Whats your Work-Bench/lab look like? Post some pictures of your Lab.

[bd139]

You can get USB/PS2 adapters for pittance: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0012XGK3A

TBH I got annoyed with the lack of start + context menu keys with mine as well.

[HighVoltage]

Best keyboards ever. I had one. Unfortunately not great unless you live on your own.

I still have a model M keyboard at the lab.
Too loud for the home
But by far the best keyboard ever!

[neo]

Best keyboards ever. I had one. Unfortunately not great unless you live on your own.

I still have a model M keyboard at the lab.
Too loud for the home
But by far the best keyboard ever!

Now i want one.. 

[rdl]

I'm pretty sure that the first computer I owned came with one of those Model M keyboards. I don't remember what happened to it though. Some kind of spill disaster probably.

They're still made today.

https://www.pckeyboard.com/

[bitseeker]

Yep, you can still buy new ones today. However, I saw a video where it appears that the tolerances on the new keyboards aren't as good as the old ones, probably due to wear from decades of manufacturing.

Some of the new ones, such as the Ultra Classic, do have Start and Context Menu keys, though.

[neo]

Yep, you can still buy new ones today. However, I saw a video where it appears that the tolerances on the new keyboards aren't as good as the old ones, probably due to wear from decades of manufacturing.

Some of the new ones, such as the Ultra Classic, do have Start and Context Menu keys, though.

I'm left wondering the effect and severity of the looser tolerances, any idea?

[bitseeker]

neo, this is the video that compares the newer Unicomp model M's with the Lexmark and original "IBM" ones.

[HighVoltage]

Some nice facts of the model M are even on wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard

I was lucky enough to buy a few brand new Model M over the years in original IBM packaging.

[TerraHertz]

If I could find a keyboard that was as robust and pleasant-typing as an old Model M, but was ten-key-less format (and I could afford it, preferably more than one), I'd be very happy.

I used to use an original model M, till it failed. Then a variety of membrane switch cheapies, but they feel horrible and don't last long. Then from trying a cheap tenkeyless (no numeric keypad) and realizing how much better the ergonomics are, I bought a Poseidon KB-PZX.

I love the small size, reduced distance from mouse to keys, and the mechanical keys typing feel.
Downsides:

 * Over time a few switch contacts have gone intermittent, and had to be opened up for cleaning. Which isn't so hard, but is annoying.

 * Cheaply made keytops. Keys are illuminated, meaning there's an inner translucent body and a black outer layer with the legends, so the legends glow. But the outer layer is thin, and is wearing off the most-used keys. Which makes the keyboard a short lifetime product, unless I can get replacement keytops.
 
* The illuminating LEDs under each key are above the key shaft. So keys that have two legends (eg the numerics along the top row) only get the upper symbol illuminated. To 'fix' this with the numerics, Poseidon made the stupid decision to swap the numbers and symbols, ie say 4 at top, and $ at bottom. Which means the shift function is actually reversed from what you see. This really messes with your typing reflexes. It's the worst problem with this keyboard. Solely for that reason I wouldn't buy another.

Edit to add: The current manufacturer's fad, seems to be keytops with absolutely flat, square tops, with little space between the keys. I find this astonishingly stupid. There's no tactile feedback for your finger placement accuracy at all. Add in the mushy feel of membrane key travel mechanics, and these keyboards are not fit for purpose imo. They are soooo bad they set my paranoia off, making me suspect they are deliberately intended to cripple the ability to type rapidly. (Yes, I know, probably just stupid designers. Probably... But it's really an unbelievable level of stupid.)

Oh, and another problem with the KB-PZX, is it seems to have a relatively slow scan speed, scanning the matrix from left to right. Or maybe I'm developing a different latency between my two hands, it's hard to tell. Anyway, result is that if I'm typing fast, and I meant to type a letter with my right hand then one with my left, they'll appear reversed. For eg just then when I typed "hard" it came out as "ahrd".

[cdev]

Many older Apple USB keyboards used quite good quality Cherry mechanical switches that basically last forever.

[neo]

Would this be the right place for a question about workbench structural integrity?

