Author Topic: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod  (Read 23958 times)

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Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« on: Thu, 10 March 2011, 12:53:12 »
Welcome to Geekhack.  I have explicitly written this article with the assumption that the reader has no technical background rather than the other way around.  How do I split a Kinesis contour (advantage) keyboard into two discrete halves?  Any questions you may have, don't hesitate to PM me or anyone else on this fabulous forum site, i'm sure they will be more than happy to help you.
Quick demonstration video
Project progress in that order (1)=completed, (0)=incomplete:
(1)#1-Split Kinesis Contour Classic into two halves
(1)#2-Cherry MX Black's to replace membrane squishies, :smash:
(0)#3-Place IBM trackpoint between keys 'Enter' & 'Space' used for scrolling.
(0)#4-Integrate trackpoint in the center of keys, 'H-J-N-M'.
(0)#5-Fiberglass molds to replace the original keyboard plastic housing.
(0)#6-Brackets to bolt both halves to chair armrests respectively using welded steel stock.

Skill prerequisites:
  • Fluent with your soldering technique but if not, don't sweat it.  Here is a phenomenal youtube video showing the proper procedure.  If your iron is temp controlled, a good rule of thumb is starting at 750F and increase until there is proper wetting within 1-2 seconds using a flux pen or paste.  The idea is the run "hot" 800F and get the job done as fast as possible "1 second is ideal" rather than using a lower temperature such as 650F and making contact for twice as long.  Regardless, there will be more heat saturation at lower temps because the iron has to make contact for longer periods of time (don't want, this will destroy precious silicone in the chips and diodes) than higher temps for less time (this is a good thing.)  The bigger the soldering surface, the hotter it needs to be.  One more thing, the more oxidized and less wet-ability the iron is (solder doesn't stick,) the higher temp you will have to use to compensate for the heat losses.  So save yourself the hassle and buy another tip.  The reason behind this is the tin coating on the tip has worn off possibly from being used for any purpose other than lightly touching surfaces and/or has not been "tinned" at all times and has oxidized as a result, keep your iron tinned before and after use, especially when not in use for long periods of time.  Ensure soldering iron tip is not contacting components longer than three seconds while soldering, wait 5 seconds and repeat instead.
  • Check resistance/continuity/ohms (same thing) with DVOM
  • Strip 26AWG wire insulation by hand with razor blade. (One trick i've learned is touch the tip of the iron on the very end of unstripped insulated wire and the heat will make the PVC crawl up the wire, don't breathe in the fumes, plastic is much worse than flux)
  • Patience with a Dremel and/or box cutter.
Tool list:
  • DVOM (Digital Volt Ohm Meter) 'A pair of alligator clips that screw onto the leads will make life much easier.' ($10)
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks of high temperature.  You probably will not be impressed how fast the low temp stuff cools down, especially for fastening shielded wires.  0_0 ($5)
  • Soldering iron with tip preferably not much wider than 1.6mm (1/16") with brass wire tip cleaner
  • Dremel, box-cutter, or any tool to accomplish cutting and sculpting hard material (ex. plastic, fiberglass)
  • Antistatic wrist strap - Static Electricity is the No.1 cause of damage to semiconductor parts.  You should always "ground" yourself on something with uninsulated metal or use an antistatic wrist strap or some other method of preventing ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD) when working on your keyboard to prevent damage to semiconductors such as transistors, chips, and diodes that reside on the MCU.
Parts list:
  • Kinesis Contour Essential/Classic/Professional (AT\PS/2) or Advantage/Advantage Pro (USB) 'board. ($100-$200+ on eBay, click here)
  • Male to Male 15-pin D-Sub VGA extension cable, = or > Fifteen Feet. ($10)
  • (2) 15-pin D-Sub VGA female connectors. (RS part #276-1502, $4)
  • VGA video card brackets or cut a dual VGA bracket in half. (<$4)
  • (2) Metal or plastic strain reliefs (One place you can find these, devices I used to prevent cables from pulling loose, is take a tiny piece of VGA cable to your local hardware store, look for Heavy-Duty 3-Wire Replacement Female Electrical Plugs that have strain reliefs preferably of small size without 'tabs.'
  • Tin/Lead Rosin core solder < or = .032" diameter, either 63/37(Sn/Pb) 'melting point @ 183 °C (361 °F,)' or 60/40(Sn/Pb) 'melting range @ 183–190 °C (361–374 °F.)' Lead-free solder is garbage, hence the failing brittle Xbox 360 BGA cold solder joints using inadequate heat in the manufacturing process due to the Lead-free solder's higher melting temp along with mainboard flex. More importantly, acid core solder "plumber's solder" will destroy everything it touches so please stay away from buying solder at a hardware store." ($4-6)
  • Activated (RA) Rosin Flux. 'No-clean' flux=Manufacturers attempt at cutting cost (some variations are harmfully conductive AND corrosive.) Since we want a product that will last forever, use 90% rubbing alcohol and brush after you are completely finished soldering.  All of the flux residue should come off easily if you do not use too much heat saturation, remember if soldering for longer than 3 seconds increase heat and/or use flux paste or pen.($5)
  • De-soldering braid 'wick' ($4)
  • Heat-shrink tubing of varying sizes for insulating wires. ($5)
  • Electrical tape, 3M or equivalent. ($1)
  • Razor blades 'box cutter style.' ($1)
Project images
Praying mantis_vs._human being

