Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.misc > #5256 > unrolled thread

King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made

Back to article view | Back to comp.misc

Contents

  King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2014-10-07 23:03 +0000
    Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2014-10-07 17:20 -0700
      Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made Will Honea <whonea@whonea.net> - 2014-10-07 18:42 -0600
        Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2014-10-08 22:58 -0700
          Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made Bob Eager <news0002@eager.cx> - 2014-10-09 07:58 +0000
            Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2014-10-09 22:32 +0200
              Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made Bob Eager <news0002@eager.cx> - 2014-10-09 23:34 +0000
                Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made Will Honea <whonea@whonea.net> - 2014-10-09 23:12 -0600
                  Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2014-10-10 19:50 -0700
                Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2014-10-10 19:49 -0700
                  Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2014-10-16 16:10 +0000
                    Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2014-10-17 23:38 -0700
    Re: King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2014-10-07 21:46 -0400

#5256 — King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made

http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys

   The first thing you notice about the IBM Model M keyboard, when you
   finally get your hands on it, is its size. After years of tapping
   chiclet keys and glass screens on two- and three-pound devices, hefting
   five pounds of plastic and metal (including a thick steel plate) is
   slightly intimidating. The second thing is the sound ? the solid click
   that's turned a standard-issue beige peripheral into one of the computer
   world's most prized and useful antiques.

   Next year, the Model M turns 30. But to many people, it's still the only
   keyboard worth using. It was recently spotted on the desk of Minecraft
   creator Markus "Notch" Persson, attached to a gaming PC whose graphic
   cards alone cost thousands of dollars. "The Model M is basically the
   best keyboard ever made," he told PC Gamer. YouTube has dozens of Model
   M typing demos, unboxing videos, and sound comparisons between it and
   other mechanical keyboards. Since its introduction, the Model M has been
   the standard to meet for keyboard excellence.

   ...

[toc] | [next] | [standalone]

#5257

On 10/07/2014 04:03 PM, Rich wrote:
> http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys
>
>     The first thing you notice about the IBM Model M keyboard, when you
>     finally get your hands on it, is its size. After years of tapping
>     chiclet keys and glass screens on two- and three-pound devices, hefting
>     five pounds of plastic and metal (including a thick steel plate) is
>     slightly intimidating. The second thing is the sound ? the solid click
>     that's turned a standard-issue beige peripheral into one of the computer
>     world's most prized and useful antiques.

If it was aimed properly I think you could kill someone with it and keep 
right on typing.

>     Next year, the Model M turns 30. But to many people, it's still the only
>     keyboard worth using. It was recently spotted on the desk of Minecraft
>     creator Markus "Notch" Persson, attached to a gaming PC whose graphic
>     cards alone cost thousands of dollars. "The Model M is basically the
>     best keyboard ever made," he told PC Gamer. YouTube has dozens of Model
>     M typing demos, unboxing videos, and sound comparisons between it and
>     other mechanical keyboards. Since its introduction, the Model M has been
>     the standard to meet for keyboard excellence.

As I sit here I see four of the lovely things, and we have spares in the 
back room.  Unlike many, we snapped them up at swap meets and garage 
sales whenever we found them.

Contrary to popular belief, they are not fully waterproof.

Apparently someone is producing pricey clones now.

I really need to clean mine again.  It deserves much better treatment 
than I give it, but it never complains.  It was born the last year the 
Dodgers won the World Series, a banner year if there ever was one.

-- 
Cheers, Bev
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
666øF -- the oven temperature for roast beast.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5259

The Real Bev wrote:

> Contrary to popular belief, they are not fully waterproof.
> 
> Apparently someone is producing pricey clones now.
> 
> I really need to clean mine again.  It deserves much better treatment
> than I give it, but it never complains.  It was born the last year the
> Dodgers won the World Series, a banner year if there ever was one.
> 
I've found two useful methods for cleaning those things:

1. run it thru the "china" (or gentle) cycle of the dishwasher

2. take it in the shower with you.

The first method includes a drying cycle so be careful of getting the cord 
too close to the heating coil - use the top rack.  Also, go easy on 
detergent.  The second method requires a substantial drying time but that 
can be sped up with a good shop vacuum.

