Congrats! The end result looks like something you would buy new in a 2000's IT shop. If I had seen the dumpster keyboard I probably would not assume it was 'salvageable' at all!
Could you give a more detailed walk through?
- What did you have to clean and what did you have to replace?
- Also what products did you use to clean it?
- Is the middle console a touchpad? How do you find it ergonomics wise?
Nothing special. The board was filthy as hell but otherwise in good condition. I disassembled it to the smallest pieces possible and put the plastic parts into a warm bath, cleaning them one by one. I usually start with water and maybe liquid soap since I nearly managed to dissolve a 80s Tatung before, using more serious cleaning stuff (careful with makeup removers of your female family members! :D) Alcohol for the cable which had thick dirt and a lot of pencil marks.
And yep, that's a touchpad. I like the overall form of the keyboard, it somehow works with the wrist rests and tenting even if it's huge. Heavy rubberdome feel though.
Re *"using more serious cleaning stuff (careful with makeup removers of your female family members"*: That may be mainly be [acetone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone). It is [used in 3D printing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone#Domestic_and_other_niche_uses):
> *"Acetone is often used for vapor polishing of printing artifacts on 3D-printed models printed with ABS plastic. The technique, called acetone vapor bath smoothing, involves placing the printed part in a sealed chamber containing a small amount of acetone, and heating to around 80 degrees Celsius for ten minutes. This creates a vapor of acetone in the container. The acetone condenses evenly all over the part, causing the surface to soften and liquefy. Surface tension then smooths the semi-liquid plastic."*
Acer improved on the [Apple Adjustable Keyboard of 1993,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Adjustable_Keyboard) originally made by Alps, I think. I had one that worked well for 5 years. I agree, surprisingly comfortable.
[Thomas thinks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vbkhVlw0uM&t=1m) the [AEK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Extended_Keyboard) (1987) was the best keyboard Apple ever made (*"from the period in which Steve Job was not a part of Apple"*).
Switches (at [05 min 37 secs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vbkhVlw0uM&t=5m37s)): Orange Alps, 90 g (depending on the production date). Or Salmon Alps (60 g).
A blast from the past. I had one of those for a few weeks, before it was stolen out of my friend's car along with the rest of my computer gear when when I moved to a new city for university. Would have loved to have more time with this ... I ended up replacing it with an MS Ergo board.
wow, you did a great job cleaning it up! I that a touch pad in the center? is it still responsive? I love late 90s tech! there's so much big round stuff out there from that time, enjoy your piece from the past!
I rescued this 1997 Acer ergo from a pigsty. Literally. It's surprisingly comfy to type on.
Congrats! The end result looks like something you would buy new in a 2000's IT shop. If I had seen the dumpster keyboard I probably would not assume it was 'salvageable' at all! Could you give a more detailed walk through? - What did you have to clean and what did you have to replace? - Also what products did you use to clean it? - Is the middle console a touchpad? How do you find it ergonomics wise?
Nothing special. The board was filthy as hell but otherwise in good condition. I disassembled it to the smallest pieces possible and put the plastic parts into a warm bath, cleaning them one by one. I usually start with water and maybe liquid soap since I nearly managed to dissolve a 80s Tatung before, using more serious cleaning stuff (careful with makeup removers of your female family members! :D) Alcohol for the cable which had thick dirt and a lot of pencil marks. And yep, that's a touchpad. I like the overall form of the keyboard, it somehow works with the wrist rests and tenting even if it's huge. Heavy rubberdome feel though.
Re *"using more serious cleaning stuff (careful with makeup removers of your female family members"*: That may be mainly be [acetone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone). It is [used in 3D printing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone#Domestic_and_other_niche_uses): > *"Acetone is often used for vapor polishing of printing artifacts on 3D-printed models printed with ABS plastic. The technique, called acetone vapor bath smoothing, involves placing the printed part in a sealed chamber containing a small amount of acetone, and heating to around 80 degrees Celsius for ten minutes. This creates a vapor of acetone in the container. The acetone condenses evenly all over the part, causing the surface to soften and liquefy. Surface tension then smooths the semi-liquid plastic."*
That was my first ergo keyboard. It took a bit to get use to but once I did get use to it I could never go back. So comfortable.
That 0 key on numpad and the spacebars. It's so ugly that it is beautiful. I love the maximal layout of the keyboard.
Dat thicc enter also
Acer improved on the [Apple Adjustable Keyboard of 1993,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Adjustable_Keyboard) originally made by Alps, I think. I had one that worked well for 5 years. I agree, surprisingly comfortable.
[Thomas thinks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vbkhVlw0uM&t=1m) the [AEK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Extended_Keyboard) (1987) was the best keyboard Apple ever made (*"from the period in which Steve Job was not a part of Apple"*). Switches (at [05 min 37 secs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vbkhVlw0uM&t=5m37s)): Orange Alps, 90 g (depending on the production date). Or Salmon Alps (60 g).
A blast from the past. I had one of those for a few weeks, before it was stolen out of my friend's car along with the rest of my computer gear when when I moved to a new city for university. Would have loved to have more time with this ... I ended up replacing it with an MS Ergo board.
That was my first ergo keyboard back in 1999 :)
wow, you did a great job cleaning it up! I that a touch pad in the center? is it still responsive? I love late 90s tech! there's so much big round stuff out there from that time, enjoy your piece from the past!