Programmable Keyboards

[Daedalus1]

I have only just found this site, a site I should have been a member of a long time ago. However I'm here.

My day to day keyboard is an IBM Model M of 1996 vintage'ish. Just love the keys.

However things move on and with my new job I could really do with a keyboard with fully programmable keys. I currently use my Model M along with a 35 key, KSB, POS, USB keyboard by the side. Which is fine but I cannot program more than 3000 characters in total to the various programmable keys in the KSB and it has to be done via software on a PC although the keyboard can be moved from one PC to another once programmed.

What then do I want?

A keyboard with the tactile feedback of the Model M, with programmable keys, all of them. With extra function keys above the normal functions keys maybe. (I used to have an old Cherry Keyboard like this but it was DOS only). It ideally should have several layers of programing to each key via some layer keys. So for instance F13 would have say 4 layers to it depending upon which layer key was pressed. Each key should be able to store a minimum of 1024 characters for each layer.

So I select a programing key and level and then the key I want to associate my key string to. Lets say [Prog, L2, F1] I then key the key strokes I want to reproduce: 7 Harrison Road, {enter} Harrison Town, {enter} Harrison County, {enter} Harrison Kingdom. So at a later date I am writing a letter and I just press [L2, F1] and my address is put in.

I do a lot of reporting on various sites where I cannot use my computer, but I can plug my keyboard in. So I can take my keyboard with me with its non volatile memory with my standard phrase and plug it in to the new computer and off I go.

What would be really good would be to have a small LCD screen above the keyboard which allows easy programming of the keyboard. The most important thing is that there should be NO NEED to put any software on the PC, it should all be in the keyboard.

Anyone know of one of these?

Many thanks in advance,

Daedalus.

OK, I'm missing the 1 but no sites let you use a an ancient Greek name for some reason.

[kbdfr]

There is a keyboard (the Tipro MID QM128A) which has everything you are looking for, except:
- "the tactile feedback of the Model M": it has Cherry MX black switches - the same you probably had in your previous Cherry keyboard;
- "Each key should be able to store a minimum of 1024 characters for each layer" - well, perhaps it has, I never needed so many in several years of use of mine;
- "a small LCD screen above the keyboard which allows easy programming of the keyboard "- there exists an additional (also fully programmable) module with a small LCD screen, but I don't know whether it can be used for programming the keyboard;
- "NO NEED to put any software on the PC" - you do need the keyboard software for programming purposes. Once programmed, though, the configuration is in the keyboard itself and you can plug your it into any device.
Every single key (=switch) is freely programmable on 4 layers. Its small size and sturdy construction makes it easily transportable. You can also add side modules if the upper rows are not enough - see second link next line.
More details here - it's my sale thread, but as an enthusiastic user myself I do also answer questions from non-buyers

Another option would be the famous Cherry G80-2100, which however I think is the one you mentioned. It is not DOS only, though, it still works with any OS.

There also is the Cherry G81-8038, which basically is the successor of the G80-2100 with better programming usability, but alas with the ominous Cherry MY switches. You won't want to type on them.

[vvp]

Kinesis Advantage 2 can do remap and macros as you describe. It probably can work without any drivers or software. I have Kinesis Advantage 1 and it definitely works without any additional software. I would not buy a keyboard which requires special software too
https://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage2/

But it is badly unsuitable for travelling, and it does not have an LCD. And it does not have buckling springs (it is Cherry MX brown). Not sure whether it has more than 1 layer shift key. But you can bind macros to any key combination. No need to use only layer shift. You can use also standard modifiers for a macro trigger.

If you insist on all the features you may need to get a custom build. But even then you will have hard time to get buckling springs in a custom build. Maybe only replacing controller and firmware in a standard Model M. But standard keyboard is quite big for carrying around.

[kbdfr]

No reaction whatsoever, not even one week after a PM signalling there had been answers in this thread.
Bad manners, that

[Wodan]

Undank ist der Welten Lohn

[vvp]

Well he could have replied.
But we did not give him pointers to what he exactly wanted. So he probably just moved on.
But I do not think there is a mass produced keyboard with the features he required.