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Space Cadet
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 21:29
by jesse
A friend loaned me an original Space Cadet keyboard he had lying around in his basement.
I took it apart, cleaned it up and took some pictures.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/obra/sets/ ... 353286814/
R6082131.jpg by
jesse, on Flickr
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 21:36
by webwit
Very nice! What does the separate PCB do?
I wonder if you could you give me the measurements of the case...
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 21:40
by jesse
9"x21"
2.5" tall in front, 3.75" in back.
I can't speak to the electronics, but I'm sure someone here could hazard a guess.
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 21:45
by webwit
The controller code is on a chip on the main board, so I presumed that was all there was to it. Maybe the separate PCB does sound.
That's a pretty complete picture collection, would you be willing to open source it to the Space Cadet page in the wiki?
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 21:49
by jesse
webwit wrote:The controller code is on a chip on the main board, so I presumed that was all there was to it. Maybe the separate PCB does sound.
Actually, I bet it was a protocol converter.
webwit wrote:
That's a pretty complete picture collection, would you be willing to open source it to the Space Cadet page in the wiki?
Sure. Is CC-BY ok for a license?
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 21:52
by webwit
Thanks! Yeah, if I'm not mistaking that's a pretty standard license used in wikis.
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:18
by 7bit
Please upload all the pictures to the wiki!!!*
Should you intend to sell it:
I bid 300 EUR on it!
----------------
*) So I don't have to painfully download it from the flicker page.
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:22
by jesse
@7bit - what's the right way to batch upload all 288 photos?
I mean, I can hand you a tarball...
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:24
by rindorbrot
nice board!
How much does the whole thing weight?
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:24
by jesse
7bit wrote:
I bid 300 EUR on it!
Sadly, I only have it on loan. But if it were for sale, I'd be first in line
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:25
by webwit
Tell him I bid more than you do!
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:28
by 7bit
jesse wrote:@7bit - what's the right way to batch upload all 288 photos?
I mean, I can hand you a tarball...
Maybe you should find the best 10-20 photos and then upload them ...
Or just give me the links so I can batch download them instead of clicking myself to death ...
ps: Let's say 400 EUR.
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:29
by 7bit
webwit wrote:Tell him I bid more than you do!
Come on, you already have one. Once I got his Space Cadet I will let Mrinterface scan and 3d-print it for you, so your Space Cadet is no longer naked!
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:34
by jesse
7bit wrote:webwit wrote:Tell him I bid more than you do!
Come on, you already have one. Once I got his Space Cadet I will let Mrinterface scan and 3d-print it for you, so your Space Cadet is no longer naked!
The old case is pretty clearly vacuum-formed.
I also have an associated mouse with 3 capacitive buttons built into a doorbell housing. But I haven't dealt with that yet.
Also, if you saw the pix of my show and tell, you'll know that bidding against me is pointless
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:39
by webwit
Why would you want to bid on that smelly, worthless keyboard? Btw, what's the gray beard's name?
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:42
by jesse
webwit wrote:Why would you want to bid on that smelly, worthless keyboard? Btw, what's the gray beard's name?
Dude by the name of Enoch Root...
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:48
by 7bit
Vacuum-formed? But the case is metal, yes?
Was the mouse in use along with the keyboard? I did not look at all pictures yet, it loads slowly ...
ps:
666 EUR (everybody has his price!)
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:55
by webwit
7bit is so excited, he is bidding against himself.
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:57
by jesse
7bit wrote:Vacuum-formed? But the case is metal, yes?
Was the mouse in use along with the keyboard? I did not look at all pictures yet, it loads slowly ...
Black plastic. Similar weight and texture to a maltron.
The mouse clearly goes with the keyboards. Both were in use in the MIT AI Lab in the mid-80s
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 22:59
by 7bit
666 EUR? This is a joke!
I bid 999 EUR!
Seriously: Thanks for all those many photos of the Round 5 spherical keycaps!
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 23:03
by jesse
7bit wrote:
Seriously: Thanks for all those many photos of the Round 5 spherical keycaps!
NP, though I'm missing something. Has there been a GB for spacecadet repros?
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 23:05
by rindorbrot
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 23:10
by jesse
Damn. I'm sorry I missed those. Though at least I didn't miss out on keys with the full extra top and front symbol sets.
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 23:11
by 7bit
Yep. When I read the legends, I ultimately feel at home. Upcomming (ie in 2015 or so) Round 5 is supposed to have all the legends including front printing.
I did not count through, but did you upload photos of all the 88 key caps?
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 23:14
by jesse
7bit wrote:Yep. When I read the legends, I ultimately feel at home. Upcomming (ie in 2015 or so) Round 5 is supposed to have all the legends including front printing.
I did not count through, but did you upload photos of all the 88 key caps?
I'm pretty damn sure I did. I stripped the keyboard and dropped each key onto a tape mat and then cleaned, photographed (top and front) each key and the put it back on the keyboard.
I'm half-tempted to try to repro the legend style for the keyboard.io ergonomic keyboard I'm working on.
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 23:15
by webwit
Posted: 03 Sep 2013, 23:31
by 7bit
You really should keep it! Don't let it go into the basement again!
It deserves a display box made of strong gorilla glass, in a room 100% shielded against UV-light!
Posted: 04 Sep 2013, 01:35
by mtl
New deskthority logo?
Posted: 06 Sep 2013, 00:34
by beltet
I just love the colors on that keyboard.
Posted: 06 Sep 2013, 00:37
by Muirium
Then enjoy the site's banner for the next half hour! Round 4 Sphericals: the Space Cadet homage set.