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Typewriter As Keyboard Mod

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the because-you-can dept.

ummit writes "Erik Fitzpatrick did a nice job turning an old Smith-Corona manual typeriter into a functional keyboard, and composed a nice writeup about it, with pictures."

17 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. finally... by Marscity9 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A good keyboard that clicks with tactile feedback when you use it

    1. Re:finally... by Limburgher · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Still I prefer the IBM Model M. Now that sucker's awesome. It's not just the most robust, sturdy keyboard I've ever used, I've also a weapon :)

      --

      You are not the customer.

    2. Re:finally... by bhtooefr · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Try a Model F...

      The Model M is a buckling-spring/membrane hybrid (as in, the BS mechanism hits a membrane). The Model F uses a buckling-spring, but it uses capacitive switching rather than a membrane.

      That said, if I'm not using the keyboard on this lappy, I'm on a Model M. The best 101-key keyboard evar!

    3. Re:finally... by uncoveror · · Score: 3, Funny

      Turning a typewriter into a computer keyboard might even give you an "any" key if you can get an old Typewriters International of Toledo model.

      --
      The Uncoveror: It's the real news.
    4. Re:finally... by retinaburn · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I was thinking the same thing. I recently liberated two (one for my brother and one for myself) and pulled out an old ps2-usb converted I got with a keyboard, which let me use it on my new pcs.

      On the downside of the Model M, my brothers old roommates gf had a nervous breakdown because of the late night coding/IRC he used to do causing a significant lack of sleep for her.

      For most /.'rs this won't be a problem ;)

  2. Nestalgia by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    *click* *click* *click* "It was a dark and stormy night" *click* *click* *click*

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:Nestalgia by BillyBlaze · · Score: 3, Funny

      all \n and no
      makes that a long line
      all \n and no <br> makes that a long line
      all \n and no <br> makes that a long line

  3. doot do do, doot doot do do do dooo by jmb-d · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Anyone else thinking of Brazil and the computers they used?

    --
    In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.
    -- Yun-Men
    1. Re:doot do do, doot doot do do do dooo by silentbozo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Let me head this off at the pass:
       
        Slashdot article on the ElectriClerk
       
      Enjoy.

  4. Ooh... man... by gardyloo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Emacs is gonna be a bitch with that thing.

  5. Not actually useful? by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 3, Informative
    Seems to be missing a lot of keys, like "Ctrl", "Alt", "~", etc.

    Even from the article... "never got the backspace to work"...

    Seems like some old typewriters didn't even have a "1" key - you just used lower case L.

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
    1. Re:Not actually useful? by gardyloo · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, people never actually got any work done with typewriters. They were just playing around for about a hundred years until real keyboards came along.

  6. Some people will do anything by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    .. to avoid having a Windows key.

  7. I've always wanted the opposite by G4from128k · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've always wanted to make a computer into a typewriter. By sending characters and control commands to an old dot matrix printer, one should be able to make a passable typewriter application that outputs dot matrix characters in real time. It would use carriage control logic such as that used in the old DecWriter dumb terminal to scoot the print head away from the active printing area to show the user what's being typed and then reposition the print head when they start typing again.

    Sometimes you just need to type words into some odious government form and a hacked typewriter made from some leftover computer junk would be just the thing. I've got an old Mac LC II and an Imagewriter that would be just perfect for this hack, but any old computer and dot matrix printer should work. With a custom application that autoruns during boot, the thing wouldn't even need a monitor.

    --
    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
  8. Re:surprised by Nasarius · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I'm surprised that computer mods/case mods aren't more popular. They hit the /. community regularly, but I'm surprised we don't see them on TV or on other websites more often.

    Perhaps because most people, myself included, don't really give a crap what their computer looks like. Smaller and quieter is nice. But case windows and, neon lights and a pewter gargoyle on top? It's useless.

    --
    LOAD "SIG",8,1
  9. heads up, please? by Graymalkn · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why do you hate me so? This is going to kill my alotted bandwidth. Could I get a heads up before getting slashdotted?

    --

    *******
    "What good is science if no one gets hurt?!" - Professor Chromedome

  10. not that great by Graymalkn · · Score: 5, Informative

    My wife liked it, but it isn't in use at the moment because of a few drawbacks: no 1 key, no backspace, and no Escape. I'm working on a second version that should fix these things. In fact, I think the second version will be a complete "laptop" with the screen inside the case.

    -Erik Fitzpatrick
    (the creator)

    --

    *******
    "What good is science if no one gets hurt?!" - Professor Chromedome