'But I was told to clean it!'

[Shalom]

Still using my 1989-vintage Northgate Omnikey Ultra at home. Yes, it's loud. It's also outlasted four computers so far. Problem is it's not only not USB, it's not even PS/2, but has the old 5-pin DIN plug; it's plugged into a PS/2 socket through an adapter you probably can't even get anymore.

Northgate went out of business because their products never wore out. (Also because nobody wanted to pay $110 in 1989 dollars for a keyboard.)

Apparently there are claims that they didn't use the real IBM keyswitches, but they're the same buckling spring type.

[Pixilated]

I've baptized a keyboard with tea ... Luckily the boss was kind -- just told me not to do it again, LOL.

[fireheart]

Yeah, operative definition of that keyboard design is "if you fire it into a brick wall at mach 1 it will come out the winner and still function."

I think you can say the same about the older Nokia models (the 5110, 3210 and 3310 in particular). In fact, a friend of mine once touted those models as being capable of being hurled through a window, landing on a rock face-first and being run over with a 4WD and STILL being able to function

A bit since I mentioned phones, but I figured out early on that the 3310 and 3315 phones were the same size, so I figured that the keypads were interchangeable. I should add that the phone was FAIRLY old in itself (back when they were coming out with "newer" models i.e. the 8-series).

When we went to buy a new cover for my phone AND a new keypad, the guy offered to fit it for us. As we discovered, it wouldn't fit because of the battery being so huge. He then praised me for having a phone that lasted so long because the battery was MASSIVELY old and they'd since been using slimmer models in their 3310's and 3315's. My face was like

edit: RacketMan -- did you mean "tactile feedback"? <ClippythePaperclip> ^_^

[dalesys]

I had one of those in junior high...

[fireheart]

I had one of those in junior high...

I didn't mean it like that.....

[EricKei]

I didn't mean it like that.....

Well, if he had read what you had MEANT to say, it wouldn't be Dalesys, now would it?

[lordlundar]

AHHHHH!!!!!!!

DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!!!!!!

[EricKei]

DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!!!!!!

Clippy: I see you're trying to burn me to a crisp.... *click*whiirrrr*kaCHUNK* PRESERVATION PROTOCOL ENGAGED...IDENTIFY THREATS...EX-TER-MI-NATE! EX-TER-MI-NATE!

[fireheart]

Clippy: I see you're trying to burn me to a crisp.... *click*whiirrrr*kaCHUNK* PRESERVATION PROTOCOL ENGAGED...IDENTIFY THREATS...EX-TER-MI-NATE! EX-TER-MI-NATE!

I think the appropriate response would be "I see you're trying to attack me with a flamethrower...would you like to burn me to a crisp? Melt me into a pile of goo? or turn this off because I'm so damn annoying?"

Admittedly I always used either the Dot or the Cat.

[Chromatix]

I have *two* Model M keyboards, both late 80s vintage, and they both still work fine. Well, one at a time does - one of the cable is bad, but at least it detaches. I particularly like the completely standard 102-key British layout - all the keys where they should be and doing what they should, and no extra ones that just get in the way.

I also have two Cherry keyboards with the click-type MX keyswitches - one old AT, one new USB. I think the MX is a bit less robust than the IBM type, but 16 years and counting for the older one is still good going. Both of these (and a non-click Cherry with PS/2) are standard 105-key British layouts - the Windows keys are an annoyance but otherwise fine.

I really should get around to converting the IBMs to USB.

[mhkohne]

I have *two* Model M keyboards, both late 80s vintage, and they both still work fine. Well, one at a time does - one of the cable is bad, but at least it detaches. I particularly like the completely standard 102-key British layout - all the keys where they should be and doing what they should, and no extra ones that just get in the way.

I also have two Cherry keyboards with the click-type MX keyswitches - one old AT, one new USB. I think the MX is a bit less robust than the IBM type, but 16 years and counting for the older one is still good going. Both of these (and a non-click Cherry with PS/2) are standard 105-key British layouts - the Windows keys are an annoyance but otherwise fine.

I really should get around to converting the IBMs to USB.

http://clickykeyboards.com has a USB to PS-2 adapter that I'm finding works well. The only downside is that it's physically big and blocks the next port over on a lot of machines. Works well, though.

[Chromatix]

I use adapters already, but they do glitch sometimes - these old keyboards consume a lot of power, and its pretty close to the edge of the USB power spec. A new, native USB controller would solve that problem.

[Silent-Hunter]

I have an IBM keyboard with a 5 pin DIN plug. I tried plugging it in through a DIN to PS/2 adaptor plugged into a PS/2 to USB adaptor, but that didn't work, so now I can't use it anymore.

[EricKei]

Eeep. Yeah, I have found that "stacking" adaptors like that can be chancy, at best. >_<

[Krysalis]

I have an old IBM keyboard, not sure of the model. Just know its been around since our DOS Machine in 1992, and the only reason I don't use it anymore is because it has a 5 Pin DIN. I guess I should go get off my lazy butt to look at it. :P