Family Basic Keyboard

neilbaldwin · Post by **neilbaldwin** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:40 pm

Anyone want to sell me one for less than $200?

(Robbing Ebay bastards!

)

Or are there any clones knocking about that work ok?

Banshaku · Post by **Banshaku** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:53 pm

200$? That's crazy if you pay that price. When I found mine (in japan), I paid more or less 25$. Maybe I was lucky. I will try to check what is the current street price these days.

I guess you want one for your editor, right? If it's for the family basic... I didn't find it that useful for that.

Edit:

Just want to say that I really don't like the form factor thought (i.e. layout and size of key sucks).

neilbaldwin · Post by **neilbaldwin** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 5:00 pm

Banshaku wrote:200$? That's crazy if you pay that price. When I found mine (in japan), I paid more or less 25$. Maybe I was lucky. I will try to check what is the current street price these days.

I guess you want one for your editor, right? If it's for the family basic... I didn't find it that useful for that.

Edit:

Just want to say that I really don't like the form factor thought (i.e. layout and size of key sucks).

There's no WAY i'm paying $200 but that's what price 3 of them are listed for on Ebay (actually, one is $250!).

If you could find one that would be truly, truly outstanding!

Yes, want to see what can be done with it and perhaps try to support it in my tracker.

It's either that or try that Famiclone built-into-a-keyboard thing that I linked to. Can get one for £49 but not sure if it's PowerPak compatible (probably not).

Banshaku · Post by **Banshaku** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 5:13 pm

I remember there was still a loose one (I checked during new year) near my wife family for 20$/25$ but that's kind of far away (1200km) so it's not something I can have access easily. It didn't look that mint for color too. it depends in what state you're looking for it.

If I have a chance this week, I will check to see if they sell it in Tokyo but I don't remember seeing any at the usual stores I go.

Banshaku · Post by **Banshaku** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:08 pm

I was able to go to my usual stores yesterday but they don't have any in stock or don't really seems to store those things.

I checked the auction sites and in general the price goes around 40$/50$. If more than that you're paying too much. If I find one I will let you know.

Post by **lidnariq** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:48 pm

I could write a PS2->Famicom translator (a PIC and a few connectors)... but I don't have a famicom to test it with.

It also looks like it shouldn't be too bad to mod a dead PC keyboard into one -- the only ICs are going to be four CD4021s and one CD4019. Although it's going to be an Awful Lot of wiring.

Post by **tepples** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:39 pm

lidnariq wrote:I could write a PS2->Famicom translator (a PIC and a few connectors)... but I don't have a famicom to test it with.

Could you make it for the expansion port on the bottom of the front-loading NES?

MatthewCallis · Post by **MatthewCallis** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:45 pm

Get a used one on Yahoo! japan using a deputy service, after all the fees it should be like $40.

http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h65949669

~$8, $5 fee, $20 shipping, give or take.

Post by **lidnariq** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:01 am

tepples wrote:Could you make it for the expansion port on the bottom of the front-loading NES?

Probably? I have a thought as to how I'd fake the not-actually-card-edge connector needed there, but haven't invested any serious effort into it.

(I'd also need to buy a powerpak first)