Personal computing discussed
Moderators: renee, SecretSquirrel, notfred
Captain Ned wrote:Which reminds me that it's probably time to de-chum the Model M.
whm1974 wrote:Captain Ned wrote:I need to turn my keyboard upside down and shake it to de-chum as well. It's amazing what people have in their keyboards.Which reminds me that it's probably time to de-chum the Model M.
Captain Ned wrote:Which reminds me that it's probably time to de-chum the Model M.
just brew it! wrote:Heh. Yeah, as noted in another recent thread, my RK-9000 got an unplanned bath last week. It wasn't nearly as bad as the pic you posted, but since it needed a complete immersion bath (there was beer down inside some of the switches...) it got a very thorough cleaning. The only lingering aftereffect seems to be a couple of keys intermittently squeaking slightly; I'll swap out the switches if it doesn't resolve on its own.
Captain Ned wrote:just brew it! wrote:Heh. Yeah, as noted in another recent thread, my RK-9000 got an unplanned bath last week. It wasn't nearly as bad as the pic you posted, but since it needed a complete immersion bath (there was beer down inside some of the switches...) it got a very thorough cleaning. The only lingering aftereffect seems to be a couple of keys intermittently squeaking slightly; I'll swap out the switches if it doesn't resolve on its own.
I saw your groan and commune. Nice thing about the M and those keywells is that it takes A LOT OF BEER to get past the keycaps and into the workings. Even so, I've discovered that a beer-sodden Model M left by itself for several years (I have 2) will work when called upon.
whm1974 wrote:You know, I'm thinking a Model M from whoever still makes them or maybe a Das Keyboard. I had a cheaper Model M back in '94 and '95. Like damn fool I sold it with the old computer when I upgraded. Time to buy another one.
Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:You know, I'm thinking a Model M from whoever still makes them or maybe a Das Keyboard. I had a cheaper Model M back in '94 and '95. Like damn fool I sold it with the old computer when I upgraded. Time to buy another one.
Real Model Ms, complete with with birth certificates (the tag on the underside) are readily available on FleaBay,
whm1974 wrote:Ah found the bookmark for Unicomp, Inc. Time for me to cough up ~$100 or so and buy a new Model M. I'm sure it would be worth it, right? Right?
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/SFNT
Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:Ah found the bookmark for Unicomp, Inc. Time for me to cough up ~$100 or so and buy a new Model M. I'm sure it would be worth it, right? Right?
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/SFNT
Buy a real Model M on FleaBay. The Unicomps aren't quite as well-built, and the real Model M is so damn indestructible that 99.99% of FleaBay purchases will be just fine. Back when Scott/Damage wrote the quarterly "suggested build" posts, he always described the Model M as the keyboard to own if you ever thought you'd need to use your keyboard as a personal defense weapon.
whm1974 wrote:Maybe I'll get a simple Das Keyboard instead.
Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:Maybe I'll get a simple Das Keyboard instead.
At this point you should hit up JBI, as I believe he's been there. I'm a hard-core Model M guy, so you've moved beyond my small sphere of knowledge.
whm1974 wrote:All I want is a simple reliable keyboard that comfortable to use and can take a great deal of abuse. Without all the useless "features" that "Gaming keyboards come with".
whm1974 wrote:Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:Maybe I'll get a simple Das Keyboard instead.
At this point you should hit up JBI, as I believe he's been there. I'm a hard-core Model M guy, so you've moved beyond my small sphere of knowledge.
All I want is a simple reliable keyboard that comfortable to use and can take a great deal of abuse. Without all the useless "features" that "Gaming keyboards come with".
Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:All I want is a simple reliable keyboard that comfortable to use and can take a great deal of abuse. Without all the useless "features" that "Gaming keyboards come with".
If that's truly what you want and you have the desk space and the auditory tolerance, the Model M is your guy. It'll outlast either of our terms on this Earth.
whm1974 wrote:Speaking of auditory tolerance, I remember back in High School in the early 90's a few computer labs using Apple II's and IBM machines, the clacking of the keyboards drove some people nuts, and quite a few folks dropped computer classes because of that. As I recall, we computer geeks then had a good laugh about that.
Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:Speaking of auditory tolerance, I remember back in High School in the early 90's a few computer labs using Apple II's and IBM machines, the clacking of the keyboards drove some people nuts, and quite a few folks dropped computer classes because of that. As I recall, we computer geeks then had a good laugh about that.
