IBM PS/2 P70 Keyboard and Alps Plate Spring Switches
Posted: 25 Jan 2014, 06:43
There don't seem to be many images of this keyboard around, or the switches contained. The images aren't the worlds best images, however I'm at a lack of a decent backdrop or anywhere other than my bed at the moment.
The keyboard itself is a bit flimsy feeling, it's a PCB mounted directly to the plastic casing and as such it has a lot of flex. A steel plate would've helped a great deal as when this isn't flat on a table you can feel the flex when typing. The click is also nice and sharp, but it's no beamspring.
First off, here's what the P70 looks like in a complete form. This particular one was made in December of '88 and still works fine, sans the hard drive which either is bad or needs reformatted.
Flat Keyboard.
Up on its feet.
What do the feet look like? Well this of course.
Starting to take it apart. The entire thing is held together by plastic snaps which are hell. Thankfully I didn't damage it too badly but 1988 plastic + my skills = fail.
Top of the case finally off. You can see the snaps here and the slight damage it took. It goes back together fine and as such I'm not worried about it.
Finally, no casing!
Complete (and somewhat dusty) switch. The camera didn't do such a great job capturing the holes on the top of the slider, it was either blurry or this as the camera didn't like to focus on it.
The "beam"
Very bottom of the switch.
Removable parts of the switch. Interesting to note that the spring doesn't easily come out of the slider, however I didn't put much effort in as I can't replace a screwed up spring on this.
As for the keycaps? Same coloring as the Model M's caps. Dirty picture is dirty, haven't quite cleaned it up yet.
Even the green alt. The left side is a Model M's and the right the P70's.
All of the keys except for the spacebar are still unyellowed. They feel like PBT to me, except for the spacebar which is somewhat smoother than the rest of the caps (or a Model M's spacebar). Dyesub lettering, not cheap pad printing.
The lettering is also nice and sharp, better than Model M caps if you ask me.
The keyboard itself is a bit flimsy feeling, it's a PCB mounted directly to the plastic casing and as such it has a lot of flex. A steel plate would've helped a great deal as when this isn't flat on a table you can feel the flex when typing. The click is also nice and sharp, but it's no beamspring.
First off, here's what the P70 looks like in a complete form. This particular one was made in December of '88 and still works fine, sans the hard drive which either is bad or needs reformatted.
Flat Keyboard.
Up on its feet.
What do the feet look like? Well this of course.
Starting to take it apart. The entire thing is held together by plastic snaps which are hell. Thankfully I didn't damage it too badly but 1988 plastic + my skills = fail.
Top of the case finally off. You can see the snaps here and the slight damage it took. It goes back together fine and as such I'm not worried about it.
Finally, no casing!
Complete (and somewhat dusty) switch. The camera didn't do such a great job capturing the holes on the top of the slider, it was either blurry or this as the camera didn't like to focus on it.
The "beam"
Very bottom of the switch.
Removable parts of the switch. Interesting to note that the spring doesn't easily come out of the slider, however I didn't put much effort in as I can't replace a screwed up spring on this.
As for the keycaps? Same coloring as the Model M's caps. Dirty picture is dirty, haven't quite cleaned it up yet.
Even the green alt. The left side is a Model M's and the right the P70's.
All of the keys except for the spacebar are still unyellowed. They feel like PBT to me, except for the spacebar which is somewhat smoother than the rest of the caps (or a Model M's spacebar). Dyesub lettering, not cheap pad printing.
The lettering is also nice and sharp, better than Model M caps if you ask me.