IBM Model M's Family Tree

[microsoft windows]

I've always wondered where the 101-key layout has come from. So, I went on the Internet and traced Mr. M's ancestry down to this IBM 5251 Display Station from 1977:




Here's a later Dislpay Station. Notice the same keyboard layout, except it uses buckling springs and more strongly resembles the 83-key Model F.


And, here's what IBM made in 1983 based on it.


In 1984, the Model F took a turn. IBM made an 84-key variant and a 122-key variant as well.

Here's a 122-key Model F.

In 1985, IBM released a new model of its Industrial PC with the first 101-key Model  M's. At about this time, they also made 122-key Model M's identical to the Model F's except for membrane switches and a slightly different construction.


A few months after that, in 1986, two variants of the 101-key Model M were introduced. One was identical to the original except it was in beige, and the other lacked lock lights and was intended for PC/XT computers.


And, here it is: the Model M we all know and love.

[mp29k]

Cool post... it is neat to see it all in one place.

[kishy]

Yeah, for sure. People who know the keyboards will have already looked up this stuff and have a relative idea of all the puzzle pieces, but for someone who isn't familiar with the history of the design it'll definitely prove to be a good summary.

[ch_123]

Imagine if someone prior to this had gathered all the stuff that had been discussed to death before, and put it all together in some sort of "IBM Wiki"

Oh wait...

Btw kids, first Model M was a 102 key 3151 Terminal keyboard.

[kishy]

Imagine if someone prior to this had gathered all the stuff that had been discussed to death before, and put it all together in some sort of "IBM Wiki"

Oh wait...

Btw kids, first Model M was a 102 key 3151 Terminal keyboard.

Hence why I was very careful to say "summary".

[ch_123]

But why bother? It's like "I didn't know something, so I found it on on this site and I copied it here (complete with the same pics) to make it look like independent research in a vainglorious attempt to look intelligent".

[kishy]

Well...FWIW, when I gave praise to it, I had no intention of devaluing the time and effort you're putting into the IBM Wiki.

My guess is MW felt there was a valid need for a quick summary (and I'll agree, it can be difficult to work through a giant comprehensive article) and so went ahead with it, hopefully without negative intentions towards you or your work on that article.

[msiegel]

why bother?

dude, the ibm wiki is awesome.

consider mw your marketing department

[mp29k]

Wow, the ibm wiki is amazing, what a huge undertaking.

[quadibloc]

On my web site, long before I started reading this site, I had a diagram comparing the original PC keyboard layout to the 5251 keyboard - and it was nice to see a 5251 photo here.

[microsoft windows]

But why bother? It's like "I didn't know something, so I found it on on this site and I copied it here (complete with the same pics) to make it look like independent research in a vainglorious attempt to look intelligent".

Now first of all, I did not copy some one else's post and take credit for it. I went on the Internet, found the pictures myself, and then made a post. Whereas many web sites said the Model M's layout was based on the Model F (84-key), I took a different approach and decided to see how people thought of it.

I know all about the IBM wiki, and it is a very good source of information about the IBM keyboards. I just thought I'd run my research through the forum to see what people think first, and to provoke some discussion on keyboard evolution.

I'd be more than happy to add this into the Wiki if you want, though.