Try the late '70s, a PDP-8e, and an ancient ASR-33 teletype machine. Since it had a punch-tape "writer", it was how we handed in programming assignments.
whm1974 wrote:I could live with a volume control if it works in Linux. Hell I would find that useful.
whm1974 wrote:Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:Ah found the bookmark for Unicomp, Inc. Time for me to cough up ~$100 or so and buy a new Model M. I'm sure it would be worth it, right? Right?
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/SFNT
Buy a real Model M on FleaBay. The Unicomps aren't quite as well-built, and the real Model M is so damn indestructible that 99.99% of FleaBay purchases will be just fine. Back when Scott/Damage wrote the quarterly "suggested build" posts, he always described the Model M as the keyboard to own if you ever thought you'd need to use your keyboard as a personal defense weapon.
But the Unicomps are still better then most keyboards right? Maybe I'll get a simple Das Keyboard instead.
Chuckaluphagus wrote:Not going to gainsay the Model M, but that description would also fit the Ducky Zero that I've been using for a few years. Cherry MX switches (of your preferred type), plain black ABS plastic with white printing, no fancy lights, USB connection, weighted with a nice steel plate and so could still be used to knock someone unconscious in an emergency. Aside from all the standard keys you'd expect, it has volume control and a Calculator button spaced above the numpad, and those are its sole concessions to not being a work device.
whm1974 wrote:Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:Speaking of auditory tolerance, I remember back in High School in the early 90's a few computer labs using Apple II's and IBM machines, the clacking of the keyboards drove some people nuts, and quite a few folks dropped computer classes because of that. As I recall, we computer geeks then had a good laugh about that.
Try the late '70s, a PDP-8e, and an ancient ASR-33 teletype machine. Since it had a punch-tape "writer", it was how we handed in programming assignments.
I think Ars Technica had an article a while back about really old computer devices still in use. One business was still using punch cards of all things. I hear that governments are real bad about still keeping hardware that should have been replaced a long time ago in use.
synthtel2 wrote:@whm1974, I'd vote for a WASD (or CODE, same manufacturer). I've got a tenkeyless WASD with browns and o-rings, and that Aimpad review a while back has been the only thing ever to make me think it isn't perfect.
Captain Ned wrote:whm1974 wrote:Ah found the bookmark for Unicomp, Inc. Time for me to cough up ~$100 or so and buy a new Model M. I'm sure it would be worth it, right? Right?
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/SFNT
Buy a real Model M on FleaBay. The Unicomps aren't quite as well-built, and the real Model M is so damn indestructible that 99.99% of FleaBay purchases will be just fine. Back when Scott/Damage wrote the quarterly "suggested build" posts, he always described the Model M as the keyboard to own if you ever thought you'd need to use your keyboard as a personal defense weapon.
just brew it! wrote:The fact that I typically use a KVM may make it more likely, but I've seen it on other systems as well. Caps Lock key can suffer from this issue too (and there does not seem to be an equivalent 'capslockx' tool).
Krogoth wrote:Unicomp units are almost the same thing (Used both). The only thing that can kill a Model M and its newer sibling is a beverage accident (non-water) if the beverage manages get into the matrix board. The key molds are slightly inferior on Unicomp units but the body construction is about the same though. It is like comparing original Shelby Cobras versus their replicas.
Igor_Kavinski wrote:just brew it! wrote:The fact that I typically use a KVM may make it more likely, but I've seen it on other systems as well. Caps Lock key can suffer from this issue too (and there does not seem to be an equivalent 'capslockx' tool).
Replace the key code for numlock with that for caps lock and recompile. Linux sources are easily available. Should be that easy, right?
just brew it! wrote:Igor_Kavinski wrote:just brew it! wrote:The fact that I typically use a KVM may make it more likely, but I've seen it on other systems as well. Caps Lock key can suffer from this issue too (and there does not seem to be an equivalent 'capslockx' tool).
Replace the key code for numlock with that for caps lock and recompile. Linux sources are easily available. Should be that easy, right?
Depending on what's required to sync the internal and external Num Lock state it may not be quite that simple. If it was as simple as sending a simulated key code, just pressing the physical key would get things back in sync with no need for an extra utility.