IBM Model F XT Keyboards - $50 free shipping (SOLD)

[ekeppel]

Pretty good price on these if you can stand the layout.  They make a decent daily driver once you remap the keys and swap a few keycaps around. :-)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-IBM-5-PIN-83-KEY-MODEL-F-KEYBOARD-PERSONAL-COMPUTER-CLICKY-5150-5160-XT-/332047081378

[samwisekoi]

These have great switches.  Clean, remap, swap a few keycaps and you've got a great Model F keyboard.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[chyros]

**** remapping, you'd be surprised at how functional the layout is if you give it a try .

[tent]

what would be your suggestion for remapping it? especially for the ctrl-alt-(win)-arrows-del-ins ?

thanks,
 tent:wq

[ekeppel]

what would be your suggestion for remapping it? especially for the ctrl-alt-(win)-arrows-del-ins ?

thanks,
 tent:wq

Everyone has their own preference and some don't remap at all, as Chyros said.  Here is the Soarer's Converter config file that I'm currently using:

layerblock
    FN1 1
endblock

remapblock
    layer 0
    CAPS_LOCK FN1
    ESC BACK_QUOTE
    BACK_QUOTE ENTER
    BACKSLASH LSHIFT
    F2 ESC
    PAD_ASTERIX BACKSLASH
    NUM_LOCK PAD_SLASH
    SCROLL_LOCK PAD_ASTERIX
    F6 MEDIA_MUTE
    F7 MEDIA_VOLUME_DOWN
    F8 MEDIA_VOLUME_UP
    F9 F11
    F10 F12
    LALT LCTRL
    LCTRL LALT
endblock

remapblock
  layer 1
   PAD_0 0
   PAD_1 1
   PAD_2 2
   PAD_3 3
   PAD_4 4
   PAD_5 5
   PAD_6 6
   PAD_7 7
   PAD_8 8
   PAD_9 9
   PAD_PERIOD PERIOD
   1 F1
   2 F2
   3 F3
   4 F4
   5 F5
   6 F6
   7 F7
   8 F8
   9 F9
   0 F10
   MINUS F11
   EQUAL F12
endblock

I moved around a bunch of keys, stole keys from a Model M, and even swapped a hammer over so as to use the same wide left-shift from an ANSI Model M. 

The left arrow next to the original enter key is a duplicate enter key so I don't need to stretch my pinky.  That way it is in about the same spot as I hit enter on a regular ANSI keyboard. 

The right ALT used to be my WIN-key, but it's since become a FN key to enable a second layer F1-F12 along the top row and force the numpad from navigation back to numbers while held.  I have volume up/down and mute to the left where F6-F8 would normally be.  With the second layer handling F1-F12 already, you could put a win key over there along with whatever else you wanted quick access to.

The numpad has been reconfigured to have most of the keys that a standard numpad would have, but of course it is missing the enter key thanks to that GIANT + key that IBM stuck there, lol. :-)

Yes, those are labels from a handheld label printer on the backspace and right shift key.   )  They are 1.5W keys taken from a Model M.  I just found them easier to hit than the stepped keys that were there originally. 

I realize the whole thing is rather ugly (some would say an abomination), but it's a work in progress and does improve usability for me.  I am trying to keep the typing experience as close to a standard 101 ANSI feel as I can for the majority of the keyboard, but of course it's just not completely possible with this PCB.

If anyone has any suggestions or criticisms, feel free to let me know.



Edit: I just realized that I don't know how to properly insert a scrollable inline text file, so I ended up using the QUOTE tag.  Oops. :-/

[mana]

what would be your suggestion for remapping it? especially for the ctrl-alt-(win)-arrows-del-ins ?

thanks,
 tent:wq

Here's mine. Basically tried to make it as close to ANSI as possible. I've used the key to the left of Z as the left shift (as thats where I would press for Shift anyway) and then used the actual short left shift as a Winkey. Thus I actually have Ctrl, Win, Alt in the bottom right corner, just vertical rather than horizontal. I've also done what ekeppel has in regards to the enter and made a duplicate enter there. A few other keys are switched around as well.

remapblock
    F1        ESC
    F7        MEDIA_MUTE
    F8        MEDIA_VOLUME_UP
    F10        MEDIA_VOLUME_DOWN
    PAD_PLUS        PAD_ENTER
    PAD_MINUS        PRINTSCREEN
    ESC        BACK_QUOTE
    BACK_QUOTE        ENTER
    PAD_ASTERIX        BACKSLASH
    BACKSLASH        LSHIFT
    LSHIFT        LGUI
endblock

[ekeppel]

Here's mine. Basically tried to make it as close to ANSI as possible. I've used the key to the left of Z as the left shift (as thats where I would press for Shift anyway) and then used the actual short left shift as a Winkey. Thus I actually have Ctrl, Win, Alt in the bottom right corner, just vertical rather than horizontal. I've also done what ekeppel has in regards to the enter and made a duplicate enter there. A few other keys are switched around as well.

I like this because simpler than my current setup and doesn't require moving a hammer. :-)  How do you access F1-F12?  Are you using caps_lock for a second layer too?  I wouldn't mind seeing what you have going on there if you don't mind sharing it with us.

Edit:  I decided to play around with things after thinking about your layout and came up with this:



It's getting there, lol.  I liked where you had the Esc key so I did the same and also put F12 next to it.  F12 doesn't have a proper label yet, but it's actually my standby/sleep key.  (It hasn't been done yet, but I'll add it to the Fn layer to prevent an accidental tap from sleeping the machine, lol.)

