An interesting find of IBM

BeeSawd · 18 Dec 2016, 01:16

What kind of switches are those?

emdude · 18 Dec 2016, 01:17

Neat, there's also a fellow selling these on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-RS6000-LPF- ... Sw9r1V76zy

These use some sort of Alps dome with slider switch, although there's a variant that uses Cherry switches as well?

http://kbd.rzw.jp/ibm/rs6000_lpf-keyboard_6094-020/

BeeSawd · 18 Dec 2016, 01:22

Neat, any ideas on what they were made to be used for? The layout and lights are the only thing keeping me from thinking macropad like an F50 or M50.

emdude · 18 Dec 2016, 01:30

This says that the IBM LPFK was used as an extra input device for IBM RS/6000 systems.

lot_lizard · 18 Dec 2016, 01:38

emdude wrote: This says that the IBM LPFK was used as an extra input device for IBM RS/6000 systems.

I know who wrote this... I would very much trust it

Mr.Nobody · 18 Dec 2016, 01:43

Interesting there is "ALPS" on PCB but it's rubber freakin' dome. Maybe some Geeky guy may turn it into some kind of MIDI controller, the appearance of this item evokes those fancy MIDI controllers...

emdude · 18 Dec 2016, 01:56

Mr.Nobody wrote: Interesting there is "ALPS" on PCB but it's rubber freakin' dome.

Alps made a variety of rubber dome switches:

[wiki]Alps_integrated_dome[/wiki]
[wiki]Alps_dome_with_slider[/wiki]
[wiki]Alps_membrane_dome[/wiki]
[wiki]Alps_semi-integrated_dome[/wiki]

Not sure if any of them are particularly nice in comparison to NMB or BTC dome with slider switches though.

Chyros · 18 Dec 2016, 02:24

emdude wrote:
Mr.Nobody wrote: Interesting there is "ALPS" on PCB but it's rubber freakin' dome.
Alps made a variety of rubber dome switches:

[wiki]Alps_integrated_dome[/wiki]
[wiki]Alps_dome_with_slider[/wiki]
[wiki]Alps_membrane_dome[/wiki]
[wiki]Alps_semi-integrated_dome[/wiki]

Not sure if any of them are particularly nice in comparison to NMB or BTC dome with slider switches though.

Agreed, Alps were definitely not shy of using rubber domes, including in some fairly creative ways. I also definitely agree that none of them are very good xD . There's only a few manufacturers who did rubber domes properly tbh, but they do deliver IMO .

Mr.Nobody · 18 Dec 2016, 02:42

I just love odd stuff:

Spoiler:

Chyros · 18 Dec 2016, 02:52

The perfect accompaniment to all those crazy 60% people out there! :p

Mr.Nobody · 18 Dec 2016, 03:07

Chyros wrote: The perfect accompaniment to all those crazy 60% people out there! :p

Exactly~

what's the point making keys fewer as possible, it only makes keyboard less viable...IMHO

Chyros · 18 Dec 2016, 03:40

Mr.Nobody wrote:
Chyros wrote: The perfect accompaniment to all those crazy 60% people out there! :p
Exactly~ what's the point making keys fewer as possible, it only makes keyboard less viable...IMHO

The point is to buy a keypad to regain what you chopped off, so that you end up with a larger setup than you started with

.