-- 
Will Honea

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5273

On 10/07/2014 05:42 PM, Will Honea wrote:
> The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> Contrary to popular belief, they are not fully waterproof.
>>
>> Apparently someone is producing pricey clones now.
>>
>> I really need to clean mine again.  It deserves much better treatment
>> than I give it, but it never complains.  It was born the last year the
>> Dodgers won the World Series, a banner year if there ever was one.
>>
> I've found two useful methods for cleaning those things:
>
> 1. run it thru the "china" (or gentle) cycle of the dishwasher
>
> 2. take it in the shower with you.
>
> The first method includes a drying cycle so be careful of getting the cord
> too close to the heating coil - use the top rack.  Also, go easy on
> detergent.  The second method requires a substantial drying time but that
> can be sped up with a good shop vacuum.

When I worked at Magellan back in the dark ages when GPS units were the 
size and approximate weight of bricks they ran all the boards through 
the dishwasher as part of the testing process.

I just use alcohol and a lot of q-tips.  I got a 20-year 
tennis-ball-size blob of cruft out from beneath the keys -- a job which 
would have been much easier had I just partially disassembled it.  Next 
time.

-- 
Cheers, Bev
==========================================
If god had wanted me to bend over he would
have sprinkled the floor with diamonds.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5274

On Wed, 08 Oct 2014 22:58:25 -0700, The Real Bev wrote:

> On 10/07/2014 05:42 PM, Will Honea wrote:
>> The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>> Contrary to popular belief, they are not fully waterproof.
>>>
>>> Apparently someone is producing pricey clones now.
>>>
>>> I really need to clean mine again.  It deserves much better treatment
>>> than I give it, but it never complains.  It was born the last year the
>>> Dodgers won the World Series, a banner year if there ever was one.
>>>
>> I've found two useful methods for cleaning those things:
>>
>> 1. run it thru the "china" (or gentle) cycle of the dishwasher
>>
>> 2. take it in the shower with you.
>>
>> The first method includes a drying cycle so be careful of getting the
>> cord too close to the heating coil - use the top rack.  Also, go easy
>> on detergent.  The second method requires a substantial drying time but
>> that can be sped up with a good shop vacuum.
> 
> When I worked at Magellan back in the dark ages when GPS units were the
> size and approximate weight of bricks they ran all the boards through
> the dishwasher as part of the testing process.
> 
> I just use alcohol and a lot of q-tips.  I got a 20-year
> tennis-ball-size blob of cruft out from beneath the keys -- a job which
> would have been much easier had I just partially disassembled it.  Next
> time.

I usually:

- split the casing - needs a deep thin walled socket of a suitable size 
to undo the screws.
- remove the innards - one more screw and detach a ribbon cable.
- clean casing with foaming cleaner
- clean out underneath the innards and re-install
- remove all keytops and keys - take care with the big ones and the space 
bar
- individually clean all keytops with faoming cleane, rinse and dry
- clean out cruft under where the keys were - IPA and cotton buds
- reassemble!



-- 
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
 http://www.mirrorservice.org

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5285

On 2014-10-09, Bob Eager <news0002@eager.cx> wrote:
>
> I usually:
>
> - split the casing - needs a deep thin walled socket of a suitable size 
> to undo the screws.
> - remove the innards - one more screw and detach a ribbon cable.
> - clean casing with foaming cleaner
> - clean out underneath the innards and re-install
> - remove all keytops and keys - take care with the big ones and the space 
> bar
> - individually clean all keytops with faoming cleane, rinse and dry
> - clean out cruft under where the keys were - IPA and cotton buds
> - reassemble!

I've found it's wise to take a photo of the keyboard first.  It takes
any guesswork out of putting the keys back :-)

-- 
An invention needs to make sense in the world in which it's finished,
not the world in which it's started.                  -- Ray Kurzweil

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5287

On Thu, 09 Oct 2014 22:32:25 +0200, Paul Sture wrote:

> On 2014-10-09, Bob Eager <news0002@eager.cx> wrote:
>>
>> I usually:
>>
>> - split the casing - needs a deep thin walled socket of a suitable size
>> to undo the screws.
>> - remove the innards - one more screw and detach a ribbon cable.
>> - clean casing with foaming cleaner - clean out underneath the innards
>> and re-install - remove all keytops and keys - take care with the big
>> ones and the space bar - individually clean all keytops with faoming
>> cleane, rinse and dry - clean out cruft under where the keys were - IPA
>> and cotton buds - reassemble!
> 
> I've found it's wise to take a photo of the keyboard first.  It takes
> any guesswork out of putting the keys back :-)

No need. I have about 20 of them, so I always have another to refer to!

