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The good olde Model M
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 21:48
by xsphat
Since I'm typing on one now, does anyone still use a Model M? Do people still mod them or anything?
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 21:51
by Daemon Raccoon
I'm using an SSK, does that count?
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 21:51
by fossala
Yeah, I have a IBM 122key terminal keyboard next to me. Got a teensy in the post and will be making it work with Soarer's Code
http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/xt-a ... t2510.html
Going to bolt mod it and turn it into ANSI layout.
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 21:57
by xsphat
Wow, that's good to hear. I like this one because the 'board has a history (see my sig). I think since I write scifi, it's good to have have kit that was used at NASA, even though NASA really dropped the ball.
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 21:59
by xsphat
oops, I don't see my sig. It said:
"Currently on a 1995 Lexmark Model M that was used by NASA and is stamped US GOVT."
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 22:03
by fossala
xsphat wrote:oops, I don't see my sig. It said:
"Currently on a 1995 Lexmark Model M that was used by NASA and is stamped US GOVT."
Can we have a picture?
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 22:23
by xsphat
I should have thought of that. My camera is my tablet, so the pics aren't stellar.

- IMG_20121102_161213 (1024x768).jpg (393.79 KiB) Viewed 3253 times

- IMG_20121102_161258 (1024x768).jpg (484.42 KiB) Viewed 3253 times
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 22:56
by Daniel Beardsmore
Maybe if it wasn't just us two with top taskbars, we wouldn't see so many programs that choke on them ;-P
I presume by "Model M", you don't count all the people who are buying them brand new, in the form of Unicomp keyboards?
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 23:34
by Ascaii
That stamp along makes me HNNNGGGG. Nice find. Any chance you would share the story how you got it?
On a side note, here is a model M on stargate SG1. I still find it funny how many caps the board is missing.

- model M stargate.jpg (69.72 KiB) Viewed 3226 times
Posted: 02 Nov 2012, 23:47
by xsphat
I got it either from ebay or GH. The seller told me it came from a huge selloff at NASA after a refit. It's been a while. I gave the keyboard away for about 2 years and the guy emailed me out of the blue and asked me if I wanted it back because he bought a new PC and wanted to use the included keyboard. I picked it up and his wife even baked me cookies. So I had it in storage until just recently.
Now I'm over some ugly shit that happened to me and I want to get back on my novel. I have about 165 pages done, and believe it or not, I wrote about 75 pages on my HTC EVO 4G's touch screen. I want a more stable writing setup, especially since winter is coming and I can't write outside.
Posted: 03 Nov 2012, 00:07
by Ascaii
Im starting to type up my bachelors thesis...switching between my HHKB2, 1390133, and mx green g80-3000. When typing at the library I use my ergo-clear g80-1851 for tactility with relative silence. I find switching between the boards whenever I reach a writing block helps me move forwards and continue.
Posted: 03 Nov 2012, 01:23
by xsphat
True, it does help but the trap is you can't write again until you buy that new 'board, the one that'll solve all the problems we put in the way of our creativity.
Posted: 03 Nov 2012, 08:33
by Ascaii
Good thing I never have that itch, ive got more keyboards and switch types in my posession then I'll ever need right here.
Though I have been itching for a working board with round SMKs

Posted: 05 Nov 2012, 12:15
by bhtooefr
Model Ms are still ridiculously popular, it's just that not many people talk about them because there's nothing new with them... and Model F 122-keys are the new hotness. (Well, OK, they're not new at all, but them working on modern machines properly is.)
(Typed on my Model F 122, and I've got a Unicomp EnduraPro (which is an M) at work.)
Posted: 05 Nov 2012, 12:31
by JBert
Ah yes, older model Fs and terminal keyboards have come in use again after Soarer released his converter firmware for the Teensy. Before you had to build your own hardware and firmware, now it's practically off-the-shelf stuff.
I use a
model F XT now with some macro keys for cursor and the Home/End/Page blocks. Too loud for the office, but fun for home use.