Retrobrighting And ‘90s Peripheral Reconditioning

[Robotron2k84]

I have an ancient MS Natural Keyboard Pro, circa 1999, that still works but is funky yellow.

I’ve watched videos on retrobrighting, but it strips the UV coating off the plastic and they yellow again more quickly the second time.

I really liked that keyboard for its travel and speed. Yes, it’s a dinosaur, and there are probably better ones out there now, especially clicky-key boards, but I sorta-want to refurbish this one.

Anyone ever done retrobrighting or sent a part away to be done? I’m concerned that the characters on the keys will be obliterated.

Maybe I should find another, NOS, but I just don’t feel like spending a ton of money on a super old part on eBay.

[MrFancyPants]

Personally I wouldn't retrobrite any vintage PC hardware. Not only will it yellow again over time, but the process of retrobrite is hard on plastics and will make them more brittle. If it were me and I really wanted to hang on to it, I would carefully spray paint it. I recently bought 3 cans of rustoleum ivory bisque for that very purpose as it's a very close color to vintage PC beige and I have a significant amount of vintage PC hardware, but fortunately very little of it is yellowed.

If you haven't heard of it, check out the forums at vogons.org, it's a community of like minded vintage PC hardware and software enthusiasts from around the world, and you can find some great info regarding all things related to vintage PC hardware, and plenty of discussions about retrobrite experiences and alternatives. I post there frequently, the folks there are very fun and knowledgeable. Nowhere near the drama you find here.

[Robotron2k84]

[MrFancyPants]

Well what you could do is take all the keys off, paint the main body of the keyboard, then just leave the keys out in the sun for a few days. Some guys claim to have had success lightening old plastic with that method. It's UV light which lightens the plastic. Then you wouldn't have to worry about the print on the keys.

[Robotron2k84]

Sun-bleaching, got it. Actually the keys are a slightly different composition of plastic to the shell, harder and less yellow. Might work.

[ibanezfoo]

Reach out to the 8 Bit Guy and ask him about the longevity. He always does that on his channel.

[Robotron2k84]

[ibanezfoo]

No he usually restores it back to original including the cosmetics. I thought he was the guy who invented or perfected the retrobright stuff. He uses some hair care stuff he gets from a salon.

[Robotron2k84]

Yeah, peroxide solution. Comes pre-mixed so don’t have to do it yourself. It’s times like this I wish replicators were real.

I’ve been looking at new alternatives for ergo keyboards, and most are in the $200 range for cheap Chinesium. I can get a NOS replacement for this keyboard for less, and I’ll probably do that.

When I pulled the keyboard out of the box it was in, I realized that there is a lot of silkscreened printing all over it, not just on the keys. It’s so yellow now, I think it might just get binned and I’ll keep the dome switch layer for the next one.

I’m just tired of typing on wafers and laptop keyboards.

[MrFancyPants]

...

[the86d]

Go older-newer-school, and just get you a NEW Model M, on Unicomp PCKeyboards.com...


My 1993 [(C) 1984) Model M finally kicked the bucket just this week, and sent payment for another modern Black and grey Model M 101 USB, as I don't know where the one is, since the move (Wife packed?)...
Down arrow, Del wouldn't work, 3-4 numbers on the num-pad stopped registering... it was bad... all at once.

I really can't use the full rubber dome K/boards, the keys are too close together, and not enough tactile feedback as a Model M buckling spring.

About $127.29 including shipping:

https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/UB4041A

[Robotron2k84]

You don’t know what you’re talking about. The old IBM keyboards were fast, but cramped your hands in short order. They were at least designed to be indestructible, but the original ones are PS/2 only and also are readable, electronically, at a distance. Not so great. I don’t do wireless keyboards for the same reasons.

Yes, ergo boards went out of style because the keys and enclosures are oddly shaped or funny looking, but for those that type for a living it’s a godsend. What has come over the industry, now is utter garbage. I can deal with a laptop style keyboard for an hour or so before I just want to walk away. Bad ergos and bad spacing and bad key switches and bad layouts and no macros. Utter crap.

The OG MS Natural Pro is one of THE BEST ergo keyboards ever made and while it doesn’t click on each key press, it’s a very fast and tactile board, thanks to the angled keys and arrangement.

Proof that it was designed right, is that the membrane switches outlasted the rest of it.

[Robotron2k84]

For those that might want to know why buckling spring keyboards are a greater security risk, see below:

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/10/remotely_eavesd.html

[the86d]

You don’t know what you’re talking about. The old IBM keyboards were fast, but cramped your hands in short order. They were at least designed to be indestructible, but the original ones are PS/2 only and also are readable, electronically, at a distance. Not so great. I don’t do wireless keyboards for the same reasons....

Please elaborate, unless you are still drunk... on "don't know what I am talking about" related to what claims I've made
(exclusively "in your head?") that you seem to have a problem with...?

I just stated that you COULD go with a Current-production Model M, like I did, and I am happy with them...

I understand you have an issue with security concerns with wired buckling-springs, however what is the real-world concern, working from home, at my work, certificates (theoretically) prevent unauthorized remote-access anyways...

[Robotron2k84]

Either you are too young and haven’t discovered the joys of aging, or have never had to do serious amounts of typing on an old AT/PC keyboard.

Does RSI ring a bell?

Carpal tunnel?

TEMPEST is one way that you can have your passwords compromised without you ever detecting it. Do your auth tokens not have second-factor auth, themselves? Tsk-tsk.

There are standards for electronic signal security and the old spring keyboards fail, that’s one reason they were discontinued in the first place (aside from cost), and why they are not made, authorized or purchased in this country for serious security, without shielding and proper termination, which the Chinese knockoffs don’t have for good reason (theirs).

.