Author Topic: IBM Model F: Big Clicky Disappointment (Read 16216 times)

Oqsy · « **Reply #50 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 02:13:20 »

All this model F talk has me jonesing to dig mine out of storage at my parents house. I made them SWEAR not to do anything with it or the vintage IBM PC that it came with, but I have this sinking feeling it might not be there... I need to call them and remind them how much their son loves them and appreciates them. And perhaps in passing bring up that old computer in storage and see if they sound guilty or play it cool.

Congrats on the Model F and I'm glad you got the switches all settled in and working!

JohnElliott · « **Reply #51 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 04:40:08 »

Quote from: ripster;147890

Hmm.... Looks to me it's a candidate for Model M International style mod. Pop an extra switch module above that Enter key and hope a unique scan code pops up.

Someone else go first.

We're still talking about the 84-key Model F, right?

http://www.seasip.info/VintagePC/ibm_6450225.html

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #52 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 06:41:45 »

Quote from: Oqsy;148067

All this model F talk has me jonesing to dig mine out of storage at my parents house. I made them SWEAR not to do anything with it or the vintage IBM PC that it came with, but I have this sinking feeling it might not be there... I need to call them and remind them how much their son loves them and appreciates them. And perhaps in passing bring up that old computer in storage and see if they sound guilty or play it cool.

Congrats on the Model F and I'm glad you got the switches all settled in and working!

Thank you Oksy. I hope you find your F.

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #53 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 06:46:37 »

I must inform you that I am typing this message on my "new" Model-F. My system is a Pentium 3 @ 1 Ghz running Win98 SE.

I have just tested the rollover effect.

This very keyboard has unlimited potential.
I can score easily over 30. I cannot press more keys to test for more.
So IBM Model F PC-AT has True N-Key Roll-Over !!!

The question is: If I get the PS2-USB adaptor will it affect this NKRO?

ch_123 · « **Reply #54 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 06:58:04 »

Yes, but you'd have to go out of your way to make it fail.

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #55 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 07:02:05 »

Quote from: ch_123;148098

Yes, but you'd have to go out of your way to make it fail.

Please give us an example..

timw4mail · « **Reply #56 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 07:34:18 »

USB is limited to six normal keys, and four modifiers. Since most people only have five fingers, USB's limitation isn't really that limiting.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #57 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 13:46:32 »

Quote from: Buckling_Summer;148097

I must inform you that I am typing this message on my "new" Model-F. My system is a Pentium 3 @ 1 Ghz running Win98 SE.

You should upgrade to Windows XP on that machine. A 1ghz Pentium III can easily handle it. Pop in 512MB of RAM and you've got an OK computer there.

ricercar · « **Reply #58 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 15:06:18 »

Quote from: Buckling_Summer;148097

tested the rollover effect.... score easily over 30.

Ripster will correct me if I'm mis-typing, but the n-key test is what's the small number, not what's the large number. If your model F always gets a minimum of 4, or if your F gets a minimum of 5, that's the true rollover number.

For example, my SPOS gives me 2 keys when I type slowly. My G86-8995HLUC gives me 5 no matter what the combination is.

itlnstln · « **Reply #59 on:** Tue, 05 January 2010, 15:37:16 »

The F is NKRO (assuming PS/2).

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #60 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 10:41:59 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;148188

You should upgrade to Windows XP on that machine. A 1ghz Pentium III can easily handle it. Pop in 512MB of RAM and you've got an OK computer there.

There is no reason to upgrade. Win98 has been running for 8 years straight without format/ virus-free. There are some applications i want that require win9x/DOS and I do not want to use VMWare or DOS emulation, I am just using my old PC. It is running smoothly and from these days and on, it can handle my Model F too :-)

maxlugar · « **Reply #61 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 12:05:12 »

Quote from: Buckling_Summer;148832

There is no reason to upgrade. Win98 has been running for 8 years straight without format/ virus-free. There are some applications i want that require win9x/DOS and I do not want to use VMWare or DOS emulation, I am just using my old PC. It is runs smoothly and from these days and on it can handle my Model F too :-)

If you decide to use your 84-key Model F with a newer OS or laptop, the infamous "blue cube" ps/2 to USB adapters will make it work seamlessly with any modern PC. They work so well, you can even use your Model F at the boot level directory. Brandon at Clickykeyboards.com has them for sale and ripster has also posted alternate web sources.

I have so many "vintage" keyboards, I buy those blue cube adapters by the dozen!

timw4mail · « **Reply #62 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 14:09:25 »

Quote from: maxlugar;148868

If you decide to use your 84-key Model F with a newer OS or laptop, the infamous "blue cube" ps/2 to USB adapters will make it work seamlessly with any modern PC. They work so well, you can even use your Model F at the boot level directory. Brandon at Clickykeyboards.com has them for sale and ripster has also posted alternate web sources.

I have so many "vintage" keyboards, I buy those blue cube adapters by the dozen!

I must have strange luck with PS/2->USB adapters... I have three different types, and they all work flawlessly.

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #63 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 16:26:17 »

Quote from: maxlugar;148868

If you decide to use your 84-key Model F with a newer OS or laptop, the infamous "blue cube" ps/2 to USB adapters will make it work seamlessly with any modern PC. They work so well, you can even use your Model F at the boot level directory. Brandon at Clickykeyboards.com has them for sale and ripster has also posted alternate web sources.

