Mod M122 to ANSI?

[micmil]

From what I've seen you can mod a standard Model M from ANSI to ISO. Is it possible to mod the M122 for ANSI layout? It looks like the barrel plugs will accommodate. The only thing I'm not sure of is if the membrane has the necessary connectiond. I'm already running a Soarer's so not really concerned about firmware issues.

Silly, yes, but tiny left shift is literally Ulnar Hitler for me. Weird how moving an extra 1/8th of an inch over makes RSI go from Danny Ric to Hooning Ute Bogan with no in-between.

[Muirium]

Aye. The membranes are universal (in my experience at least) so you can monkey around with Shifts and Returns in both ANSI and ISO styles as you wish. Right Shift and Backspace are split as well, if you want to get weirder.



It’s all quite accessible… once you’ve done your bolt mod to install any extra flippers you need.

Soarer will have you covered when the keyboard sends their codes.

[micmil]

Awesome, thanks for the info. Bolt mod's been a long-term plan so I think I'll have to just get it done with everything else.

[fohat]

Is it possible to mod the M122 for ANSI layout?

Once all the layers are peeled apart it is trivial. Getting the new parts can be more difficult and costly than it needs to be, however. As I recall, you will need 2 additional springs and pivot plates (aka "flippers"), several new keycaps, and stabilizers for the oversize replacement keys. Those caps are hard to find 2nd hand because many people do the same as you.

In the US, they are readily available from Unicomp, but buying them a la carte will cost you almost as much as just buying a full standard Model M set.

[micmil]

It's about fifteen buck for all the parts from Clickykeyboards. That plus shipping is barely a few dollars more than Unicomp's shipping alone. Their lowest priced shipping was $20, which is ouch. I don't mind that for a keyboard but for a handful of bits that would fit in a Priority Mail envelope? Nah, that's piss taking of the highest order.

[fohat]

Their lowest priced shipping was $20

The web site might say that, but they will ship a small box at a fair rate. I think that it defaults to the price for shipping a keyboard.

Send an email or make a phone call.

[micmil]

They really don't want to join this century, do they?

[fohat]

It's about fifteen buck for all the parts from Clickykeyboards.

If they actually have them that is certainly the better option. Be sure to get everything you need at once or you will pay shipping twice.

[micmil]

It's about fifteen buck for all the parts from Clickykeyboards.

If they actually have them that is certainly the better option. Be sure to get everything you need at once or you will pay shipping twice.

Absolutely. I remember the bad old pre-Amazon days when shipping cost money. You wait weeks on end until you're completely certain that you're ordering everything you need, submit it, and fifteen minutes later you forgot the diodes and the order can't be changed MINIMUM ORDER: $25 SCREW YOU, MOUSER!

[ddrfraser1]

Yes

4B980EBC-1F19-415B-9D78-0809102D3469.jpeg (4.4 MiB) Viewed 4510 times

[jacks]

Gorgeous!
Why do Unicomp not sell their 122s like this???

[Rayndalf]

Gorgeous!
Why do Unicomp not sell their 122s like this???

They don't do white on black. Given the quality of their black on white dyesubs I can see why.

They've been getting better from what I've heard, so maybe they'll bring them back. The new SSK only comes in black and would look great with WoB keycaps

[ddrfraser1]

It’s crazy to think what simple things Unicom could do to turn a quick buck. Imagine if they offered different retro colored or pastel cases or white on black keycaps are many other such simple ideas.

[micmil]

It’s crazy to think what simple things Unicom could do to turn a quick buck. Imagine if they offered different retro colored or pastel cases or white on black keycaps are many other such simple ideas.

Simple ideas, not so simple execution. I can't imagine that Unicomp willfully ignores such huge obvious moneymakers. They're either completely unable to expand product lines due to already being strained and unable to afford the capital outlay (how long did it take to get a mold refresh for the Model M?), or they're truly ignorant of the changes in the mechanical keyboard world and as such are primarily focused on their business customers, not knowing that a few tweaks to their system would probably double their dollars.

Whatever the case, it seems they're one of those companies that continue to do things a certain way because "That's how we've always done it." when the way they've always done it provides enough money to hang around but nowhere near enough to expand or improve.

[Rhododendron]

Whatever the case, it seems they're one of those companies that continue to do things a certain way because "That's how we've always done it." when the way they've always done it provides enough money to hang around but nowhere near enough to expand or improve.

Agree, it's a shame

[Weezer]

It's about fifteen buck for all the parts from Clickykeyboards. That plus shipping is barely a few dollars more than Unicomp's shipping alone. Their lowest priced shipping was $20, which is ouch. I don't mind that for a keyboard but for a handful of bits that would fit in a Priority Mail envelope? Nah, that's piss taking of the highest order.

They charge a standard rate and then if the shipping is less, they refund it back.

[apastuszak]

I had a similar problem with my M122, I HATED the left shift. All these years as an American with the long left shift. Wasn't going to reprogram that muscle memory overnight. Since I wanted to take the path of least resistance, I just remapped the key to the right of Left Shift to be left shift also. I remapped a bunch of other keys too. But that one little change made such a huge different in my daily use of that keyboard.

[Muirium]

Exactly what I was up to with Karabiner right at the beginning, too! Mods get addictive, mind.

[Seirin-Blu]

I had a similar problem with my M122, I HATED the left shift.

Funnily enough for me, it’s the enter that trips me up. I’m used to hitting Lshift there but the enter being farther over trips me up