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Author Topic: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?  (Read 3271 times)

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Offline wyatt8740

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Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 16:33:01 »
Can the EnduraPro's keyboard assembly fit in the case of a standard Model M? I'd like the size and shape of a Model M with a trackpoint, and don't want to spend the extra premium on a M13. Through their customer service I've not really been able to get a clear answer as to whether I can order a custom board like this, just statements like 'Get an EnduraPro'.

I do not want the smaller, prettier EnduraPro, just the trackpoint. I have a spare Model M lying around I could put one's case in, but I'd like to know if it fits and if it's the same size and shape as the standard model M assembly is.

I am aware the M13 is seen as being 'higher quality' - however, I have found that the main difference is in the removeable keystems - and I have extra keys from an IBM-made model M.
« Last Edit: Thu, 19 February 2015, 16:39:29 by wyatt8740 »
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I don't usually collect things, but when I do, they're from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. My typing speed: 79 WPM
IBM Model M 1386303, 1987 / IBM Model M 1391401, 1993 / IBM Model M 59G7980, 1993 / Unicomp "Mini M" UT40E7A (modded), 2021 / Dell AT101W, 1994 (Black Alps) / Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange Alps), 1987 / Sun Type 5, unknown year (Rubber Dome)

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:06:30 »
Quote from: wyatt8740 on Thu, 19 February 2015, 16:33:01
Can the EnduraPro's keyboard assembly fit in the case of a standard Model M? I'd like the size and shape of a Model M with a trackpoint, and don't want to spend the extra premium on a M13. Through their customer service I've not really been able to get a clear answer as to whether I can order a custom board like this, just statements like 'Get an EnduraPro'.

I do not want the smaller, prettier EnduraPro, just the trackpoint. I have a spare Model M lying around I could put one's case in, but I'd like to know if it fits and if it's the same size and shape as the standard model M assembly is.

I am aware the M13 is seen as being 'higher quality' - however, I have found that the main difference is in the removeable keystems - and I have extra keys from an IBM-made model M.

Firstly, it uses the older 1.5x keys across the bottom and you will have to modify the front panel to accomodate the bottom row.  (Cut the tabs between the alt and ctrl keys)  You will also have to have a model M 42H1292 unless you want to modify the LED panel as well.  The controller is mounted in the top front right side, whereas the 1391401 has the controller in the lower left center panel.  I am not sure about the EnduraPro having the PS/2 port out the lower right side too.  That may be an issue as well.
The backside of my M13 looks like this Wyatt.  There may be an issue with that.  So to answer your question, yes and no.  No being the correct answer.
Edit: You will also have some serious issues with the trackpoint buttons in front of the spacebar.  I still say no.
« Last Edit: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:18:35 by Snowdog993 »
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Offline wyatt8740

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:15:29 »
Oh, okay.

Don't suppose I could either find someone here selling a M13 (for at most only slightly more than a new EnduraPro), or get Unicomp to sell me just the EnduraPro's assembly and a separate M13-style case? I know some of their models have an indent where the mouse buttons would go.

I do not care for the windows keys, so I would only feel slightly bad about cutting off the barrels for those keys with a dremel.
« Last Edit: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:20:03 by wyatt8740 »
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I don't usually collect things, but when I do, they're from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. My typing speed: 79 WPM
IBM Model M 1386303, 1987 / IBM Model M 1391401, 1993 / IBM Model M 59G7980, 1993 / Unicomp "Mini M" UT40E7A (modded), 2021 / Dell AT101W, 1994 (Black Alps) / Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange Alps), 1987 / Sun Type 5, unknown year (Rubber Dome)

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:24:00 »
Quote from: wyatt8740 on Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:15:29
Oh, okay.

Don't suppose I could either find someone here selling a M13, or get Unicomp to sell me just the EnduraPro's assembly and a separate M13-style case?

I do not care for the windows keys, so I would only feel slightly bad about cutting off the barrels for those keys with a dremel.

It's not the barrels at all.  The spacing between the keys on the bottom row is incorrect to begin with.  Even if you took out the left windows key and right menu key, it wouldn't fit to worth a diddly damn.  Plus the buttons for the trackpoint won't fit.  I would just ask Unicomp if they have a Classic 101 Trackpoint.  They may just have it.
« Last Edit: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:30:55 by Snowdog993 »
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Offline wyatt8740

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:33:17 »
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:24:00

It's not the barrels at all.  The spacing between the keys on the bottom row is incorrect to begin with.  Even if you took out the left windows key and right menu key, it wouldn't fit to worth a diddly damn.  Plus the buttons for the trackpoint won't fit.  I would just ask Unicomp if they have a Classic 101 Trackpoint.  They may just have it.

Here's my support ticket so far.

At the very least, they do not make the 'on-the-stick', which would have been PERFECT. That's the Classic 101 TrackPoint, I think.

Hoping they at least have an M13 case though, so I can take a crack at it.
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I don't usually collect things, but when I do, they're from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. My typing speed: 79 WPM
IBM Model M 1386303, 1987 / IBM Model M 1391401, 1993 / IBM Model M 59G7980, 1993 / Unicomp "Mini M" UT40E7A (modded), 2021 / Dell AT101W, 1994 (Black Alps) / Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange Alps), 1987 / Sun Type 5, unknown year (Rubber Dome)

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:35:44 »
It was worth a shot.  Maybe you can find one on ebay or something.  Good luck with your project!
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Offline wyatt8740

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:40:21 »
Thanks.

At this point, I'm thinking of trying to pull the trackpoint clone off of a broken dell laptop, and making my own implementation >:(
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I don't usually collect things, but when I do, they're from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. My typing speed: 79 WPM
IBM Model M 1386303, 1987 / IBM Model M 1391401, 1993 / IBM Model M 59G7980, 1993 / Unicomp "Mini M" UT40E7A (modded), 2021 / Dell AT101W, 1994 (Black Alps) / Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange Alps), 1987 / Sun Type 5, unknown year (Rubber Dome)

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 17:47:57 »
I found two in one listing.


NVM they are EnduraPro.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 18:45:26 »
Isn't the original first generation trackpoint what is considered to be the Mac Daddy?

I have never owned one of these, but I seem to remember a consensus that the early IBM-branded variants had the superior trackpoint technology.
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 18:52:23 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 19 February 2015, 18:45:26
Isn't the original first generation trackpoint what is considered to be the Mac Daddy?

I have never owned one of these, but I seem to remember a consensus that the early IBM-branded variants had the superior trackpoint technology.

I really don't know Fohat.  I do know that the M13 I have does work fine.  No trouble at all with the trackpoint on it.  It's very tight and feels nice.  I usually use a mouse instead.
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Offline E TwentyNine

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 25 February 2015, 13:17:08 »
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Offline JWK

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Re: Anyone here own a Unicomp EnduraPro? Can its' assembly fit a standard Model M?
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 17 April 2015, 10:56:11 »
Perhaps you could just call them on the telephone and have them build it custom.  Unicomp has a keyboard configurator on their web site, but I've not tried to configure what you're describing.
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