----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com>
To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: PCKeybaord keytops
Last week, someone pointed me to Ergonomics Resources
a source for
decent PC keyboards, such as their version of the old Northgate unit.
I voiced a concern about a pet peeve of mine--that the keytops would
be the everyday surface-marked ones, rather than the old double-shot
ones (which have legends that are almost impossible to wear away).
Here's the response I received:
"Thanks you for visiting our web site. The Stellar is in most ways
like the Northgate keyboard you used many years ago. But they too
have gone the way of Laser engraved key tops."
"We do still have some (new in the box) Northgate Evolution Keyboards
(split keyboards) that have the double injected keycaps if you're
interested. "
http://www.ergonomicsmadeeasy.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID
=12
I guess I'll stick with my Model M.
Cheers,
Chuck
Oh well, you could buy a broken Northgate keyboard and use those caps on a
new base. I like my Omnikey/102 keyboard, I had purchased a gateway USB
keyboard around 2000 for my main machine but after a while I switched back
to the Northgate again. This keyboard has been used almost continuously
since I purchased it new in 1992 or so and have yet to need a repair (just a
cleaning every so many years).
From what I remember the push to make computers cheaper
in the 90's started
with cheaper quality floppy drives, keyboards, and mice.
Then they moved on
to computer cases, power supplies, monitors, etc. Atleast those are the
items I noticed getting made cheaply at the time.
TZ