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IBM 3179 Model F

Posted: 04 May 2011, 21:41
by daedalus
I intend on doing some nifty mods with this thing. So far, I have only got to fit it up with a set of APL keycaps from Unicomp (one is not on the keyboard as I have yet to convert the keyboard from ISO to ANSI), and some numpad keys from an IBM 3161 terminal keyboard. Keycap swapping is very much work in progress -

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It will be adapted using a microcontroller-based adapter so I don't have to wank around with software mappings. Whenever my exams are over, I will be working on it, and post more details.

Posted: 05 May 2011, 06:41
by Crazy9000
It always amazes me how large these are :P.

Posted: 05 May 2011, 09:38
by xbb
Really nice, they still sell those APL caps?

Posted: 05 May 2011, 12:41
by The Solutor
Looks more a tombraider's puzzle than a keyboard...

Posted: 05 May 2011, 12:44
by webwit
Don't understand the fascination for APL caps. It's.. an ancient programming language. They interest me as much as the WordPerfect or Cyrillic keycaps, i.e. not at all.

Posted: 07 May 2011, 00:52
by Brian8bit
With all that blank space I would get a custom air brushed design on it. Like when truckers draw fantasy bitches in bear skins holding swords on the sides of their trucks.

Posted: 07 May 2011, 00:52
by webwit
I wouldn't change the truckers' design.

Posted: 07 May 2011, 00:53
by Brian8bit
Nor would I. Except maybe have a wolf howling silhouetted against the moon or something.

Posted: 07 May 2011, 00:55
by webwit
A Model F like that on your desk is a sure babe magnet.

Posted: 07 May 2011, 03:28
by webwit
Not all Monster Fs are equal.

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Not the biggest dimensions, but I still like Bigfoot. It's all in the legs.

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Posted: 07 May 2011, 03:32
by xbb
lol the last picture, it reminds me a beach deckchair.

Posted: 07 May 2011, 10:07
by daedalus
That bottom one is a Model M (the early ones that were of the same style as the Model F ones). The Ms actually have a better quality case (the plastic on the F breaks relatively easily, I have a chip out of mine on the underside). On the flipside, instead of having a plastic underside, the F has a metal plate which weighs more than a fullsize Topre Realforce.

Posted: 08 May 2011, 13:12
by daedalus
ANSI conversion in progress

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Posted: 08 May 2011, 13:25
by Ascaii
daedalus wrote:ANSI conversion in progress

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Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

daedalus, destroyer of iso-worlds :(

Posted: 08 May 2011, 14:02
by webwit
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Posted: 01 Jun 2011, 13:36
by daedalus
Current mock-up

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I'm just waiting on some stuff to make the adapter, and some keycaps from Unicomp. Soon, beast-keyboard shall be mine!

Posted: 01 Jun 2011, 13:43
by webwit
Needs Red Escape. Small LCD screen and touchpad left and right of the function keys. Pinup girl to the far top right. Rear view mirrors on the sides.

Posted: 12 Jun 2011, 18:53
by daedalus
Currently typing on the board. At the moment, I have a very crude adapter assembled outside the keyboard. I think instead I am just going to remove the original cable, put the microcontroller inside the keyboard, and use header pins to directly connect the keyboard's controller to it.

Posted: 12 Jun 2011, 20:06
by Findecanor
webwit wrote:Don't understand the fascination for APL caps. It's.. an ancient programming language.
Back in 2007, I visited a company that had a product that was written in APL. All the developers' keyboards that I saw were Model M:s with the special key set.
I saw and ad from them earlier this year that they were looking for more APL programmers.

Posted: 26 Nov 2011, 04:07
by Southparkfan1999
imo there is a typing nirvana and its the ibm model f 122 i love showing it to people who have never seen one and its always the same reaction

Re: IBM 3179 Model F

Posted: 22 Jun 2019, 16:14
by cloudhax

Re: IBM 3179 Model F

Posted: 24 Jun 2019, 16:14
by andrewjoy
You have a tab key on the numberpad! This pleases me!