The Sinclair QL Forum

skagon wrote:Ok, no problem since I'm in the UK. I don't want to be a hog, I would like two but I don't want to seem greedy. I'll take one and a second only if there's no interest.
Please give me a shipping quote with and without the keyboard and I'll get back to you after I've checked in the garage, as I can't for the life of me remember if I have a PS/2 keyboard around here.

[Edit] ...and a few more details about that keyboard, as I might have use for it on a different project as well.

OK - but a PS/2 Keyboard will not be much use - the interface only supports an XT or an AT keyboard. I have seen adaptors from XT to PS/2 but not the other way around that I recall!

What details do you want about the keyboard - it is similar to:
http://cseng.co.kr/fl/img/members/2/IMG036.jpeg

Although not in as good condition - it has labels on some of the keys.

I have also found a Cherry keyboard here -which is more like:
http://www.mrinterface.com/keyboardsims ... /front.jpg

As for postage - well the interfaces would be £1.80 for 1 or £2.60 for 2.
Postage with a keyboard would take it to large parcel size and so be cheaper to be sent via DHl at £12.50

Actually, all PS/2 keyboards work the same way as AT keyboards. It's just the plug that differs, from DIN 5 to miniDIN 6 (XT/AT and PS/2 respectively). I have adapters for both ways. I've been using my old AT keyboard on modern PCs for years and I've used PS/2 keyboards even on old 286 PCs with no problem. The only time PS/2 keyboards don't work is when connected to XTs, because they use different key codes.
Anyway, about the keyboard... I'm interested in a keyboard with switches, if either the Cherry or the Epson has switches, I'd be interested. Chances are more in favour of the Cherry.
By switches I mean... when you pull off a key cap, you can see a separate plastic cube with a protruding plastic "plunger", usually locked on a metal plate. If it's a membrane keyboard or a PCB-rubber-dome keyboard, the underside will be a uniform plastic substrate with holes where the "plungers" come out of.
Example of switches: black switches and red plungers.
Example of membrane: just holes on the substrate
Anyway, without sounding anal, I ran some numbers on parcel2go, for 3kg and a generous 70x40x20cm box, the quote is roughly £5 from Hermes.
What do you think, should I just go for the two?

Hermes can be well shifty. Random people (including kids) turning up in cars rather than actual delivery workers.

Yes I have had too many problems with Hermes and Collect Plus unfortunately - it all depends on how reliable your local delivery person is.... If you use them a lot yourself, then you may be lucky...

My local one for Hermes is good, but then instances I have had:

a) There is no tracking or very intermittent tracking and delivery can be 1 week, 2 weeks or more...
b) Parcel said to have been delivered - no signature acquired and nothing at the address !!
c) Parcel returned to me 5 weeks later 'unable to find address - no house number' - it was sent to a factory on a large industrial estate - apparently when questioned the driver said that the factory was closed (when it was open)....
d) Someone in a mini coming to collect a large oversized parcel which didn't fit in!
e) Item sent to me, when I went to collect it from local Collect Plus shop - they took 15 minutes to find it - it had been put in the sack of items 'to return to sender' - it had only arrived at the shop that day...

Plenty of other examples out there, including on watchdog - these are the companies which have been filmed throwing boxes over a gate rather than ringing the door bell....

Was it a proper old style mini? One time we found a hermes person having a rummage around the back garden, who then ran off to their car when asked what they were doing.

skagon wrote:Actually, all PS/2 keyboards work the same way as AT keyboards. It's just the plug that differs, from DIN 5 to miniDIN 6 (XT/AT and PS/2 respectively). I have adapters for both ways. I've been using my old AT keyboard on modern PCs for years and I've used PS/2 keyboards even on old 286 PCs with no problem. The only time PS/2 keyboards don't work is when connected to XTs, because they use different key codes.
Anyway, about the keyboard... I'm interested in a keyboard with switches, if either the Cherry or the Epson has switches, I'd be interested. Chances are more in favour of the Cherry.
By switches I mean... when you pull off a key cap, you can see a separate plastic cube with a protruding plastic "plunger", usually locked on a metal plate. If it's a membrane keyboard or a PCB-rubber-dome keyboard, the underside will be a uniform plastic substrate with holes where the "plungers" come out of.

That is interesting about the PS/2 Keyboards - luckily there are two switches on the Falkenberg interfaces to switch between AT and XT so using a PS/2 should not be a problem with an adaptor.

Hmm - the Epson seems to have switches - the Cherry definitely just has holes under each key

vanpeebles wrote:Was it a proper old style mini? One time we found a hermes person having a rummage around the back garden, who then ran off to their car when asked what they were doing.

I don't know - they were picking the item from a customer's address for me!

Actually, I do use them quite a lot. In the last two months alone I've had about 5 computers delivered to me, so I have nothing bad to say. Yes, they are not the fastest bunch, but I've got no issues with that; after all, you're only paying them £5.
As for speed, ParcelForce is lightning fast. I've had packages delivered within 18 hours, and that's without "Express 24" or anything!

So, if one of the keyboards you have there fits the description, I'd go with that (Hermes), if it's alright with you.

Yes that's fine to send it by Hermes - see comment above about the EPSON keyboard.

That's another box to find....

Another interface has gone - so if Skagon only has one, that leaves just one more....