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Author Topic: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer  (Read 1488 times)

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Offline cowa

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Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 00:21:10 »
Recently got very interested in the wonderful world of mechanical keyboards and decided to look at the legendary ibm model m keyboard.  I bid on one thinking it would come with a ps/2 cord, compatible with my computer, but after later looking more closely at it saw it did not.  Looking into the date of manufacturing I realized it isn't modern enough for ps/2.  I've done a lot of intense googling and no one really seems to talk about it much.  Can anyone help?

IBM Model M 1987 1391401

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXCELLENT-IBM-MODEL-M-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-PART-1391401-O-8/191371542425?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D25410%26meid%3D716e364368d247daafb3741d5bf4fd88%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10672%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D151443403724&rt=nc

Thanks!
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Offline inoxify

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 00:31:46 »
I Did the same thing last week, this is a terminal M, you will need a teensy and Soarer's Converter

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0
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Offline ComradeSniper

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 00:47:41 »
Nope, not a terminal M, just one of the earlier model Ms with a DIN5 cable. You can get a DIN5 to PS/2 adapter for cheap on amazon.
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Offline inoxify

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 00:50:25 »
Quote from: ComradeSniper on Sat, 18 October 2014, 00:47:41
Nope, not a terminal M, just one of the earlier model Ms with a DIN5 cable. You can get a DIN5 to PS/2 adapter for cheap on amazon.

Oh nice, disregard my post then you got lucky if you win it!
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Offline FreeCopy

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 01:12:39 »
Quote from: inoxify on Sat, 18 October 2014, 00:50:25
Quote from: ComradeSniper on Sat, 18 October 2014, 00:47:41
Nope, not a terminal M, just one of the earlier model Ms with a DIN5 cable. You can get a DIN5 to PS/2 adapter for cheap on amazon.

Oh nice, disregard my post then you got lucky if you win it!

Another option if you want to spend the extra money is to get the standard detachable ps2 cable through Unicomp.

Good luck! Let us know if you get it.
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Offline Blaise170

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 01:45:58 »
I just ordered a DIN5 to PS/2 convertor from Amazon, it was only $3.99 with Prime Two-Day. Since DIN5 uses the same signal as PS/2 (Mini DIN-6), you don't need any fancy convertors, just a cheap one.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 03:38:01 »
Yeah, that.  Plus a PS/2 to USB adaptor if you want to use it on a USB-only computer.

Or if it has SDL port you can go straight from SDL to USB:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEIGE-USB-to-SDL-6-Pin-6ft-IBM-Lexmark-Unicomp-Model-M-Clicky-Keyboard-Cable-NEW-/271470078682?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f34e0aada
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-to-SDL-6-Pin-6ft-IBM-Lexmark-Unicomp-Model-M-Clicky-Keyboard-Cable-NEW-/271367683396?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2ec63d44

My Model M 51G8572 I am currently using with one of the above black cables on my Mac.
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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

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Online fohat.digs

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 08:30:37 »
Quote from: rowdy on Sat, 18 October 2014, 03:38:01
Yeah, that.  Plus a PS/2 to USB adaptor if you want to use it on a USB-only computer.


I second this suggestion. Orihalcon's cables are pricey but beautifully built and work great.
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Offline dorkvader

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 18 October 2014, 10:34:08 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 18 October 2014, 08:30:37
Quote from: rowdy on Sat, 18 October 2014, 03:38:01
Yeah, that.  Plus a PS/2 to USB adaptor if you want to use it on a USB-only computer.


I second this suggestion. Orihalcon's cables are pricey but beautifully built and work great.


they also make use of the ID innovations ps/2 to usb adapter which is my favourite of commercial options.

The cheapest way would be to open it up and put in an arduino pro micro running soarer's converter code, but it requires some DIY and some knowhow.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Help! Not sure if IBM Model M compatible with computer
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 19 October 2014, 04:55:17 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 18 October 2014, 08:30:37
Quote from: rowdy on Sat, 18 October 2014, 03:38:01
Yeah, that.  Plus a PS/2 to USB adaptor if you want to use it on a USB-only computer.


I second this suggestion. Orihalcon's cables are pricey but beautifully built and work great.


Trivia: My Orihalcon cable (SDL to USB) cost more than both my Model M put together!
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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?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ
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