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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: tehcliff on Mon, 11 February 2013, 18:21:48

Title: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: tehcliff on Mon, 11 February 2013, 18:21:48
Greetings.

I did a search on the site for one question I had and could only find a post mentioning it so I'll take the risk of asking here:

On the 1391401, my Alt keys and the 'SysRq' on the Print Screen keys have green text.  The most I found mentioning it said that it was just likely a random custom order for the green keys but searching images online, I can find more examples of this same setup and I wonder why so many people would specify green Alt and green SysRq exactly, if it were just a random customization.

Does anyone know why the text is green on these keys?  Is it random or is there more there?
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: rootwyrm on Mon, 11 February 2013, 18:34:13
It is most decidedly not random and in fact, is the standard and normal configuration for the IBM Model M. Anyone saying otherwise should have their driver's license immediately revoked since they are clearly blind.

The reason that SysRq is green is to indicate the modifier pairing. Which is why Alt is green. Alt+PrtScr = SysRq.
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: tehcliff on Mon, 11 February 2013, 18:45:50
It is most decidedly not random and in fact, is the standard and normal configuration for the IBM Model M. Anyone saying otherwise should have their driver's license immediately revoked since they are clearly blind.

The reason that SysRq is green is to indicate the modifier pairing. Which is why Alt is green. Alt+PrtScr = SysRq.

That makes perfect sense.  I feel bad that I didn't figure this out.  Thanks!
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 11 February 2013, 19:58:54
There are a lot of Ms out there with black Alt keys.

The green ones are considered more desirable, although I have had several with weak or uneven printing.
Title: Re: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: tehcliff on Mon, 11 February 2013, 20:48:18
There are a lot of Ms out there with black Alt keys.

The green ones are considered more desirable, although I have had several with weak or uneven printing.
I did look over at my Unicomp when I noticed the green and realized I prefer the green too.

Not to mention I really noticed the difference with the bold on the Unicomp vs the lettering on the 1391401. ???
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: hlehmann on Tue, 12 February 2013, 14:16:14
My model M also came with green keys, did wonder why. now i know. 
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: rootwyrm on Tue, 12 February 2013, 16:14:02
There are a lot of Ms out there with black Alt keys.

The green ones are considered more desirable, although I have had several with weak or uneven printing.

The black Alt keys are actually more rare, trust me on this one. The standard was green alt. The rare one is the brown Control - believe that was only produced in 1990 and 1991. I have a set of the tri-color (black/green/brown). The only board where you almost never find green alt is the M13; reason being that all M13's are one-piece keycaps because of the G/H/B cutouts.
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: jkercado on Wed, 13 February 2013, 13:04:43
That's why I went with a green Esc key. They subtly match.

(https://wn6vig.sn2.livefilestore.com/y1pkqTXMaVbq3PMBEQhHLKYSsTeQvSjMsWTWwtgCPGDE9lcQZaPu6tGjSUiS7CI7ZwXY1WKx9wJHIhOLCiU6jCWMc2DdA8xx-r5/FR0063.jpg?psid=1)
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: Number_25 on Wed, 13 February 2013, 13:07:54
I quite like the difference in colour.
Title: Re: IBM Model M 1391401: Green Alt and SysRq keys
Post by: youxiaojie on Sat, 15 December 2018, 13:56:11
perfect