Keyboard prices
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I've seen a few posts here from magazines listing keyboard prices, and I never thought to add them to the wiki under [wiki]Keyboard prices[/wiki]. Now I have no idea where those topics were.
If anyone remembers posting such a topic, please post a link to it here.
If anyone remembers posting such a topic, please post a link to it here.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
It's unbelievable how much those arseholes at Key Tronic dared to ask for their ghastly foam and foil crap Oo .
I have a brochure somewhere, will upload it when I'm home.
I have a brochure somewhere, will upload it when I'm home.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
They do seem very expensive for what they are (especially considering the price for a Hi-Tek waffle grid) — it will become clearer once we have data from other brands. People had found keyboard reviews in computer magazines (on Google's archives), with all the prices, and I didn't record those details at the time.Chyros wrote: ↑It's unbelievable how much those arseholes at Key Tronic dared to ask for their ghastly foam and foil crap Oo .
- Laser
- emacs -nw
- Location: Romania
- Main keyboard: Plum TKL \w Topre domes (work) / Novatouch (home)
- DT Pro Member: 0180
Maybe checking the commercials in the magazine collections from archive.org? E.g. https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine
- Blaise170
- ALPS キーボード
- Location: Boston, MA
- Main keyboard: Cooler Master Quickfire Stealth
- Main mouse: Logitech G502
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: 0129
- Contact:
I found this when looking into something, not exactly about pricing but I found it funny nevertheless. It appears that people have been complaining about the mushy feeling of rubber domes for decades!
- purdobol
- Location: Poland
- Main keyboard: Custom
- Main mouse: MS WMO 1.1A
- Favorite switch: Marquardt Butterfly
- DT Pro Member: -
Imho https://www.1000bit.it/ is a place to look for this kind of stuff. This place is chock full of old brochures, magazines, ads and so on. But it would take quite a bit of time and dedication to extract usefull info from there.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
No, I'm just asking whether anyone who remembers posting one of the keyboard review/round-up article links, still knows where the forum topic went to. I only recall there being one or two of them, but I'd never find them again anywhere.
If not, I'll just add data to that wiki page as I encounter it.
If not, I'll just add data to that wiki page as I encounter it.
- webwit
- Wild Duck
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: Model F62
- Favorite switch: IBM beam spring
- DT Pro Member: 0000
- Contact:
This one is already uploaded to the wiki but missing from the category:Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑the wiki under [wiki]Keyboard prices[/wiki]. Now I have no idea where those topics were.
keyboards-f2/1979-cherry-keyboard-produ ... t8532.html
Another one not listed yet:
wiki/File:Cherry-Price-List-April-1980-(KB-802).pdf
Oh wait I see you created a whole category earlier:
wiki/Category:Cherry_catalogues_and_brochures
-
- Location: NC, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0117
At one point i found a comparison of keyboards that included prices. It was from the 80's. I'll see if I can find it again.
Update: Found it. PC Mag Dec 1989
https://books.google.com/books?id=5CmkZ3THZtwC
page 225
Maxi-Switch ME 101 $55-$65
Hi-Tek RT-101 $60
Chicony KB-5161 $89
Zeos RS $89.95
Northgate Omnikey Plus $119
Key Tronic Professional Series KB 101 Plus $149
DataDesk Turbo 101 $149.95
IBM Enhanced AT $199
Update: Found it. PC Mag Dec 1989
https://books.google.com/books?id=5CmkZ3THZtwC
page 225
Maxi-Switch ME 101 $55-$65
Hi-Tek RT-101 $60
Chicony KB-5161 $89
Zeos RS $89.95
Northgate Omnikey Plus $119
Key Tronic Professional Series KB 101 Plus $149
DataDesk Turbo 101 $149.95
IBM Enhanced AT $199
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I don't think that was the one I was thinking of, but yes, thank you, I'll add those prices. I love the awful diagrams they drew of how the keyboards work!
I forgot that I had those Cherry price lists, too — I just rediscovered that wiki page the other day, having completely forgotten it any time I found prices.
I forgot that I had those Cherry price lists, too — I just rediscovered that wiki page the other day, having completely forgotten it any time I found prices.
- Polecat
- Location: Downstream from Silicon Valley
- Main keyboard: Monterey K104 Industrial Gray
- Main mouse: Logitech Optical
- Favorite switch: Early Alps SKCM
- DT Pro Member: -
Any interest in anecdotal prices, or only those documented in print?Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑I've seen a few posts here from magazines listing keyboard prices, and I never thought to add them to the wiki under [wiki]Keyboard prices[/wiki]. Now I have no idea where those topics were.
If anyone remembers posting such a topic, please post a link to it here.
It would also be interesting to document which keyboards were available for sale separately, versus those that were only available as part of a system. Just a thought.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
Here's an excerpt from PC Magazine (25th Feb 1992) that I screenshotted a while ago. I've used this in several videos now, it's a pretty cool article.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Here's the PC Magazine issue from the screenshots:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iYmIeqES1fYC
I still can't figure out how to jump to specific pages, but all the pages missing from the screenshot above are available once you've gone all the way down.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iYmIeqES1fYC
I still can't figure out how to jump to specific pages, but all the pages missing from the screenshot above are available once you've gone all the way down.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Only examples where there is a reliable reference for the price.Polecat wrote: ↑Any interest in anecdotal prices, or only those documented in print?
