Vintage Kaypro 2000 keyboard (Cherry MX Blacks)

[snuci]

I've been slacking off lately Here's a pretty cool keyboard from my Kaypro 2000 portable computer. More info here: http://www.oldcomputers.net/kaypro2000.html This computer is rare so the keyboard is probably even rarer. While this is from 1985, it looks like the ones you keyboard fans are liking now a days

The key spacing and height is that of a normal keyboard even though it is from portable. It is detachable as the photos from the link above shows. The feel is very nice and the keyboard mechanism is in a metal backed enclosure to provide the rigidity. I'm not crazy about the key caps because they aren't double shots but it is a sweet compact vintage keyboard.

Here are some pics:

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - external top

keyboard - external top.jpg (232.5 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - external bottom

keyboard - external bottom.jpg (158.08 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - external profile

keyboard - external profile.jpg (181.87 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - internal top

keyboard - internal top.jpg (223.57 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - internal bottom (there are some designer names on the PCB?)

keyboard - internal bottom.jpg (349.45 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - internal P8746H chip

Keyboard - internal chip.jpg (225.25 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - Cherry MX Black key switches

keyboard - key switches.jpg (206 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

Kaypro 2000 keyboard - key caps

keyboard - key caps.jpg (143.15 KiB) Viewed 7171 times

[seebart]

While this is from 1985, it looks like the ones you keyboard fans are liking now a days

That's the first thing I thought also! It's a vintage 60%. Nice.

(there are some designer names on the PCB?)

The PCB has a strong resemblance to my Unitech K959 !

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Unitech_K959

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/uni ... 10848.html

Looks like it's the younger brother.

[snuci]

The PCB has a strong resemblance to my Unitech K959 !

Looks like it's the younger brother.

I think you are absolutely right! It would be nice to know what "luggable" computer your keyboard came from. I could tell that right away with my collection of luggables but I don't have anything like that one. Yours would be from the IBM AT era as it would be a look-alike of the IBM Model F AT keyboard with the 5 pin DIN connector.

PS. I did go back and revive a 4 year old GH thread to answer a post where someone bought a partial keyboard like mine and didn't know what it was from. Now he/she knows

[seebart]

From looking at your pictures I think we can say that your keyboard is the Unitech / Unitek K954 built for the Kaypro 2000 laptop system. Interesting is that the name "Unitech" or "Unitek" does not appear on your PCB. I'm sorry I do not know what portable computer my Unitech K959 belongs to. But I'll try to find out.

Not sure if this is even still the same company?

http://us.ute.com/products_info.php?rbu ... 45&pid=379

[terrycherry]

Like that ６０％layout!
And thanks your great link about vintage computer. That's what I'm looking for.

[REVENGE]

I wanted this for the longest time, but that was in the days before the Poker came out.

[ndp]

First time I saw pictures of this keyboard (from sixty IIRC), it was part of the Goupil Club laptop.
http://www.silicium.org/oldskool/ibm/go ... upclub.htm

[Magna224]

I'd daily that.

[feedbaack]

Hello guys ! Thanks to french part of the forum I just received the french version of this same keyboard:





Little surprise: he have ALPS switches.



And now I need to find a way to use this with my computer ....

[seebart]

Wow the same keyboard with what look like Alps SKFL series, thanks for sharing.

[snuci]

Wow, very cool! I'm surprised there are different key switches. I don't think a great deal of the Kaypro 2000s sold.

[matt3o]

what a lovely keyboard with a very weird layout

[seebart]

Added the Alps version to our wiki page just now:

wiki/Kaypro_2000

[feedbaack]

I discovered these pictures before receiving the keyboard so I made a little 'whaaaaat' when I pulled off a keycap haha

I never had ALPS switches .... Now I need to find a way to connect this keyboard to my computer .... Did you succeed snuci ?



Thx seebart and tell me if you need special pictures, btw I just noticed that the F10 key wasn't fixed when I took the pictures

[snuci]

I never had ALPS switches .... Now I need to find a way to connect this keyboard to my computer .... Did you succeed snuci ?

I have a matching Kaypro 2000 so it works with that.

[ohaimark]

I'll keep an eye out for the SKFR variant...

[feedbaack]

I never had ALPS switches .... Now I need to find a way to connect this keyboard to my computer .... Did you succeed snuci ?

I have a matching Kaypro 2000 so it works with that.

Of course I have this computer too, but I was talkin about modern computers, you know the ones with usb ports

[snuci]

Of course I have this computer too, but I was talkin about modern computers, you know the ones with usb ports

I don't really collect to modernize things and use them in present day so I haven't even tried. Sorry.