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Author Topic: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?  (Read 5494 times)

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Offline aptivaboy

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Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« on: Wed, 23 March 2016, 00:45:24 »
You know the one I'm talking about.  ;D ;D ;D More function keys than you can shake a stick at! The original equivalent of Unicomp's PC-122. I'm aware that they cannot be used as is due to their keys being mapped differently and modern PCs not being able to read them. But, is there a reasonable way to remap their keys and make one usable with a modern Windows system?

Many thank,

Robert 
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Offline Red October

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 23 March 2016, 01:56:33 »
More than a reasonable way, a turnkey solution.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Soarers-Converter-Adapter-for-IBM-Model-F-122-Keyboard-Remapping-Macros-NKR-/271644933588
His other auctions have the ones for the boards with Modular plugs and PS/2 connectors. 
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 23 March 2016, 08:27:47 »
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline aptivaboy

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 23 March 2016, 12:19:03 »
Cool... There are a number of them on the Bay of Evil right now that look nice, including one pure white case - not the more standard off-white case. I may make one into a project.

One other thing - I'd be using it with an HP laptop. When I'm at home, I plug it into a standard keyboard for ease of typing. Were I to remap the keys, would that remap them integrally to the keyboard? I guess what I'm asking is, would the remapping apply no matter which PC it was plugged into, or only with the laptop?

Thanks,

Robert
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 23 March 2016, 18:37:06 »
I am not exactly sure about your question, but a Soarer's Converter intercepts the keyboard and sends codes on in a USB form that the computer can understand. As I recall, wcass gave an easy instruction in reply #560.

Remapping keys is reprogramming the key codes to be interpreted as whatever else you select, so that the computer sees the Teensy, not the keyboard. So yes, the keyboard/Teensy combo will appear the same no matter what computer that you plug it into.

Orihalcon's cables probably behave pretty much the same way, but I don't know for sure.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline aptivaboy

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 00:29:28 »
I ran across this on the Bay of Evil: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-RJ45-to-USB-Soarers-Converter-Model-M-Terminal-Keyboard-Remapping-Macros-/281476431381?hash=item41894d7e15:g:wwYAAOSwF1dUSZVm

I'm guessing this is what I need then, correct? I'm foreseeing some interesting macros for the extra function keys, he he he...
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 07:37:52 »
Yes, Orihalcon's cables are very clean and work well.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline aptivaboy

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 12:20:31 »
They'd also work for a Unicomp PC-122, I'm guessing? I may go that route (see other thread).

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=80741.0

Robert
« Last Edit: Thu, 24 March 2016, 12:27:44 by aptivaboy »
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Offline appleonama

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 12:22:16 »
Quote from: Red October on Wed, 23 March 2016, 01:56:33
More than a reasonable way, a turnkey solution.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Soarers-Converter-Adapter-for-IBM-Model-F-122-Keyboard-Remapping-Macros-NKR-/271644933588
His other auctions have the ones for the boards with Modular plugs and PS/2 connectors.

Interesting I didn't know about this but there must be a cheaper solution right?
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Offline Moistgun

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 12:43:00 »
Quote from: appleonama on Thu, 24 March 2016, 12:22:16
Quote from: Red October on Wed, 23 March 2016, 01:56:33
More than a reasonable way, a turnkey solution.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Soarers-Converter-Adapter-for-IBM-Model-F-122-Keyboard-Remapping-Macros-NKR-/271644933588
His other auctions have the ones for the boards with Modular plugs and PS/2 connectors.

Interesting I didn't know about this but there must be a cheaper solution right?

You can wire in a teensy 2.0 for half that price and use the code to convert it directly. Takes a bit more work.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 14:45:10 »
Quote from: Moistgun on Thu, 24 March 2016, 12:43:00

Interesting I didn't know about this but there must be a cheaper solution right?

You can wire in a teensy 2.0 for half that price and use the code to convert it directly. Takes a bit more work.

[/quote]

And you can buy a Chinese knock-off for $5, but each price jump makes it considerably easier to use.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 21:01:09 »
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 24 March 2016, 22:35:03 »
Like this?

http://imgur.com/a/tIonH

I had mine done by Phpsphorglow.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 26 March 2016, 05:07:28 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 24 March 2016, 07:37:52
Yes, Orihalcon's cables are very clean and work well.


+1000

I use mine every week - works perfectly on a few Model Ms with my Mac.

Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 24 March 2016, 21:01:09
Quote from: aptivaboy on Wed, 23 March 2016, 12:19:03

There are a number of them on the Bay


Won't get much cheaper than this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-Model-M-Clicky-Keyboard-1395660-RJ45-Not-a-AT-/351681868817?hash=item51e1df7411:g:oQcAAOSwAuNW7fMc&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true


And looks like you won't get that one anyway - already sold ;)

Quote from: Snowdog993 on Thu, 24 March 2016, 22:35:03
Like this?

http://imgur.com/a/tIonH

I had mine done by Phpsphorglow.


I still like that keyboard, and not just because of the yellow underlay.

Ok, maybe because of the yellow underlay :p
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 26 March 2016, 08:01:50 »
Quote from: rowdy on Sat, 26 March 2016, 05:07:28
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Thu, 24 March 2016, 22:35:03
Like this?

http://imgur.com/a/tIonH

I had mine done by Phpsphorglow.


I still like that keyboard, and not just because of the yellow underlay.

Ok, maybe because of the yellow underlay :p

It's actually being used, and has been since the day I obtained it.  It's not sitting in a box at all.  That keyboard is very special.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Can an IBM terminal Model M keyboard be used today?
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 27 March 2016, 19:59:47 »
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Sat, 26 March 2016, 08:01:50
Quote from: rowdy on Sat, 26 March 2016, 05:07:28
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Thu, 24 March 2016, 22:35:03
Like this?

http://imgur.com/a/tIonH

I had mine done by Phpsphorglow.


I still like that keyboard, and not just because of the yellow underlay.

Ok, maybe because of the yellow underlay :p

It's actually being used, and has been since the day I obtained it.  It's not sitting in a box at all.  That keyboard is very special.


Good  to hear :)
Logged
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ
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