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Family Basic Keyboard

Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:40 pm
by neilbaldwin
Anyone want to sell me one for less than $200?

(Robbing Ebay bastards! :) )

Or are there any clones knocking about that work ok?

Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:53 pm
by Banshaku
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).

Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 5:00 pm
by neilbaldwin
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! :D

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).

Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 5:13 pm
by Banshaku
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.

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:08 pm
by Banshaku
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.

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:48 pm
by lidnariq
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.

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:39 pm
by tepples
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?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:45 pm
by MatthewCallis
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.

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:01 am
by lidnariq
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)