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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: SoullessWhale on Sat, 11 January 2014, 19:54:45

Title: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sat, 11 January 2014, 19:54:45
So I wake up today from a text from my dad that tells me to go look on my counter because he left "something I might like that he found at work" there.

I went out to find a IBM model F from his old 5150 he used to have. its so springy!
pics incoming!
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: JPG on Sat, 11 January 2014, 19:55:59
Very nice. Such a dad  :thumb:
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: Comment on Sat, 11 January 2014, 19:57:34
Wow thats dope! Cool find!
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:03:24
never miss a chance to showcase the Shine either ;D
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:29:48
Wow!

Very dad!

Such nice :)

Much clicky.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: tuxsavvy on Sat, 11 January 2014, 22:05:44
Nice!

Now all she needs I believe are replacement controllers to make her work with modern counterparts.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: AKIMbO on Sat, 11 January 2014, 22:07:56
Very nice.  The F XT's have the nicest feeling of all the capacitive buckling spring boards imo.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: terran5992 on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:04:38
Wow it looks so clean
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:17:44
Wow it looks so clean

I dont know if this was sarcastic or not but its actually really dirty lol
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:23:46
never miss a chance to showcase the Shine either ;D

Pretty dusty.

Take off those caps and clean the barrel
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: RESPRiT on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:26:53
That's a great find! I'm assuming the connection is PS/2?
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: C5Allroad on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:39:00
Very nice!
I am with you on that "Never miss a chance to showcase the shine"
I am actually kind of jealous... My Dad won't find that at his job.. He can bring back cars that are cheap and we fix and sell and also car parts. Have fun!
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:42:12
My dad's old company (7ish years ago) threw out a bunch of model M's. I don't think people were so interested in them back then.

He even remembered seeing some TKL boards in the pile. Sucks that people just throw away SSKs :'(
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:46:11
found this interesting
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:50:37
I found out a few things since I posted this. A, the fully operational computer that accompanied this keyboard was thrown away literally a week before I asked him about it  >:D :'( :(

And the keyboard was found in our garage. all this time sitting there collecting dust waiting for me to find it
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:53:37
I found out a few things since I posted this. A, the fully operational computer that accompanied this keyboard was thrown away literally a week before I asked him about it  >:D :'( :(

And the keyboard was found in our garage. all this time sitting there collecting dust waiting for me to find it

Soarer's converter
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:56:58
I dont have nearly enough knowledge on that to do such a thing... time to start learning I guess
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: Aer Fixus on Sun, 12 January 2014, 02:20:36
Very nice.  The F XT's have the nicest feeling of all the capacitive buckling spring boards imo.

Personally, my favorite feel is the Kishsaver. It feels just as solid as an XT to me. It could also just be the money talking (or the lack thereof).

That said, the XT is the best feeling, widely available Model F.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: tuxsavvy on Sun, 12 January 2014, 05:10:38
I dont have nearly enough knowledge on that to do such a thing... time to start learning I guess

Definitely worth learning for if you want to get the old keyboard to work. I didn't expect Model F to work straight out of the box. That said, you may as well give the keyboard a good clean out as well as looking into things like soarer's converter. There is also this to look out for: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52922.0

Treat her right! and she'll give you plenty of joys for years to come.  ;D Old beasts should never be hidden away somewhere gathering dust/cobwebs. If they are worth of any sort of value they should be living out their former glory even though their era has passed.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sun, 12 January 2014, 12:00:23
I dont have nearly enough knowledge on that to do such a thing... time to start learning I guess

Definitely worth learning for if you want to get the old keyboard to work. I didn't expect Model F to work straight out of the box. That said, you may as well give the keyboard a good clean out as well as looking into things like soarer's converter. There is also this to look out for: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52922.0

Treat her right! and she'll give you plenty of joys for years to come.  ;D Old beasts should never be hidden away somewhere gathering dust/cobwebs. If they are worth of any sort of value they should be living out their former glory even though their era has passed.

I cleaned her good last night. Just need to get her working now :D
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: 1391406 on Sun, 12 January 2014, 12:48:19
You don't have to use Soarer's converter, although it's more versatile. Hagstrom's XT to USB converter (http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke_xtusb.html) works perfectly with that keyboard and is 100% plug and play, although it costs $54.95.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: lilky on Sun, 12 January 2014, 16:32:43
Wow so jelly...I've heard Model Fs are the nicest keyboard to type on, period. I really want to try one but they're so hard to get ahold of.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sun, 12 January 2014, 16:36:59
 :cool:
Wow so jelly...I've heard Model Fs are the nicest keyboard to type on, period. I really want to try one but they're so hard to get ahold of.

Ebay
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: 1391406 on Sun, 12 January 2014, 18:23:37
Model F XT's turn up on eBay quite often.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 12 January 2014, 19:51:13
Model F XT's turn up on eBay quite often.

And it looks like F ATs are coming back down to the $100 range after trading at twice that a few months ago.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Sun, 12 January 2014, 23:32:25
The only thing Ive found on this thing that I really dont like is the size/location of the enter key. going to take some real getting used to if I decide I want to use it at all
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: Aer Fixus on Sun, 12 January 2014, 23:55:32
The only thing Ive found on this thing that I really dont like is the size/location of the enter key. going to take some real getting used to if I decide I want to use it at all

It doesn't take long for you to get used to it, but if you still don't like it, you can change it with Soarer's

You can remap "~" to enter. I found it much easier to press given how used to ANSI I am. If you need that key (for programming, or bringing up the console in gaming, or just typing ~ or `), you'll have to move it somewheres else more convenient.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Mon, 03 February 2014, 23:53:23
Can I make this keyboard work with this?

http://www.amazon.com/SF-Cable-Keyboard-Adapter-MiniDin6/dp/B0016RTO1M/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: ebacho on Tue, 04 February 2014, 00:29:42
Your particular Model F is an XT protocol keyboard, which is why people have been suggesting the Hagstrom/Soarer converters.  What you linked just changes the pinout to match a PS/2 board, which is not the same scancode set as XT. 
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Tue, 04 February 2014, 01:05:10
Your particular Model F is an XT protocol keyboard, which is why people have been suggesting the Hagstrom/Soarer converters.  What you linked just changes the pinout to match a PS/2 board, which is not the same scancode set as XT.

What about a liteon SK-0002-1U that is at/xt switchable?
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: ebacho on Tue, 04 February 2014, 01:09:01
AT/XT switchable keyboards have a dip switch that lets you choose which scancode set to use, so yes, a passive adapter would work for that keyboard.
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Tue, 04 February 2014, 01:16:11
AT/XT switchable keyboards have a dip switch that lets you choose which scancode set to use, so yes, a passive adapter would work for that keyboard.

Can you explain how one might do that? I know I need to plug it in when the computer is off, which I did. The num lock key is illuminated but nothing works...
Title: Re: New Keyboard!
Post by: SoullessWhale on Tue, 04 February 2014, 01:30:23
Oh god I just got it working this thing feel glorious :D