I read a post from a couple of years ago about modifying the 104-key Unicomp keyboard to a 103-key version. The idea is that you remove the spacebar, remove the right alt key, and remove the right Windows key. Then you install a longer spacebar and put the right alt key where the right Windows key was.
Here a link to the post I am referring to:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67076.0The only way to buy a 103-key Unicomp keyboard is to pay Unicomp $10 to convert a 104-key keyboard to a 103-key version. If you do the modification yourself, then all you have to do is pay $3 for the longer spacebar when you buy the 104-key keyboard. Thus, you can save $7 if you do the modification yourself.
I am wondering about whether there is a disadvantage to doing this. I sent a personal message to the author of the post linked to above, and he told me that the longer spacebar does not activate the spring for the removed right alt key. So there would be no problem with dual inputs. I also contacted Unicomp, and this is what they told me:
"You could make the 104 into a 103 if your keyboard has the bail hold down tab under the < > keys. To do this you would need to remove the hold down tab under the N M keys. Note that you can't reverse this process once it's done and note that the warranty does not cover issues caused by this modification."
I don't know what the Unicomp representative is talking about, and I'm reluctant to ask them to explain further. Could somebody please enlighten me?
I do not currently own a Unicomp keyboard, but I am probably going to order a Unicomp keyboard in the next couple of weeks. I think if there is a risk of my doing something wrong when modifying the keyboard, then I'll just pay the $10 to have Unicomp do the modification for me.
