Model F Technical Manual Project

[Zcool31]

720p:

classic_77_small.png (139.4 KiB) Viewed 8989 times

classic_62_small.png (113.49 KiB) Viewed 8989 times

480p:

classic_77_tiny.png (81.02 KiB) Viewed 8989 times

classic_62_tiny.png (67.7 KiB) Viewed 8989 times

360p:

classic_77_puny.png (58.53 KiB) Viewed 8989 times

classic_62_puny.png (49.15 KiB) Viewed 8989 times

I only have a MacBook Pro with me and the pictures look good - wither directly in Microsoft Edge or in Preview.
I did re-run your pictures through a 300dpi dither filter. Maybe this is causing some issues, too. Both of your pictures look ok to me.

Then your MacBook Pro must have some amazing image scaling built in.

[darkcruix]

...
Then your MacBook Pro must have some amazing image scaling built in.

I've uploaded the 'small' version with the latest 720p pictures. How does it look for you now?
http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

[Weezer]

really liking how this manual is shaping up.

[Zcool31]

I've uploaded the 'small' version with the latest 720p pictures. How does it look for you now?
http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

720z100.png (20.01 KiB) Viewed 8943 times

720z100-compact.png (17.07 KiB) Viewed 8943 times

At 100% zoom, that image is about 140 pixels high. At what zoom do you expect people to read the document? Fit page width? Fit page height?

It feels like we're trying to implement mip-mapping.

[darkcruix]

...
At 100% zoom, that image is about 140 pixels high. At what zoom do you expect people to read the document? Fit page width? Fit page height?

It feels like we're trying to implement mip-mapping.

My initial idea was (and still is) a printed manual as primary outcome. I absolutely also want it to be looking good when viewing on screens. On my MacBook Pro it shows the keyboard at 100% zoom with 840 pixel width (at 144dpi). The normal screen DPI should be at around 72 DPI and then it should be 420 pixels.
But these are numbers ... I can increase the size of the picture to the full width of the page (97mm), but as we are doing pixel work here I don't know if that looks good enough. Any ideas, how I can improve it for screens?

Screen Shot 2020-09-03 at 23.12.01.png (267.77 KiB) Viewed 8933 times

[darkcruix]

Did a check on my phone and it looks good there also, IMHO

www.linux-tin.org.png (366.88 KiB) Viewed 8880 times

[Zcool31]

I think Firefox is to blame. It seems to do a poor job downscaling images in a PDF document. Firefox on the left, Edge on the right.

ModelFManual:

firefox-v-edge-big.png (59.96 KiB) Viewed 8877 times

ModelFManual-Small:

firefox-v-edge.png (59.62 KiB) Viewed 8877 times

[OxC0FFEE]

I'd say Microsoft has the edge on this one.

[zzxx53]

That's some great drawings!
Anyone making T-shirts with them? I'd be in for one.

[darkcruix]

That's some great drawings!
Anyone making T-shirts with them? I'd be in for one.

What a great idea

[darkcruix]

I have updated the Manual (both sizes) with a few more items and photos:
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

I also received some wonderful updates (from depletedvespene and others), which I am reviewing at the moment and probably upload over the next days.
I am back home from travel, so I can do the requested measurements also ...

Thanks so much, everyone for the input - keep the information flowing.
I also would love to get some photos from your Model F variants. I have two pictures in the PDF of my XT and AT boards already, so you can see the approximate angle I shoot them of (Section 2.12 Photos of the Models - page 2-34 at this moment)

Models I own:
* Model F 'XT'
* Model F 'AT'
* Model F122
* Model F107
* Brand New Model F62
* Brand New Model F77
* Model F 'XT Portable'

[Zcool31]

Ignore all my complaints about images looking bad. Every document viewer I have tried other than Firefox scales things down just fine.

Evince renders ModelFManual-Small.pdf quite well, but struggles with ModelFManual.pdf. The pictures you have in -Small.pdf now are fine.

[Bass]

I have updated the Manual (both sizes) with a few more items and photos:
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

I also received some wonderful updates (from depletedvespene and others), which I am reviewing at the moment and probably upload over the next days.
I am back home from travel, so I can do the requested measurements also ...

Thanks so much, everyone for the input - keep the information flowing.
I also would love to get some photos from your Model F variants. I have two pictures in the PDF of my XT and AT boards already, so you can see the approximate angle I shoot them of (Section 2.12 Photos of the Models - page 2-34 at this moment)

Models I own:
* Model F 'XT'
* Model F 'AT'
* Model F122
* Model F107
* Brand New Model F62
* Brand New Model F77
* Model F 'XT Portable'

Are you looking for photos which use the original layouts and keycaps only? For example, this is my Unsaver, which has the left and upper function/macro blocks replaced with the equivalents from an F122 keyset and is ANSI modded.