Right_Half_Kinesis_Unmodified

Right_Half_Kinesis_Modified

Left_Half_Kinesis_Modified

Soldier_Side_MCU

Right_Half_Internal_VGA_Connection_View

Right_Half_External_VGA_Connection_View

Left_Half_Internal_VGA_Connection_View

Left_Half_External_VGA_Connection_View

All Mechanical

Pinout images
Drill into the PCB's all you want "not the MCU, duh!" because the traces/pads hide no more =P
Thumb_Right_Pinout_V.005

Thumb_Left_Pinout_V.005

Bowl_Right_Pinout

Bowl_Left_Pinout (REV E 13-20003-005)

Function_Key_Pinout 'Membrane's are not ordain'


Splitting Kinesis Contour keyboard into two halves tutorial
  • Cut VGA Male to Male extension cable into three pieces as shown in the image below.  The ends being the exact same length (mine are approx. four feet long but it really depends on a lot of environmental factors such as keyboard placement in regards to desk and/or chair dimensions.) For an example, if you are using a fifteen foot VGA cable and decide to cut the end cables to four feet in length, you will be left with seven foot long mid-section cable which should be more than adequate wire to complete this mod.

  • Now it's time to crack this baby open, but first it would be a good idea to unplug it first.  Take your philips screwdriver and remove all six (6) screws then put them in some sort of container labeled 'case' or simply pay attention to the lengths.  These screws are longer than ones inside so if you get them mixed up, you will likely bottom out and split the standoff open as it doesn't take much torque.

  • Split the mid-section cable sheathing lengthwise with a box-cutter. Don't worry, you will not slice through the metal braided shielding but if you do, it would probably be a good time to practice using more finesse before going any further for obvious reasons.

Note::laser:My keyboard didn't exhibit any issues concerning interference but if you start getting erratic output from other electronics near the keyboard, run keyboard diagnostic program such as 'AquaKeyTest.'  Need to extend the AT/PS-2/USB cable? Say you chair mount and the computer is far away, it wouldn't be a bad idea to add two pull-up resistors of 1KΩ between Clock and +5V, the other between Data and +5V.  This will prevent the Clock and data lines from floating and be consistently pulled high but don't worry, one kilo ohm (1000Ω) reduces the current to almost null.  What I've discovered from allowing function key wires to touch together 'short to switches,' a few keys in the bowl would not work until after I was finished testing the function key wiring and properly isolating them.  Should you suspect environmental interference as a culprit, two easy diagnosis come to mind allowing you to rule out wi-fi routers, EMI, AC sine waves, RF, etc.  Move the keyboard to a remote location or be lazy, completely wrap your keyboard in a single layer of aluminum foil and press keys through it. If you indeed have electronics that emit a lot of interference in the vicinity of the keyboard halves, the internal pull-up resistors could be too weak inside the MCU because it was never engineered with the signal wires traveling further than a few inches.  All you have to do is reapply the shielding just like the VGA cable was before the dissecting demise, minus the braided shielding.  Wrap the wires with foil 'non-conductive colored side inwards against the wires' shown as blue in the image above, periodically applying a small dab of tape to prevent foil from unraveling. Remove the bare braided wire from the mid-section cable, solder both ends immediately to prevent fraying and tape one end where the shielding begins away from the MCU. Use small dabs of electrical tape every inch or two applying it lengthwise across entire conductive shielding with three inch overhang only on end away from switches, towards MCU.  Using electrical tape, completely wrap foil and braided wire.  Solder the bare wire to the shielding earth ground wire of the PS/2 or USB cable, (should be the uninsulated wire but check continuity with DVOM 'one lead touching the metal casing of connector' just in case) not to be confused with DC ground (black wire.) Precautions must be made to ensure the earth ground shielding is not exposed and wires fastened securely to prevent component leads from 'wearing' through the electrical tape as permanent damage to MCU can result via short to ground.
[/list]

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 10 March 2011, 17:13:42 »
I've looked at putting a scroll wheel between keys...have not found a way to do it successfully. I'm now thinking about putting a Logitech Hyperscroll wheel about 1" to the left of the "H" key in the case.
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
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Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 12 March 2011, 14:13:05 »
Well, my niece stepped on the pcb of the scrollpoint, it was really old anyways.  I'm going to experiment with (2) IBM trackpoints and see if one can behave as a mouse and the other a 'scroll point.'

