geekhack Community > Keyboards
Shark's Wiki - IBM Model M Enhanced Keyboard (revamp)
(1/1)
sharktastica:
The IBM Enhanced Keyboard - the definitive Model M keyboard variant - is what enabled the Model M family to become as successful and influential as it was/still is. As such, it's only fitting that my largest and most detailed wiki page to date is on this keyboard, celebrating it and its sheer diversity with its great number of major and minor variants, generational tweaks, and even controller cards!
I've been working on this on and off since January. The previous revision was already a fairly big page, but I wanted to address some things I felt were missing from it, deskthority wiki's rather decent IBM Enhanced Keyboard page, and Wikipedia's Model M keyboard page in general. This might be a big read ahead, but simply put, there is a lot to cover...
https://sharktastica.co.uk/wiki?id=modelmenhanced
Changelog:
* The "Known variants" list was increased from 23 to 36. This increase is from newly added keyboards and separating previously generic subsections (ie, all DIN-plug terminal Enhanced Keyboards together) into more detailed and specific ones. Some subsections may even have new subsubsections covering very minor variants that weren't distinguished before.
* Added the "Possible prototypes" section containing two relatively newly discovered Enhanced Keyboards that appear to be prototypes with unique quirks and dates from mid to late 1984.
* The "Generations" section was expanded from a mere summary table to an exhaustive section covering the two commonly recognised generations.
* The "History" section was generally improved and more images were added. It's also now split into four appropriate headings. Information about their "Keyboard G"/"Model G" connection is also now included.
* The "Controller card" section now contains an exhaustive list of possible controller cards used throughout the Enhanced Keyboard's history.
* The "Cover set" and "Internal assembly" subsections have been generally improved. A "Setup switches" section was added to describe the DIP switches some IBM 319X Enhanced Keyboards might have.
* The "Pricing" section has a few more entries.
* Instances of non-IBM terminology (ie, barrel plate, back plate) have been replaced with correct IBM terminology (ie, keyboard frame, base plate). When available, technical terms will link to their ASK Keyboard Dictionary definitions.
I'm always looking to improve further. If you feel anything is missing, potentially incorrect or should be explained better, please (respectfully) give me your thoughts. Otherwise, enjoy!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
Go to full version