geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: n3rrd on Fri, 16 July 2010, 08:19:39

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: n3rrd on Fri, 16 July 2010, 08:19:39

Hey guys,

So I recently snagged a Model M 1391401 off of eBay for about $35 with shipping.  I received it last night and the board is in pretty good condition;  no stains, just crumbs, and dust, etc.  I played around with it for a bit before starting to pull key caps for cleaning.  The only bummer was that the alt and ctrl key caps are blue/red, and the shift keys are green.

Is it normal for some of the springs to sit rather loosely in the barrels once the key caps are removed?  To the point that they tip over and lean against it?  

All of the springs in the bolt mod thread seem to sit mostly centered in the barrels.  The first key I noticed it on was my right shift key, so I replaced the key cap to see how it felt compared to the other and, while it still worked, it definitely didn't have the same click.

I haven't been able to take it apart, but I'm heading to Princess Auto to grab a hex key tonight (none of my sockets will fit far enough down to reach the screw heads).

Also, would anyone have spare Ctrl, Alt or Shift key caps that they'd be willing to part with?  :P

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 16 July 2010, 08:24:19

Are the keys themselves colored or just the text? I might be able to do a trade-in.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: n3rrd on Fri, 16 July 2010, 08:29:14

The whole keys are colored.  The ctrl keys are blue and the alt keys are red, both have white pad printed text.  The shift keys are green and I'll have to double check how the label is applied to those.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: mcdonc on Fri, 16 July 2010, 09:19:54

The springs move around a good bit, it's normal that they flop whichever way you have the keyboard propped.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: mcdonc on Fri, 16 July 2010, 09:22:13

I bought this from Amazon to take out the 5.5mm bolts:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00144HOW8/ref=oss_product

People seem to have problems finding something that will work retail.  I didn't even try.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 16 July 2010, 09:22:42

Quote from: n3rrd;203297

The whole keys are colored.  The ctrl keys are blue and the alt keys are red, both have white pad printed text.  The shift keys are green and I'll have to double check how the label is applied to those.

A lot of people like those coloured keys you know.

I just like plain beige, but it sure makes certain keys easier to see.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: n3rrd on Fri, 16 July 2010, 10:04:37

I thought I had replied again but apparently the post got eaten, or I discarded it by closing a tab.

mcdonc, thanks for posting that link.  I'm going to pick up a set that's slightly more expensive and has a 5.5mm hex key in it just because it's local and will be faster than waiting for something to get shipped.

You say the springs normally flop around?  Are they not attached to the hammer?  If so, I'd assume the hammer moves too... maybe the spring wasn't sitting correctly when I put the key back on.  I'll have to double check.  I'll learn more once I crack the board open.

EverythingIBM, I can understand why some people would prefer coloured keys for visual cues.  I don't look at my keyboard very often, but when I do, the brightly coloured keys scream "look at me, look at me."  Meh.  Not a life or death predicament either way.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: mcdonc on Fri, 16 July 2010, 10:17:08

Quote from: n3rrd;203315

mcdonc, thanks for posting that link.  I'm going to pick up a set that's slightly more expensive and has a 5.5mm hex key in it just because it's local and will be faster than waiting for something to get shipped.

Be careful; apparently sets that say they have a 5mm hex key sometimes aren't thin enough to fit into the deeper holes for the three screws nearest the sides.

Quote

You say the springs normally flop around?  Are they not attached to the hammer?  If so, I'd assume the hammer moves too... maybe the spring wasn't sitting correctly when I put the key back on.  I'll have to double check.  I'll learn more once I crack the board open.

The springs are attached to the hammer.  It's just that the hammer itself has a bit of play in the barrel.  But at this point, we're probably talking about two different things.  I thought the question was in general, not about one specific spring behaving differently.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: quadibloc on Fri, 16 July 2010, 17:50:33

Quote from: n3rrd;203292

Is it normal for some of the springs to sit rather loosely in the barrels once the key caps are removed?  To the point that they tip over and lean against it?

Oh, yes, that is completely normal.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 16 July 2010, 17:52:45

Quote from: quadibloc;203415

Oh, yes, that is completely normal.

Is it normal to see them dancing around and spring out at you?

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 16 July 2010, 17:53:02

You could even say that the keyboard would not work otherwise...

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 16 July 2010, 18:00:56

Quote from: ch_123;203420

You could even say that the keyboard would not work otherwise...

Hey look, tactile seats:
(http://cantyshanty.com/i/7-giant-spring-barstools.jpg)

They buckle when you sit down.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: TexasFlood on Fri, 16 July 2010, 18:02:28

Quote from: EverythingIBM;203426

Hey look, tactile seats:

Show Image

(http://cantyshanty.com/i/7-giant-spring-barstools.jpg)

They buckle when you sit down.

Clickly buckling spring seats that hammer your face into the floor?  Cool...

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Fri, 16 July 2010, 18:02:52

Imagine if there was a keyboard large enough for those springs to fit in...

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 16 July 2010, 18:05:51

It wouldn't be ergonomic.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 16 July 2010, 18:06:24

Quote from: microsoft windows;203433

It wouldn't be ergonomic.

Sure it would! For apple's standards.

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: sam113101 on Fri, 16 July 2010, 20:30:13

Quote from: kishy;203435

Show Image

(http://www.allenroland.com/images/newsletters/god_at_his_computer.jpg)

Not sure I like the layout though.

why is God using CRT monitors anyway

Title: Acquired first Model M. A few questions.
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 16 July 2010, 20:39:18

Quote from: sam113101;203479

why is God using CRT monitors anyway

Because Satan uses widescreen LCDs. Even ask MW.