I can add a column that includes that information.Polecat wrote: ↑It would also be interesting to document which keyboards were available for sale separately, versus those that were only available as part of a system. Just a thought.
I did remember it being green, and that NMB's keyboards were absurdly cheap, so that's more likely to be it, but I forget now. (I guess whoever posted the link before didn't cite the magazine name, as I can't find the topic based on this either.)Chyros wrote: ↑Here's an excerpt from PC Magazine (25th Feb 1992) that I screenshotted a while ago.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
OK, PC Magazine prices added to [wiki]Keyboard prices[/wiki] — very strange, too.
- elecplus
- Location: Kerrville, TX, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0082
- Contact:
Will old sales brochures work?
- elecplus
- Location: Kerrville, TX, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0082
- Contact:
In 1987/8, apparently there were only 10 companies importing/exporting computer keyboards. I wish it said which 10!
4,325,699 units were worth $355,282.00. I find that hard to believe, something wrong with those numbers.
https://books.google.com/books?id=hlcrs ... ce&f=false
4,325,699 units were worth $355,282.00. I find that hard to believe, something wrong with those numbers.
https://books.google.com/books?id=hlcrs ... ce&f=false
- Elrick
- Location: Swan View, AUSTRALIA
- Main keyboard: Alps - As much as Possible.
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: Navy Switch, ALPs, Model-M
- DT Pro Member: -
So damn TRUE.Chyros wrote: ↑I love how the SSK was actually cheaper than a fullsize M back then. Even in the 90s they already knew fullsize is better 8) .
No comparison to having a FULL sized keyboard to deliver years of performance and joy.
Every girl knows in her heart that having a Full sized service, is far superior to anything that is less. No logical person would ever choose anything small, when you do have a greater sized device being offered.
Living large is the only way to be.....
- Wodan
- ISO Advocate
- Location: ISO-DE
- Main keyboard: Intense Rotation!!!
- Main mouse: Logitech G903
- Favorite switch: ALL OF THEM
- DT Pro Member: -
Because moree expensive always means more better! It this from the ZealPC catalogue?Chyros wrote: ↑I love how the SSK was actually cheaper than a fullsize M back then. Even in the 90s they already knew fullsize is better 8) .
After seeing the Hyper7 build here on DT recently, I can‘t understand how people can consider a Fullsize large. Man up and throw some more switches on that desk. It‘s not large unless you have two keys for every possible scan code and a macro pad the size of a cafeteria tray.Elrick wrote: ↑So damn TRUE.Chyros wrote: ↑I love how the SSK was actually cheaper than a fullsize M back then. Even in the 90s they already knew fullsize is better 8) .
No comparison to having a FULL sized keyboard to deliver years of performance and joy.
Every girl knows in her heart that having a Full sized service, is far superior to anything that is less. No logical person would ever choose anything small, when you do have a greater sized device being offered.
Living large is the only way to be.....
A keyboard has to be so large, there‘s toilets flushing clockwise and counterclockwise on the same board!
And these toilets are rest stops for all the hand traveling that‘s going on!
Your hands need a fucking visa to go from Q to M on a real keyboard!
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Yes, so long as they are available somewhere permanent for use as references.elecplus wrote: ↑Will old sales brochures work?
Something seems a bit amiss. The magazine lists the SSK as being shipped with the IBM PS/1, when so far as I know, the PS/1 came with the M2. The SSK is also cheaper than the M2! Generally, size (these days, anyway) doesn't have much of an effect on cost, so I'd expect the M2 to be the cheapest of the three!Chyros wrote: ↑I love how the SSK was actually cheaper than a fullsize M back then. Even in the 90s they already knew fullsize is better 8) .
There are lots of oddities, such as RT101+ mechanical and membrane being very similarly priced, G80 and G81 being almost the same price, and G__-1000 and G__-3000 being almost identically priced. Then you have G80-3500 that's way out, at over three times the price.
Key Tronic as you can see, remained expensive, offering rubber dome for more than you'd pay for a Cherry G80-1000 keyboard, let alone a Chicony or NMB mechanical! Oddly, though, not as expensive as Maxi Switch! They were taking the mick.
- clickykeyboards
- Location: United States of America
- Main keyboard: 1395682, IBM model M 1985
- Main mouse: Logitech G500 weighted
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0233
- Contact:
Also.. since we are talking about prices from the 1980s, it is also important to factor in 25+ years of the cost of inflation of the US dollar.
