I wanted to have the bottom part match the original so I had the paint color matched. The end result turned out as a lighter faded red. Not sure if it's as good as the original though. Perhaps the light blue ones are cooler? I've never seen another red one on the internet though.//gainsborough wrote: ↑I just realized - did you repaint the bottom part red?
IBM 3741 Data Station / System 3 Barn Find
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
That is some good ergonomic information. I went with the Ikea Skarsta which was the cheapest option I found for a standing desk in my area. Also Uplift desk sells some attractive standing desks including a frame that goes for less than $500.
- //gainsborough
- ALPSの日常
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: some kind of alps keyboard
- Favorite switch: clk: SKCM blue, lin: SKCL cream, tac: SKCM cream
- DT Pro Member: 0188
JP! wrote: ↑That is some good ergonomic information. I went with the Ikea Skarsta which was the cheapest option I found for a standing desk in my area. Also Uplift desk sells some attractive standing desks including a frame that goes for less than $500.
I wanted to have the bottom part match the original so I had the paint color matched. The end result turned out as a lighter faded red. Not sure if it's as good as the original though. Perhaps the light blue ones are cooler? I've never seen another red one on the internet though.//gainsborough wrote: ↑I just realized - did you repaint the bottom part red?
I think the red looks amazing - very nice work!
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- Location: UK
- Main keyboard: Filco ZERO green alps, Model F 122 Terminal
- Main mouse: Ducky Secret / Roller Mouse Pro 1
- Favorite switch: MX Mount Topre / Model F Buckling
- DT Pro Member: 0167
Thats interesting , i always find that kitchen worktops are far too low for "light work" and i am am of pretty average height ( around 5'11)Menuhin wrote: ↑ http://images.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/Ergo010.gif
I would much rather they where taller and almost at the precision work height .
- vometia
- irritant
- Location: Somewhere in England
- Main keyboard: Durrr-God with fancy keycaps
- Main mouse: Roccat Malarky
- Favorite switch: Avocent Thingy
- DT Pro Member: 0184
I also like the red: I recall that though the default was "IBM blue" or whatever it's called, they were quite happy to paint their stuff whatever colour was requested. IMHO the resulting ubiquity of blue made it slightly boring: red is much nicer. I think my favourite colour for a mainframe's "accent panels" was a rather fetching yellow.
I'm also vaguely reminding myself of the endless wrangling about the colour DEC used for their DECsystem-20 flavour of PDP-10s, which was variously claimed to be "Terracotta" or "Chinese Red". I still can't remember which (if either) it actually was, nor the correct capitalisation of "DECsystem", which varied between the -10 and -20, though both were still PDP-10s.
I don't recall the exact height of my standing desk, though it's probably not especially useful for anyone who isn't also 5'7". I measured it so I could rest on it with a very slight lean, or more to the point that it would comfortably support my arms without straining my wrists while I was typing. ISTR my aim was a sort of "ideal bar height". That part of it seemed to work very well, and I would've considered it a success if not for my troublesome knee.
Edit: I find typical kitchen worktops to be of a sort of okay height and haven't spent a lot of time considering what would be perfect, but I suspect another couple of inches wouldn't hurt; and I'm 4" shorter than you...
I'm also vaguely reminding myself of the endless wrangling about the colour DEC used for their DECsystem-20 flavour of PDP-10s, which was variously claimed to be "Terracotta" or "Chinese Red". I still can't remember which (if either) it actually was, nor the correct capitalisation of "DECsystem", which varied between the -10 and -20, though both were still PDP-10s.
I don't recall the exact height of my standing desk, though it's probably not especially useful for anyone who isn't also 5'7". I measured it so I could rest on it with a very slight lean, or more to the point that it would comfortably support my arms without straining my wrists while I was typing. ISTR my aim was a sort of "ideal bar height". That part of it seemed to work very well, and I would've considered it a success if not for my troublesome knee.
Edit: I find typical kitchen worktops to be of a sort of okay height and haven't spent a lot of time considering what would be perfect, but I suspect another couple of inches wouldn't hurt; and I'm 4" shorter than you...
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
So I've come up with some neat ideas for this project but I think they may take me a while to complete them which is fine. I want to make this more interactive like the original, not just a keyboard and desk. Also the desk has two holes on the top I think this could use some finishing touches.
Here is a bit what I have in mind for the future.
Here is a bit what I have in mind for the future.
- nsmechkb
- Location: ON, CA
- Main keyboard: W: FC660C H: Model F AT
- Favorite switch: Maybe Capacitive Buckling Springs.
- DT Pro Member: 0202
That looks like it's going to be so much fun!JP! wrote: ↑So I've come up with some neat ideas for this project but I think they may take me a while to complete them which is fine. I want to make this more interactive like the original, not just a keyboard and desk. Also the desk has two holes on the top I think this could use some finishing touches.
Here is a bit what I have in mind for the future.
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- Location: Beamspringville
- Main keyboard: 4704
- DT Pro Member: 0186
Even though I respect your idea of trying to keep the 'spirit' of the device alive, it's a desk so if it's not something you use every day it's going to end up being anything but used. Raspberry Pis are cool because they're the size of a credit-card. It ceases to be (long term) cool when it's the size of a desk ;-(
If it were me, I'd wire in a full-blown, gnarly, desktop motherboard with 64G RAM, 24 cores, the works.
The display of course is the most difficult thing to modernize.
If it were me, I'd wire in a full-blown, gnarly, desktop motherboard with 64G RAM, 24 cores, the works.
The display of course is the most difficult thing to modernize.
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
It could still be both a retro Raspi desk and a modern desk at the very same time in fact. No compromises necessary. There are a number of potential use cases. A clamp on monitor stand could simply be added to mount one or two nice 4k monitors to provide modern functionality. The second option as desk / keyboard that fits beneath my standing desk.__red__ wrote: ↑Even though I respect your idea of trying to keep the 'spirit' of the device alive, it's a desk so if it's not something you use every day it's going to end up being anything but used. Raspberry Pis are cool because they're the size of a credit-card. It ceases to be (long term) cool when it's the size of a desk ;-(
If it were me, I'd wire in a full-blown, gnarly, desktop motherboard with 64G RAM, 24 cores, the works.
The display of course is the most difficult thing to modernize.
The display won't be difficult to modernize at all in fact. The 7'' screen I have in mind is only $40 and is designed for the Raspberry PI and is perfectly dimensioned for the desk's cutout. Now I could even go old school industrial crt but that is much more expensive. The screen / mirror piece would be removable if it is in the way an so could have an optional cover for the screen cutout for protection. Now behind the desk is a ton of space for storage. I likely could fit an entire home lab with switches, routers, NAS, server, or full blown liquid cooled gaming rig and of course a Raspi.
- mike52787
- Alps Aficionado
- Location: South-West Florida
- Main keyboard: G80-5000HAAUS
- Main mouse: Zowie EC1-A
- Favorite switch: Vintage MX Black
- DT Pro Member: 0166
If I were you I would use the 7" monitor as a notification center or maybe for IRC. Its a really neat idea to keep it for its original use. Also, will you learn to use a mouse left handed or are you planning to use a trackball or something?
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0061
- Contact:
Good to see this project still going strong.
- digital_matthew
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Ellipse Model F62
- Main mouse: It's a Secret.
- Favorite switch: Capacative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
Soft-modding a flip-out mouse area on the right could work.mike52787 wrote: ↑If I were you I would use the 7" monitor as a notification center or maybe for IRC. Its a really neat idea to keep it for its original use. Also, will you learn to use a mouse left handed or are you planning to use a trackball or something?
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Yeah, that's and idea or using a small table or desk at the same height.digital_matthew wrote: ↑Soft-modding a flip-out mouse area on the right could work.mike52787 wrote: ↑If I were you I would use the 7" monitor as a notification center or maybe for IRC. Its a really neat idea to keep it for its original use. Also, will you learn to use a mouse left handed or are you planning to use a trackball or something?
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Here are some updated pictures. Sorry no video __Red__
More pictures:
More pictures:
Spoiler:
- digital_matthew
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Ellipse Model F62
- Main mouse: It's a Secret.
- Favorite switch: Capacative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
Looks like new. Amazing! I love the seriousness of those switches on the upper-left of the keyboard and the power switch. That's REAL industrial design.
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
No need for that. That wouldn't be fair though since most of the work was done last year It was actually through the help of various people and extreme luck that any of this happened. Looking back though there was a definite possibility that I would have gave up and this would still be sitting in a barn.Engicoder wrote: ↑Fantastic work JP! ! If there is a DT award for restoration this should be a top contender!!
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0061
- Contact:
Looks awesome JP!. Great work.
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- Location: --
- Main keyboard: --
- Main mouse: --
- Favorite switch: --
- DT Pro Member: -
Hello JP morgan! This project is very awesome!
Not sure if this may be useful, but if you wanted to put a mouse in this, I think this would look neat: other-devices-f3/panel-mount-usb-metal- ... 18195.html
Or maybe this one because it's a black one:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Black-c ... 9423&tpp=1
Not sure if this may be useful, but if you wanted to put a mouse in this, I think this would look neat: other-devices-f3/panel-mount-usb-metal- ... 18195.html
Or maybe this one because it's a black one:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Black-c ... 9423&tpp=1
- tron
- Location: OH, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM 3278
- Main mouse: Mionix Castor
- Favorite switch: IBM Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
Really curious to see a shot from underneath the desk(to see how much room the switches and inner assembly take up). Great job with this btw it looks brand new. Love the retro futuristic styling
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Did you take a look at the more pictures spoiler link?tron wrote: ↑Really curious to see a shot from underneath the desk(to see how much room the switches and inner assembly take up). Great job with this btw it looks brand new. Love the retro futuristic styling
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0061
- Contact:
I did, and now I have new material for my desktop pic-rotation.
- tron
- Location: OH, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM 3278
- Main mouse: Mionix Castor
- Favorite switch: IBM Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
Ok, wow. I didn't recognize it at first. Looks like IBM did a great job with the compact case design for the 3741. It really shows how much wasted space is in the full sized beamspring cases.