[Cubdriver]

Would this be the right place for a question about workbench structural integrity?

Buying more 'vintage' HP gear are ya?   

Truth be told, my concern is the floor.

-Pat

[neo]

Would this be the right place for a question about workbench structural integrity?

Buying more 'vintage' HP gear are ya?   

Truth be told, my concern is the floor.

-Pat

I intend to get a shed built to my specification, obviously i would have the floor reinforced.

Please answer if you can,

I want a workbench that is slightly overkill, for reference i am rather large at 240 and i would like it to be able to not only survive me jumping onto it but to remain rock solid. Not that i intend to do that.
I'm thinking 44" deep with 6 4x4s with 4" spaces, these would then have a cross-brace consisting of a 4x4 every 28 inches and a top consisting of .75 inch plywood. There would be two legs, 16" spacing, with the wall being the support for the rear of the table, a set like that every 28" Total length 16'
Then i would have an upper shelf consisting of 5 2x4s running the length, 8' this time, with the same .75 inch plywood top and a 4x4 under it as a brace every 28"' with a wire pulling the front up towards the wall.

Now obviously I've gone overkill on this but the question at hand is have i gone so far overkill it no longer makes sense?

This is part of my planing for a large project still in it's infancy.

P.S. As  for what i am buying, HP, Fluke, lead bricks, generally heavy stuff etc. 

[ajb]

If I could find a keyboard that was as robust and pleasant-typing as an old Model M, but was ten-key-less format (and I could afford it, preferably more than one), I'd be very happy.

  Not sure what affordable means to you, but WASD keyboards have what you're after.  I use their 88-key illuminated keyboards, with a separate mechanical numpad to the left (so I can use the numberpad with my left hand while keeping my right on the mouse--handy in CAD and in Altium, where num+ and num- are used to change layers).

There are also a number of keyboards using clones of the cherry switches, as always the quality is hit or miss, but they are much cheaper.

[rdl]

"Gaming" keyboards with mechanical switches have become popular, but I don't think I've seen any without an attached numberpad. I have a couple of Pfu compact keyboards (Happy Hacking 2) I bought 15 years ago that are still going strong and they have a very nice feel, but their price has gotten ridiculous.

[TerraHertz]

I intend to get a shed built to my specification, obviously i would have the floor reinforced.

Reinforced WHAT? For really heavy stuff, anything but a thick concrete slab with plenty of reo is iffy. (He says, while setting up a big lathe on a floor of pavers on sand. Will be using large hardwood base pedestals to spread load.)

I want a workbench that is slightly overkill, for reference i am rather large at 240 and i would like it to be able to not only survive me jumping onto it but to remain rock solid. Not that i intend to do that.
I'm thinking 44" deep with 6 4x4s with 4" spaces, these would then have a cross-brace consisting of a 4x4 every 28 inches and a top consisting of .75 inch plywood. There would be two legs, 16" spacing, with the wall being the support for the rear of the table, a set like that every 28" Total length 16'
Then i would have an upper shelf consisting of 5 2x4s running the length, 8' this time, with the same .75 inch plywood top and a 4x4 under it as a brace every 28"' with a wire pulling the front up towards the wall.

That's twice you've brought the walls into it. What are they made of? It's not really a good idea to hang heavy shelving loads off walls, since they apply torsional forces to the wall structural members. Which in any case will never be in the right places. Worst case, with timber frame structures the entire building might go trapezoid.

Another problem with attaching benches to walls, if the walls are not thick brickwork or concrete, is that any banging on the bench couples to the walls, like a drum. Your family & neighbors will not be happy.

Concrete floor, and all loads passing directly downwards to it, is best.

Not sure what affordable means to you, but WASD keyboards have what you're after.  I use their 88-key illuminated keyboards, ...

Those look pretty nice, next time I have $145 + shipping to Oz spare, I'll try one. The 87 key, not sure which version switches.
I like the company's attitude: "No obnoxious branding. Discreet LED indicators." Man, I'd forgotten about that. I had to hack the poseidon to remove the obnoxious branding on the front. There was even an illuminated logo on the space bar. JFC.

