Author Topic: IBM Model M Space Saving Mini Love (Read 44465 times)

skcheng · « **Reply #150 on:** Fri, 07 May 2010, 15:37:32 »

Quote from: Half-Saint;179839

Just got this in the mail. Cost me an additional 15.66€ (import tax) but still a very good deal! I now finally know what a brand new model M feels and sounds like. Three times hurrah for skcheng and Unicomp!

-SainT

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Nice!!! Great board and the funky reverse L "Enter" key. Sometimes there is nothing like NIB. I have a few more to post pics of also at some point when I have time.

kishy · « **Reply #151 on:** Fri, 07 May 2010, 15:46:15 »

I wonder if an Alt Car is anything like an Art Car?

itlnstln · « **Reply #152 on:** Fri, 07 May 2010, 16:19:32 »

Ha! When I was going to school in Austin, there was a car that looked like that, but it had toy dinosaurs glued to it. Apparently, the girl's name that drove it was Dinah (Dinah-saur, get it?), and she had "fossil fuel" written on the gas tank.

I know, I know. "Cool story, bro."

ricercar · « **Reply #153 on:** Fri, 07 May 2010, 18:18:29 »

This guy lives in my neighborhood.

kishy · « **Reply #154 on:** Fri, 07 May 2010, 19:00:04 »

Best use of a Firefly...or whatever that is, Geo Metro? that I've ever seen. Good stuff.

skcheng · « **Reply #155 on:** Sun, 09 May 2010, 08:31:43 »

More Space Saving Goodness!!!

First I wanted to mention that straight (in white or black) SDL to PS/2 cables do indeed exist. Very high quality and NO MORE coiled SDL cables sitting on the floor for me anymore. And now I can finally do some cable management with my 6-8 various input devices LOL!!

Cables. I really should post a separate thread at some point about these. I have all of the stock ones and some that I've swapped with great success. My next goal is a straight USB cable for the model F. Now that will be worth the effort. My own personal Model F thread to follow soon.

Some cable love!! Only $10 from one of my favorite keyboard crack dealers, Chucky over at Unicomp:

Lookee what the nice UPS man brought me:

Gotta love the boxes and original foam packaging. Too bad everyone threw those away with their keyboard purchases. Personally, I keep boxes, instructions, original packaging for everything.

Both of these were converted over to US Layout. I sprung for additional keysets so the original keys are still in place. Easy conversion back to German and French layouts. Chucky did some nice print on these US Layout keys. Look at the blue sub print. As Mike Tyson would say......NIIIIICE!!

And for ch_123:

Anyone else have any cool Space Saving Minis to post here? Stock, unusual keys, special layouts? Modified Minis?? Spread the love!!!

A couple more to post when time permits!!

skc

phototristan · « **Reply #156 on:** Sun, 09 May 2010, 08:51:12 »

Can you post some pics of the black cables plugged into a Space Saver?

skcheng · « **Reply #157 on:** Sun, 09 May 2010, 08:52:16 »

Quote from: webwit;180342

Aah you got some of the CHEAP cables. No more budget for the hardcore, manly, coiled ones, huh?

Here are some of my "new" SDL to PS/2 and SDL to AT cables:

This doesn't include the 5 cables included in my NIB Space Saving Minis or the two dozen "used" cables I picked up over the last month.

They're all getting swapped out for nice NEW shiny straight cables. Did you know that Chucky has "white" straight cables?? That would be matchy matchy with our IBM boards.

And admit it Webby, on at least one occasion you've tripped over one these "manly" coiled cables and nearly broken your neck. Admit it!!

skcheng · « **Reply #158 on:** Sun, 09 May 2010, 08:57:26 »

Quote from: phototristan;180346

Can you post some pics of the black cables plugged into a Space Saver?

It just looks like a black cable plugged into a Mini. Just call up Chuck at Unicomp and order one. You'll love it.....promise. The coiled cables are a PITA!! If you don't like the straight cable, I'll buy it from you.

Notice how the "used" coiled cables are always filthy on one side. I spent like an hour cleaning one of those and told myself "never again". I'm not the spoiled, rich NIB baby that Ripster is, but life is too short to deal with a nasty dirty cable.

skcheng · « **Reply #159 on:** Sun, 09 May 2010, 10:35:11 »

Quote from: webwit;180359

For a 5576-003 you have to get into Yahoo Auctions Japan and crescent-shop. Crescent-shop is the shopping service so you can buy products only available in Japan, and they will forward it to you. And they have an English interface into Yahoo Auctions. Not as rare as the M15, although there doesn't seem to be any around at the moment.

