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Modern Symbolics Lisp Machine Keyboard Replica: Keymacs A620N-88
- lispm 4y agoThe later version of the mechanical Symbolics Lisp Machine keyboard has not been in production for decades. They are rare and legendary for their exceptional build quality. They feature a special keyboard layout for use with the Genera operating system, for Lisp programming and for the Zmacs editor. There are unshifted parentheses, control is next to space and it has lots of shift keys (Hyper, Super, Meta, Symbol, ...). There are special keys to switch between programs, to operate the window system, the terminal, the debugger, the console, ... Now there is modern Keymacs (https://keymacs.com https://keymacs.com) replica with USB interface and serious over-engineering. The instagram post shows a new version with the original Symbolics-like keyboard legend.
- kagevf 4y agoXMIT ... "transmit"? What did that key do? Was it analogous to ENTER or RETURN?
- amelius 4y agoIf you enter a comment on HN, then ENTER will only move you to the next line. I suppose XMIT would be the same as hitting the reply button.
- kagevf 4y agoI was thinking something similar ... enter for "carriage return" inside a text entry field, then XMIT to send everything off.
- amelius 4y agoThis would also be great to write multiline code in a REPL (without all the backslashes). Though it might be more difficult to read.
- kagevf 4y agoWhich REPL? In emacs, depending on whether it's slime or ieml, you can do things like hit CTRL-J to get a line break without triggering an eval. Maybe it works in other REPLs too ...
- amelius 4y agoI was thinking of Bash, but it looks like it doesn't work.
- kagevf 4y agoI was able to use ctrl-j in bash (on ubuntu over ssh) and ctrl-j didn't trigger an execution. I just did something simple like: cat ./test.txt && # hit ctrl-j here > less ./test.txt # the ">" was generated by bash automatically So, it probably depends on what you're doing ...
- lispm 4y agoSymbolics keyboards had no XMIT key. That's probably a special key possible for this keymacs key. The Symbolics key has an END key. Enter something in a field. END ends the data entry.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- pengaru 4y agoCan't even view an instagram link without a login, Meta junk.
- akho 4y agoI can’t even log in through the website (“CSRF token missing or incorrect”). Useless non-Web bullshit.
- pabs3 4y agoTry gallery-dl, it can often get stuff without hitting a login: https://github.com/mikf/gallery-dl/ https://github.com/mikf/gallery-dl/ After a lot of downloads you may get a login though.
- detrites 4y agoIf you can't see a link on the internet without an account on a private system, is it really on the internet at all?
- jdougan 4y agoDoes anyone know if there is an installable keyboard layout for windows that roughly corresponds to a space cadet layout? At least for the Greek and math characters
- hestefisk 4y agoLooks nice but pretty expensive as well. 1500 pounds for a keyboard has got to be good!
- lispm 4y agoor rare, though I have three of the original ones. :-) https://moth.social/@lispm/110004084752959978 https://moth.social/@lispm/110004084752959978
- jasonjayr 4y agoSomehow in my travels I've managed to acquire an old ADB Mac keyboard with a Symbolics inventory tag. So it must have been near a Lisp machine at some point in it's life (or probably that add-in card they put in Mac's)
- Gordonjcp 4y agoI bet with a modern microcontroller you could knock up an ADB to USB converter in an afternoon.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- jksmith 4y agoThat's sex on a desk there. Good job.
- guessbest 4y agoIs this keyboard essentially a slave device? For some reason I just imagine a Lisp Machine keyboard as being programmable independent of the host machine. Maybe I'm just different but I still prefer the ergonomics of the split keyboards that arrived later for PC's.
- mepian 4y agoThe keyboard itself is not an independent device, but it is part of the console which is basically a subordinate Motorola 68000 computer that is connected to the main unit of the Lisp machine by a long fiber optic cable. The console also includes an HD CRT monitor (which also houses the aforementioned computer), a three-button mouse, and a 16-bit stereo audio DAC. The cathode ray tubes for the early model were custom-blown by Symbolics. The console was one of the reasons why Lisp machines were so expensive.
- lispm 4y agoThere was also a small adapter box for the Apple Mac II and Mac Quadras with Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) connection. One could use then the Symbolics keyboard and the three button mouse (made by Logitech) with the MacIvory, a Lisp Machine on a Nubus board, and use it with the Genera OS running inside a Mac.
- guessbest 4y agoSounds like a midrange system.
- SomeHacker44 4y agoSymbolics did not use fiber optics; you are probably thinking the TI Explorer.
- lispm 4y agoRight, Symbolics also support long cables, but they were not optical cables, like those of TI.
- chao- 4y agoFabulous! Now it makes me wonder if it is worth the effort to attempt something similar with the semi-legendary "space cadet" keyboard: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EeZTMuSUwAAOGde?format=png&name=orig https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EeZTMuSUwAAOGde?format=png&name=... I've thought about it, but I've been able to resist. No keyboard projects for almost 3 years in fact! So much better on my wallet, but I am starting to feel a familiar itch...
- wantoncl 4y agoReview of the keyboard: https://youtu.be/gziZnhxcFrk https://youtu.be/gziZnhxcFrk And same reviewer on an original Space Cadet: https://youtu.be/oDozftThFMw https://youtu.be/oDozftThFMw NSFW language here and there.
- amelius 4y agoWhere can I order custom designed key caps, for a reasonable price?
- ris58h 4y agoWhat a waste of Space.
- ansu_8_6_1_7 4y agoNo
- tom_ 4y agoGood to see symmetrical meta keys! Modern keyboard designers, take note.
- steponlego 4y ago>no trackpoint Dropped.