I'm pretty certain the family computer used this keyboard, in my youth; you're definitely right that it's great.
Looks like it's based on the IBM Model M. Used ones go for a couple hundred on ebay. The key feel, click and travel are very satisfying if noisy to type on.
Wow, I'd totally forgotten about PB. I seem to recall they were on the low end of the PC clone market but I could be misremembering. I can't seem to find my Computer Shopper catalog right now to check. I dig that huge Enter key but it's a shame this came with the utterly useless Windows keys and what I guess is a "menu" key. I've never used either but then I've used Linux exclusively since the aughts and OS/2 before that. My M$ "Natural" keyboard wastes space on these keys too. This specimen is going to look great when it's cleaned up. Hope you can find a pen or a pencil to put in that little trench just for show.
A Packard Bell mechanical? Well done. Impressive even
I always love seeing old keyboards with the pen groove along the top.
I had to get a new keyboard, and I just wanted a basic black or beige one. The internet really wanted to sell me one that lights up and has a bunch of extra keys. I don't need or want that. Just a basic tool with all the keys, thank you.
Does it weigh a ton and have mighty ClIcKs that wake up the dead? If so, good find!
Weight and dopamine releasing clicks are the best.
L-shaped Enter key master race.
We always called them a BAE (Big Ass Enter)
Nah, fuck that shape. Look what they did to my boy Right Shift. I'm glad L-shaped Enter keys died out in the mid 90s.
Yeah that's dirty and messed up, but l-shaped enter key is ughhshahhhhhhdhhshhhhdhhfh mmmmmmm yesss
I usually disable right shift because I accidentally keep pressing it while hitting enter making it shift enter
More of a J shape tho
Ah, the beige years.
The early naughts were a little more aesthetic.
Not an apple fan but this is the only aesthetic tech should have. Transparent plastic everything. I yearned for the clamshell PowerBook g3 as a kid. Still do.
I got mine free, from a bunch of stuff our company IT was throwing out because it was too old. That was over a decade ago, and it’s still the best keyboard I’ve ever had.
Nice, but definitely needs a cleaning
Everything does honestly. I have unmedicated adhd I think. Been meaning to take some wipes to it.
I'm generally not a fan of the oversized Enter key, but this is beautiful and I'd use the hell out of it
Oh man. I've been looking for that for decades now. Too bad the backlash is in a dumb spot.
Omgggggg I want fucking all the keys: gimme Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, a whole number keypad. Pleeeeease. Especially now that laptops are big enough. Come on.
I had one of these when I was a kid, it's good to see an old friend again!
I’d say that’s a weird spot for the \ | key, but looking around, I think that’s one of the last keys on a 104 key keyboard to get standardized.
Ohhhh I know these. Btc dome with slider switches, I've kind of wanted one of these for a while now. They use cherry MX compatible keycaps
Isn't it super heavy as it contains a metal core? Or else it's another one from the same era.
I don't know but I guess Packard Bell is way too modern to have heavy stuff inside.
manly whistle
That's a damn fine lookin' keyboard right there!
everytime someone posts a non iso layout, i kill a hostage
If I didn’t have this exact keyboard as a kid, we had one nearly identical to it. So much IMing and gaming time on that keyboard. Nice find!
That keyboard gives off hot dad vibes for sure!
Dude! Congratulations! Mechanical?
As for the big ass enter key, when I bought my laptop, I specifically ordered it with ISO layout for my keyboard.
I have that exact one. It’s a membrane board, but not bad sounding. I love the Big Ass Enter key. I tried and failed to convert it to mechanical. Impossible to find a mechanical keyboard with a BAE, sadly.
What? I quite literally have a bunch of BAE sporting mechanical keyboards. I am not a fan, and I feel that they fell out of favor for a reason, but to each their own. If you're trying to find one, they are usually found with less common vintage switches like Alps switches, SMK switches, Hi-Tek (space invaders switches), and some models of the IBM Model F.
Look into vintage ALPS boards like the Focus FK-2001.
What makes it perfect for you?
It goes clicky click in a nice way. It feels solid, my other keyboards are shitty dollar tree ones which have RGB for some reason.
That’s an excellent reason. Thanks for sharing.
I mean.....are you looking at it?
I have two of its older siblings. Both having an older design, one US layout with the bigass enter key and no winkeys, one HU ISO layout with winkeys.
Still has a windows key. Microsoft must have made some crazy OEM deal with keyboard manufacturers.
Is it weird if I remember exactly how this feels?
I'm typing on the black Dell version of this right now.
Me too! I’d get a new mechanical keyboard but they start asking if I want red, brown, blue or beige switches and I’m like “I dunno what that is!”. Also they cost a tonne and my Dell came free with a tower PC.
The colors refer to the types of Cherry MX switches and the common clones have mostly stuck to the format. Reds are really light and linear (no bump when you press down), Brown is light with a small tactile bump, blue is light and clicky. No beige, but clear is heavy with a big tactile bump, and green is heavy and clicky. You can get keyboards with non-Cherry branded switches really cheap these days. I've seen some on amazon for $20 (not that these would be great quality)