[darkcruix]

Measurements:

IMG_3401.jpeg (816.09 KiB) Viewed 8661 times

IMG_3122.jpeg (1.89 MiB) Viewed 8661 times

IMG_3128.jpeg (1.95 MiB) Viewed 8661 times

[darkcruix]

I have uploaded the latest version to http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
or the size reduced version to http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

I have started with Section 3 - Firmware Overview. For QMK I am starting to build the basics around its usage in the overview. During that part, I am building the advanced section around the firmware at the same time. There is some jumping around required over the next days, but everything is linked together in the PDF.

[karlmartin95]

Hi darkcruix, nice project and I'm willing to help you. I have these model Fs boards: F77 (original), 3178 blue switch and Model F Bigfoot. If you need photos or something just tell me.

[karlmartin95]

Here some photos, feel free to add them to your manual if you want!

IBM 3178:


IBM F77:


IBM Bigfoot:

[darkcruix]

Great photos - thanks so much! They will look fabulous in the document .... I hopefully will find time this evening to update it. This original F77 .... man ... wow

[karlmartin95]

Great photos - thanks so much! They will look fabulous in the document .... I hopefully will find time this evening to update it. This original F77 .... man ... wow

Thanks! If you need something else just PM me.

[darkcruix]

Great photos - thanks so much! They will look fabulous in the document .... I hopefully will find time this evening to update it. This original F77 .... man ... wow

Thanks! If you need something else just PM me.

I have them included and uploaded - looks great, imho.
Huge thanks for that!

Still looking for:
* Model F 127 '4980''
* Model F 3101 - Blue Buttonless
* Displaywriter Model F
* F62 Original
* CS/9000 badged one
* System/23 Datamaster Keyboard
and anything I haven't in the list or already in the doc

[Redmaus]

I have uploaded the latest version to http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
or the size reduced version to http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

Wow amazing job guys. Vast amount of useful information displayed in such a nice package

[darkcruix]

I have uploaded the latest version to http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
or the size reduced version to http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

Wow amazing job guys. Vast amount of useful information displayed in such a nice package

Thanks!
Just uploaded the daily changes. This time it includes the most basic version on how to get the QMK image to a Xwhatsit controller (Section 3.3). It assumes that the source code has been merged and commit to the QMK main repository, but other than that it should describe the process in great detail.

[darkcruix]

I just uploaded a few updates, mostly corrections and cosmetic adjustments of the QMK Firmware Overview section. I also added the translation table in the Appendix B for IBM Set 1,2,3 and USB scancodes.

93 pages for both:
71MBytes: http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
16Mbytes: http://www.linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

[darkcruix]

Most content for the overview section has been added and I am starting to work on the sections that go more into depth. Obviously, there is still some outstanding work on everything and I am happy if someone wants to review it - especially the Firmware Overview section (sorry, the whole thing already counts 100 pages):
What I am still looking for are the different variants of the Model F keyboards (2-21f). I already have 10 in there, but I am still looking for:

• System/23 Datamaster Monoblock
• System/23 Datamaster "Bezelmaster"
• CS/9000 Keyboard
• Model 200 '4704' - F62 Kishsaver, Original
• Model F Displaywriter
• 'Blue Button' Model F variants
• F127, 4980 for IBM Series/1 minicomputer

The document will be released under a Creative Commons license and in case you are sharing those photos, you need to be ok with me displaying those into the document under the same license.
Any help would be much appreciated.

[depletedvespene]

I am happy if someone wants to review it

Will do.

[darkcruix]

Quick Update

Started with the Hardware Details section; specifically the Key Installation. Taking a lot of pictures with different keyboard variants at the moment, but I thought I already upload what I have with the Brand New Model F Keyboards.

As always, latest version is available at:
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

[darkcruix]

Quick Update
The manual was updated and counts 120+ pages so far.
As always, latest version is available at:
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual.pdf
http://linux-tin.org/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

I am working on Hardware Adjustments and Troubleshooting at the moment. I'd love to hear what I should cover in the manual. This week I have planned to work on Disassembly and Repair Guides but that will span across several more weeks I assume. Anything that can be packed into a Technical Reference Manual is welcome.

[OxC0FFEE]

Troubleshooting and common fixes?

[darkcruix]

I have moved the project over to its own homepage (WIP):
https://www.bucklingspring.com/ModelFManual.pdf
https://www.bucklingspring.com/ModelFManual-Small.pdf

The latest version uploaded to the location above received a lot of changes (in Section 4). It is still work in progress and just a sneak peek into what is coming in that section.

[ckafi]

This is such a cool project. Kudos! I see you've already got pictures of a battleship, but would you be interested in some of one with original german/APL keycaps?