4 ms·

Regarding the astonishing flexibility of USB -- I've got a 1994 vintage keyboard / mouse combo (lexmark/IBM M4-1, compact keyboard + trackpoint) -- I use it reg

by cduzz 3y ago

Regarding the astonishing flexibility of USB -- I've got a 1994 vintage keyboard / mouse combo (lexmark/IBM M4-1, compact keyboard + trackpoint) -- I use it regularly using a USB to PS/2 adapter connected to a kvm switch built into a 2010 vintage monitor (usb 2) that's connected to a USB-C hub attached to a 2020 macbook's USB-C and a surface pro's port replicator. Once a week when switching inputs or waking up something gets in a state where I have to unplug the keyboard and plug it back in (IBM's typical over-engineering means there's a wacky plug on the keyboard so it's easy to get to). But, "1994 -> 2000 (ps2->usb) -> 2010 (monitor) -> 2020 (macbook)" is a pretty broad stack and it works almost perfectly. I think these are the wacky keyboards where they had the "D" and "K" keys marked with a nub to indicate home keys. Drove me crazy enough that I'd deface them by shaving off the original nub and put a "proper" ridge into the f and j keys.

mauvehaus 3y ago
If you touch type anyway (and the keyboard allows it), you could switch the keycaps between 'd' and 'f' and 'j' and 'k'. Or any other combination that puts the nubs in the place you want, really. As a bonus, it'll confuse the hell out of anyone who doesn't touch type.
1-more 3y ago
> I think these are the wacky keyboards where they had the "D" and "K" keys marked with a nub to indicate home keys. Drove me crazy enough that I'd deface them by shaving off the original nub and put a "proper" ridge into the f and j keys. I have these caps on my keyboard and I can confirm this. I think I actually like it since it helps my muscle memory type one way on my laptop and another on my vertical staggered external keyboard. I bought an original for the caps and switches. Almost all the switches had been desoldered and replaced with Alps compatible Matias click switches which weren't even soldered in. Stinks. Could have raised a stink but whatever.
- cduzz 3y ago
  Wait - you got scammed on the antique keyboard -- the original switches are that valuable? That's bonkers.
  - 1-more 3y ago
    yeah it's wild. Seller may not have known. Most recent sold listing I see on eBay is a hair under $1/switch after shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/125894627838?hash=item1d4fe791fe:g:KG8AAOSwUtNkQY9j&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwOuYAN9wWGczJN2JbCPHMoQfeEpt2GnOhZtnsvV4xt03e%2FzUinMO5ZXnn4ZnePpj%2BaAmr37XRER1lCOyEy9Y%2BMc4qHfY1zZYL9sdJzsK2C%2FrNNN%2BwFc7F9tF%2FtIVDlC1IDE9VjDG94IOP3F2oNz3NuaFaDCQESt234uTeH%2B3xuHZ3M%2B3Oygpgsyc%2F4W%2Bn6H%2B98A3x2BXORJky5KrqT3DkXcobeA7PL0HGk9HIaBMfuCEXVgZKZ%2F9jqMuKjlB2QuEhg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_CMu9b7YQ https://www.ebay.com/itm/125894627838?hash=item1d4fe791fe:g:...
helf 3y ago
[dead]
macintux 3y ago
The wacky keyboards were correct! The point to “d” and “k” was that even if one of your hands was shifted by a letter, you’d still feel the nub, but you’d feel it on the wrong finger and know. By moving the nub to “f” and “j”, they broke that contract. It’s harder to notice the absence of a nub than it is to notice it’s under the wrong finger.
- cduzz 3y ago
  I worked as a relay operator that summer -- AT&T had a TTY terminal and a billing terminal and me in between; I'd get phone calls from someone with a TTY/TDD (typically a person "hard of hearing") and a person without the TTY/TDD device (such as a school chum or a pizza place or relative). It was my job to relay what I heard or read to the other party. I then would have to enter the session into the AT&T billing system. Oh, and obviously I had a phone setup as well; interestingly there was no automated dialing system I had to just read the number from one interface and dial into another. I think to this day I can touch type a phone number pad with only my right and and a "regular" number pad only with my left. These two devices had different home key setups (one with nubs, one with deep indentations) -- they had different number pad setups (one was "normal 10key" the other was setup like a telephone number pad) , and obviously my job was to be a super fast but accurate typist. So when I got to school and was confronted by yet another cursed keyboard I snapped and "fixed" them. I would like to think everyone in the lab except the rich kid with a IIci in his dorm who was just using the laser printer to print his fanfics appreciated it. Your logic is sound; I'm not going to disagree on principals but my fingers would get really agitated when trying to use those things.

