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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."

9 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 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.
  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
  4. Ooh... man... by gardyloo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Emacs is gonna be a bitch with that thing.

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

    .. to avoid having a Windows key.

  6. 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.
  7. 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

  8. 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