Nimitz Class KBD & more . . .

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

. . . for those of you who refer to the Classic of Clickydom, Alps Mechanical Key Switch correct, Apple Extended Keyboard as the "Aircraft Carrier," meet the AMKScorrect ORTEK "Nimitz Class Carrier" from Micro Computer Days!



This brute is untested as yet, gotta dig a PC->PS2 converter outta' the boxes, but she's a BEAUTIFUL BRUTE of a Big@$$Bit . . . erm . . . Boat? She's got the old fashioned the CAD/Spreadsheet full set of Navigation Keys and double position pair of Command Keys that NorthGate brought back for a while, but she's also got yet another full F1-F24 Command Keys . . .
. . . which appear to be programmable at the KBD Level. Dunno though, it says "Menu/Prog above the "Select" key & takes 4 AA Batteries to run/backup the beast, we'll see!



The IBM KBD had some silly spring loaded, plastic bridge, AMKS imposter, flexible circuit actuators that flew outta' the freakin' POS like the old "worm out of a can" gag! this thing is plastic recycling dumpster ballast-n-bits!

The Compact (read: less wide, but deeper, obviously ) COMPAQ KBD w/spherically correct pointing mechanism is really a beauty, the TrackBall works great on a USB converter, but the PS2 KBD connector was stomped flat, so I'll need to dig out the right saw/file/whatever to cut the grounding shroud back to a usable minimum, straighten the pins to insert the remains into the USB converter and then splint the sucker up with Electrical Tape and a Duct Tape wrapper to see if it works or not.

[Bunsen]

That or solder in a new PS2 connector, sure.

Nice.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Basic surgery to use the existing pins will give me a better baseline for troubleshooting.
Later on, anything goes! I'll bet there is ample cubic inside this beast to do a USB converter implant and swap out the grungy, forked tongue coiled cable . . .

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Meatball surgery complete, it's now a working, full fledged USB Device. Won't work on a relatively current mac though, there's no Windows/Command Key.
I'll have to try it with the OmniView KVM, hopefully it predates the "Windows Key" and will map something or other to the Command Key. If nothing else, I can use a PS2->PC adapter and use it with my old KeyStone PC->ADB adapter . . .

. . . or I could just pull out the unobtanium Paladin Prototype-Peripheral KBD/Trackball outta' mothballs and play with that some more!

[LCGuy]

From Panther onwards, Mac OS X allows you to remap modifier keys - I have a nice old DEC keyboard from the early 1990's that I use on my Macs sometimes which has no Windows key...I usually end up remapping Alt to Command, and going without Option, since I hardly use Option. For Mac OS X versions prior to 10.3, uControl does the job.

[harrymatic]

It reminds me of the equally huge Gateway 2000 AnyKey keyboards. Speaking of which, I'm using one now.

[Temetka]

Old keyboards FTW!

That clicky beast looks downright awesome.

May it serve you well.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

It reminds me of the equally huge Gateway 2000 AnyKey keyboards. Speaking of which, I'm using one now.

Yep, the Gateway is probably a re-branded Northgate/whatever. Yours is identical to this one, save for the 25 PF-Key "angled" flight deck, correct?

My KeyCap pullers were gimme's from Northgate's booth at the NYC PC Expo the year they introduced that monster. They OEM'd it for several PC makers. I had one, but it disappeared with most of my KBD collection in the Storage Room Disaster.

[CJ_Miller]

Wow, very nice find indeed! Micro Computer Days? It is gorgeous.

+1 for mechanical switches, I loathe needing to use a dome keyboard for any length of time.

Last year I needed to buy a clicky keyboard but I don't typically find them locally, and they are starting to get pricey in auction-land. I decided on buying a new one from Unicomp and I love it. It is kind of drab and ugly but the switches are decent and it is native USB. Unicomp are the same facility that made the IBM Model M back in the day, they have a Yahoo storefront and make nice stuff. Sorry to sound like an advert, just personally I love this board.

My next fave is a Mac keyboard, Datadesk 101e. It has got both ADB and the older modular connector also. First (and for a long time the only) good keyboard I had.

Sometime when I am feeling ambitious I intend to retrofit my Atari Falcon and Mega keyboards with nice switches also, but I don't know when I will get around to it.

I like how there was more variety before keyboards became more standardized for Windoze, there are some interesting layouts out there. I dream of finding an MIT "space cadet" keyboard someday.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

We've got the same favorite KBD, the DataDesk MAC 101/101e, IIRC, they advertised it as the first 101/UNIX style KBD for the Mac. I detested the puny KBD that came with my SE. My 101 died after years of faithful service and I got another one , the 101e, used and then used that one up too. I intended to fix one, but never got around to it.

Here's some you might get a kick out of from my IRS Refund Madness thread.

Clock-wise starting at the:
* KeyTronic w/Spherically Correct Pointing Device/Controller that is ripe for hacking!

*The DEC KBD was a "gottahaveit" purple match for the DECstation Shell that almost became the basis for my ubuntuGIMPbox hack.
* The KBD above that has Alps Mechanical Key Switches in a matrix for which I have very special plans!
* Next to that is a GRID "gottahaveit" just because I've always loved their Macho-Machines.

* Under the GRID is an HP with a daisy-chainable phone type connector I've never seen before, that just may fit a certain 128k+++ . . . . . . or probably not . . .

* The best-for-last is a TELEX w/a bunch of DIP switches under a plexi/plastic panel on the bottom. It was manufactured right on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle here in Raleigh, NC! I'm guessing it's a configurable ASCII outputtin', BEAST of a KBD so naturally, it was in the "REALLYgottahaveit" category along with my 1.9 Sun KBDs in the other piccie.

As it turns out, one of my present co-workers had a job at the company that made the Nimitz Class KBD, in this pic, in nearby Raleigh.

I think that I remember seeing the KBDs above in one of the boxes I haven't finished unpacking yet, I sure hope they didn't disappear during my move this summer!

[olePigeon]

... in nearby Raleigh.

Sounds insane.

[techfury90]

Yeah, if you look at the buckling spring patent, a guy in Raleigh came up with it. I have two keyboards like that for my AS/400 terminals.

IBMers from Raleigh also gave us SNA (I think) and Token Ring...

[techfury90]

Here's one of my AS/400 terminal keyboards. Notice how the layout is very different.