Very cool!! I don't want the board as much as I want the numpad. Thanks!! See.....I reveal where you can get nifty straight SDL cables and you tell me where to find a buckling spring Numpad so that both of us can blow money on things we absolutely don't need

skcheng · « **Reply #160 on:** Sun, 09 May 2010, 11:05:06 »

Quote from: webwit;180379

Then I better reveal that both buckling springs keypads I have only work with the accompanying keyboards (the 5576-003 and M15) attached to them. Special connector.

Thanks. That's pretty useful information.....

ch_123 · « **Reply #161 on:** Mon, 10 May 2010, 04:08:38 »

I'm pretty sure they're the same size, and the camera angle is skewering that fact.

skcheng · « **Reply #162 on:** Mon, 10 May 2010, 06:57:31 »

Quote from: ch_123;180626

I'm pretty sure they're the same size, and the camera angle is skewering that fact.

Webby figured out a way to shrink his keyboards in order to save space. Shrinky dinks style

Rajagra · « **Reply #163 on:** Mon, 10 May 2010, 07:08:07 »

Quote from: ricercar;180600

Which one is the Common size Mini?

Yes, I did a double take when I first saw that pic.
Things aren't always what they seem.

pfink · « **Reply #164 on:** Mon, 10 May 2010, 18:18:40 »

Quote from: skcheng;180347

Did you know that Chucky has "white" straight cables?? That would be matchy matchy with our IBM boards.

A package from Unicomp arrived today. The white straight cables are flat:

Stevie Wonder · « **Reply #165 on:** Mon, 10 May 2010, 18:32:40 »

White?

skcheng · « **Reply #166 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 08:35:47 »

Pics of a Terminal Space Saving Mini. This one I've been playing with for the last week and it's finally time to ship it off like I've been promising. Board purchased in spanking refurbished condition from Brian O'Neill. For those interested, a standard Model M PC board was used omitting the LED terminals of course. Keycaps from the Terminal M were replaced with standard Model M keys. Works great!! Terminal Space Savers are usually available for $50 or so. Maybe another $20 for any Model M with some nice keycaps and you can build a working Terminal Space Saver.

Half-Saint · « **Reply #167 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 08:41:08 »

Quote from: skcheng;183446

Pics of a Terminal Space Saving Mini. This one I've been playing with for the last week and it's finally time to ship it off like I've been promising. Board purchased in spanking refurbished condition from Brian O'Neill. For those interested, a standard Model M PC board was used omitting the LED terminals of course. Keycaps from the Terminal M were replaced with standard Model M keys. Works great!! Terminal Space Savers are usually available for $50 or so. Maybe another $20 for any Model M with some nice keycaps and you can build a working Terminal Space Saver.

Are you saying that you can switch circuit boards to convert a Terminal Space Saver to a regular PS/2 Space Saver?

SainT

skcheng · « **Reply #168 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 08:43:37 »

Quote from: Half-Saint;183447

Are you saying that you can switch circuit boards to convert a Terminal Space Saver to a regular PS/2 Space Saver?

SainT

Yes. Everything works, but you lose the hidden numpad function. It's a 2 minute swap on the PC board. And if a ratty, broken regular Mini pops up, you can convert it over fully to a normal Space Saving Mini. But I don't see too many "broken" Space Saving Minis out there.

ch_123 · « **Reply #169 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 09:31:39 »

Quote from: pfink;180817

A package from Unicomp arrived today. The white straight cables are flat:

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They look like a Model M2 cable with an SDL connector thrown on the end.

ricercar · « **Reply #170 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 17:59:25 »

Is there any call for LED mod of a Mini? My Space Saving PCB has 4 contacts that are unused, obviously a match for normal Model M LEDs.

kishy · « **Reply #171 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 18:08:58 »

If I may make a suggestion, use small round LEDs and mount them inside the appropriate lock keys (obviously make sure the LED connector is operational first).

Drill a hole in each lock key which perfectly fits the LEDs you use, fit LED into hole, put small amount of glue to hold in place. Run wires off side of board then behind deck to controller.

Much easier and cheaper to undo if you drill holes in the keys rather than case.

Rajagra · « **Reply #172 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 18:41:37 »

Quote from: kishy;183808

Drill a hole in each lock key

Or don't...

A backlit effect is much classier IMO.
(Achieved here by using the "wrong" key in the CapsLock position on my 87U.)

ricercar · « **Reply #173 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 19:20:03 »

Quote from: ripster;183802

You first.

