Keyboard prices
The following table lists prices of keyboards at the time that they were advertised or sold, either as end user replacement keyboards, or keyboards sold to businesses for use with their own products.
Product | Switch | Year | Price/unit | Adjusted price (Jan 18) | Price type | Target/customer | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Datanetics keyboard × 1 | Datanetics elastic diaphragm array | 1967 | $600 | $4,386 | Business to business | RCA | Datanetics invoice 101 |
Datanetics keyboard | Datanetics elastic diaphragm array | 1968 | $220 | $1,590 | Business to business | Conrac Corporation | Conversation with Meryl Miller, 2017-01-12 |
Dragon 32 keyboard (switch grid only) | Hi-Tek High Profile | 1982 | £10 | £35 | Business to business | Dragon Data | archive.worldofdragon.org |
Key Tronic KB-5150 (for the IBM PC) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1983 | $235 | $590 | Advertised price | End user | ebay.com |
Key Tronic KB-200 (for the Apple II) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1983 | $298 | $709 | Advertised price | End user | deskthority.net |
Key Tronic KB 5150 and 5150 jr (for the IBM PC, XT, PCjr) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1984 | $209 | $497 | Suggested retail price | End user | blog.modernmechanix.com |
Key Tronic KB 5151 and 5151 jr (for the IBM PC, XT, PCjr) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1984 | $255 | $607 | Suggested retail price | End user | blog.modernmechanix.com |
Key Tronic KB 200 (for the Apple II) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1984 | $298 | $709 | Suggested retail price | End user | blog.modernmechanix.com |
Key Tronic KB 500 (for the Radio Shack TRS-80) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1984 | $89.95 | $214 | Suggested retail price | End user | blog.modernmechanix.com |
Key Tronic KB 100 (for the DEC VT-100) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1984 | $379 | $902 | Suggested retail price | End user | blog.modernmechanix.com |
Key Tronic KB 925 (for the Televideo 925) | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1984 | $324 | $771 | Suggested retail price | End user | blog.modernmechanix.com |
IBM Alpha Numeric POS Keyboard | IBM membrane buckling spring | 1986 | $490 | $1,099 | Documented price | Business customers? | IBM announcement letter<ref name="IBM-186-214" /> |
Amtac Keycat | Likely Alps SKCM series | 1989 | $99 | $195 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK" /> |
Chicony KB-5161 | Unspecified | 1989 | $89 | $175 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
DataDesk Turbo-101 | Alps SKCM series | 1989 | $149.95 | $295 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
Hi-Tek RT-101 | Hi-Tek Series 725, linear | 1989 | $60 | $118 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
IBM 104-Key Data Entry Keyboard (09F4231) | Unclear | 1989 | $295 | $589 | Documented price | Business customers? | IBM announcement letter<ref name="IBM-189-096" /> |
IBM 104-Key Typewriter Keyboard (09F4230) | Unclear | 1989 | $295 | $589 | Documented price | Business customers? | IBM announcement letter<ref name="IBM-189-096" /> |
IBM 122-Key Typewriter Keyboard (1394801) | — | 1989 | $295 | $589 | Documented price | Business customers? | IBM announcement letter<ref name="IBM-189-096" /> |
"IBM Enhanced AT"<ref group="Notes">Name as per the magazine; this keyboard is listed in the magazine as capacitive, not membrane.</ref> | IBM capacitive buckling spring | 1989 | $199 | $392 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
IBM Enhanced Keyboard (1394802) | IBM membrane buckling spring | 1989 | $295 | $589 | Documented price | Business customers? | IBM announcement letter<ref name="IBM-189-096" /> |
Jameco JE2016 | Likely Alps SKCM series | 1989 | $79.95 | $158 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK" /> |
KEA PowerStation (VT220) | Mitsumi miniature mechanical | 1989 | $289 | $569 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK" /> |
KEA PowerStation (VT240) | Mitsumi miniature mechanical | 1989 | $439 | $865 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK" /> |
Key Tronic KB 101 Plus | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile | 1989 | $149 | $294 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
Key Tronic KB 3270/PC | Unspecified | 1989 | $229 | $451 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK" /> |
Key Tronic KB 5153 | Key Tronic foam and foil, tactile<ref name="eBay-KB5153" /> | 1989 | $249 | $491 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK" /> |
