Author Topic: Old PC Keyboards  (Read 852 times)

Offline LCAMerciful

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Old PC Keyboards
« on: February 23, 2012, 04:40:45 PM »
Remember the old PC Keyboards?  I didn't know it but there is a company still making them... you know the old clicky (or "Buckling Spring") type.  I think I read somewhere that HiTech himself won't use anything else.

Anyway here's their website.  Enjoy!

http://www.pckeyboard.com

They'll even custom make them for you!

Offline Chalenge

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2012, 04:48:37 PM »
Im still using an IBM classic myself.
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Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2012, 04:59:05 PM »
$79+ for one of those!!

I bet there are still quite a few of these floating around people's closets and garages.
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Offline LCAMerciful

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2012, 05:13:10 PM »
$79+ for one of those!!

I bet there are still quite a few of these floating around people's closets and garages.

Seems like a lot but if it holds up for years it's well worth it.

Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2012, 05:18:54 PM »
Seems like a lot but if it holds up for years it's well worth it.

I understand some people like the older keyboards, but I still find it hard to justify an $80+ keyboard.

What makes them that much tougher, I've never had a keyboard fail on me.
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Offline LCAMerciful

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2012, 05:36:27 PM »
I understand some people like the older keyboards, but I still find it hard to justify an $80+ keyboard.

What makes them that much tougher, I've never had a keyboard fail on me.

I guess it all depends.  I'm typing on mine several hours a day.. a cheapy $10-20 keyboard lasts me about 5-6 months tops.

It's also important to remember that those mechanical keyboards are a lot more "Accurate" than the cheap ones you buy in the store today because you can actually feel when a key registers instead of having to pound it all the way down every time.  Completely different kind of feel to it and lets you type faster, although to be fair you have to be at 75+ WPM speeds for it to really stand out.

I'll probably fork out the money when it's time for a new one.

They also repair old IBM keyboards too.

Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2012, 08:43:25 PM »
I guess it all depends.  I'm typing on mine several hours a day.. a cheapy $10-20 keyboard lasts me about 5-6 months tops.

It's also important to remember that those mechanical keyboards are a lot more "Accurate" than the cheap ones you buy in the store today because you can actually feel when a key registers instead of having to pound it all the way down every time.  Completely different kind of feel to it and lets you type faster, although to be fair you have to be at 75+ WPM speeds for it to really stand out.

I'll probably fork out the money when it's time for a new one.

They also repair old IBM keyboards too.

Well, to each his own, I've had a different experience than you, but I can't blame anyone for wanting one that fits their needs.
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Offline LCAMerciful

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2012, 11:50:04 AM »
At about $1800 this keyboard makes those look cheap!


Offline Noir

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2012, 12:11:47 PM »
you can still buy mechanical keyboards, I know "cherry" still sells them, or Rockwell like linked below

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5457/capsule-review-rosewills-rk9000
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Offline Gman

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2012, 01:11:11 PM »
I posted a few months ago about the Razer Mechanical Keyboard I started using, the Black Widow.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,325223.0.html

It's still working the same as out of the box, next to the Saitek Combat Pro pedals and Warthog, it's the best thing new thing I've tried for PC gaming. 

I also went on a hunt in a few of the mom and pop computer shops in the small town where my folks like, and found a few of the old IBM PC clicky keyboards in varying condition, and selected the best 2 for a cost of 5$ to keep for a rainy day.  I'd say the keys on these oldies actually are just slightly more "clicky" than the new Razer keyboard I'm using, but without all the functionality and USB options.

As I said before, IMO in the next 5 years everyone will be using mechanical keyboards, and they will be ''old" news.  Once the price comes down to say 30 instead of 80 dollars, the bang for the buck will make them commonplace.  In the meantime, next time you are in a future shop or best buy/what have you, get them to demo you one of the mechanicals....they make such a difference for typing and accuracy.

Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2012, 03:38:34 AM »
I posted a few months ago about the Razer Mechanical Keyboard I started using, the Black Widow.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,325223.0.html

It's still working the same as out of the box, next to the Saitek Combat Pro pedals and Warthog, it's the best thing new thing I've tried for PC gaming. 

I also went on a hunt in a few of the mom and pop computer shops in the small town where my folks like, and found a few of the old IBM PC clicky keyboards in varying condition, and selected the best 2 for a cost of 5$ to keep for a rainy day.  I'd say the keys on these oldies actually are just slightly more "clicky" than the new Razer keyboard I'm using, but without all the functionality and USB options.

As I said before, IMO in the next 5 years everyone will be using mechanical keyboards, and they will be ''old" news.  Once the price comes down to say 30 instead of 80 dollars, the bang for the buck will make them commonplace.  In the meantime, next time you are in a future shop or best buy/what have you, get them to demo you one of the mechanicals....they make such a difference for typing and accuracy.

I highly doubt it. The amount of typists is not going to explode in the next 5 years and for the hunt&peck type guys it's totally the same if the keyboard is made from rubber or not.

Add that to the ever growing trend of laptops and mobile devices... the future is plastic. Even now I'm typing this on a 17" Macbook with a stupid black rubbery keyboard. I hate it (the keyboard).
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Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2012, 10:46:29 AM »
I think the younger generation is pretty adaptable to any keyboard.  Over the course of a few years they've probably used dozens of different keyboards at home, school, friend's houses, in stores, etc.  So although I find those older keyboards fun to type on, I can type 85+ wpm on this $15 Logitech.
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Offline Flench

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2012, 12:17:30 PM »
At about $1800 this keyboard makes those look cheap!


WOW !  what in the world makes it so high dollar ?
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Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2012, 01:06:16 PM »
WOW !  what in the world makes it so high dollar ?

Every key is a screen.
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Offline Flench

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Re: Old PC Keyboards
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2012, 01:17:32 PM »
Every key is a screen.
It would have to be solid gold before I would spend that kind of money even if I had plenty .
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