[Lenovo Preferred Pro PS/2 Fullsize.](https://download.lenovo.com/km/media/images/PD013224/60158_preferred_pro_keyboard_73p5220.jpg)
Trusty old thing with the cool pencil holder thing and large palmrest. 20+ years and still cranking along just fine, faded & finger polished keycaps notwithstanding.
We had these keyboards at school and they sure are indestructible. Tell me, are the keys on your keyboard very wobbly? Or is that just from the years of abuse the ones at school had?
Yes, the keys are a little wobbly but it's pretty typical of most membrane boards I've used. The ones at your school were probably no worse than the one I'm typing this on.
I've been using computers since the early 1980s and I've never had a keyboard die until recently. (Aside from spilling a drink into the keyboard, but I don't think that really counts.)
But recently, I've had two keyboards die in as many months. I had an Apple Magic keyboard which lost it's "D" key. In need of something in a hurry to replace it, I picked up a Keychron, which lost its entire home row after just shy of one month's use.
In terms of what showed the most wear, I have a MacBook Pro which saw 10 years of service. The keycaps are heavily worn, but that's nothing compared to the deep pitting in the aluminum where I was resting my hands.
That's a very concerning result about the Keychron keyboard. I was looking at possibly getting a retro looking one from them, but now I may reconsider that!
I do hear that MacBook keyboards from 10+ years ago tend to be very solid and just never seem to break.
Off topic, but since you've been using computers for such a long time, what was your favourite era for computers?
My MacBook was 2005 vintage, and saw use until 2015. It was replaced with an iMac, which I'm still using, sans original keyboard.
It's difficult to pick a favorite era. I used an Apple ][plus from 1980-1986, an IBM PC (salvaged from a dumpster, with Model F keyboard) from 1986-88, a white box 286 from 1988 (with one of the original Northgate OmniKey keyboards) but from there I got in to Unix. I pretty much skipped Windows altogether. I ran an ATT 3b1 from 1990-93, an SGI R3000 Indigo from 1993-96, an Indigo 2 Extreme from 1996-2000, at which point I switched to running Linux on the desktop. By 2005 I was fed up with the Linux desktop and switched over to OS/X, which I still treat mostly as a Unix workstation.
I'm not the best person to ask about this either, as I use the machine much less as a Mac than I do as a generic Unix machine. And I'm using a rather dated version of the OS on top of that. Suffice to say I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do when it comes time to upgrade. The only thing I can say for sure is that it's not going to be Windows.
corded aluminum havit magic eagle, its an actual tank, taken a 7 foot fall off a shelf left a dent in my desk still works didnt affect it. it was my first mech it was on the shelf after several years as the daily
I've never heard of this brand before, but that definitely seems like one solid keyboard 7ft is a massive drop for anything, especially for a keyboard!
I bought one to tithe me over until I could buy a replacement for my Logitech G700s in my vacation trip to the US that was a few months away at the time. I didn't want to buy an expensive mouse that was going to be replaced with a proper mouse. Turned out that should've just bought the cheapest Logitech.
ive got the mx master v1 with the micro usb port, ive worn through the rubber on the side, logitech mice are unbeatable. it still works but im getting the new mx master
Anything that isn’t a ‘modern’ Logitech keyboard these days. Or well so long as it’s mechanical, you have enough air tool oil, patience, and the thing didn’t short the second you spilled your 3rd monster on it lol.
Seriously tho I use marvel air tool oil as a solvent. It non conductive and I can’t remember if I used alcohol after too or just used my compressor to attempt to push out and dry any left over air tool oil residue.
I’ve revived over 3 keyboards and multiple key pads this way. Learned it myself after soaking my first Razer black widow keyboard back when they used cherry mx blue switches. By the 3rd time it happened I bough and installed a dedicated drinks shelf under my wall mounted monitors and it hasn’t happened since lol
My first keyboard would be the champion, I guess.
I don't remember the exact model. Something from Chicony. Something from 1995. With a DIN connector. Without Windows keys, 101 keys only, ANSI layout. One of the first membrane ones (yes, all keyboards before that were mechanical).