Key Tronic VA 101 | Unspecified | 1989 | $600–900 | $1,182–1,773 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK" /> |
Maxi-Switch ME 101 | Conductive rubber dome | 1989 | $55-65 | $108–128 | Vendor price range | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
Northgate OmniKey Plus | Alps SKCM series | 1989 | $119 | $234 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
Zeos RS (NTC, likely NTC KB-6251) | Unspecified | 1989 | $89.95 | $177 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19891212" /> |
Alps MDS101 | Conductive rubber dome | 1992 | $85 | $152 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Cherry G80-1000 | Cherry MX | 1992 | $109.97 | $197 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Cherry G80-3000 | Cherry MX | 1992 | $104.50 | $187 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Cherry G80-3500 | Cherry MX | 1992 | $360 | $644 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.310) |
Cherry G81-1000 | Cherry MY | 1992 | $99 | $177 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.310) |
Cherry G81-3000 | Cherry MY | 1992 | $95 | $170 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.310) |
Chicony KB-5181 | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $49.99 | $89 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Chicony KB-5581 | Unspecified | 1992 | $79.95 | $143 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.314) |
Datadesk PC-105 | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $195 | $349 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.316) |
Datadesk Switchboard | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $239 | $428 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Datadesk Turbo-101 | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $99.95 | $179 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Datadesk Turbo-119 | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $129.95 | $233 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.316) |
Honeywell 101 WN | Buckling rubber sleeve/membrane? | 1992 | $69 | $124 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
IBM Enhanced Keyboard | IBM membrane buckling spring | 1992 | $217 | $388 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
IBM Space Saving Keyboard | IBM membrane buckling spring | 1992 | $156 | $279 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.319) |
IBM Selectric Touch Keyboard | IBM membrane buckling spring | 1992 | $177 | $317 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.322) |
Key Tronic MB101 PLUS | Rubber dome over membrane | 1992 | $115 | $206 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Maxi Switch MaxiPRO | Conductive rubber dome | 1992 | $150 | $269 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Maxi Switch Trackball | Unspecified | 1992 | $150 | $269 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.323) |
Maxi Switch Tucson-101 | Conductive rubber dome | 1992 | $56 | $100 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
NMB RT-101+ Mechanical | Hi-Tek Series 725 | 1992 | $37 | $66 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
NMB RT-101+ Membrane | Rubber dome over membrane | 1992 | $31 | $55 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Northgate OmniKey/101 | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $89 | $159 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Northgate OmniKey/102 | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $99 | $177 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> (p.325) |
Northgate OmniKey/Ultra-T | Alps SKCM series | 1992 | $129 | $231 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
Tandy 101-Key Enhanced Keyboard | Uncertain | 1992 | $99.95 | $179 | List price | End user | PC Magazine<ref name="PCMag-19920225" /> |
External links[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
<references group="Notes" />
References[edit | edit source]
<references> <ref name="PCMag-19891212">Google Books — PC Magazine, December 12, 1989 (Wanted: More Than Just a Replacement, pp. 225–260)</ref> <ref name="PCMag-19891212-OBK">Google Books — PC Magazine, December 12, 1989 (Oddball Keyboards, pp. 260–270)</ref> <ref name="eBay-KB5153">eBay — Key Tronic KB 5153 T PROFESSIONAL,AT 5 PIN, TOUCH PAD/KEYBOARD, CIG8AVKB5153001 [Volatile reference]</ref> <ref name="PCMag-19920225">Google Books — PC Magazine, February 25, 1992 (The Write Stuff, pp. 303–329)</ref> <ref name="IBM-189-096">IBM — IBM INFOWINDOW 3471 DISPLAY STATION</ref> <ref name="IBM-186-214">IBM — FEATURE AND SERVICE ENHANCEMENT FEATURES FOR IBM 4683 POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL MODELS 1 AND 2</ref> </references>