I have seen a post before of someone updating the Kinesis to cherry mx switches.
I've always wanted to try a Kinesis, but it seems like a big purchase to just "try out".
I wish some of my co-workers shared my affinity for input devices. Sigh...
Me too - I'm afraid I'll get one and then realize that I've been typing incorrectly my whole life by reaching for characters with the wrong hand.
Kinesis Contoured boards all come with Cherry MX switches, brown or red.
Kinesis Contoured boards all come with Cherry MX switches, brown or red.
Link the eBay auction and I'll tell you what I can about that model. USB options...we'll talk about after the exact model is confirmed.
Welcome to the family!
I'm almost afraid to link it, because I think I got a good deal on one and I'm afraid you're going to tell me I didn't :)
But here it is: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170764616687
Appreciate the advice
Found it http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:7486
It doesn't really matter how good/bad of a deal you may have gotten, it's relative. Did you get what you want? At a price that is acceptable? In the condition you expect? I promise you, someone paid less for better, and someone else paid more for less. You are guaranteed to be in the middle somewhere :)
I was only half-serious about that part
If anything, I was afraid I might have jumped the gun a little too quickly on that keyboard and ended up with something inferior because I hadn't done enough research about the various models of these keyboards (but I have that reaction all the time anyway).
I've certainly been on the "paid less for better" side of the equation plenty of times myself (the proceeds from some of my recent deals are going towards this keyboard). :)
Model 130 PM Professional MPC.....
Ok, you don't have 'sticky keys' that started the model after this one. You do have 2 memory chips which allows the maximum amount of memory for macros. It is Mac/PC switchable. Are you Mac or PC?
I have the same unit for sale for about the same amount, actually with shipping would be about $20 more. I'll also offer it without 1 of the memory chips (since most people have no use for it) at a $30 discount. So I guess you got a better deal than buying mine. Feel good now? :)
As for the USB, you can get a Y-mouse by Pi Engineering. It holds some key programming. I have several of these, but they are very pricey. But a straight up USB adapter should be fine, no?
Anything else?
EDIT---The only Kinesis changes would be to get red switches instead of the browns it comes with, that will cost about $100. You can put O-rings on the key caps (NICE!) that's about $5-$20 depending on which ones. You can get qwerty/dvorak dual legend key caps for about $45 or so.
You can get rid of the yellow by taking the keyboard apart and putting the plastic in oxy-clean in the sun for a few hours. There is a monster thread here where a few of us did that.
You can take it to the beach and have all the girls oooh and aaaah over it :)
No doubt, jumping the gun without the research can be detrimental, of course sometimes you need to follow your gut and just move on something though. Timing, especially on a relatively rare item. It's fun to be on the buy-low, sell-high side and get some rewards...I've done it, but after some real-time analysis have figured out it almost always takes more time (overall) than the dollar gains justify, not to mention risk. But that depends on the situations as well. If you have no other opportunity to earn scratch, then have at it :)
I hope you like the board, you'll need a couple weeks for acclimation. If you don't, there are usually people here looking to buy. Check my sig for some extreme project items I've been doing on a couple Kinesis units.
I've always wanted to try a Kinesis
Me too - I'm afraid I'll get one and then realize that I've been typing incorrectly my whole life by reaching for characters with the wrong hand
Dunno if they ship to Middle Earth.
Most likely though you'll love it and order a second one. :D
I have adapters for both PS/2 and ADB to USB, anyway, so it's not a big deal.
The qwerty/dvorak keys...those are available from Kinesis, right (I won't have to scrounge eBay or the classifieds to find them)? I think those might be the only upgrade I need early on.
Boli....you are funny :)
Interesting thought...how many of us with a Kinesis, only have ONE Kinesis? Hmmm....nobody comes to mind at the moment....
Well you sort of need one at work and one at home at least, no? I kept my first at work and brought it home over the weekend, but once I knew I liked it I ordered a second one.
Either the Kinesis keyboards have a secret embedded mind control device, or they really are that great. :)
Either the Kinesis keyboards have a secret embedded mind control device, or they really are that great. :)
That would explain why a pretty damn normal guy like me gets so nutsoid over these keyboards.
Either the Kinesis keyboards have a secret embedded mind control device, or they really are that great. :)
Either the Kinesis keyboards have a secret embedded mind control device, or they really are that great. :)
That would explain why a pretty damn normal guy like me gets so nutsoid over these keyboards.
The ADB-USB adapters are crazy expensive I've noticed. I've never used one.
I have 2 sets of qwerty/dvorak key caps, they are white....maybe we'll talk about that later? :). Yes Kinesis sells them. I'm going to guess you are a touch-typist, and if you're not, you soon will be with the Kinesis....so maybe you don't need to invest in the dual legend key caps at all. You could get BLANKS!
That would explain why a pretty damn normal guy like me gets so nutsoid over these keyboards.
