Finally got to use my Macally MK-96

[vyshane]

Yesterday my iMate ADB to USB adapter got delivered, which means that I finally got to use my Macally MK-96 - a few years after I purchased it. I dig the ALPS switches. I like them better than the buckling spring actually. They are just as noisy though!

However, there are a few issues:

1) Keycap nubs are on the d and k keys instead of f and j. Not a biggie. I swapped the keys around.

2) Placement of ESC is not at top leftmost. I use Vim a lot. This might finally drive me to bind jk to leave insert mode in Vim and bash Vi mode.

3) Non inverted T arrow keys. I can get used to that.

4) Last but not least. This is the big one. I usually bind ctrl to the caps lock key. I proceeded to do that with the MK-96. Pressing the caps lock key activates ctrl as expected. However, I can't do combos with it, e.g. ctrl-a does not work. This is a big downer. I use combos that involve the ctrl key a lot. I use them for switching virtual desktops in OS X, and for window management in Vim and tmux.

Verdict? I don't think I'll use this keyboard much. Some of the issues, I can get around, but not the caps lock - ctrl problem.

[xsphat]

I had the same problem with that 'board, but in OS X I rarely use Control anyway.

[xsphat]

Hey Rip, I finally got a Selectric. It's a Selectric 1 with a 15" carriage, 1959, in black. I love it.

[clickclack]

This may sound really silly and useless but if you really dug the keyboard apart from the control-a issue, how about nixing the capslock traces and doing jumpers to the Ctrl key?

Hey Rip, I finally got a Selectric. It's a Selectric 1 with a 15" carriage, 1959, in black. I love it.

He nice to see ya =)
I just lost my Selectric I with my Selectric II =(
I am probably the only moron who could loose a mechanical typewriter (let alone two of them)
='(

[xsphat]

The site says I last visited in May - top that Welly-Belly!

And congrats on losing 85 pounds of typewriters, lol.

[clickclack]

To the OP-
The more I think about it, maybe the trace and jumper idea would really be usefull to you. I think I would actually try that if it was an issue I was having.
=)

The site says I last visited in May - top that Welly-Belly!
And congrats on losing 85 pounds of typewriters, lol.

CLASSIC!
I needed that =)

  And for fun ...

It's a trap!!!

[vyshane]

This may sound really silly and useless but if you really dug the keyboard apart from the control-a issue, how about nixing the capslock traces and doing jumpers to the Ctrl key?

I pulled the trigger on a SIIG Minitouch (GH Space Saver), which has a sane ESC key placement as well as inverted T arrow keys. I probably won't bother modding the MK-96.

[clickclack]

Congrats =)

[vyshane]

Congrats =)

Thanks This comes after a year of not buying any keyboards. I hope that buying that ADB to USB connector does not turn out to be the start of a chain reaction!

[iMav]

The mk96 are great for the money (can be had NIB relatively cheaply if you keep your eyes peeled on eBay).  I have several of them as they are great give away keyboards (assuming you have some iMates to pass along as well...which I do).

[vyshane]

The mk96 are great for the money (can be had NIB relatively cheaply if you keep your eyes peeled on eBay).  I have several of them as they are great give away keyboards (assuming you have some iMates to pass along as well...which I do).

Yep, I got mine when you posted about it here. Thanks for the tip!

I bought two of them back then, and gave one to my colleague. I only waited two years before I decided to get an iMate so that I can use it

[keyboardlover]

You can find them NIB on sale for $10 here.

[spear]

[...]
4) Last but not least. This is the big one. I usually bind ctrl to the caps lock key. I proceeded to do that with the MK-96. Pressing the caps lock key activates ctrl as expected. However, I can't do combos with it, e.g. ctrl-a does not work. This is a big downer. I use combos that involve the ctrl key a lot. I use them for switching virtual desktops in OS X, and for window management in Vim and tmux.
[...]

I remember that when I first got a Mac (clone), people thought this couldn't be done with ADB keyboards because of the way caps lock key up/down events were generated (down event on first key press, up event on second key release).  However, someone eventually figured out a way to do it and created uControl (originally iControl).  (It doesn't work for later versions of OS X.)  I also used to compile my own Linux kernels just to patch it with a version of this method.  I did that until my old Powerbook died.

I'm not sure whether that method would have worked with an ADB-USB adapter, though.

[microsoft windows]

The site says I last visited in May - top that Welly-Belly!

And congrats on losing 85 pounds of typewriters, lol.

I gained about 40lbs of typewriters when I got an old Smith-Corona from about 1940.

[vyshane]

This may sound really silly and useless but if you really dug the keyboard apart from the control-a issue, how about nixing the capslock traces and doing jumpers to the Ctrl key?

So I cracked. While waiting for the SIIG Minitouch, I went ahead and did it. Caps Lock is now nixed and Ctrl has taken it's place. Now using this keyboard at work.

[clickclack]

Many lawls!
You just made my day =)
Wait, scratch that! I have been sick for a few days so you made my week!
haahaa, I really needed that, thanks =)
...and congrats on doing it!

So I cracked. While waiting for the SIIG Minitouch, I went ahead and did it. Caps Lock is now nixed and Ctrl has taken it's place. Now using this keyboard at work.

Show Image

[itlnstln]

Hahaha!  HW beats SW any day.

That's why I like DIP switches.

[didjamatic]

I love crimes of passion against capslock keys.  This mod definitely qualifies.

You could run those wires to a dip switch or jumper block and make the mod reversible via flick of a switch or two.  Not that you would want to reverse it though.

[vyshane]

Many lawls!
You just made my day =)
Wait, scratch that! I have been sick for a few days so you made my week!
haahaa, I really needed that, thanks =)
...and congrats on doing it!

Thanks for planting the seed. Hope you get well soon

[vyshane]

I love crimes of passion against capslock keys.  This mod definitely qualifies.

You could run those wires to a dip switch or jumper block and make the mod reversible via flick of a switch or two.  Not that you would want to reverse it though.

I don't think I'll want to reverse it. I'll cross that bridge if I ever come to it.

The GH Space Saver is getting closer:

• Out of Foreign Customs, August 31, 2010, 7:51 am, AUSTRALIA
• Into Foreign Customs, August 31, 2010, 6:27 am, AUSTRALIA
• Arrived Abroad, August 31, 2010, 6:26 am, AUSTRALIA

Hopefully tomorrow!