deskthority

AWESOME!
1. I kinda do like the offline availability, but it's not a dealbreaker.

2. Whichever you deem as looking the best. I'm willing to pay more for a high-resolution display and/or modifying the case.

3. Whatever you decide. I'm mostly interested in the 5001 and 9000 models.

Can't wait!

Let's see an entire Selectric I Re-Furbished, Serviced And Tested sold for $450 + $59 shipping. What a bunch of bollocks parting out just the keys.

selectric.jpg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Blue-Keys-IBM-Antique-Selectric-I-Red-Vintage-1960s-Typewriter-/323568957705?hash=item4b56367909%3Ag ...

As always, great review!

I wonder if there is an alternative controller that would make programming it easier and also allow it to work properly with Mac. Xwhatsit has a 128-key max. Anyone know of something larger and just as easy to use?

And what did you use for the circuit board?

Nothing. I handwired it, essentially following Orihalcon's guide . The Xwhatsit allows for 8 rows and 16 columns for a total of 128 keys and so you have to wire accordingly. There's certainly a smarter way of doing that than I did and the result would ...

So you rebuilt the whole thing? How much of the original is left besides the case?

Ummmm ... most of the switch plate and ummmm ... yep ... that's about it.

Once I decided that I wanted to put these keycaps on it, I needed a standard bottom row and that necessitated ditching the PCB and altering ...

Several of thems fighting words in the OP, but the result looks nice indeed.

It's what the youngins call bait . :evilgeek:

Seriously though, I feel that the new Kailh switches have been superior to Cherry/Gateron in every instance that I've been able to make a comparison. And the box switches ...

JP! wrote: That's very cool. Do you call it the blue battleship?

How about The Blue Whale?

apparently you weren't a fan of the vintage clears though :0

I was just kidding around. What constitutes a good switch is a subjective experience really.

But personally, I do like the clears (and vintage blacks) a heck of a lot more than the Cherry or Gateron MX browns, and I despise greens and ...

Dingster wrote: Woa what a beauty. Could we get a typing test?

Maybe! First I need to figure out how to record everything and upload it. And probably clean stuff around here so that y'all don't see how much of a slob I am.

Chyros wrote: Ah, a Duet! I've had my eyes on them for a long time. I wonder how heavy they are. Also didn't know they came with a solenoid.

They didn't.

I don't have a scale to weigh it but, from experience, the weight is certainly in the ballpark of an F122.

I like big boards. I cannot lie.

And I like curves. And blue. AND LOUD!!!

So when I discovered that this keyboard existed, my OCD kicked into overdrive.

Before:
https://i.imgur.com/VKBn3Co.jpg

I wanted to replace the archaic, vastly inferior ISO layout with a modern, far superior ANSI layout ...

I think I want to try to trade this board for a new project, ideally something weird, that I haven't tried before, and with more keys. I don't really care if it's new or vintage. Maybe someone has a 142-key monstrosity and they would prefer a more minimalist keyboard like this.

Lubed hall effect switches, should be very nice I guess, since I never typed on one. The lay-out would drive me nuts, though. Are they mx compatible?

They're Maxi-switch Vintage Linears . I've got some hall effect boards, but I have no idea how to get them working yet.

Yeah, the layout isn't fun ...

Very, VERY cool and inspiring! Thank you for sharing this!

Let there be LUBE!!!
https://i.imgur.com/kLjnu7e.jpg

Liquid electrical tape FTW!
https://i.imgur.com/773F9au.jpg
If anyone knows of a more elegant solution than hot glue for preventing the switch from coming out when attempting to remove keycaps, I'd be very grateful.

https://i.imgur.com ...

Elrick wrote: Definitely interested in having these PCBs with soldered on diodes.

PM'd the OP.

I'm willing to solder the diodes, for you or anyone who orders, for free. Just have to work out the shipping to you. I'll also do the Teensy++ also if you get it to me.

martink wrote:

just_add_coffee wrote: Anyone else having this issue?

Someone on geekhack has reported the same problem.

Thanks. Found the thread ...
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=94 ... msg2597486

mike52787 wrote: please wear a respriator/mask, fiberglass dust is quite harmful to inhale.

Thank you for telling me. Because I would not have thought of that.

Edit: And I did not know what PCBs were made of either. Learning all sorts of new things today!

worst case scenario it looks like you could remove the left hand f row cluser, remove some of the pcb material, and run jumper wires over to the main pcb. seems like the measurements were done wrong or something.

EDIT: just to clarify, I mean remove some material from the left hand f key block ...

Am I not understanding something, or are the left side function keys about ~5mm left-of-center (or everything else is ~5mm right-of-center)?

IMG_20180510_152533.jpg

I can line up either the function keys or everything else, but not both.

Anyone else having this issue?

Aside from that, this is ...

I'm half tempted to get it and return it to its factory goodness...

You could do that. But then you'd have an inferior keyboard that is more susceptible to rust, no alt keys, has a ridiculously stiff and hard-to-remove spacebar, and it wouldn't programmable.

You can bellyache about not liking ...

Yes, he's got a reputation of ruining old keyboards and has a presence on this very forum under the name just_add_coffee. The creations were heavily featured on the first couple of pages of this very thread until the images were removed from imgur. As to who buys these a abominations, I don't know ...

One of my first mechanical keyboards was a CoolerMaster Pro L RGB and I really liked it, BUT ...

Removing the bezel/top of the case is far more difficult than it needs to be. I also had to file down the inside corners to keep DSA "Borealis" keycaps from getting stuck. And even with a decent ...

As I often point out, it's similar to the "objectivism vs. subjectivism" conflict in consumer hi-end audio, even though many of the conservative keyboard collectors are hardline "subjectivists" with stances as irrational as the "keebtards", albeit in a different direction.

It's funny. Here ...

digital_matthew wrote: Nah. Keycaps are too nice.

Oh well. It's hard to top the purple and green of Troubled Minds. That's such a gorgeously tacky keyset. Whoever it's creator ... God bless 'em!

codemonkeymike wrote: Are you trying to say you have the gaudiest ergodox on DT?

I was trying like hell.

One more try?

fohat wrote: Was that a metal space bar on that blue Model M?

No. It was an experiment in vinyl wrapping keys.

Blaise170 wrote: Terrible choice of color scheme (orange, cyan, and red do not match) but otherwise not that bad.

You're right, though the top plate is more pinkish in real life than it photographs. Probably not much of an improvement to you however.

So how about red chrome?

kbdfr wrote: Do you still have the caps?
At least they could be given a decent final resting

I have 'em. Still using the Spacebar. But if you want them, they're yours for the cost of shipping.

digital_matthew wrote: Vacuum tubes on anything equals totally awesome looking.

AMEN!