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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: ThoughtArtist on Thu, 07 April 2016, 01:17:13

Title: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: ThoughtArtist on Thu, 07 April 2016, 01:17:13
Under $200? No way!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Model-M-Space-Saving-Keyboard-SSK-with-PS-2-cable-/252343763582
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: ander on Thu, 07 April 2016, 05:17:55
Well, that's just where the bidding is now... The auction has 4 days to go.
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 07 April 2016, 05:41:09
The cable looks in reasonable condition too!

8 bids already ...
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: Touch_It on Thu, 07 April 2016, 14:03:26
Couple weeks from my birthday.  Don't have to be tempted!
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: JimByr on Thu, 07 April 2016, 15:05:09
Note that the board doesn't have SSK key caps.
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: ander on Thu, 07 April 2016, 18:45:20
Note that the board doesn't have SSK key caps.

Are you referring to the NumLk/ScrLk key that appears in the upper R section? Actually, I believe this one of the lesser-common SSK variants without an embedded number pad (no front-printed TK legends) and the normal Scroll Lock key is correct.

Dig the all-caps ALT and CTRL keys, too. I wouldn't mind having this in my collection one bit. Alas, trajectile kitchen implements would feel otherwise.
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 08 April 2016, 07:44:20

I believe this one of the lesser-common SSK variants without an embedded number pad (no front-printed TK legends) and the normal Scroll Lock key is correct.


I would love to have one of those, didn't know that they exist.
The "embedded number pad" makes me insane.
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: JimByr on Fri, 08 April 2016, 10:30:08
Ander,

Does such a SSK actually exist?

I only have one SSK (1395217) that lacks the NumLk/ScrLk key and the numpad overlay characters by design. It's a financial board. NumLk/ScrLk is replaced by Quote/Attn and there is no numpad overlay printing. However, the board when tested has the normal NumLk/ScrLk function and the numpad keys work as normal when numlock is enabled.

Jim
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: orihalcon on Fri, 08 April 2016, 10:41:56
I guess I don't get the appeal of not having the front printed TKL legends.  Wouldn't the easiest thing be to just replace the keys with those from a regular model M?
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 08 April 2016, 13:19:22
I guess I don't get the appeal of not having the front printed TKL legends.  Wouldn't the easiest thing be to just replace the keys with those from a regular model M?

I don't care about what caps it has. I wish that the "embedded number pad" did not exist at all. I can tolerate it as an alternate function pad, like on the F AT, but not in the middle of the alphas.
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: thatsmrdoctortoyou on Fri, 08 April 2016, 13:45:42
Wow this is tempting. I'm guessing the final price will exceed $250 though. Good luck to those bidding!
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: orihalcon on Fri, 08 April 2016, 18:57:03
I guess I don't get the appeal of not having the front printed TKL legends.  Wouldn't the easiest thing be to just replace the keys with those from a regular model M?

I don't care about what caps it has. I wish that the "embedded number pad" did not exist at all. I can tolerate it as an alternate function pad, like on the F AT, but not in the middle of the alphas.


Wouldn't Soarer's converter fix that? I might be missing the desired function and  It is an extra thing to need to do though.

Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 08 April 2016, 19:11:44
I guess I don't get the appeal of not having the front printed TKL legends.  Wouldn't the easiest thing be to just replace the keys with those from a regular model M?

I don't care about what caps it has. I wish that the "embedded number pad" did not exist at all. I can tolerate it as an alternate function pad, like on the F AT, but not in the middle of the alphas.


Wouldn't Soarer's converter fix that? I might be missing the desired function and  It is an extra thing to need to do though.



Since I use the F-122 as my daily driver and use the numpad constantly, I have NumLock come on automatically in the BIOS. I don't even have a NumLock key since I never use anything else.

When I plug in an SSK, with NumLock enabled, then typing words produces gibberish. And since the SSK does not have a NumLock, either, I have to try to remember some oddball combination that turns it off and on (something like Shift-Scroll Lock, isn't it?).

I am too old and cranky to worry with it, keyboards without numpads are things that I pack up to use one day after I retire.
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: ThoughtArtist on Fri, 08 April 2016, 20:23:20
I guess I don't get the appeal of not having the front printed TKL legends.  Wouldn't the easiest thing be to just replace the keys with those from a regular model M?

I don't care about what caps it has. I wish that the "embedded number pad" did not exist at all. I can tolerate it as an alternate function pad, like on the F AT, but not in the middle of the alphas.


Wouldn't Soarer's converter fix that? I might be missing the desired function and  It is an extra thing to need to do though.



Since I use the F-122 as my daily driver and use the numpad constantly, I have NumLock come on automatically in the BIOS. I don't even have a NumLock key since I never use anything else.

When I plug in an SSK, with NumLock enabled, then typing words produces gibberish. And since the SSK does not have a NumLock, either, I have to try to remember some oddball combination that turns it off and on (something like Shift-Scroll Lock, isn't it?).

I am too old and cranky to worry with it, keyboards without numpads are things that I pack up to use one day after I retire.

I take it this doesn't interest you then:

[attach=1]
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: smknjoe on Fri, 08 April 2016, 20:35:48
Aren't used ones still going close to ~$200?
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: ander on Sun, 10 April 2016, 03:07:27
I don't care about what caps it has. I wish that the "embedded number pad" did not exist at all. I can tolerate it as an alternate function pad, like on the F AT, but not in the middle of the alphas...

Since I use the F-122 as my daily driver and use the numpad constantly, I have NumLock come on automatically in the BIOS. I don't even have a NumLock key since I never use anything else.

When I plug in an SSK, with NumLock enabled, then typing words produces gibberish. And since the SSK does not have a NumLock, either, I have to try to remember some oddball combination that turns it off and on (something like Shift-Scroll Lock, isn't it?)... I am too old and cranky to worry with it...

Aside from providing the entertainment value of your cantankerousness, Fo, I can't say I understand why you drifted into this conversation in the first place. If I follow you, this is something that wouldn't interest you no matter what was printed on it. It's like someone going to a furniture site, opening a topic on reclining lounge chairs, and posting, "Bah! I don't like recliners."

Of course I'm not adding any substance here either. It's 1 A.M. in the suburbs and I didn't have anything else to do. Hey, maybe you didn't have anything else to do either... Am I starting to catch on?
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 10 April 2016, 09:07:12

It's like someone going to a furniture site, opening a topic on reclining lounge chairs, and posting, "Bah! I don't like recliners."


True, I don't like recliners.

I am interested in vintage IBM iron, and own an SSK that I may start using one day when I no longer work with numbers regularly.
But I would like the keyboard much better if the "embedded number pad" could be permanently disabled.
Title: Re: [EBAY] IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) with PS/2 cable
Post by: ander on Sun, 10 April 2016, 17:12:42
True, I don't like recliners.

LOL. Even in your "reclining years"?

I am interested in vintage IBM iron, and own an SSK that I may start using one day when I no longer work with numbers regularly.
But I would like the keyboard much better if the "embedded number pad" could be permanently disabled.

You didn't say what OS you were using, but in Windows you have control over all that stuff (http://www.askvg.com/force-capslock-numlock-and-scrolllock-keys-behavior-using-windows-registry/).

In Linux Mint, you can do it from the desktop (http://zornsoftware.codenature.info/blog/disabling-numlock-key.html). In any Linux distro, you can do it from the command line (http://xahlee.info/kbd/linux_disable_number_lock_key.html).