Confirmed Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock, but Num Lock is playing hard to get. Probably because of the embedded keypad.

Note: The Model M Space Saving pinout is NOT consistent with the Model M regular pinout I expected. More to come.

armenws · « **Reply #174 on:** Tue, 18 May 2010, 22:59:19 »

sweet.

ricercar · « **Reply #175 on:** Wed, 19 May 2010, 13:36:28 »

LEDs next to the Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. Unfortunately Caps lock LED blinks for a while when first connected to blue cube; this didn't happen yesterday, and makes me uncomfortable, so the LED mod is probably short lived.

For my next trick, thinking about a model M13 Space Saving mini if I can get the cutaway G and H keys from Fentek or Unicomp...

MsKeyboard · « **Reply #176 on:** Wed, 19 May 2010, 13:45:59 »

Ricercar,
Don't have any cut-aways.........sorry

kishy · « **Reply #177 on:** Wed, 19 May 2010, 13:50:32 »

Looking at my M13, you could completely get away with simply cutting out that area from a normal key with a Dremel or similar.

skcheng · « **Reply #178 on:** Wed, 19 May 2010, 20:07:13 »

German layout Lexmark headed to Germany. Some Esc bling and a straight SDL to PS/2 cable included. Pretty board!!

Kybd No: 1397970

French board Kybd No: 1397971

Interesting layout. Gotta love the Strg, Einfg, and Druck keys.

42.tar.gz · « **Reply #179 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 09:44:11 »

Thanks a lot, skcheng!

skcheng · « **Reply #180 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 10:23:21 »

Quote from: 42.tar.gz;187057

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Thanks a lot, skcheng! :)

That sure looks NICE sitting on your desk. Not too many of those out there. I don't even think Webwit has one :))

And the Red Esc key looks great!! Nice cord too!! I bet the standard original coiled cable sits in the box. I hope my packing got that board to you safely!!

Enjoy and THANK YOU!!

skc

skcheng · « **Reply #181 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 10:41:38 »

Quote from: ripster;187080

Why does it say Lexmark? Does Chuck have a box of cases he can sell?

Chuck just turned up a few more surprises. Pics when I have time. Just slammed with work this week.

Dirty Bint · « **Reply #182 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 17:16:18 »

skcheng,

Would you happen to know if there was a UK layout model equivalent of the Lexmark Space Saver you shipped to Germany? You listed the German and French model numbers and I would be keen to know if there was a UK layout produced.

Rgds
Dirty Bint

ch_123 · « **Reply #183 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 17:33:13 »

Quote from: ripster;187080

Why does it say Lexmark? Does Chuck have a box of cases he can sell?

I've never seen an IBM-brand 84/85-key with a European layout, they must not have been very popular in Europe... Skcheng's spacesavers were the first SSKs I've seen with a European layout.

ch_123 · « **Reply #184 on:** Thu, 27 May 2010, 05:03:23 »

Those aren't really a UK layout.... more like an ISO US.

phoenix · « **Reply #185 on:** Mon, 31 May 2010, 14:32:44 »

I've received my Model M Mini from Skcheng for a while but thought I would wait till my custom keycaps arrive before I post a picture

Thanks again, Skcheng!

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #186 on:** Mon, 31 May 2010, 15:57:07 »

Quote from: ripster;188508

P.S. Don't take my dentist jokes personally. I was picking on Dentists LONG before you registered. Especially that ScarFace guy.

I haven't seen any complaints. Everybody hates dentists after all.

skcheng · « **Reply #187 on:** Wed, 02 June 2010, 10:56:35 »

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Quote from: ripster;188508
Wish I lived near SKCheng. He seems to be a real perfectionist.

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P.S. Don't take my dentist jokes personally. I was picking on Dentists LONG before you registered. Especially that ScarFace guy.

Perfectionist, huh )

I definitely beat to my own drum. Recent filling that I did for a patient. After decay excavation:

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Pretty large hole, right??

Each cusp built up individually with opaque dentin shade, several enamel shades.

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Some ochre staining and some white decalcification tints:

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Some high value enamel shades and final contouring:

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All work accomplished under 8-20x magnification. Complete isolation with rubber dam.

Intra-oral shots after final polish, removal of rubber dam.

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Rip.....you would absolutely LOVE doing this kind of nit-picky tedious busywork. And I get paid to do this LOL.

And keep the dental jokes coming. I love dental humour. Have you ever seen this video?? One of my all time favorites:

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Author Topic: IBM Model M Space Saving Mini Love (Read 44465 times)