Sharp PC-7000 portable computer with detachable keyboard

[Ducky Nordic]

Hiya,

To start off...yes, i represent Ducky, for the Nordics...but im also a keyboard enthusiast just like you and i enjoy reading all the good stuff on this marvellous site. I do not directly sell or try to sell anything directly on this forum. I might do some PR but its more informative sort with pics of boards or other related stuff (keycaps etc.).

Id like contribute also to the vintage finds and ill start off with this beauty i got and cleaned today
So here goes, a Sharp PC-7000 "portable" computer from 1985 with a detachable keyboard. I have no idea of the switch type, maybe someone can help out on what its is. It has a light linear'ish feel and does not feel like rubberdome.

Here are the details of the Sharp PC-7000, pls note that the screen was like top of the line for 1985:

Available: October 1985
Price: US $1,795
Weight: 19 pounds
CPU: Intel 8086 @ 4.8 / 7.37 MHz
Memory: 320K, 704K max
Display: EL backlit (blue) LCD, 640x200 graphics, 80x24 text
Ports: serial, parallel
Options: modem ($349), color video output ($255)
Storage: dual 5-1/4 inch floppy drives
OS: Microsoft MS-DOS 2.11

The unit packed:


From the side. Dual floppy drives:


Backplate:


Opened:


It works!!! The bloody thing still works


Too bad i aint got booting DOS 2.1 floppy disk


The keyboard is really clean and all the leds work


Some odd key shapes thing going on here


Ya them leds work fine too


The numpad and the bigbutt enter key


A keycap, looks double shot


Dunno what this switch is, maybe some1 can help?


Le cap


The weird switch again


One more cap shot



Sorry i wont go any deeper, so no PCB shots unfortunately. Sorry also for pic quality, did take on my phone.

[Ascaii]

Interesting.

For one, the caops are ALPS compatible doubleshots.

[HaaTa]

Very interesting.
The caps seem similar to the doubleshots of NEC Blue Sliders (Alps variant). Never seen this variant of switch before though.
They seem pcb mounted. You wouldn't happen to have a soldering iron (and have an adventurous spirit)?
Dismantling pics of that switch would be awesome.

Also, pics of the LED switch with a keycap off

[webwit]

Another sighting here:
http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... -t668.html

[Ducky Nordic]

Very interesting.
The caps seem similar to the doubleshots of NEC Blue Sliders (Alps variant). Never seen this variant of switch before though.
They seem pcb mounted. You wouldn't happen to have a soldering iron (and have an adventurous spirit)?
Dismantling pics of that switch would be awesome.

Also, pics of the LED switch with a keycap off

I have a soldering iron but i lack a bit on the adventurous spirit in regards to soldering

I did snap some extra photos tho. Of the led switch and the spacebar:

...and the led switch seems to be old Alps


I kinda like the flat led


The spacebar reveals the weird switch and a spring+metal stick support


As im pushing the switches theres 1 obvious difference between the Alps led switch and the "unknown" switch. The unknown switch has much shorter key travel than the Alps. Also the unknown switch feel a bit numb, not rubberdome but a "cheaper" feel. Could be that they used these to make the keyboard lighter? Overall the computer unit is heavy enough

[webwit]

Weird, my link above shows a keyboard with an old Alps under the space bar instead. (And an Alps PCB.)

[graboy]

Nice PC, I wish I had some old hardware like that. Very cool.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Funny how the older switches had a use for the hole in the middle of the stem inside the keycap, but Alps later did away with it. Perhaps the wiki needs a set of photos of the different styles of Z mount switch.