[BU508A]

These are really nice keyboards, but they are utterly expensive:

http://www.weytec.com/produkte/wey-keyboards/wey-keyboards/

[bd139]

Ah Reuters terminals. Proper hardcore tech company behind those keyboards. None of those startup pansies you get these days.

[cdev]

Some time back I saw a blurb about a brand of keyboards with small illuminated displays for special function keys so they could be reconfigured to all sorts of special uses contextually by software. That seemed useful.  But then again, many things seem useful but are not used.

One of my next projects is some kind of wireless annunciator I can usually just leave on my desktop but which is mobile that can run software to announce things have occurred. It would light up, make noise, etc. For example, that something has happened during a build that I need to know about. Or that somebody important has emailed or left a text message, etc. Seems an ESP8266 would be ideal for this. Also, alarms, to-do list, etc. A non-commercial nag screen for myself.

There is a beep program on linux that is useful for audio feedback in scripting. It can make as many different beeps as you want. Just insert a call or calls into a file that is executed. Beep for success, failure or whatever.

[McBryce]

Some time back I saw a blurb about a brand of keyboards with small illuminated displays for special function keys so they could be reconfigured to all sorts of special uses contextually by software. That seemed useful.  But then again, many things seem useful but are not used.

One of my next projects is some kind of wireless annunciator I can usually just leave on my desktop but which is mobile that can run software to announce things have occurred. It would light up, make noise, etc. For example, that something has happened during a build that I need to know about. Or that somebody important has emailed or left a text message, etc. Seems an ESP8266 would be ideal for this. Also, alarms, to do list, etc.

There is a beep program on linux that is useful for audio feedback in scripting. It can make as many different beeps as you want. Just insert a call or calls into a file that is executed. Beep for success, failure or whatever.

Sounds like the Optimus Maximus Keyboard you were reading about. Discontinued and replaced with the ugly looking Popularis.

McBryce.

[cdev]

I've recently been fooling around with these tiny, $2-3 very sharp OLED displays. By tiny, I mean really tiny, they are barely larger than a fingertip, but sharp enough to hold a few lines of text.

They seem to be a logical choice for small bright graphic displays that are not on all the time. (if they were, then the product should be one that's fairly disposable, as OLEDS are reputed to wear out fairly quickly)


I checked out the optimus KBs. You're right, they are ugly. No, the ones that I was talking about are nicer, but likely even more expensive.

The idea of putting a dedicated screen behind the keys is a good idea, though, I think. It could be implemented perhaps much better.

The Reuters keyboards have a small monitor embedded in the top, that's a bit like a tablet. Having a small screen on a keyboard which always shows what your TV channel is broadcasting seems potentially quite useful in a newsroom.

Tablets are good for convenience, reading things, PDFs, even video, etc. but horrible for one to try to "type" on, and prone to mistakes. I've given up on surfing blogs like eevblog with mine for that reason. I spent more time correcting mistakes than typing.

But, attached - (but detachable +with power) to a workbench and with the right workbench-specific software, a tablet could be really great.
I could see all the instruments being designed to display to a tablet in user reizable frames, and intercommunicating using open standards and time-stamping.

Some time back I saw a blurb about a brand of keyboards with small illuminated displays for special function keys so they could be reconfigured to all sorts of special uses contextually by software. That seemed useful.  But then again, many things seem useful but are not used.

Sounds like the Optimus Maximus Keyboard you were reading about. Discontinued and replaced with the ugly looking Popularis.

McBryce.

[bd139]

I don't get the idea of a screen behind the keys. I don't look at the keyboard!

[McBryce]

I don't get the idea of a screen behind the keys. I don't look at the keyboard!

Maybe you would if it had a screen behind it?

McBryce.

[cdev]

Its so they can be relabeled on the fly depending on what application you are in. So that when you switch to some complicated EDA app, your keys will be labeled.

[bd139]

I still don't get it. I know where all my keys are. It's muscle memory. There's a layer of indirection in the brain which says in KiCad I need to whack A, P or this or that. In Vim, I know where escape is. Typing on screens is a stupid idea as well. No tactile feedback, no boundaries between controls.

Best keyboard is this: