Affirmative (Unicomp) Model M-122 (p/n AC40956), $30.00 OBO + shipping

[ander]

Unicomp Model M 122 Key Mechanical Keyboard (eBay)

$30.00 or Make Offer + $17.90 shipping (U.S.)





These rebranded Unicomps are really neat. It's what you'd expect to pay for an IBM/Lexmark-made 122—but unlike those, this can be can be connected directly to a PC without a converter. (Maybe someone can explain why?)

[SpAmRaY]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64335.0

Those can also be found there.

[ander]

Aha, I thought ComradSniper's carpeting looked familiar! Well, I hope he appreciates the plug. This is a very good deal for a directly-connectable BS 122.

[rowdy]

What controller would these have in them?  Would it be a drop-in replacement for the controller in an IBM M122?

[ander]

What controller would these have in them?  Would it be a drop-in replacement for the controller in an IBM M122?

Nope, as M-122 controllers can't connect to PS/2. They're designed to connect to "dumb" terminals, which were input/output devices for mainframes rather than stand-alone computers.

Someone feel free to correct me on this—but I think these later Unicomp-made, PS/2 122's started appearing because PCs eventually replaced most terminals.

In addition to everything else PCs can do, they can run terminal-emulation software and appear as just about anything to a bigger system. And when PCs became so popular and were produced in such high numbers, I imagine they were actually cheaper and more easily obtained than specialized terminals. With a multitasking OS, you could use a PC to emulate a terminal and do other stuff with the data you were accessing (and, of course, play Solitaire when the boss wasn't around).

So I'm guessing that's why 122-key, PC-compatible boards like this one became the new "terminal" boards.

[njbair]

What controller would these have in them?  Would it be a drop-in replacement for the controller in an IBM M122?

Nope, as M-122 controllers can't connect to PS/2. They're designed to connect to "dumb" terminals, which were input/output devices for mainframes rather than stand-alone computers.

Someone feel free to correct me on this—but I think these later Unicomp-made, PS/2 122's started appearing because PCs eventually replaced most terminals.

In addition to everything else PCs can do, they can run terminal-emulation software and appear as just about anything to a bigger system. And when PCs became so popular and were produced in such high numbers, I imagine they were actually cheaper and more easily obtained than specialized terminals. With a multitasking OS, you could use a PC to emulate a terminal and do other stuff with the data you were accessing (and, of course, play Solitaire when the boss wasn't around).

So I'm guessing that's why 122-key, PC-compatible boards like this one became the new "terminal" boards.

I think what rowdy is asking is, can you take the PS/2 controller out of one of these boards and put it into a terminal Model M-122?

I don't know the answer, I guess it would depend on whether the ribbon connectors are the same inside. If so,I don't see why not.

I actually have two of these Affirmative boards that I bought from CS when he first listed them here on Geekhack. I converted one of them to ANSI using some leftover Model M caps. The other one I'm in the process of chopping down into an unsaver-ish board but without the nav cluster. I doubt I'm going to be able to keep the stock controller though.

I'll have to pop open my terminal Model M and take a look at the controller to see if they're comlatible with the Unicomp.

[rowdy]

I think what rowdy is asking is, can you take the PS/2 controller out of one of these boards and put it into a terminal Model M-122?

Yes, this

[0100010]

I think what rowdy is asking is, can you take the PS/2 controller out of one of these boards and put it into a terminal Model M-122?

Yes, this

These Unicomps don't use the same near center mounted FPC connector type controller that IBM or Lexmark M's do.  So, the short answer is, no.

EDIT : This thread has some pics - https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=62060.0

[dorkvader]

I think what rowdy is asking is, can you take the PS/2 controller out of one of these boards and put it into a terminal Model M-122?

Yes, this

my recommendation would be to take the controller out of a RD 122 key and use the controller from that.

I think I have a spare around here somewhere.

Then again you could also grab an arduino pro micro fro $6 and use that instead.

You could swap the controller and membrane (and other parts of the guts), but why put so much work into one of these?

[rowdy]

I think what rowdy is asking is, can you take the PS/2 controller out of one of these boards and put it into a terminal Model M-122?

Yes, this

my recommendation would be to take the controller out of a RD 122 key and use the controller from that.

I think I have a spare around here somewhere.

Then again you could also grab an arduino pro micro fro $6 and use that instead.

You could swap the controller and membrane (and other parts of the guts), but why put so much work into one of these?

If that was directed at me, I like Model M keyboards, and kinda like the large size of the M122 as a contrast to my TKL keyboards and HHKB.

I've acquired a Model M 122 at a very reasonable cost, but it is missing most of the keycaps, has the standard terminal DIN connector, and is the ISO-like layout.

My ultimate plan (long term, as I am short in time and money at the moment) is to convert it to ANSI, bolt mod it, install some sort of convertor in it, and get a keycap set, preferably pearl and pebble.

[Snowdog993]

I think what rowdy is asking is, can you take the PS/2 controller out of one of these boards and put it into a terminal Model M-122?

Yes, this

my recommendation would be to take the controller out of a RD 122 key and use the controller from that.

I think I have a spare around here somewhere.

Then again you could also grab an arduino pro micro fro $6 and use that instead.

You could swap the controller and membrane (and other parts of the guts), but why put so much work into one of these?

If that was directed at me, I like Model M keyboards, and kinda like the large size of the M122 as a contrast to my TKL keyboards and HHKB.

I've acquired a Model M 122 at a very reasonable cost, but it is missing most of the keycaps, has the standard terminal DIN connector, and is the ISO-like layout.

My ultimate plan (long term, as I am short in time and money at the moment) is to convert it to ANSI, bolt mod it, install some sort of convertor in it, and get a keycap set, preferably pearl and pebble.

Colossus controller. 
Go down to the bottom of the page and select which M122 you have.
http://phosphorglow.net/store/products/universal-model-m-usb-controller/

End result:

[rowdy]

Colossus controller. 
Go down to the bottom of the page and select which M122 you have.
http://phosphorglow.net/store/products/universal-model-m-usb-controller/

End result:

Show Image

Wow!

Yellow plate too :D

That would be perfect and is what I'm aiming at (except for the yellow plate - my skillz do not extend that far).

Gotta start saving ...

[njbair]

Colossus controller. 
Go down to the bottom of the page and select which M122 you have.
http://phosphorglow.net/store/products/universal-model-m-usb-controller/

End result:

Show Image

Wow!

Yellow plate too :D

That would be perfect and is what I'm aiming at (except for the yellow plate - my skillz do not extend that far).

Gotta start saving ...

That's not a yellow plate. It's just a mylar sheet that slips over the existing barrel plate. He offers them in tons of colors.

[Snowdog993]

Colossus controller. 
Go down to the bottom of the page and select which M122 you have.
http://phosphorglow.net/store/products/universal-model-m-usb-controller/

End result:

Show Image

Wow!

Yellow plate too :D

That would be perfect and is what I'm aiming at (except for the yellow plate - my skillz do not extend that far).

Gotta start saving ...

That's not a yellow plate. It's just a mylar sheet that slips over the existing barrel plate. He offers them in tons of colors.

Correct.  It is a mylar underlay.
http://phosphorglow.net/store/products/colored-underlay/

[rowdy]

Even nicer!

And more off topic in this thread ... so I have bumped my Model M refurbishment thread.

[ander]

Geez, sorry I misinterpreted Rowdy's question and wandered off into computing history... I think I was trying to do too many things at once, and hadn't reserved enough brainpower here.