Offline sordna

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here's another cut kinesis, made tented (almost vertical)
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 06 April 2011, 02:21:48 »
it's not mine, don't know whose it is, but looks cool
« Last Edit: Wed, 06 April 2011, 03:16:29 by sordna »
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline Findecanor

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 06 April 2011, 02:36:37 »
Holy angle, Batman! That man must have some serious carpal tunnel syndrome.

BTW, I noticed that the Kinesis' Contour Classic does not have any stabilizers on the thumb keys ...

Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 06 April 2011, 04:32:27 »
hmm, very good point, somehow that didn't 'click' after gutting the G80-11900.  Front/rear stabilizers save soccer mom's from flipping their SUV's in hard cornering, Kinesis, think of the children.  The Cherry G80-11900 MX black harvest 'board has them on all of the double length thumb keys, eureka!
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 17626[/ATTACH]
CT syndrome or not, I think he is a genius.  I've seen that 'tent board' before and haven't noticed until now there is hand rests too, very cool!  If only humans could quickly evolve to the information age with rearward facing palms while standing relaxed...

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 07 April 2011, 22:17:40 »
Quote from: sordna;325436
it's not mine, don't know whose it is, but looks cool
Show Image

If he did what I think he did, he may not have had to re-wire anything, the ribbon cables are able to reach, each half hinging off the middle main PCB. I'd like to see another pic from another angle. Good idea, that is the hold up for most people cutting it in half. Thanks for showing it.

Another similar, but he had to get mega wiring:


BLUECAR: The detail you're showing is fantastic, it makes the difference between just seeing the project and being able to pick up on the "how". Please keep the info coming. :)
« Last Edit: Thu, 07 April 2011, 22:30:06 by input nirvana »
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
Evil Screaming Flying Door Monkeys From Hell                     Proudly GeekWhacking since 2009
Things change, things stay the same                                        Thanks much, Smallfry  
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Offline sordna

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 08 April 2011, 00:49:08 »
Hmm, I have a Comfort Keyboard (don't use it anymore) and feel that by keeping it too vertical you don't have gravity helping your fingers. When the keypress is downward, gravity helps. Also, I used to have the below setup in 2005, it was so comfy I would fall asleep working, but it made my hands tired for some reason, I think because I wasn't typing vertically. But there might have been some other reason, not sure. So I switched to an Aeron chair and regular desk in a few months and got rid of that Zero Gravity recliner. The mounting hardware for the laptop and keyboard are from easychairworkstation.com by the way.
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 08 April 2011, 01:36:16 »
For me, I've noticed that I prefer to type in a downward motion, or near downward. I have inclined the keyboard halves about 0-15 degrees, but nothing close to the 70-80 degrees in the photos in the post above. Ahhh the beauty of split keyboards!
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
Evil Screaming Flying Door Monkeys From Hell                     Proudly GeekWhacking since 2009
Things change, things stay the same                                        Thanks much, Smallfry  
I AM THE REAPER . . . BECAUSE I KILL IT
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Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 08 April 2011, 03:24:13 »
InputNirvana, your Kinesis Contour Split Project thread in your sig is what started this mess  xD  
I'm picking up my fiberglass fabrication materials from storage this weekend.
How do you get IN that 'zero gravity chair?'  It takes some getting used to keeping the forearms on the chair arm rests while supporting weight of the hands via finger tips on the key caps without depressing Cherry MX Browns or am I doing it wrong?  Now that you mention it, it would appear counter-intuitive to have an angle more than 10-20 degrees or so from horizontal eliminating the finger/hand weight from gravity, thus using more force to depress keys and less hand support from the finger tips...

Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 08 April 2011, 09:42:17 »
Uhh, how do you get IN that 'zero gravity chair?'  It takes some getting used to keeping the forearms on the chair arm rests while supporting weight of the hands via finger tips on the key caps without depressing Cherry MX Browns or am I doing it wrong?  Now that you mention it, it would appear counter-intuitive to have an angle more than 10-20 degrees or so from horizontal eliminating the finger/hand weight via gravity, thus using more force to depress keys and less hand support from the finger tips.

