First manufactured in the 1985, IBM’s Model M keyboard grew to become the dominant keyboard of the burgeoning Personal Computer era. Its excellent design, timeless sound, and sheer durability have made Model M’s the longest lasting and most popular keyboard in existence.
As I type this blog, I actually spilled water on the keyboard. The Model M doesn’t even blink. Each key can be removed and placed into a dishwasher for a quick rinse. In contrast to most modern keyboards, the mechanics are so durable that many Model M’s are still in excellent condition after thirty years. This specific keyboard was manufactured in 1987 or earlier, as evidenced by the Lotus Symphony “Cheat Sheet” and Sage Accpac ERP tips still taped to the keyboard. Each key press provides both a distinct sound and tactile feedback – a sensation of a job well done.
So why have the keyboards not come to completely dominate the market? The main problem is their production cost. A new Model M keyboard costs between $80 to $100, as compared to a standard keyboard that can be purchased for under $10. In addition, older Model M’s use a PS/2 cable or 5-pin DIN connector, which will require a PS/2 to USB adapter before they can be connected to a modern computer.
With the keyboard connected – the next challenge is creating a replacement for the Windows key. This key is often a necessity, especially for IT or software development work. A registry fix can remap the “Scroll Lock” key to the “Windows Key”. Although this can be odd at first, most people adapt to it quickly.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,5b,e0,46,00,00,00,00,00
In order to remap the scroll lock to the Windows key, save the code above to a file called “RemapScrollLock.reg”, execute it in Windows to update the registry, and reboot.
Finally, it is sometimes necessary to still trigger the scroll lock in Windows. This can be done by a simple VBScript that virtually presses the Scroll Lock key:
set wshshell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
wshshell.sendkeys "{SCROLLLOCK}"
Save this as “Toggle ScrollLock.vbs” to the desktop, and execute it whenever necessary to toggle the Scroll Lock.
With these patches, the Model M can still prove as versatile a keyboard today as it did thirty years ago. One final word for the wise, however – keep an alternate keyboard handy for conference calls if you plan to type on the computer. The delectable sound of the Model M, though fun for standard use, can sound like a machine gun when amplified through the speakerphone or microphone in a web conference.
Written by Andrew Palczewski
About the Author
Andrew Palczewski is CEO of apHarmony, a Chicago software development company. He holds a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has over ten years' experience in managing development of software projects.
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