[HN Gopher] Mysteries of the Griffin iMate
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Mysteries of the Griffin iMate
Author : crecker
Score : 100 points
Date : 2023-05-01 12:55 UTC (10 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (www.projectgus.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (www.projectgus.com)
| markrages wrote:
| I seem to remember depletion-node FETs were available in the late
| 90s, which could have solved this problem in a more elegant way
| than a "lifetime" battery.
| rideontime wrote:
| Just get yourself a teensy and use this thing:
| https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/tree/master/converter/ad...
| atommclain wrote:
| "Worse, I'm already kind of dissatisfied with the iMate - it
| doesn't distinguish left and right for Alt/Shift/etc."
|
| This may be a limitation of the keyboard itself. I remember
| looking into low level keyboard remapping over a decade ago in OS
| X (via ~/Library/Keyboards), and I have a vague memory of reading
| what was at the time an ancient piece of Apple reference material
| that some keyboards do not distinguish between left and right
| modifier keys.
| robterrell wrote:
| From the TMK ADB to USB faq:
|
| On ADB Standard keyboards(M0116) left and right corresponding
| modifiers are logically indentical and can not be discriminated
| one another by the converter. This is ADB keyboard limitation,
| not converter's. Apple Extended keyboard(M0115/M3501) can
| discriminate them except for 'Command' key.
| Cockbrand wrote:
| I do remember using my Extended Keyboard II on ADB Macs, and
| the keyboard viewer did distinguish between left and right
| modifier keys. This might not apply to other ADB keyboards,
| though.
| rvense wrote:
| I use an iMate to connect my Extended II to my Powermac G4. I
| recently replaced the battery to be able to turn on the computer.
| I appreciate the traces, but I actually thought this was all well
| known. I use the G4 every day to make music and for recreational
| programming. I've also got an older Powermac which I enjoyed more
| precisely because of the Extended II[0], but the G4 is much
| faster so getting the iMate working was great.
|
| Also, on Mac OS 9, the iMate doesn't just allow the use of ADB
| keyboards, but as far as I know actually acts as a proper ADB
| bridge, so dongles, modems[1] and other ADB peripherals work as
| well.
|
| [0] It's like having sunshine in your fingers! [1] Yes, there
| were a few ADB modems, and yes, they were slow.
| lostgame wrote:
| Ha! I also use my G4 for music software, especially old VSTs
| that are PPC-only. I love it!
| cduzz wrote:
| Regarding the astonishing flexibility of USB -- I've got a 1994
| vintage keyboard / mouse combo (lexmark/IBM M4-1, compact
| keyboard + trackpoint) -- I use it regularly using a USB to PS/2
| adapter connected to a kvm switch built into a 2010 vintage
| monitor (usb 2) that's connected to a USB-C hub attached to a
| 2020 macbook's USB-C and a surface pro's port replicator. Once a
| week when switching inputs or waking up something gets in a state
| where I have to unplug the keyboard and plug it back in (IBM's
| typical over-engineering means there's a wacky plug on the
| keyboard so it's easy to get to). But, "1994 -> 2000 (ps2->usb)
| -> 2010 (monitor) -> 2020 (macbook)" is a pretty broad stack and
| it works almost perfectly.
|
| I think these are the wacky keyboards where they had the "D" and
| "K" keys marked with a nub to indicate home keys. Drove me crazy
| enough that I'd deface them by shaving off the original nub and
| put a "proper" ridge into the f and j keys.
| mauvehaus wrote:
| If you touch type anyway (and the keyboard allows it), you
| could switch the keycaps between 'd' and 'f' and 'j' and 'k'.
| Or any other combination that puts the nubs in the place you
| want, really.
|
| As a bonus, it'll confuse the hell out of anyone who doesn't
| touch type.
| helf wrote:
| [dead]
| 1-more wrote:
| > I think these are the wacky keyboards where they had the "D"
| and "K" keys marked with a nub to indicate home keys. Drove me
| crazy enough that I'd deface them by shaving off the original
| nub and put a "proper" ridge into the f and j keys.
|
| I have these caps on my keyboard and I can confirm this. I
| think I actually like it since it helps my muscle memory type
| one way on my laptop and another on my vertical staggered
| external keyboard. I bought an original for the caps and
| switches. Almost all the switches had been desoldered and
| replaced with Alps compatible Matias click switches which
| weren't even soldered in. Stinks. Could have raised a stink but
| whatever.
| macintux wrote:
| The wacky keyboards were correct!
|
| The point to "d" and "k" was that even if one of your hands was
| shifted by a letter, you'd still feel the nub, but you'd feel
| it on the wrong finger and know.
|
| By moving the nub to "f" and "j", they broke that contract.
| It's harder to notice the absence of a nub than it is to notice
| it's under the wrong finger.
| Cockbrand wrote:
| I tend to switch every few weeks between Apple's current wireless
| keyboard and the Extended Keyboard II with an iMate attached.
| I've had the iMate for about 25 years, and I've also been
| wondering about the battery. Thanks to the author for finding out
| what it's for! I do have the same gripe as the author regarding
| the iMate not distinguishing between left and right modifier
| keys, though. Anyhow, after all those years, it's indeed amazing
| how the whole ancient setup still works flawlessly with my
| current ARM Mac.
| levicole wrote:
| I worked at Griffin for a short period of time while we were
| still selling this. I was in tech support, and I didn't even know
| about the battery.
| jxdxbx wrote:
| I have an iMate (admittedly I haven't hooked up my Apple Extended
| II in a few years), but I think the writing is on the wall. I
| ended up buying a modern adapter from some site called tinkerBOY
| but I just realized I never even tried it yet.
|
| Personally, for me, the primary attraction is the feel of the old
| Alps switches. I don't want to dedicate my desk to some
| battleship (ok nerds, I know that "battleship" keyboards are even
| bigger). And I can get that from modern switches in a more
| manageable chassis. I currently have the "Zilent" switches from
| Zelio which give me good tactility without too much clickiness.
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