USB Model M

[Roy J. Tellason]

On Tuesday 16 December 2008 02:58:39 pm Jules Richardson wrote:
> David Griffith wrote:
> >>     What was the biggest abuse you took with your M? :o)
> >
> > How about Mmmmmmm.  I splashed solder on mine.  Currently I have one
> > completely stripped until I can get a USB driver board worked out that I
> > like.
>
> Well, my PS/2-USB adapter just arrived in the mail. Plugged it in, and it
> Just Worked (tm) - I don't think I've ever had anything do that in Linux
> before :-)

I recently switched from a slightly older laptop to the one I'm using now,  
and the difference is that the older one had a PS2 port and a single USB 
connector,  while the newer one has only a couple of USB connectors and _no_ 
PS2 port.  A visit to my local computer junk shop and less than $5 of expense 
got me one,  I plugged it in,  and it's worked just fine ever since.  Under 
linux,  yeah.  The only odd behavior is that every now and then I'll hit a 
key and nothing happens,  but that may be the keyboard,  I dunno (and yes,  
it's a Model M).

> The adapter's pretty small, but I can't find a suitable socket bit in my
> toolbox that's slimline enough to use to take the Model M case apart so I
> can see if it'll fit inside comfortably.

This one's about an inch square by about half an inch thick.  Does both 
keyboard and mouse,  as I'm not fond of that little "pointing device" built 
into the laptops,  either of them.

Socket bit?  Oh,  I see what you mean.  I've never had this apart and never 
took notice of that.  Good quality tools are generally thinner metal for any 
given size,  I like Snap-On for that.  :-)

> Re. Model M itself - it's nice to be typing on one; I've suffered a laptop
> keyboard for far too long!

I can't imagine trying to do any significant amount of typing on one.  A bit 
here and there,  yeah,  but not much...

> My only criticism of it is that the right-hand shift key seems to require
> fairly central pressing in order to work (i.e. I can't just reach across
> from the cursor keys and tap the end) - does anyone know if they changed
> this (i.e. added a metal travel-assist bar as with the spacebar, keypad
> enter key etc.) on the later models? 
>
> cheers
>
> Jules
> (basking in clicky goodness)

(Clickety-click...  :-)

-- 
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space,  a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed.  --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James 
M Dakin