Offline sordna

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 08 April 2011, 11:13:42 »
The computer was on an arm that swings, and the whole contraption had casters.
So you would sit on the chair, recline it then rotate the computer over your shoulder onto your lap. And the casters helped position this further. But it was a bit of a hassle to get in and out quickly when the doorbell rang for instance.
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 09 April 2011, 12:40:26 »
I may have mentioned this elsewhere, but a thumb-operated trackball properly placed could be a VERY positive add.
-Maltron uses this.
-Alphagrip uses the right thumb for trackball and left thumb for mouse buttons. Very effective.
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
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Offline sordna

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 09 April 2011, 14:54:17 »
Well, I'd rather stick a Cirque or Ergo touchpad on my kinesis rather than a tiny trackball. Anyway, tell me more about the alphagrip / iGrip ... what WPM do you get? Are the keys easy to depress or require a lot of force? Is it easy to type symbols like curly braces and such ?
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 09 April 2011, 16:04:45 »
Quote from: sordna;327517
Well, I'd rather stick a Cirque or Ergo touchpad on my kinesis rather than a tiny trackball. Anyway, tell me more about the alphagrip / iGrip ... what WPM do you get? Are the keys easy to depress or require a lot of force? Is it easy to type symbols like curly braces and such ?

WPM- At this time, my personal wpm is not notable, but 60 wpm seems like a reasonable goal, and I expect to be in that range.
FORCE- Website claims 80 grams of force. I should try to test and see the actual force, as it seems less. Hoggy (a Geekhacker) also feels it's less, maybe because the fingers are pressing towards the thumbs.
SYMBOLS, etc.- No problem.

I'm very impressed with the Alphagrip. I am collecting info to modify a unit so it is wireless and programmable. I will post these efforts when I actually have made substantial headway. I have 3 Alphagrips. Using the trackball on the Alphgrip is pleasurable due to hand position, unfortunately that can't really be replicated on a Kinesis Contoured unless bluecar can re-form the body with the fiberglass mod. :(
« Last Edit: Sat, 09 April 2011, 16:15:32 by input nirvana »
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
Evil Screaming Flying Door Monkeys From Hell                     Proudly GeekWhacking since 2009
Things change, things stay the same                                        Thanks much, Smallfry  
I AM THE REAPER . . . BECAUSE I KILL IT
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Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 21 April 2011, 21:44:49 »
The sequel to the first 3D game i've ever played is coming out, Duke Nukem Forever!!!  Unfortunately, this project is going on the back burner for a bit so I can blow my money and time building a new computer from the ground up and of course, play DNF.  Slap together a router table, then comes the all clear acrylic case (There are pre-made ones but that's no fun.) :Drool:
Fav. quotes, ahh the 8-Bit MIDI nostalgia, just doesn't get any better than this!
It's time to kick a** and chew bubble gum... And i'm all outta gum.
Gonna rip you a new one.
Hail to the king, baby!
I'm gonna put this smack dab on your a**!
Let God sort 'em out!
Nobody steals our chicks... and lives!
Shake it, baby!
Your face, your a**, what's the difference?

Edit:  Should have known it would not be 2011 glitter sprinkled on the DN3D masterpiece but rather regenerating health and you can only carry two weapons at a time.  If you are a nostalgic duke fan, i'm sorry to say you more than likely will be very disappointed in this game.  Before potentially wasting $60 or an hour d/l'ing it, you should watch a few min of this thorough critique of DNF.

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 26 July 2011, 20:11:13 »
Keywell info that may be of use, or just good to know.

There are 2 bowl keywell types that Kinesis used on the Contoured models:
1) up to serial #70,000
2) serial #70,000 and up

Keywells should be interchangable within either of the 2 types (provided the connectors are the same), but not between the 2 types. I believe this would only be an issue with the Advantage and the Advantage Pro which were introduced somewhere in the #40,000 to #50,000 range.
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
Evil Screaming Flying Door Monkeys From Hell                     Proudly GeekWhacking since 2009
Things change, things stay the same                                        Thanks much, Smallfry  
I AM THE REAPER . . . BECAUSE I KILL IT
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Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 27 July 2011, 11:00:17 »
My 'board was made in '96 so it should be well within' the "up to serial #70,000" range.  I wonder why they changed it?  Do you think it occurred when they went from the pcb connector to the flexible ribbon cables on the bowls later on?

