Author Topic: Sup.  (Read 1390 times)

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Offline Pesky_Human

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Sup.
« on: Fri, 01 January 2016, 21:49:26 »
Hey everybody. Happy New Year!

I found myself looking for information related to modern versions of the buckling spring keyboards that I grew up on. I guess I should have known that there would be people out there that were into mechanical switch keyboards, but I really had no idea about the depth of this rabbit hole. I love the ingenuity and creativity of this crew.

I ended up going with a Unicomp that is sitting at a UPS location waiting to be picked up when I get back into town on Tuesday. I use both a Mac and Windows laptops for work. I am used to the keyboard on my MBP, but the Asus keyboard is just horrendous, which prompted my search. I didn't want to go through a string of adapters to try to make a 30 y/o Model M work, and was relieved to find a USB version now exists. I get the feeling I will be picking up a 60% keyboard to go along with my MBP. The HHKB looks like it would be perfect. The Topre switches are pretty widely heralded and I like how it can be set up for Mac layout using the dip switches.

Anyway, I look forward to participating here. Thanks for all the great info!

Offline livingspeedbump

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Re: Sup.
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 01 January 2016, 22:30:47 »
Glad to see you here!

There is a lot of really simple projects that can be done to convert that Model M into a USB keyboard! Unicomps are great, but people often prefer the Model M's for their heft and build quality.  It could also make a really fun project :)


Also, HHKB is life, Topre is god.  :thumb:
<- My Collection (so far)

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
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Re: Sup.
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 03 January 2016, 04:02:35 »
Welcome to Geekhack!

http://phosphorglow.net/ makes drop in replacement controllers for Model M keyboards that have a direct USB port.  Or you could try one of orihalcon's SDL to USB cables - I have one and all 3 of my SDL Model M keyboards (one full size, two SSKs) work on my Mac.  My other full size Model M has a fixed PS/2 cable (actually I rebuilt the cable as someone had thoughtfully cut the original off), and use a PS/2 to USB adapter to get the same keyboard to also work on my Mac.  I use one of these: http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/usb-to-ps2-serial-multimode-adapter
"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

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