FYI that compelling marketing image at the top is from a "1983 commercial from Australia made for the Commodore SX-64, the portable version of the famous home computer Commodore 64". The full ad, which is quite the blast from the past with some delightful Aussie flavour, can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95cGh9EeMIY.
Thank you everyone for warm words. Such feedback means a lot to me :)
More of this kind of refurbs are on my blog already -> https://retrohax.net/?s=extreme
Thank you for kind words.
Regarding learning, basics are out there on the Internet but it all required a lot of testing, so yes, trial and error approach.
I've seen it done before, as reinforcement on large cracks, but the level this guy goes to, to perfectly restore this is amazing. I am truly open-jawed after looking at all the pictures. There aren't many working SX-64s out there, so the effort involved was totally worth it.
That's awesome! SX-64's are a rare beast. I remember seeing my first and only one at a user group meeting back in the 80s. We all came in with our duffel bags of C64s, 1541s, and then had to lug in our monitors or TVs. Then this one guy rolls in with his computer all in his hand and we were amazed. Of course most of us were there pirating games, but he was just running some demos and basking in the attention. That is until the guy with an Amiga 1000 came by. Those were the days...
My dad sold mine when I was a kid, in order to get me a PC XT clone. It was a good decision -- the PC was a much more capable computer and I learned how to program with GW-BASIC -- but I really wish I still had my C64.
While working with emulators such as VICE is great, it's not the same as having the good ole breadbin :(
I am curious about the silicon oil. I assume this is a solution for places where there is not a lot of rubbing/use? Some searching did not turn up any indication this was a common use nor permanent.
Reading the title I thought this was going to be repairing a failure of the keyboard itself and thought that maybe all keyboards on these "portable" computers. I've got a Compaq Portable 1 and and Osborne 1, both with bad keyboards when I got them. The Compaq was as simple as replacing the foam touch pads while the Osborne looks like it'll be a bit more work.
Great blog there with many interesting retro projects. I enjoyed the one where he bought 32 Atari 65xe's in various states of decay and restored a number of them for resale. Truly a labor of love.
