Mystery Function Keys from IBM XT Keyboard?

[Hypersphere]

There's an industrial IBM XT keyboard on eBay that the seller says is "not clicky", but its logo and controller correspond to other industrial XTs from 1985. However, what about these function keys? Are these "normal"? I have never disassembled an XT board.

F-keys.JPG (171.7 KiB) Viewed 1753 times

[Muirium]

Oak:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/det ... t7622.html

Despite appearances, the whole keyboard uses a different kind of switch entirely from buckling spring.

[scottc]

Sounds like an Oak keyboard. Can't find the Wiki page on it...

Damn it, Mu, beat me to it!

[Hypersphere]

Yes, the controller is an Oak.

The asking price is 180 USD. I like the industrial case, but I am looking for an XT board with type F switches. The Oak switches do look interesting, however.

[Muirium]

In that case you probably want to know if the Oak's nice industrial case could take a regular XT's insides. The answer, unfortunately, is no. They are different for a reason. More info about why the Oak existed and its reputation vs. the Model F here:

http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... ak#p150309

And one in the field:



A true "industrial". Why, fancy that!

I've never tried an Oak, but my XT was my first IBM and still one of my favourite boards. Snappier than a Model M, and you'd better believe that ping! There's more metal to the F in every sense.

[Hypersphere]

The industrial keyboard will obviously survive, but the guy ought to be wearing a hardhat and face mask. Must be pre-OSHA days.

[Hypersphere]

Too bad about the non-exchangeability of the XT keyboard cases! OTOH, you just saved me from the torture of having to pass up a rare opportunity for the sake of not raising the debt ceiling.