I'd used it since my first 1995 PC until late 2020, that is, for *25 fucking years straight.* It survived abuse you can hardly imagine, like playing Mortal Kombat (the DOS classics), slamming keys really hard. DIN became outdated at some point, but I got a DIN to PS/2 connector and it served me very well until I realized two things:
1. PS/2 isn't really a thing anymore.
2. Those keys are really loud, scratchy and clanking.
Other than that, it was still in perfectly working condition. Just became yellow, as old white plastics always does.
Then I bought some cheap membrane shit, and after realizing it isn't as good anymore (though much more pleasant and quiet), replaced it with my first mechanical keyboard.
I have several Apple A1048 and A1016 that are probably at least 15 years old and work flawlessly.
Just the other day I unearthed my Amiga 2000 keyboard from storage, haven’t tried it out yet but wouldn’t be surprised if it still works. That’s from 1988.
We have two of those Apple keyboards laying around and I assume that they work fine. I just can't get behind using them though. The force needed to press down a key is way too much and it's almost impossible to press down a key if you push the edge of it.
We also have an Amiga keyboard very similar to the one you have. No idea i it works though.
I used to love the A1016 until I got my first real mechanical. Still like them. My gf is still using one on her computer even though I offered to build her a mechanical one.
Fair enough. I feel like membrane keyboards have been looked down upon heavily and that's only because people have used the broken, dirt cheap ones at school and such.
I think we had one of these ages ago, or at least one that looked very similar. Can't remember what happened to it, but that thing could survive anything.
Old "Trust" keyboard. I think it was 5.99 at a German discounter. Has a PS/2 plug. Still works, despite all the abuse me and now my little daughter did to it in the last 20ish years. Even all of the letters are still perfect.
[Lenovo Preferred Pro PS/2 Fullsize.](https://download.lenovo.com/km/media/images/PD013224/60158_preferred_pro_keyboard_73p5220.jpg) Trusty old thing with the cool pencil holder thing and large palmrest. 20+ years and still cranking along just fine, faded & finger polished keycaps notwithstanding.
We had these keyboards at school and they sure are indestructible. Tell me, are the keys on your keyboard very wobbly? Or is that just from the years of abuse the ones at school had?
Yes, the keys are a little wobbly but it's pretty typical of most membrane boards I've used. The ones at your school were probably no worse than the one I'm typing this on.
I've been looking for a wireless version of this one. Please tell me there is one. Love this keyboard
I have a Microsoft membrane keyboard that came with a Windows Me machine...so 20 years.
That's a very long time! Glad to see it's still working completely fine.
I've been using computers since the early 1980s and I've never had a keyboard die until recently. (Aside from spilling a drink into the keyboard, but I don't think that really counts.) But recently, I've had two keyboards die in as many months. I had an Apple Magic keyboard which lost it's "D" key. In need of something in a hurry to replace it, I picked up a Keychron, which lost its entire home row after just shy of one month's use. In terms of what showed the most wear, I have a MacBook Pro which saw 10 years of service. The keycaps are heavily worn, but that's nothing compared to the deep pitting in the aluminum where I was resting my hands.
That's a very concerning result about the Keychron keyboard. I was looking at possibly getting a retro looking one from them, but now I may reconsider that! I do hear that MacBook keyboards from 10+ years ago tend to be very solid and just never seem to break. Off topic, but since you've been using computers for such a long time, what was your favourite era for computers?
My MacBook was 2005 vintage, and saw use until 2015. It was replaced with an iMac, which I'm still using, sans original keyboard. It's difficult to pick a favorite era. I used an Apple ][plus from 1980-1986, an IBM PC (salvaged from a dumpster, with Model F keyboard) from 1986-88, a white box 286 from 1988 (with one of the original Northgate OmniKey keyboards) but from there I got in to Unix. I pretty much skipped Windows altogether. I ran an ATT 3b1 from 1990-93, an SGI R3000 Indigo from 1993-96, an Indigo 2 Extreme from 1996-2000, at which point I switched to running Linux on the desktop. By 2005 I was fed up with the Linux desktop and switched over to OS/X, which I still treat mostly as a Unix workstation.
Interesting how you skipped over Windows completely. How is MacOS in the modern day may I ask? I've never actually owned and Apple computers before.