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 27 July 2011, 11:10:00 »
I don't know the actual reason. It may have to do with the main pcb change, or a different company making parts (I know Pi Engeneering makes their pcbs), The ribbons wouldn't be the cause of that change. I just bought 2 replacement key bowls with Cherry red switches instead of browns for the "older" style key wells that use the hard pcb insert connection. They came with ribbon connectors instead.
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
Evil Screaming Flying Door Monkeys From Hell                     Proudly GeekWhacking since 2009
Things change, things stay the same                                        Thanks much, Smallfry  
I AM THE REAPER . . . BECAUSE I KILL IT
~retired from forum activities 2015~

Offline sordna

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 27 July 2011, 11:16:46 »
Quote from: input nirvana;388121
I don't know the actual reason. It may have to do with the main pcb change, or a different company making parts (I know Pi Engeneering makes their pcbs), The ribbons wouldn't be the cause of that change. I just bought 2 replacement key bowls with Cherry red switches instead of browns for the "older" style key wells that use the hard pcb insert connection. They came with ribbon connectors instead.

We want pics of the new bowls! Did you also get a set of switches for the thumb keys?
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline Input Nirvana

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 27 July 2011, 11:23:48 »
Not for the thumb keys. I've never used a red switch. I'll try the bowls first before I commit to re-soldering the thumb switches. In a few weeks Litster and I are buying/trading a bunch of MXs to have samples of everything, even the 'custom' ergo clears, etc.

I need to decide and get additional switches for the Kinesis mod.
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
Evil Screaming Flying Door Monkeys From Hell                     Proudly GeekWhacking since 2009
Things change, things stay the same                                        Thanks much, Smallfry  
I AM THE REAPER . . . BECAUSE I KILL IT
~retired from forum activities 2015~

Offline bluecar5556

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Split Kinesis Contour Classic (Advantage) Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 11 September 2011, 03:47:25 »
Alright, it's been a while but i've made significant design changes and many endeavors.  The MCU will be relocated to the left half, all hard-wired connections will be modular via RJ-45 ethernet connectors and of course, the reasoning behind relocating the MCU ;)  Here is the current state after losing the "H" keycap.  The switched M,N keys adds 5wpm like window stickers on a Honda, what do you think?

Offline uberben

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #22 on: Sun, 22 June 2014, 20:22:14 »
These images don't seem to be loading for me and I fear they were lost in the great hacking incident. Any chance these images still exist anywhere?

Offline Pacifist

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #23 on: Sun, 22 June 2014, 20:25:17 »
These images don't seem to be loading for me and I fear they were lost in the great hacking incident. Any chance these images still exist anywhere?

no way that I know off.

Offline dorkvader

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #24 on: Sun, 22 June 2014, 21:34:14 »
These images don't seem to be loading for me and I fear they were lost in the great hacking incident. Any chance these images still exist anywhere?

There are some image backups in various internet archives. Other than that, you'll have to contact the OP

Offline bluecar5556

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #25 on: Sun, 06 July 2014, 08:08:22 »
After sending imageshack two emails asking what's up, one day all the images came alive!  It's alive!  There has to be an easy way to back them up locally, instead of downloading one a a time.

Offline uberben

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #26 on: Sun, 06 July 2014, 11:18:23 »
Awesome! I'm glad they are back. I've downloaded them all too, just in case.

Offline Input Nirvana

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #27 on: Tue, 26 August 2014, 12:37:20 »
Yea, we've learned to have various sources. Stuff DISAPPEARS on the intertoobz.

Good job.
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
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Offline bluecar5556

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #28 on: Wed, 13 May 2015, 04:04:03 »
Just contacted Kinesis to get a new keycap set for the keyboard as i've lost a few. Input Nirvana, did you mention there was a better input device to replace the trackpoint? I'm still looking forward to integrating a trackpoint/ball what have you. Holla!

Offline bluecar5556

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #29 on: Wed, 13 May 2015, 16:22:27 »
I'm also considering adding a thumbstick because using WSAD for gaming makes me tired. Gamepads are too expensive and i'd rather spend my money modding a great keyboard like the Kinesis. Oh, I just got an email back from them within hours to tell me they have the keycaps available straight off their website! Outstanding company and customer service! Shut up and take my money!

Offline Input Nirvana

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Re: Split Kinesis Contour Classic Advantage Keyboard - 2 VGA mod
« Reply #30 on: Wed, 13 May 2015, 23:24:37 »
Dude, you KrAzEe! Good to hear from you.

Uberben has been toying with a few things, and some items have popped up in the keyboard world as well.

:Lets PM
Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
Evil Screaming Flying Door Monkeys From Hell                     Proudly GeekWhacking since 2009
Things change, things stay the same                                        Thanks much, Smallfry  
I AM THE REAPER . . . BECAUSE I KILL IT
~retired from forum activities 2015~