Using online CPI calculator for US Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
Maxi-Switch ME 101 $55 (1989) = $108 (2018)
Hi-Tek RT-101 $60 (1989) = $118 (2018)
Chicony KB-5161 $89 (1989) = $174 (2018)
Zeos RS $89.95 (1989) = $175 (2018)
Northgate Omnikey Plus $119 (1989) = $234 (2018)
Key Tronic Professional Series KB 101 Plus $149 (1989) = $293 (2018)
DataDesk Turbo 101 $149.95 (1989) = $294 (2018)
IBM Enhanced AT $199 = $391 (2018)
Using online CPI calculator for US Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
Maxi-Switch ME 101 $55 (1989) = $108 (2018)
Hi-Tek RT-101 $60 (1989) = $118 (2018)
Chicony KB-5161 $89 (1989) = $174 (2018)
Zeos RS $89.95 (1989) = $175 (2018)
Northgate Omnikey Plus $119 (1989) = $234 (2018)
Key Tronic Professional Series KB 101 Plus $149 (1989) = $293 (2018)
DataDesk Turbo 101 $149.95 (1989) = $294 (2018)
IBM Enhanced AT $199 = $391 (2018)
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I've just added all the adjusted 1989 and 1992 prices. Others forthcoming. The table is getting a bit cramped now.
- tactica
- Location: La Coruña, Spain
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M
- Main mouse: MSI Clutch GM40
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs for now
- DT Pro Member: -
I suggest you keep references to the minimum. For the IBM part numbers article I decided to place a reference in the "parent" keyboard or the first regional version, and omit it for the rest. Unless, of course, where there is good reason to add the reference again, for example when other unrelated keyboards are listed in the middle of a series due to the chaotic P/N numbering scheme devised by IBM.
In either case I also suggest you rephrase the introduction, because as it is now it would seem that the listing is a recommendation for the prices that people should be asking for second hand boards... Not a good thing.
In either case I also suggest you rephrase the introduction, because as it is now it would seem that the listing is a recommendation for the prices that people should be asking for second hand boards... Not a good thing.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I've written a new introduction that possibly seems less wrong that whatever was wrong with the previous one. I mean, the prices have years by them!
The references, no idea, just going to leave that as it is.
The references, no idea, just going to leave that as it is.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I was tempted to add some modern prices (e.g. what a Majestouch 2 costs now, vs what I paid for my Majestouch in 2010) but maybe the page should be dedicated to "historical" prices, i.e. prices before some arbitrary point in time that we made up. With that said, permitting "modern" prices would allow for interesting comparisons between the prices of keyboards in the past, and how much you pay now, as good keyboards are often still expensive.
Even after inflation, an NMB RT101+ Mechanical was still cheaper than many keyboards now, and with that you got PBT dye sub no less.
Even after inflation, an NMB RT101+ Mechanical was still cheaper than many keyboards now, and with that you got PBT dye sub no less.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
Yes, I noticed back when I did that video that NMB keyboards were VERY competitively priced. Honestly I think they would've made a pretty compelling choice.Daniel Beardsmore wrote: ↑I was tempted to add some modern prices (e.g. what a Majestouch 2 costs now, vs what I paid for my Majestouch in 2010) but maybe the page should be dedicated to "historical" prices, i.e. prices before some arbitrary point in time that we made up. With that said, permitting "modern" prices would allow for interesting comparisons between the prices of keyboards in the past, and how much you pay now, as good keyboards are often still expensive.
Even after inflation, an NMB RT101+ Mechanical was still cheaper than many keyboards now, and with that you got PBT dye sub no less.
- Techno Trousers
- 100,000,000 actuations
- Location: California
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F-122
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Spring (Model F)
- DT Pro Member: 0159
It's so unfortunate that NMB stuck to the BAE and never fully embraced the ANSI 101 form factor. I feel like space Invader switches would have a lot more enduring popularity if they had.
- elecplus
- Location: Kerrville, TX, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0082
- Contact:
I just sent quite a few of the ANSI Space Invaders to Wodan in Germany. He will be happy to sell them to you!Techno Trousers wrote: ↑It's so unfortunate that NMB stuck to the BAE and never fully embraced the ANSI 101 form factor. I feel like space Invader switches would have a lot more enduring popularity if they had.
- elecplus
- Location: Kerrville, TX, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0082
- Contact:
IBM 3471 prices http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca ... index.html
Code: Select all
DESCRIPTION REFERENCE PRICE
Video-Amber-Gold 23F3821 $905
Video-Green 23F3820 905
122-Key Typewriter
Keyboard 1394801 295
104-Key Typewriter
Keyboard 09F4230 295
IBM Enhanced Keyboard 1394802 295
104-Key Data Entry
Keyboard 09F4231 295
Power Cord 6952297 10
Power Cord --
Chicago six foot 6952298 10
Tilt/Swivel Stand 81X4450 20
ACCESSORY
PART NUMBER
DESCRIPTION REFERENCE PRICE
Clear Lens Keycaps (60)
Paper Inserts (60/60)
and Tool (1B) 73X3878 $55
Clear Lens Keycaps (60)
Paper Inserts (60/60)
and Tool (1AG) 6341707 $50
NOTE:
(1A) -- 122 Typewriter Keyboard
(1B) -- 104 Typewriter Keyboard
(G) -- IBM Enhanced Keyboard