I have so many "vintage" keyboards, I buy those blue cube adapters by the dozen!

You convinced me! I am ordering the adapters.

Maxlugar you must be an adepter*. Aren't you?

* A portmanteau word made especially for you...
adapter + adept ==> adepter: an adept in adapters

Hope you like it. ;-)

ch_123 · « **Reply #64 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 16:31:58 »

That's funny, I thought I linked a link to those a few pages back, and at a much cheaper price than Brandon sells them for...

quadibloc · « **Reply #65 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 16:45:27 »

Quote from: maxlugar;148868

They work so well, you can even use your Model F at the boot level directory.

Huh? What's a boot level directory?

Do you mean, perhaps, that you can use the model F for interacting with the BIOS screen on startup? (That is: that blue screen where you press Del [or some other secret key on many brand name computers] at the beginning of bootup to get a screen where you can see how many CD-ROM drives and hard disks you have, and tell it to shave off some wait cycles for handling memory, and so on.)

ricercar · « **Reply #66 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 16:46:19 »

Slightly off-topic to the off-topic adapter issue, does anyone have a recommendation for an adapter Legacy Joystick DB15 to USB?

ch_123 · « **Reply #67 on:** Thu, 07 January 2010, 17:39:24 »

Quote from: quadibloc;148926

Huh? What's a boot level directory?

Do you mean, perhaps, that you can use the model F for interacting with the BIOS screen on startup? (That is: that blue screen where you press Del [or some other secret key on many brand name computers] at the beginning of bootup to get a screen where you can see how many CD-ROM drives and hard disks you have, and tell it to shave off some wait cycles for handling memory, and so on.)

Given the amount of motherboards that use F11 or F12 to access the BIOS or boot menu, the F is eminently unsuitable for that task.

timw4mail · « **Reply #68 on:** Fri, 08 January 2010, 07:18:22 »

Quote from: ch_123;148946

Given the amount of motherboards that use F11 or F12 to access the BIOS or boot menu, the F is eminently unsuitable for that task.

Strange, I don't think I've ever seen a mother board that required F11 or F12 to enter the bios.

Most commonly, it seems to be F1, F2, or Del

ch_123 · « **Reply #69 on:** Fri, 08 January 2010, 07:41:45 »

My Gigabyte ones use F12. F11 is very common for boot menus on a lot of OEM systems.

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #70 on:** Fri, 08 January 2010, 14:18:58 »

Quote from: ripster;149197

When my son and I did mass Linux box builds as charity work we were taught to just run our fingers along the Fcn row at boot.

Became a badge of honor if you could guess the correct one just looking at a generic case.

Like a NKRO test? Heh, that's funny.

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #71 on:** Fri, 08 January 2010, 14:22:45 »

Quote from: ricercar;148927

Slightly off-topic to the off-topic adapter issue, does anyone have a recommendation for an adapter Legacy Joystick DB15 to USB?

RM-203 ROCKFIRE USB GAMEPORT CONVERTER USB JOYSTICK ADAPTER

Manhattan-Joystick-Adapter

meltie · « **Reply #72 on:** Fri, 08 January 2010, 18:08:47 »

Quote from: ripster;149197

Became a badge of honor if you could guess the correct one just looking at a generic case.

Reminds me of my days in tech support ...

InSanCen · « **Reply #73 on:** Fri, 08 January 2010, 18:24:22 »

Quote from: meltie;149319

Reminds me of my days in tech support ...

Indeed. Worked Tech support for a shop that could have anything through the door. Huge fun. honestly...

Buckling_Summer · « **Reply #74 on:** Tue, 12 January 2010, 03:28:46 »

Quote from: timw4mail;147811

Well, according to Unicomp, the Model M buckling springs last just about forever, so I would think that the Model F springs would last just about as long, if not longer.

Dia-M-onds are forever !

ch_123 · « **Reply #75 on:** Tue, 12 January 2010, 05:12:55 »

Quote from: timw4mail;147811

Well, according to Unicomp, the Model M buckling springs last just about forever

Or for 25 million cycles, whichever comes sooner.

quadibloc · « **Reply #76 on:** Tue, 12 January 2010, 06:11:43 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;148188

You should upgrade to Windows XP on that machine. A 1ghz Pentium III can easily handle it. Pop in 512MB of RAM and you've got an OK computer there.

While it's true that XP can run on a Pentium III at 1 GHz, upgrading a computer is a big expense (and, of course, Windows XP is not actually currently available as a choice; Windows 7 won't upgrade from anything earlier than Vista; so her only choice is Vista) with a risk of breaking some programs. Why take such a risk when the computer already works?

If you buy a new application program, you've added the ability to do something; if you upgrade your operating system, your computer still has an operating system, but you've given Microsoft money, and the main result is that it runs slower.

ch_123 · « **Reply #77 on:** Tue, 12 January 2010, 06:14:54 »

MS Windows suggested that someone upgrade their computer to something newer than Windows 2000?!

News:

Author Topic: IBM Model F: Big Clicky Disappointment (Read 16216 times)