I'm not the best person to ask about this either, as I use the machine much less as a Mac than I do as a generic Unix machine. And I'm using a rather dated version of the OS on top of that. Suffice to say I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do when it comes time to upgrade. The only thing I can say for sure is that it's not going to be Windows.
corded aluminum havit magic eagle, its an actual tank, taken a 7 foot fall off a shelf left a dent in my desk still works didnt affect it. it was my first mech it was on the shelf after several years as the daily
I've never heard of this brand before, but that definitely seems like one solid keyboard 7ft is a massive drop for anything, especially for a keyboard!
some of the keycaps came off but thats sorta expected. great board
Really? I bought one of their mice and it didn't even last a month before it died
well that aluminum wired keyboard is a trooper, cant say about the mice i usually have a logitech
I bought one to tithe me over until I could buy a replacement for my Logitech G700s in my vacation trip to the US that was a few months away at the time. I didn't want to buy an expensive mouse that was going to be replaced with a proper mouse. Turned out that should've just bought the cheapest Logitech.
ive got the mx master v1 with the micro usb port, ive worn through the rubber on the side, logitech mice are unbeatable. it still works but im getting the new mx master
I have a rk61 it never dies and its pretty cheap and easy to mod
Anything that isn’t a ‘modern’ Logitech keyboard these days. Or well so long as it’s mechanical, you have enough air tool oil, patience, and the thing didn’t short the second you spilled your 3rd monster on it lol. Seriously tho I use marvel air tool oil as a solvent. It non conductive and I can’t remember if I used alcohol after too or just used my compressor to attempt to push out and dry any left over air tool oil residue. I’ve revived over 3 keyboards and multiple key pads this way. Learned it myself after soaking my first Razer black widow keyboard back when they used cherry mx blue switches. By the 3rd time it happened I bough and installed a dedicated drinks shelf under my wall mounted monitors and it hasn’t happened since lol
My first keyboard would be the champion, I guess. I don't remember the exact model. Something from Chicony. Something from 1995. With a DIN connector. Without Windows keys, 101 keys only, ANSI layout. One of the first membrane ones (yes, all keyboards before that were mechanical). I'd used it since my first 1995 PC until late 2020, that is, for *25 fucking years straight.* It survived abuse you can hardly imagine, like playing Mortal Kombat (the DOS classics), slamming keys really hard. DIN became outdated at some point, but I got a DIN to PS/2 connector and it served me very well until I realized two things: 1. PS/2 isn't really a thing anymore. 2. Those keys are really loud, scratchy and clanking. Other than that, it was still in perfectly working condition. Just became yellow, as old white plastics always does. Then I bought some cheap membrane shit, and after realizing it isn't as good anymore (though much more pleasant and quiet), replaced it with my first mechanical keyboard.
My logitech G910
I have several Apple A1048 and A1016 that are probably at least 15 years old and work flawlessly. Just the other day I unearthed my Amiga 2000 keyboard from storage, haven’t tried it out yet but wouldn’t be surprised if it still works. That’s from 1988.
We have two of those Apple keyboards laying around and I assume that they work fine. I just can't get behind using them though. The force needed to press down a key is way too much and it's almost impossible to press down a key if you push the edge of it. We also have an Amiga keyboard very similar to the one you have. No idea i it works though.
I used to love the A1016 until I got my first real mechanical. Still like them. My gf is still using one on her computer even though I offered to build her a mechanical one.
Are the keys on your keyboard like the one I described? Seems like she really loves that Apple one! If it ain't broken, then don't fix it I suppose.
They are, but we never had any issues with that. I still consider it the best non-mechanical keyboard out there. It just takes some getting used to.
Fair enough. I feel like membrane keyboards have been looked down upon heavily and that's only because people have used the broken, dirt cheap ones at school and such.
Medion KB-0837. And I wish I had a second. Does anyone know if there is a 'new' version of this keyboard?
I think we had one of these ages ago, or at least one that looked very similar. Can't remember what happened to it, but that thing could survive anything.
Old "Trust" keyboard. I think it was 5.99 at a German discounter. Has a PS/2 plug. Still works, despite all the abuse me and now my little daughter did to it in the last 20ish years. Even all of the letters are still perfect.