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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: pfink on Thu, 28 January 2010, 08:53:58

Title: Unicomp On-The-Ball/M5-2
Post by: pfink on Thu, 28 January 2010, 08:53:58

$25 + $14.26 shipping or make an offer. Doesn't say if they're buckling spring or rubber dome.

Link to auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370326817134)

Title: Unicomp On-The-Ball/M5-2
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 28 January 2010, 11:17:20

The rubber dome On-The-Ball seems to be one of Unicomp's big hits, along with their 122-key terminal keyboards. If you see a Unicomp trackball keyboard, you should assume that it's a rubber dome unless it has a part number other than that one.

Title: Unicomp On-The-Ball/M5-2
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 28 January 2010, 11:44:25

At the same time, I wouldn't go out of my way to acquire a rubber dome keyboard with a questionably usable[size=-2]*[/size] trackball on top.

[size=-2]* Based on ergonomics and tracking with modern screens.[/size]

Title: Unicomp On-The-Ball/M5-2
Post by: kishy on Thu, 28 January 2010, 12:10:22

Quote from: ch_123;154396

At the same time, I wouldn't go out of my way to acquire a rubber dome keyboard with a questionably usable[size=-2]*[/size] trackball on top.

[size=-2]* Based on ergonomics and tracking with modern screens.[/size]

Valid point, but can be subjective (trackball comment that is). My M5-2 trackball tracks very quickly while on the now-failing cheapo USB converters, and is positioned in a comfortable, easy-to-use spot considering the keyboard is used on my lap.

Title: Unicomp On-The-Ball/M5-2
Post by: rykerwilliams on Wed, 26 January 2011, 11:14:17

Hey guys, I just bought a couple of these off of ebay. I know they are rubber dome, but they are pretty nice; solid.

Anyway, does anyone know how I test the trackball works or doesn't? I have a PS/2 to USB converter that allows me to use the keyboard, but the trackball doesn't seem to work. I tried plugging it in to my tower's ps/2 ports and the trackball still doesn't work. BUT this tower runs GNU/Linux and I don't know if it could be some missing driver or if the hardware is shot.

Please help me with some options to test. Thanks.

edit: Sorry for the bump! I just glanced at the date, not the year!!

Title: Unicomp On-The-Ball/M5-2
Post by: Pylon on Wed, 26 January 2011, 11:33:15

Hmm, if you bolt mod the thing and get new keycaps, can you add in springs and turn it into a BS board?

$40 + $20 for kecaps + $10 for springs = $70 BS On-The-Ball.

Title: Unicomp On-The-Ball/M5-2
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 26 January 2011, 11:58:22

The trackballs in these old M5-2's are prone to  failure in some cases. I believe it's a problem where some draw too much power for the  PS/2 port. What I'd recommend doing is starting up the  computer with the  trackball plugged in a bunch of times, and if it works some of those times, then it's the power problem.

But unless it's just an unseated cable inside the keyboard or something  like that, your best bet would be to contact Unicomp and see if they have any  trackball assemblies they can give or sell you, so you can replace the malfunctioning ones.