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Modding a Thinkpad Keyboard for External Use?

Posted by Cliff on from the just-for-the-fun-of-it dept.

Rinisari asks: "I've recently acquired a working keyboard from a IBM Thinkpad. It has ~87 keys, mousestick with left, right, and rocker buttons, and five other buttons: IBM, volume up/down/mute, and a power button (part number 08K4785). I want to make an interface cable, preferably USB but PS/2 will suffice, to be able to use this on my desktop. Has anyone ever tried something like this?"

3 of 47 comments (clear)

  1. IBM makes things close to this.. by _hAZE_ · · Score: 5, Informative

    Are you aware you can buy keyboards from IBM that are pretty close to what you want? In fact, this is slightly cooler, just because it comes with the number-pad, too..

    http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?ED C= 461017

    Or, if you really want the number-pad-less version, try this:

    http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?ED C= 170470

    --

    Don Head
    UNIX/Linux Administrator
  2. Why not just buy it ready to go? by apocamok · · Score: 5, Informative

    Available from IBM:
    88-Key Space Saver II Keyboard (Business Black)

    Link is to the danish model.

  3. It may not be easy. by munpfazy · · Score: 5, Informative

    I spent some time pondering something similar while putting together a home-made vertical split keyboard.

    Didn't come across anything with IBM's name on it, but among the salvage laptop keyboards that I found in parts stores, none were easy to turn into a working keyboard. They not only lacked a controller, but they seemed to have entirely unique path layouts, making the prospect of finding a suitable ready-built controller unlikely. That's based solely on the three I explored - perhaps there are standards among some manufacturers.

    The only suitable solution I could see was to cut every single circuit path on the keyboard and then wire them up *by hand* to a keyboard controller ripped out of a desktop keyboard, after carefully tracing out every path from the original desktop keyboard. Needless to say, it didn't seem worth the time required. But, with a DMM, a dozen dremel cutting disks, a half pound of solder, a weekend, and a whole lot of patience you could do it.

    If you're willing to spend 100 bucks or more, you can find programmable controllers, and you might get lucky and find one compatible with the existing laptop keyboard. But, for that price, you can probably buy a keyboard to suit your needs right off the shelf.

    If by some chance you find a nifty solution, please post it here. I'd love to see it.

    I guess the silliest answer would be to attach it to an ibm laptop and write a program to mimic a keyboard on the usb port. (I suspect you'd run into latency problems - but it could be fun just for the shear absurdity of it.)