by cduzz 3y ago

mauvehaus 3y ago

If you touch type anyway (and the keyboard allows it), you could switch the keycaps between 'd' and 'f' and 'j' and 'k'. Or any other combination that puts the nubs in the place you want, really. As a bonus, it'll confuse the hell out of anyone who doesn't touch type.

1-more 3y ago

> I think these are the wacky keyboards where they had the "D" and "K" keys marked with a nub to indicate home keys. Drove me crazy enough that I'd deface them by shaving off the original nub and put a "proper" ridge into the f and j keys. I have these caps on my keyboard and I can confirm this. I think I actually like it since it helps my muscle memory type one way on my laptop and another on my vertical staggered external keyboard. I bought an original for the caps and switches. Almost all the switches had been desoldered and replaced with Alps compatible Matias click switches which weren't even soldered in. Stinks. Could have raised a stink but whatever.

cduzz 3y ago
Wait - you got scammed on the antique keyboard -- the original switches are that valuable? That's bonkers.
- 1-more 3y ago
  yeah it's wild. Seller may not have known. Most recent sold listing I see on eBay is a hair under $1/switch after shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/125894627838?hash=item1d4fe791fe:g:KG8AAOSwUtNkQY9j&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwOuYAN9wWGczJN2JbCPHMoQfeEpt2GnOhZtnsvV4xt03e%2FzUinMO5ZXnn4ZnePpj%2BaAmr37XRER1lCOyEy9Y%2BMc4qHfY1zZYL9sdJzsK2C%2FrNNN%2BwFc7F9tF%2FtIVDlC1IDE9VjDG94IOP3F2oNz3NuaFaDCQESt234uTeH%2B3xuHZ3M%2B3Oygpgsyc%2F4W%2Bn6H%2B98A3x2BXORJky5KrqT3DkXcobeA7PL0HGk9HIaBMfuCEXVgZKZ%2F9jqMuKjlB2QuEhg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_CMu9b7YQ https://www.ebay.com/itm/125894627838?hash=item1d4fe791fe:g:...

helf 3y ago

[dead]

macintux 3y ago

The wacky keyboards were correct! The point to “d” and “k” was that even if one of your hands was shifted by a letter, you’d still feel the nub, but you’d feel it on the wrong finger and know. By moving the nub to “f” and “j”, they broke that contract. It’s harder to notice the absence of a nub than it is to notice it’s under the wrong finger.

cduzz 3y ago
I worked as a relay operator that summer -- AT&T had a TTY terminal and a billing terminal and me in between; I'd get phone calls from someone with a TTY/TDD (typically a person "hard of hearing") and a person without the TTY/TDD device (such as a school chum or a pizza place or relative). It was my job to relay what I heard or read to the other party. I then would have to enter the session into the AT&T billing system. Oh, and obviously I had a phone setup as well; interestingly there was no automated dialing system I had to just read the number from one interface and dial into another. I think to this day I can touch type a phone number pad with only my right and and a "regular" number pad only with my left. These two devices had different home key setups (one with nubs, one with deep indentations) -- they had different number pad setups (one was "normal 10key" the other was setup like a telephone number pad) , and obviously my job was to be a super fast but accurate typist. So when I got to school and was confronted by yet another cursed keyboard I snapped and "fixed" them. I would like to think everyone in the lab except the rich kid with a IIci in his dorm who was just using the laser printer to print his fanfics appreciated it. Your logic is sound; I'm not going to disagree on principals but my fingers would get really agitated when trying to use those things.