I don't use the Win key every day, but it's nice to have available, so I put it farthest to the left since it's quite a stretch.  I use the CTRL key for cut/paste/etc. all the time, so it went next, then ALT in it's stock position.  Since CTRL was now down in the bottom row, I utilized the original CTRL location as a second Fn key that accesses the same layer as the one my Caps_Lock key handles.  With that second Fn key in easy reach of the left pinky now, it seemed like a good idea to then make J,K,L,I into a WASD-style nav block, with U and O being Home and End, and Semicolon becoming Delete.  To finish up that idea, W and S become Page_Up and Page_Down.  This makes for easy edits without leaving the home row.   If you prefer nav with the left hand, just reverse everything and use WASD for the nav block instead.  The Soarer's Converter config file with these changes is attached if you want to check it out.

With both Fn keys, I now have access to a lot more possibilities.  I know of at least one layout someone came up with that uses similar dual Fn keys to access yet a third layer when pressed at the same time.  I don't plan to go that far right now though.  )

Thanks for getting me thinking more about this.  It has been bugging me for a while not having those modifiers all in the bottom row, lol.

Eric

[mana]

Haha, I'm a simple person so there isn't much else from my configuration, just a couple of keys mapped to increase and decrease brightness using Flux:

macroblock

macro F6
   MAKE LALT
   PRESS PAGE_DOWN
        BREAK LALT
endmacro

macro F4
   MAKE LALT
   PRESS PAGE_UP
        BREAK LALT
endmacro

endblock

This basically means that the F1-10 key block is mostly used up for functions - volume up/down, brightness up/down and mute (similar to yours). This leaves the F3,5,7,9 keys unassigned (and I'm sure I could find a better use for them). I actually used to remap F9 to Ctrl and F10 to Windows much like you did on your keyboard but since I have quite small hands (I'm 5'3) I found them to be a bit of a stretch. I would imagine that these would be more natural positions if your hands are more normal sized.

I haven't reassigned the caps lock to anything though if I did it would certainly be a Fn key of sorts using layers. I just haven't found the use for any extra functionality just yet; what I think I am going to do is figure out all the symbols that I use (things like superscripts, mathematical symbols, greek symbols etc) and then remap them to a logical Fn+alphanumeric key.

I like your power-usage of the home row and perhaps I might use a variation of that that I find comfortable. I just need to sit down (much like you have) and figure out exactly what I want.

[Hypersphere]

Here is one version of remapping (HHKB-like) and changing some keycaps on my XT:


XT Left Side: Red = Ctrl; Dark Blue = Opt/Alt


XT Right Side: Red = Ctrl; Dark Blue = Opt/Alt; Green = Enter/Return; Blank Tan = Backspace

I installed a Teensy inside with Soarer's firmware. I also installed a flush-mount USB-B connector in the back of the case, sanded and painted the barrel plate, installed new foam, and did a floss mod to eliminate ping. This is my most solid board and my favorite switches.

[ekeppel]

Nice setup Hypersphere. I'm liking those colorful keys. :-)

After looking at those pics I posted of my keyboard recently, I'm a little embarassed about how 'unfinished' everything looks with all the gaps everywhere.  To make it look more 'normal' I put back most of the original XT keycaps, and just added labels to them.



I've updated the layout slightly (again), since I found it easier on my brain to have the Fn-accessed home row nav clusters similar in shape to a standard 101.  Here is the remap layout so it's easier to see what the Fn layer is doing.



I'll probably stop messing around with this XT layout for now, since I want to play around with the Model F AT and do a partial ANSI mod on that one too.

Edit (I edit a lot, sorry):  I neglected to mention from the start that in addition to the other keys mentioned on the layout design, the home keys F and J are also from a Model M since they have nibs for touch typing.

[samwisekoi]

...just added labels to them.

Try P-touch M-K131 1/2" black-on-clear tape.  It looks better, and the smallest P-touch font is a good match for the OEM font, especially on the Pearl and Pebble keycaps.  The labels in the attached picture are about a year old, and are on my F-122 at work.  (As you can see from the cleanliness of the alphas...)

Nice layout!

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[ekeppel]

...just added labels to them.

Try P-touch M-K131 1/2" black-on-clear tape.  It looks better, and the smallest P-touch font is a good match for the OEM font, especially on the Pearl and Pebble keycaps.  The labels in the attached picture are about a year old, and are on my F-122 at work.  (As you can see from the cleanliness of the alphas...)

Nice layout!

 - Ron | samwisekoi

Thanks Ron, great idea on the clear labels.  For blanks or two-piece keys that's a simple and effective way to do it. 

Unfortunately, most of the keys I'm using are the original one-piece keys, so a clear label won't cover the existing text.  The most finished look could probably be achieved by ordering some custom printed keys from Unicomp.  Maybe I could add a red 'Self-Destruct' cap to replace 'Esc' for good measure. 

Eric

 

[mana]

I wouldn't mind seeing what you have going on there if you don't mind sharing it with us.

Have played with the layer to get what I want out of this. It is programmable after all so why don't we have some things on our keyboard to make our posts online look pretty?

Definitely liked the idea of using the capslock as a fn key, and have used that extensively in my latest iteration, which is attached.