geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Waves77 on Wed, 18 June 2008, 14:51:46
-
I've tried google without success. Can somebody tell me if the key caps on a M13 are removable?
I'd love to put the black caps on my industrial (grey) model M, so if they do and someone here's selling one let me know (PM)...
-
They are removable, but it's not as easy as on a board with two-piece caps.
-
I always thought detachable caps means you can remove the caps with the lettering seperately from the keys themselves. Aren't the keys of a keyboard always detachable? IIRC the M13 has not detachable caps, but of course detachable keys. Or am I misunderstanding something of your anwer bhtooefr (am not native speaker)?
-
Actually, on some rubber dome keyboards, the keys aren't detachable. And, on scissor boards, it's usually EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to remove the keys without breaking them.
I really should be more careful with my wording, though... I'll try to standardize on this, in the future:
Cap = top part of a key, removable on many Model Ms separately from the rest of the key
Stem = bottom part of a key, engages the keyswitch, separate from the cap on many Model Ms
Key = cap and stem assembly
So, the Model M13 has removable keys, but they're one-piece.
-
So, the Model M13 has removable keys, but they're one-piece.
That's exactly correct. My primary board (my avatar) is an extra-clicky 1391401 which I have vinyl-dyed black and swapped in keys (as well as the black metal IBM logo and darker status light cover) from a black M13.
-
Cool, thanks for the info. I really wanted to keep the switches of my favorite model M, and just have the black caps (so no dice using a M13) - all thrown in the body of a grey model M.
-
Thanks for clearing this up. I really envy those who own a M13 :-)