unicomp model m with trackpoint

[tentator]

I've a couple of questions about the unicomp model m with trackpoint if somebody has experience with this keyboard:
1) I noticed that the caps under the covers have strange and different colors: is that common/normal and maybe why?

unicomp undercaps

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2) I noticed the trackpoint seems really flimsy and touching the surrounding caps so was wondering if others that own it could confirm their stick to be more stiff (also reactivity on the pc seems to me really slow.. like I have to pull up the sensitivity a lot, and that even is not enough)?

thanks in advance,
tent:wq

[emdude]

Yes, that's normal. And normal for younger IBM/Lexmark Model Ms as well, from what I can tell from my Model Ms of various years. IBM seemed to start doing this in the early 90's before handing things off to Lexmark. I'm guessing it's a cost-cutting thing.

At least when IBM and Lexmark started to do this, they used plastic of various shades of gray for the stems; Unicomp looks like it uses whatever scrap plastic it has.

[tentator]

I see.. well hope it's still better than chinese reused plastics..

By the way do you maybe also know about the PS2 like socket that the keyboard has on the side? is it for external ps2 mouse or what??

[Redmaus]

I have the original M13 and the trackpoint on it works fine. Must be general Unicomp QC.

[tentator]

so yours does not touch the surrounding caps and is stiff similarly to a trackpoint on a laptop basically?

thanks.. maybe I can change exchange it with another one.. or while I'm at it mount it better to a 122 model m while reusing the caps of this one..

the ps2 socket is this one btw (not sure M13 has this as well..):

photo109275380194585696.jpg (158.46 KiB) Viewed 3344 times

and I'm in the process of opening it at the moment.. I'm not sure about how to unmount the metal plate.. do not see any obvious screw halting it together with the case..

[emdude]

I believe that the PS/2 port is indeed intended for a mouse if you so desire.

Although it would be nice (and I don't expect it to happen) if Unicomp bothered to swap it out for a USB port.

[Redmaus]

Yeah the M13 doesn't have one of those.

[emdude]

It looks like the original Japanese "Endurapro" had the PS/2 port, so it's not a Unicomp innovation. Would have been really neat if the original boards were sold here back then though.

[tentator]

Nice short spacebar!
And I suppose that when a mouse is connected the trackpoint gets disabled, right?

[tentator]

And by the way still figuring out how to unplug the metal plate with the springs from the case... any suggestions?

[emdude]

Not sure what you mean by unplugging the metal plate, everything is held together with plastic rivets. Removing those to get to the internals will necessitate a bolt-mod, which isn't really necessary for a new Model M.

EDIT: If you meant trying to separate the internals (metal plate and all) from the keyboard case, then sorry for the misunderstanding, not sure how I would go about that with an Endurapro. You would probably need to disconnect however many ribbon connections there are from the various controllers, etc.

[tentator]

Yes the latter but also reaching the trackpoint Controller might need to break some rivets maybe I'm afraid..

[tentator]

now I'm sure why I was feeling that trackpoint was so shitty..
Check this pics of it:

I think I will do one of the following two things:
a) reuse a laptop trackpoint to adapt instead of this one
b) do a mod on my other real model m in order to add a laptop trackpoint directly there and since I'm at it finally transform it to ansi (I understood the capacitive part is anyways always present under the holes even if unpopulated..)
lot of work anyways..

[tentator]

i did forget the attachment before sorry..

and by the way to separate the whole plate there is just some glue-plate near each foot on the inside..