Using a 1986 Model M keyboard on a modern PC with USB!

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My new keyboard is nearly as old as I am!

In this exciting episode of Veronica Explains, I share my most recent vintage computing find, an actual factual IBM Model M keyboard!

This keyboard - an IBM Model M 1390131 to be precise - is a legend for excellent feel and longevity- this one is from 1986 and feels (and sounds) like a dream.

It's not just show-and-tell in today's episode, though- I'll be going into how I got it set up with my modern USB-only computer using a Soarer's Computer- an excellent adapter which lets me remap keys, program macros, and other fun stuff.

It's super neat and I hope you enjoy it!

Links referenced in the video:

eBay store where I bought the converter: https://www.ebay.com/str/barcodemaverick
Very helpful website which explains how the Soarer's Converter works: https://sharktastica.co.uk/guides/soarers_1
Geekhack with Soarer: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0
GeekHack wiki bolt mod: https://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Modifications:IBM_Model_M:Nut_and_Bolt_Mod
Sharktastica.co.uk, an awesome keyboard website
PJRC's Teensy adapter: https://www.pjrc.com/store/teensy.html
PJRC's HID Listen: https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/hid_listen.html
Adafruit pinout for AT connector: https://learn.adafruit.com/convert-your-model-m-keyboard-to-bluetooth-with-bluefruit-ez-key-hid/code

Commands:

Packages needed for Linux users:
Fedora: `sudo dnf install libstdc++.i686 libusb-compat-0.1.i686`
Ubuntu: `sudo apt install libusb-1.1-4:i386`

Soarer's Converter tools format:
First, create a binary with `./scas [layout file] [target binary]`
Second, flash the binary with `./scwr [binary created with scas]`

Chapters:

00:00 Introducing my Model M
00:46 History of the Model M
04:34 Price and comparison with Unicomp
05:54 How'd I get my Model M?
09:48 Cleanup Montage
11:12 Why use a Soarer's Converter?
14:41 Remapping keys with the Soarer's Converter
21:06 Is the Soarer's Converter worth it?
22:32 Ask Veronica

#retro #retrocomputing #keyboard