Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#1

Post by cfcfcf » Tue, Sep 02, 2025, 4:38 AM UTC

Keyboards from my collection (2023)
aresluna.org

Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#2

Post by wibbily » Tue, Sep 02, 2025, 5:15 AM UTC

What a lovely collection

At the end is the OLPC, whose keyboard was as bad as as it looks. Like typing on a Silpat. Yet I used the hell out of it, would take it hiking even - it was indestructible. Mine's logo was green and purple and I miss it every day

Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#3

Post by mgsloan2 » Tue, Sep 02, 2025, 6:50 AM UTC

Very fun to peruse! Curious why the olivetti typewriter has such strangely shaped key caps.

While it seems like OLPC didn't really achieve the full vision of the project, I have some anecdata of success - my coworker got an OLPC when young (otherwise without access to computers), learned to code on it, and is now an awesome programmer.

Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#4

Post by beardyw » Tue, Sep 02, 2025, 7:17 AM UTC

I've seen a working linotype machine in action. It's a monster.

Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#5

Post by TacticalCoder » Tue, Sep 02, 2025, 10:51 AM UTC

Number 17: The Atari 2600 keyboard... It came with a BASIC cartridge and the keyboard was to be plugged in the joystick port: that's how I wrote my first BASIC programs.

It was extremely limited (and needless to say my parents thankfully realized I needed something a bit more powerful so I then got an Atari 600 XL) but that's how it all started for me!

I don't know if there's anyone else on HN who actually used that Atari 2600 BASIC cartridge+keyboard as a kid?

P.S: I can't compete with such a collection... My rarest keyboard is a Cherry MX-5000 (it's a split keyboard) and second rarest is a venerable IBM Model M, but in "industrial" livery (olive grey instead of beige).

Re: Keyboards from my collection (2023)

#6

Post by donatj » Tue, Sep 02, 2025, 11:33 AM UTC

> And here’s the most modern version of a practice keyboard I know of – itself a small computer.

The author should check out the AlphaSmart line of devices made into the early 2000s, especially the early pre-PalmOS devices! I was kind of surprised not to see any on the list.

My Neo2 is basically a very simple buffer you can type into and dump into a computer later. It transmits to computer by emulating a USB keyboard and dumping the contents keystroke by keystroke into whatever program you happen to have running.

In addition though it has a very simple typing tutor. There's not much to it, it's no true Mavis Beacon alternative but it's a fun little addition to such a simple device.

I actually work with a number of former AlphaSmart employees, which is funny because I bought my Neo2 as a writing aid before I knew any of this. I was telling a coworker about it and he replies "You know I worked on that, right?" No, I did not. Small world.