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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: chyros on Wed, 20 May 2015, 03:20:51

Title: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: chyros on Wed, 20 May 2015, 03:20:51
Question's in the title. What do the M and F stand for in the Model M and Model F?
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: Ludovician on Wed, 20 May 2015, 04:40:35
They don't stand for anything as far as I'm aware.
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Wed, 20 May 2015, 05:12:48
The M is believed by many to stand for "membrane" but I don't know of anything official to back that up.

For the F, many believe it stands for "flipper" which is the informal name for the pivot plate mechanism using in the buckling spring.  Again, I know of nothing official.

I think the F might also be a nod back to the early IBM typewriter model naming scheme (A,B,C,D) but I don't know of a model E designation.

Some call certain terminal buckling springs Model C's but they're really F's that had a C<number> designation due to the hardware they were designed to be connected to.
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: vivalarevolución on Fri, 22 May 2015, 08:44:26
M is for motherboard, F is for frisky.
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: Nai_Calus on Fri, 22 May 2015, 08:49:22
M is for Meh, F is for **** yeah
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 22 May 2015, 10:03:49
Quote from: E TwentyNine on Wed, 20 May 2015, 05:12:48
The M is believed by many to stand for "membrane" but I don't know of anything official to back that up.

For the F, many believe it stands for "flipper" which is the informal name for the pivot plate mechanism using in the buckling spring.  Again, I know of nothing official.

I think the F might also be a nod back to the early IBM typewriter model naming scheme (A,B,C,D) but I don't know of a model E designation.

Some call certain terminal buckling springs Model C's but they're really F's that had a C<number> designation due to the hardware they were designed to be connected to.

I really don't know what the letter designations are either.  But I do recall a "Model A" membrane IBM as well.  Kind of strange because the screws are in the front of the chassis rather than the back.  A little trivia.

Edit: I knew I wasn't dreaming!  These pictures are from a sold ebay listing.

Original Box:
(http://i.imgur.com/YeRiLQb.jpg)

Front of Keyboard:
(http://i.imgur.com/PhWecic.jpg)

Back of Keyboard:
(http://i.imgur.com/lnDzM4H.jpg)

Back Label:
(http://i.imgur.com/QpUi1l9.jpg)
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: chyros on Fri, 22 May 2015, 11:31:32
Hmmm, very strange. Is it just an alphabetical index then?
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: Snarfangel on Fri, 22 May 2015, 15:07:53
Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 May 2015, 03:20:51
Question's in the title. What do the M and F stand for in the Model M and Model F?

Male and Female.
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: Venatorious on Fri, 22 May 2015, 20:33:05
Quote from: Nai_Calus on Fri, 22 May 2015, 08:49:22
M is for Meh, F is for **** yeah

I can agree with this ;D
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: wcass on Fri, 22 May 2015, 23:40:08
Officially, they don't stand for anything. Unofficially, Membrane and Farad (unit of measure for capacitance).
Title: Re: What do M and F stand for?
Post by: SamFlynn on Sat, 23 May 2015, 00:00:12
Quote from: Venatorious on Fri, 22 May 2015, 20:33:05
Quote from: Nai_Calus on Fri, 22 May 2015, 08:49:22
M is for Meh, F is for **** yeah

I can agree with this ;D

+1