Unicomp (
http://www.pckeyboard.com/), the people who bought the Model M
design from Lexmark, currently make a keyboard with a buckling-spring
mechanism, which is very similar to the IBM Model M, has an embedded
TrackPoint III, and Windows keys.
Peace... Sridhar
On Sun, 24 Nov 2002, Sark wrote:
> My new computer is a Power Macintosh G4. It doesn't have a PS/2 port.
> On my PC, I used an old Wang keyboard, a model 724. I really like that
> keyboard. I also have some of the IBM PS/2 Model M keyboards, the
> clicky ones. I like those too. I bought a PS/2 to USB adapter, but it
> would not work with the Wang keyboard. Also, with other keyboards, I
> don't have an Open-Apple key (pronounced "Meta"). If I connect a PC USB
> keyboard, the Windows key serves this purpose. The problem here is that
> the only PC keyboards with a Windows key are the membrane type. In
> other words, if I want to get a decent, yet compatible keyboard, It
> looks like I'll have to build it. Besides, I love projects like these.
>
> Ian Primus
> ian_primus_at_yahoo.com
>
> On Sunday, November 24, 2002, at 07:48 PM, Patrick Finnegan wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 24 Nov 2002, Sark wrote:
> >
> >> Actually, I've been planning on building my own. I am currently
> >> tracking down old, broken keyboards from terminals, etc. to get
> >> keytops
> >> and switches from, and I am going to canniballize a cheap PC USB
> >> keyboard for it's encoder chip and associated circuitry. Basically,
> >> I'm
> >> going to build a new key matrix from real switches, to replace that
> >> membrane and rubber disc thing modern keyboards use. I've done stuff
> >> like this before, rewiring a very old PC keyboard to replace a broken
> >> TRS-80 Color Computer 3 keyboard. With any luck, I'll have something
> >> that won't wear out nearly as fast as others, and be comfortable to
> >> type on as well. The only thing I might run into is contact bounce. I
> >> don't know if there is anything in a USB keyboard to deal with this,
> >> as
> >> I don't think membrane keyboards have quite the problem with contact
> >> bounce as mechanical switches do. Any ideas?
> >
> > I know Mr. Duell may not like my suggestion... but why not just find
> > yourself an IBM PS/2 'clicky' keyboard and use that, plugged into the
> > PS/2
> > keyboard port on the back of your computer? Or are you unlucky enough
> > to
> > have a machine that doesn't have a PS/2 keyboard connection? Sure,
> > it's
> > not the same as the keyboard on, say, and ADM-3A, but it's 'more
> > authentic' than modern keyboards.
> >
> > Of course, sometimes I like the fact that my keyboard is fairly quiet
> > when
> > I'm typing on it. It may still be louder than my other machines in the
> > room, but it's nowhere near as obnoxious as a 'real' keybard.
> >
> > Pat
> > --
> > Purdue Universtiy ITAP/RCS
> > Information Technology at Purdue
> > Research Computing and Storage
> > http://www-rcd.cc.purdue.edu
> >
>
Received on Tue Nov 26 2002 - 09:01:23 GMT