Re: extinct products {was DOS Emulator}

["J. R. Fox" jr_fox@xxxxxxxxxx]

Leslie Bialler wrote:

> "J. R. Fox" wrote [in re keyboards]:
>
> > I found another guy who has a
> > side business of cleaning and repairing them. He charges $55., plus
> > you pay the shipping both ways. I was probably going to toss my first
> > Omnikey-102, which developed serious problems a couple years ago, but
> > now I think I may roll the dice on this. He also sells reconditioned
> > Northgates, I think with a 90 day warranty.
>
> Very eenteresting, but why? You can get a great brand new keyboard for far
> less than that. What am I missing here?

Some have called this the Rolls-Royce of keyboards. It (certain models) has
the
now very hard to find layout many of us prefer, and unparalleled key response
for
typing (all models). Extremely impressive quality, easily lasts for 10 years
of
heavy use. Maybe I'm just very picky about such things, but if you've used
one of
these and used various other brand keyboards, you'll know the differences
immediately.

About 5 years in, my original Omni had become broken-in to the point where its
key
action was not just great, but ideal, in my estimation. Its replacement, a
previously
unused spare of the same model, is now, 2 years of use in, still a bit too
firm in that
regard, but gradually improving.

The Avant Stellar, which is still available, is nearly identical in these
attributes to
the Northgate Omnis, and has some programmability improvements, but it will
set you
back around two bills.

Jordan