-- 
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
 http://www.mirrorservice.org

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5289

Bob Eager wrote:

> No need. I have about 20 of them, so I always have another to refer to!
> 

LOL! A hoarder after my own heart.  When MCI (before they merged) got all 
new Dell kit, I snagged a couple of dozen of those keyboards from the 
discard ATs.  Computer weren't worth anything but I couldn't stand the 
thought of those keyboards going to scrap.

-- 
Will Honea

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5297

On 10/09/2014 10:12 PM, Will Honea wrote:
> Bob Eager wrote:
>
>> No need. I have about 20 of them, so I always have another to refer to!
>
> LOL! A hoarder after my own heart.  When MCI (before they merged) got all
> new Dell kit, I snagged a couple of dozen of those keyboards from the
> discard ATs.  Computer weren't worth anything but I couldn't stand the
> thought of those keyboards going to scrap.

When the Martian archaeologists are digging through what remains of 
earth, the only sign that there was ever a civilization here will be 
thousand of Schwinn Varsity bicycles and IBM Model M keyboards.

-- 
Cheers, Bev
===================================================
Red ship crashes into blue ship - sailors marooned.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5296

On 10/09/2014 04:34 PM, Bob Eager wrote:
> On Thu, 09 Oct 2014 22:32:25 +0200, Paul Sture wrote:
>
>> On 2014-10-09, Bob Eager <news0002@eager.cx> wrote:
>>>
>>> I usually:
>>>
>>> - split the casing - needs a deep thin walled socket of a suitable size
>>> to undo the screws.
>>> - remove the innards - one more screw and detach a ribbon cable.
>>> - clean casing with foaming cleaner - clean out underneath the innards
>>> and re-install - remove all keytops and keys - take care with the big
>>> ones and the space bar - individually clean all keytops with faoming
>>> cleane, rinse and dry - clean out cruft under where the keys were - IPA
>>> and cotton buds - reassemble!

Next time, but I think I'll leave the underkeys on and just remove the 
separate tops.  Or do what I did last time -- take the tops off one at a 
time and clean them with alcohol.  Sometimes brainless repetitive tasks 
are exactly what one needs...

>> I've found it's wise to take a photo of the keyboard first.  It takes
>> any guesswork out of putting the keys back :-)
>
> No need. I have about 20 of them, so I always have another to refer to!

When the zombie apocalypse arrives, some of us will be able to bash in 
the heads of the zombies as well as keep up our email correspondence.

-- 
Cheers, Bev
"As a mortician I always tie the shoelaces of the dead together.  If there
actually is a zombie apocalypse it will be hilarious."

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5325

On Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:49:06 -0700
The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:

> When the zombie apocalypse arrives, some of us will be able to bash in 
> the heads of the zombies as well as keep up our email correspondence.

Don't they say the Model M is the only keyboard you can use to bash
some guy's head in, and then still type his obituary with it?

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5347

On 10/16/2014 09:10 AM, RS Wood wrote:
> On Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:49:06 -0700
> The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> When the zombie apocalypse arrives, some of us will be able to bash in
>> the heads of the zombies as well as keep up our email correspondence.
>
> Don't they say the Model M is the only keyboard you can use to bash
> some guy's head in, and then still type his obituary with it?

Hmph.  Must have stolen that from me :-)

-- 
Cheers, Bev
---------------------------------------------------------
If I know that chaining yourself to a dead cow is stupid,
how come Carly makes so much more money than I do?

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#5260

Rich <rich@example.invalid> writes:

> http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys
>
>    The first thing you notice about the IBM Model M keyboard, when you
>    finally get your hands on it, is its size.

I loved the model M, but feel that the current Cherry keyboards
are a better deal.  Familiar key layout and close enough to the M
in terms of feel that it makes no difference.

True, I can't defeat an attacking horde with the keyboard
as my only weapon.

I have an old M up in the attic, but I think it will stay up there for a
while longer.

-- 
Dan Espen

[toc] | [prev] | [standalone]

Back to top | Article view | comp.misc

csiph-web