc

Who got this one? I wonder which switches are in it. I couldn't find anything online about this model.

Excelso wrote: ↑I've found this osmehow interesting http://www.ebay.es/itm/IBM-3178-Model-F ... SwBLlVcTwW

But I'm not good with prices... It's ok?

That's a good price! The xwhatsit controller in it costs $30 alone, and it's quite a bit of work to solder it in and make it work. The key layout probably needs some redefining to get something practical for a modern PC (which is no problem with xwhatsit's software), but it's definitely a unique keyboard to have in working condition.

photekq wrote: ↑http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chicony-Kb-53 ... true&rt=nc

Who got this one? I wonder which switches are in it. I couldn't find anything online about this model.

I think these are lowly wobbly rubber.