Keycap Capability For Model M from Unicomp

[terrpn]

Show Image

After hours and extensive cleaning I remember to ask this. See those blue and white inserts for my keys? Does that mean I have inserts and can just drop in Unicomp keys for the larger ones? :)

I am assuming you are referring to the "+" and "enter" on the num pad?

Yes...........they (Unicomp keys) will drop right in with no problem.

Good job on the cleaning! Which model number did you say you have?

[Thimplum]

Like 13941406 said, they'll work fine. You should get some Geekhack caps while you're buying too.

LOL. I hadn't seen those before.

[DuckNorris]

Show Image

After hours and extensive cleaning I remember to ask this. See those blue and white inserts for my keys? Does that mean I have inserts and can just drop in Unicomp keys for the larger ones? :)

I am assuming you are referring to the "+" and "enter" on the num pad?

Yes...........they (Unicomp keys) will drop right in with no problem.

Good job on the cleaning! Which model number did you say you have?

1989 one I think.

[rowdy]

I pulled all keycaps off both keyboards today for cleaning, and discovered that one of the space bars is damaged - one of the pins that holds the stabiliser bar is broken, so I need a new space bar.  The other one seems fine.  The space bar is the "large" one from Unicomp, right?

Second question is colour.  They list black, pearl and white.  The space bars I have are not as white as a piece of paper, but almost the same as the HHKB keys.  Would that be Unicomp's white or pearl?

Mainly for my own records, my Ms are missing the following keys:

1993: Esc, F1, 1, Backspace, Tab, Caps Lock, left Shift, Z, X, left Ctrl, left Alt.
1995: Caps Lock, left Shift, left Ctrl, space bar.

Third question is also colours: I'd get the RGB sets, so that takes care of Shift/Ctrl/Alt.  What colour are the other modifiers on these?  Unicomp list pebble and gray for the colours, I'm guessing mine would be gray?  And including a bunch of single keys, Unicomp lists black, pebble (kinda light brown), gray and pearl.  Definitely not black or pebble or gray, so I guess the alpha keys are pearl?

Then I noticed the Complete Printed Buckling Spring Button Set for $25 - would that be better?  That seems cheap for a complete set (minus space bar) of keycaps.  Any comments?

http://pckeyboard.com/page/Buttons/PSET

Slowly learning about these Model Ms.  Pics of mine are here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=33130.msg953791#msg953791

Thanks for any suggestions

[Techno Trousers]

The stock key colors for a Model M are pebble modifiers and pearl keys. White will look more like a pure white.

I'm planning to order some complete pebble/pearl sets for my Model F-122 ANSI-fication project, so I hope they will be high quality.

[snoopy]

It is the large spacebar that you need. As far as I know, the small spacebar is for their modern keyboards with winkey.

I ordered a complete set from them some time ago. It's very ok for it's price. But the legends seem to be a bit different (looks like their printing stuff weared out a bit) then on old original sets and also the color of the modifiers differ a bit (maybe due age).

So if you want a completly perfect matching set, I would go for the complete set.

[wcass]

it is true that there can be minor font and hue differences between "classic" caps and the new stuff, but i have to look for it - and sometimes i still can't see it.

Alt and Ctrl keys are not side specific, so you will be able to shift keys around to get one of your two boards mostly complete. if you want to get a complete set of classic keys, you might post a request in the "classifieds" section here. the caps lock, numbers, and letters are easy (i have a few about) but i use the left shifts, pipe\, and enters to convert my 122s to ANSI.

[rowdy]

@Techno Trousers - Pebble and pearl even sounds like it was made to last - thanks!

@snoopy - That's what I suspected, thanks for the confirmation.  Completely perfectly matching doesn't bother me that much, especially if the differences are only slight.

@wcass - My Alts are green, and one Ctrl is labelled Ctrl/Act (haven't seen that before!), but yeah, having removed all caps I can see the bilateral nature.  Makes things slightly easier.  Now why didn't I think of Classifieds!

At this stage I don't even know if either of them works, but I need to make or buy a cable for each to even find that.  Waiting on a 5.5mm socket driver to at least open the one with the snipped cable.  I have already found a PS/2 cable (beige!) with a ferrite bead attached, all I need to do is snip both plugs off and swap them over.

[rowdy]

Latest thoughts ...

If I get individual caps from Unicomp, the total comes to $42 plus postage, but excludes backspace and tab as they do not sell those separately.

If I get two complete sets plus space bars, the total comes to $56.

So I'd probably go for the two complete sets - it is easier, and might end up cheaper, if not around the same cost, as getting individual keys plus trying to find backspace and tab from somewhere else.

The question: The Unicomp complete set excludes space bar (fair enough, they are listed separately), and also excludes "the support frame shown in the photos".  There is no photo.  What is the support frame, and do I need one?

Thanks

[0100010]

The support frame they refer to is the barrel plate, no you don't need it.  Did you open a support ticket to ask if they can sell you just the backspace and tab?

[rowdy]

Ah, no, but they do not list either of those separately, and in fact the listing for individual keycaps states: Single unit wide, alphanumeric size, 2-piece cap and stem assemblies only. Multi-wide keys not currently available.

[0100010]

None of the blue modifiers on my board were listed either, but I was able to order them after detailing what I needed with a support ticket.