Hey, did you like the art I include throughout in the Split Kinesis Mod article? :)
When I opened mine up to replace the key wells I found this:Show Image(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/adventuretimewithfinnandjake/images/0/0b/Hypnotoad.gif)
Hijacking this thread for a quick question:
Is there an easy way to re-map a few keys ? I know I can use mapkeyboard or something, but any way built into the board ? Namely, swapping space and backspace, and setting caps as ctrl
You know, I think if I ever open up my Kinesis, I'm going to put a sticker of Hypnotoad on the inside, as a little bonus for the next owner (if I ever upgrade) or for myself (when I open it up again two years later after forgetting that it's there).
We'll see how it goes with the Dvorak learning.
Is there an easy way to re-map a few keys ? I know I can use mapkeyboard or something, but any way built into the board ? Namely, swapping space and backspace, and setting caps as ctrl
Can't resist posting Everyday Normal Guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PsnxDQvQpw)
Have you considered Colemak? Apologies if you have, I'll shut up now. Otherwise you might want to check out Colemak or Dvorak (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?26440-Colemak-or-Dvorak).
"You want some of this, biatch????"
Harsh Boli, harsh. :)
Actually, no I hadn't. I've seen it mentioned around here a lot, but I never actually looked to see what it was all about. Thanks to that link, I just did, and now I'm intrigued by the idea. I think I might have to move some keycaps around and try it out this weekend.
Hl fhksk, h;w'd lf t;ljt? (Hi there, how's it going?)
Thanks very much for the detailed info.
I'm mostly a Mac guy, but I do work on PCs some of the time. No more legacy Macs at the moment...I have adapters for both PS/2 and ADB to USB, anyway, so it's not a big deal.
There was a huge USB bug (that caused me endless pain) that finally got fixed in Lion. At any rate the Kinesis still seems to have little problems with the mac, requiring frequent re-plugs.
Find myself looking at the keys like years ago. [snip] How did you guys position the wrist rests?
Hmm, I don't have any problems on my Macs, but I'm using Lion. I don't remember having any problems before either.
Dunno if they ship to Middle Earth ;)
BTW what did you guys remap alt+tab for windowsswitching to? I find it entirely unusable in the standard configuration.
I like big systems with lots of peripherals hanging off it. One is a Mac Pro, three Cinema Displays (2x24, 1x27) with XKeys, Keyboards, graphics tablets ... if you stick with the mainstream (a laptop with Apple keyboard/mouse) they work great. Stray from the fold a 'little' ...
BTW what did you guys remap alt+tab for windowsswitching to? I find it entirely unusable in the standard configuration.
same apple bs lol, can't implement a microsoft invention (usb).
group of seven companies began development on USB in 1994: Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC and Nortel.Not really a microsoft invention.
same apple bs lol, can't implement a microsoft invention (usb).
It definitely takes a few days to get used to the Kinesis, then a couple weeks to smooth into typing love letters to your 3 girlfriends. :)
I have seen a post before of someone updating the Kinesis to cherry mx switches.
I've always wanted to try a Kinesis, but it seems like a big purchase to just "try out".
I wish some of my co-workers shared my affinity for input devices. Sigh...
BTW what did you guys remap alt+tab for windowsswitching to? I find it entirely unusable in the standard configuration.
The best thing about a kinesis is that you can jump onto the end of threads and try to say why they are so wonderful to type on.
my newest and most expensive one was attacked with a dremel tool yesterday. Click my sig for details.
Starter ideas:
Or just below thumb clusters, or above just to the inside of each keywell.
To access the numpad keys I use the left k-shift, but I am not using the 2nd layer just for the numpad. [snip awesome stuff]
Starter ideas:
(Attachment) 38646[/ATTACH]
Or just below thumb clusters, or above just to the inside of each keywell.
The other 2 actions (FS1 == Left Shift, FS3 == Keypad Enter) are remappable like any key on the keyboard, so if you are interested in adding extra keys for whatever other function like Windows keys or whatever, you could use those instead, and remap them to your heart's content.
So the FS1 and FS3 actions could be remapped without remapping the original Left Shift and original Keypad Enter?
I swapped Tab / Delete, since I use Tab a whole lot more often than Delete. So to do Alt+Tab I hit the right Alt with my right thumb, and the Tab with my left thumb.I swapped delete/left-shift. I find it very convenient to shift with my thumb.
Got the idea of Tab on the thumb from a Maltron I tried, it's a great location.
I swapped delete/left-shift. I find it very convenient to shift with my thumb.
Keep in mind, though it has almost never been an issue, if you are dealing with a board and the serial # is in the 30k range...it's at least 10 years old, could be close 15-20 years old.
Really? I thought it was just an old manual, but the one I'm borrowing from sordna is really from 1994? (sn is 11k)
Cyberdave tell us what you think of it! I'm still pretty slow, as I'm still getting used to proper touch typing.
One of the first things I'm going to do Monday is try to track down its owner and maybe make an offer.
One of the first things I'm going to do Monday is try to track down its owner and maybe make an offer.