on 10-31-04 7:53 AM, Brian Stewart at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I don't think anyone uses switches anymore... Maybe some > of those REALLY Expensive keyboards that are $100 USD +
Yeah, manufacturers can't justify over-engineering keyboards like they used to. Besides noise, the other drawback of the Model M is that they were so bloody expensive to make. The rubber dome ones are much cheaper and most end users don't know the difference. > I think the new Mac Keyboards are rubber domed as well... Judging by the feel, yes. I just had to laugh at the ad copy for the Matias Tactile Pro Keyboard. It's a $100 MSRP 'board whose main attraction is: it uses the old Alps keyswitches that Apple _used_ to use in their keyboards more than a decade ago: http://matias.ca/tactilepro/index.php Um, why not just get an adapter for your old Apple Extended and keep a krep USB keyboard on hand for emergencies? Oh, well... Actually, the manufacturer of the Pro is doing a good thing. Apparently, the factory in Taiwan that makes the Alps keyswitches was planning to mothball the tooling used to make the switches due to lack of demand. Edgar Matias pledged to purchase 1 million of the switches to keep the tooling active: http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07607 > One of my jobs was fixing dumb terminals for Data General. I used to > replace and soldier the switches on the keyboards... Wow was that fun. So if my Model M with its discrete switches goes bad, I can send it to you for repair? Excellent! Actually, that was something I didn't understand with the Model M: the advantage to using discrete switches was that individual keys could be replaced. But the way they contructed the 'boards would seem to preclude switch replacement: > but the curved steel backplate (which is responsible for most of the > keyboard's impressive weight) is fixed to the plastic switch-holding assembly > with lots and lots of melted-over plastic studs.....which I could drill out or > grind off, if I felt really enthusiastic. > I'll tell you if I ever do. http://www.dansdata.com/ibmkeyboard.htm So I wonder if IBM ever actually replaced individual keyswitches...or just shipped the end user a whole new keyboard? > I used to repaint the monitors because of cigarette smoke damage. > Anyone remember when folks used to smoke at their work stations? Whoa, careful! You're dating yourself here... <grin> I'm just worried that after they're done trouncing cigarettes, _junk food_ will be next. @_@ "Do you have a permit for that Twinkie?" Best, James Fraser -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
