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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Marketplace => Topic started by: hishamk on January 05, 2013, 10:57:51 AM

Title: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: hishamk on January 05, 2013, 10:57:51 AM
Guys, any idea what this is? Is it an official C= product?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cherry-G80-0777-Amiga-1000-Keyboard-/190779241297?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item2c6b543351
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: paul1981 on January 05, 2013, 11:14:40 AM
Is it okay for the chap to peel back the sticker and expose the EPROM like that to daylight? Doesn't that erase them?
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Bamiga2002 on January 05, 2013, 11:19:44 AM
Buy-it-now US $777.00? :insane:
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: mark_k on January 05, 2013, 12:38:10 PM
It looks like the seller bought the keyboard from a UK eBay seller; check eBay item 400352921246 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400352921246) for more pictures.

I wonder whether this was a limited-run keyboard supplied with early Amiga development systems, or an actual retail product?
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: AltRN8 on January 05, 2013, 01:51:02 PM
Takes a lot more direct uv rays to completely erase an EPROM. Theoretically it could do something if left long enough but for a quick photo I doubt it.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Plaz on January 05, 2013, 02:35:02 PM
Quote from: paul1981;721310
Is it okay for the chap to peel back the sticker and expose the EPROM like that to daylight? Doesn't that erase them?


Back in the 80's as a test I set an 8k eprom in direct sunlight everyday to see how much it could take. If I recall correctly it took about 5 days before it failed a checksum test. Different eproms will have different sensitivities but I never meet one in all the years that complained about a few hours under room lighting. Just not enough UV there.

I've seen that type keyboard before but not on an Amiga. It would have been possible for some hardware hacker who knew what they were doing to take a standard cherry and mod their own Amiga version. I used to hack eprom code on keyboards and clone pc's back in the day. Wonder if it was some limited third party replacement product.

Plaz
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Lando on January 05, 2013, 04:12:42 PM
Nice keyboard, though I couldn't see myself paying $777 for the privelege of owning it.  Why's he listed it with such a high buy it now price if he only paid £100 for it himself?
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on January 05, 2013, 05:01:21 PM
That's an unfortunate placement for the caps lock key!  :-P

And the BIN price appears to be a reference to the label that says this is keyboard #777, or somesuch.  Wohoo, there's a whole Wiki article on this thing!  ;)
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Pentad on January 05, 2013, 05:13:15 PM
That is one ugly keyboard....ack!
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Xanxi on January 05, 2013, 06:38:23 PM
Quote from: AltRN8;721324
Takes a lot more direct uv rays to completely erase an EPROM. Theoretically it could do something if left long enough but for a quick photo I doubt it.

One year ago, i wanted to take a picture of my A2386 board without the sticker on the EPROM, exactly like this guy, and two flashes trashed the EPROM. The card stopped to work, until i got a brand new EPROM that someone burnt for me.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: TheBilgeRat on January 05, 2013, 06:42:17 PM
Its a way sexy keyboard with a way unsexy opening bid and buy it now price.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: danbeaver on January 06, 2013, 08:19:49 AM
It doesn't look like it would fit in the hutch under the case;  and looking more closely I wonder if the case was a mod. Anyways it is rare, but too rare for my wallet.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: JimDrew on January 06, 2013, 04:40:44 PM
This was an aftermarket keyboard for the A1000.  A couple of guys in Portland, OR had these on the A1000s.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: ChaosLord on January 06, 2013, 04:52:37 PM
Quote from: JimDrew;721477
This was an aftermarket keyboard for the A1000.  A couple of guys in Portland, OR had these on the A1000s.


Do u know who made them or sold them?

It really looks like something some guy threw together in his garage using the parts he had on hand.  :D

What are the advantages of that keyboard over the original A1000 keyboard?

Does it have some keys that are missing on A1000 keyboard?

I gave my A1000 away about 20 years ago so I forgot all about it.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: mark_k on January 06, 2013, 09:12:52 PM
Quote from: Plaz;721326
Back in the 80's as a test I set an 8k eprom in direct sunlight everyday to see how much it could take. If I recall correctly it took about 5 days before it failed a checksum test. Different eproms will have different sensitivities but I never meet one in all the years that complained about a few hours under room lighting. Just not enough UV there.

Sure, but bear in mind the EPROM in the keyboard was probably programmed back in 1986 or so. So over 26+ years the amount of stored charge would have deteriorated, meaning there is more chance of UV/sunlight damaging the stored data now.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: haywirepc on January 06, 2013, 09:22:43 PM
looks like another dirtball amiga buyer and seller on ebay. These guys buy things, jack up the price x6 or 7 and relist them.

Its ridiculous.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Akiko on January 06, 2013, 11:14:35 PM
Quote from: haywirepc;721521
looks like another dirtball amiga buyer and seller on ebay. These guys buy things, jack up the price x6 or 7 and relist them.

Its ridiculous.

The opening bid is not that excessive, considering he originally paid $160 and this was before shipping and any import duties he may have incurred.

Anyway I see absolutely nothing wrong with buying something like this on an open marketplace such as eBay and then selling it on!
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: JimDrew on January 07, 2013, 12:52:21 AM
I seem to recall issues with the A1000 keyboard and this is why they were available.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: barney on January 07, 2013, 04:41:21 AM
I think the keyboard is a fake.  The red Amiga keys from an Amiga 1000 keyboard were popped off and installed on this one.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: bbond007 on January 07, 2013, 05:04:45 AM
Quote from: Pentad;721338
That is one ugly keyboard....ack!


I agree... not even Commodore could make something that ugly.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: barney on January 07, 2013, 05:29:33 AM
I just find it strange that nowhere else on the keyboard does it have the name "Commodore" or "Amiga".

In addition to that, I have never seen an Amiga keyboard that had a "numlock" key or "Control" key (should say "CTRL").
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: ChaosLord on January 07, 2013, 07:02:58 AM
Quote from: barney;721572
I just find it strange that nowhere else on the keyboard does it have the name "Commodore" or "Amiga".


I find everything about that keyboard to be strange, weird and bizarre.  And I certainly would not pay a high price for one.

For the amount of money he wants I could buy ANY keyboard and hire someone to rip out the cable and install a phone cable in its place and VOILA!  I then have a super custom A1000 keyboard without the ugly looks and strange key placements of that keyboard.

And I can even get real "Amiga Keys" from WASDkeyboards.com  I already have a set sitting here that I bought myself for xmas.

Luckily for me, I can use any PS/2 keyboard of my choice on any of my Amigas (1200, 2000, 3000) so I don't need any bizzaro keyboards. :)
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: JimDrew on January 07, 2013, 05:38:33 PM
There were several different keyboards released for the Amiga, using standard PC keyboards - so there were no Amiga keys with these.  But who knows, this could be a fake.
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Lurch on January 10, 2013, 05:48:02 AM
Quote from: AltRN8;721324
Takes a lot more direct uv rays to completely erase an EPROM. Theoretically it could do something if left long enough but for a quick photo I doubt it.


What about using a flash from a camera?
Title: Re: Strange Cherry Amiga keyboard on the 'bay
Post by: Lurch on January 10, 2013, 08:20:03 AM
Quote from: haywirepc;721521
looks like another dirtball amiga buyer and seller on ebay. These guys buy things, jack up the price x6 or 7 and relist them.

Its ridiculous.


Would have to agree with this, have seen a few regular names showing up on ebay. Forces the prices up which is a shame for someone who wants to enjoy it as a hobby.