What is so special about this keyboard?

Well, take a look:
It is XT / AT compatible

Big deal... there are a decent amount of keyboards that are XT / AT compatible.

But wait... are those ALPS white switches? Why yes, they are.

So is this keyboard pretty much the ultimate retro keyboard?

If you don't think so, then what would your choice be?

Not to brag, but I have a clicky keyboard that has two DIP switches, giving it four compatibility modes.

Still, I prefer keybaords with a 'flat' enter key rather than L-shaped ones.

cyclone3d wrote on 2020-03-30, 04:04:

What is so special about this keyboard? […]
Show full quote

What is so special about this keyboard?

Well, take a look:
It is XT / AT compatible
closed_box.jpg
label.jpg
XT-AT-switch.jpg

Big deal... there are a decent amount of keyboards that are XT / AT compatible.

But wait... are those ALPS white switches? Why yes, they are.
ALPS_switch.jpg

So is this keyboard pretty much the ultimate retro keyboard?

If you don't think so, then what would your choice be?

That is Awesome !! The XT/AT old real switch keyboards are truly the Ultimate retro KB. And I always liked the L shaped Enter keys. Nice find ! Won't ask how much you paid. I got one about a decade ago for really cheap and was also NIB but has German/dutch keys on it (did not care 😀 ) and has serial # 95393070 so just maybe a week or two prior to yours. Want to swap ? I would prefer the full English keys. Seriously: In my opinion you got a great KB !!!

Heh.. I paid $30 for it. There was another listed for a couple dollars cheaper but while I was researching this keyboard somebody bought the other one.

The one I got has German keys as well.. but there are new keycaps available for ALPS switches.

I already ordered a set off of Alliexpress for $29.90
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32817324969.html

cyclone3d wrote on 2020-03-30, 05:04:

Heh.. I paid $30 for it. There was another listed for a couple dollars cheaper but while I was researching this keyboard somebod […]
Show full quote

Heh.. I paid $30 for it. There was another listed for a couple dollars cheaper but while I was researching this keyboard somebody bought the other one.

The one I got has German keys as well.. but there are new keycaps available for ALPS switches.

I already ordered a set off of Alliexpress for $29.90
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32817324969.html

You did good ! Was just amazed someone else found a great old Zeos kb here in the US. And Thanks for the link !

Nice keyboard! Particularly with Alps NIB is really nice as those switches handle dirt badly and get a very rough keyfeel if not immaculately clean. My SGI Granite Bigfoot urgently needs a thorough clean of its switches and feels awful until I do.

But ultimate? Nasty big-ass enter (and worse: tiny backspace that constantly leads me to press the key next to it - a slash on US 101 layout) aside, I also have a NOS Alps White board with XT/AT, but with a decent ANSI layout. I actually prefer ISO though, which is good because my main contender for the 'ultimate' title would be my IBM Model F 122 'Battleship'. Made in 1986 and at almost 5kg it could literally crush the opposition 😉

Aside from sheer size and weight, it offers possibly the best key-feel of the PC era and NKRO as well due to capacactive design.

Personally, I think the ultimate retro keyboard is something like Acer KB-101A, but NOS white Alps is very sweet.

I prefer a IBM Model M but I have some Northgate keyboard with dip switches so that work with pretty much any system even Amigas. My original 102 model purchased new in '93 still works and I have an Ultra T I think model also.

My ultimate keyboard would be the Gateway 2000 Anykey keyboard.
Following that would be the Amiga 2000 "German" or "cherry" (iirc) keyboard
Followed by the TRS-80 M100 keyboard
Then the Commodore SX-64 keyboard

Ah! it's a NTC KB-6251 😉

https://deskthority.net/wiki/NTC_KB-6251
according to deskthority the ZEOS branded version is rare apparently 😉
also how did that DE keyboard end up in the US? x3

I got one of them too... I paid a lot more though ^^, it was worth it to me though because this is actually the same as my very first keyboard we had back in 1989 :3