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| Thread ID: 44715 | 2004-04-28 01:58:00 | What does the "Online" light mean on an old keyboard | Billy T (70) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 232622 | 2004-04-28 01:58:00 | Hi team I have just reconditioned a somewhat elderly but little used Chicony keyboard to use on my main business computer. I prefer the key action of these older "cherry switch" keyboards as the rubbery feel of the newer ones gives me RSI. It was originally supplied by PC Direct, (remember them?) and probably dates back to the early 90's. The keyboard has the usual Num Lock/Caps Lock & Scroll Lock Leds at top right, but it also has an "On Line" light. The obvious explanation would be a live internet connection but going off-line doesn't make any difference. Anybody seen these before and know what it's about? Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 232623 | 2004-04-28 02:59:00 | > Hi team > > I have just reconditioned a somewhat elderly but > little used Chicony keyboard to use on my main > business computer . I prefer the key action of these > older "cherry switch" keyboards as the rubbery feel > of the newer ones gives me RSI . It was originally > supplied by PC Direct, (remember them?) and probably > dates back to the early 90's . I once was lucky enough to borrow one, and boy I would realy like one!! problem is everybody loves them so much, and they are built like a tank! that I have not found anyone parting with one . . . > > The keyboard has the usual Num Lock/Caps Lock & > Scroll Lock Leds at top right, but it also has an "On > Line" light . The obvious explanation would be a live > internet connection but going off-line doesn't make > any difference . > > Anybody seen these before and know what it's about? It is a power light, nothing more . It theory if you reset the keyboard you may see it blink . . but just treat it as a power on light . > > Cheers > > Billy 8-{) |
ugh1 (4204) | ||
| 232624 | 2004-04-28 04:10:00 | Not all that long ago, there were about 14 keyboards on the floor I worked on . 12 of them had "on-line" lights . They were on terminals . You could put a terminal off-line (not connected to the computer) or on-line . So it helped to have a light indicatying the mode . Only two of those were directly connected to a computer (a Vax Microvax GPX) . The rest went through terminal concentrators on the Ethernet to the rest of the network computers (minis and mainframes) . There were two PCs on the floor . They didn't have on-line lights on their keyboards . :D They were connected to the network with ethernet cards, but you needed to run Telnet to use network resources . Real terminals were much better terminals than PCs . It's a bit odd to get a terminal keyboard which can work with a PC . Most terminal manufacturers used unique keyboards . . . and followed no particular standard . . . and IBM copied their own typewriter technology for the PC keyboard . ;-) But Chicony made replacement keyboards for just about everything which had a keyboard, so they may have made a PC one and put in an on-line light out of habit . :D |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 232625 | 2004-04-28 04:52:00 | > I once was lucky enough to borrow one, and boy I > would really like one!! problem is everybody loves > them so much, and they are built like a tank! that I > have not found anyone parting with one... Got mine from the local school fair ugh, paid 50c for it in fairly grotty state. When I stripped it down it looked like a cat had been sleeping on it and leaking into it too :(, but a full strip & clean, a blast-out of the switches with contact cleaner followed by switch cleaner/lubricant and it goes like a bought one. I collect any keyboard that clicks and have a real heavyweight IBM jobby made in July 1987 waiting in the wings if needed in years to come. It has a plug very similar to ethernet on the keyboard end and a PS2 plug on the other. It must have cost a fortune when new. No dobt somebody will have an idea of IBM keyboard prices circa 1987 If you look in second-hand stores, garage sales, Cash Convertors and the ubiquitous inorganic rubbish collections you will find heaps of old keyboards, so you are bound to find a Chicony somewhere. Spray & Wipe is the best cleaner, brings them up like new. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 232626 | 2004-04-28 05:02:00 | Slightly OT Billy . I have an old PC Direct keyboard, without the extra light . It has taken a bit of a hammering over the years and outlasted several, admittedly cheap, keyboards and a few PC's but shows no sign of giving up (touch wood) . Only maintenance its had is I took it to bits a couple of years back and gave it all a good scrubbing in the sing with detergent and the dish brush, popped it in the sun for a few hours then a blow wave to finish . Just like new :D Wonder if that old PC would respond in kind ?:| Cheers Murray P |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 232627 | 2004-04-28 05:04:00 | When the 5051 (original IBM PC) came out in 1981, a 5¼" floppy drive for it cost an extra US$500. That was about the price of the keyboard, too ,though the KB wasn't an optional extra. The floppy drives were optional. You could get a cassette recorder for quite a lot less, and the interface was built in. ;-) | Graham L (2) | ||
| 232628 | 2004-04-28 05:28:00 | > > > I once was lucky enough to borrow one, and boy I > > would really like one!! problem is everybody loves > > them so much, and they are built like a tank! that > I > > have not found anyone parting with one... > > Got mine from the local school fair ugh, paid 50c for > it in fairly grotty state. When I stripped it down > it looked like a cat had been sleeping on it and > leaking into it too :(, but a full strip & clean, a > blast-out of the switches with contact cleaner > followed by switch cleaner/lubricant and it goes like > a bought one. Have come across a few Chery keyboards, but not quite the same even thou I think the internals are SUPPOSED to be the same.. And gee I would like to see some of these more modern KB survive that sort of abuse<grin > > > I collect any keyboard that clicks and have a real > heavyweight IBM jobby made in July 1987 waiting in > the wings if needed in years to come. It has a plug > very similar to ethernet on the keyboard end and a > PS2 plug on the other. It must have cost a fortune > when new. No dobt somebody will have an idea of IBM > keyboard prices circa 1987 > > If you look in second-hand stores, garage sales, Cash > Convertors and the ubiquitous inorganic rubbish > collections you will find heaps of old keyboards, so > you are bound to find a Chicony somewhere. Spray & > Wipe is the best cleaner, brings them up like new. Do not bother much now with the hounding, one day I will come across one and Mickysoft Natural KB will retire<grin > P.S. I hope the Online light mystery has been answered? > > Cheers > > Billy 8-{) |
ugh1 (4204) | ||
| 232629 | 2004-04-28 05:39:00 | Yep, the light mystery is solved ugh . Forgot to mention though, my first check is for keyboard clicks, the second is for weight . The heavier the board, the better the build: the Chicony has a thick steel plate to hold all the cherry switches . You could kill a burglar with one whack of this keyboard:D Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 232630 | 2004-04-28 06:11:00 | > You could kill a burglar with one whack of this keyboard Don't try that without identifying your target first though. ;-) |
Fire-and-Ice (3910) | ||
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