USB NeXT Keyboard with an Arduino Micro

http://learn.adafruit.com/usb-next-keyboard-with-arduino-micro

by jwcooper • 14 years ago

81 14 14 years ago

learn.adafruit.com

kps• 14 years ago

Quite a large number of keyboards, including some surprisingly obscure ones, have available USB converters using free software on hardware of this class. http://deskthority.net/ is probably the best place to find out more.

sciurus• 14 years ago

What I'd love is a kit that converts PS/2 keyboards to wireless.

paddy_m2• 14 years ago

I will gladly buy a Space Cadet keyboard converter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-cadet_keyboard

unimpressive• 14 years ago

I would love to buy such a converter, but first I would need a Space Cadet keyboard.

paddy_m2• 14 years ago

Apparently someone already built such a converter for a different type of symbolics keyboard. http://netzhansa.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-to-convert-your-sy...

ladyada• 14 years ago

liked this? want more? you might want to also read my kinect reverse-engineering how-to article at http://learn.adafruit.com/hacking-the-kinect

dx4100• 14 years ago

It even has a Facebook like and unlike button. Amazing!

spitfire2• 14 years ago

mmm. The original NeXT keyboard had one of the most physically pleasing feels to it ever, along with a beautiful sound.

Just a shame it didn't have pgup/dn, home/end keys for fast maneuvering. Otherwise, so very tempting.

ComputerGuru• 14 years ago

You can get "similar" Model M retros from Unicomp: http://www.pckeyboard.com/

They're 104 key (pg up/down, win key, etc). I had one until my cat killed it with a cup of water, I got a das keyboard afterwards.

spitfire2• 14 years ago

Not quite. The unicomp/model M's were clicky. The NeXT keyboard had a nice plastic "thonk", with an echo to it, but no click. It also had a very solid (no twist/wiggle) travel.

I am considering getting one of those keyboards with the coloured Cherry key switches.

blackaspen• 14 years ago

This is great...I have a full NeXT Turbo Slab (Color!!), and I was wondering if this had been done. The NeXT Keyboard is on-par with Model M's in my opinion.

olgeni• 14 years ago

"But the Model M has more stopping power."

rdale• 14 years ago

I found the first NeXT keyboard was very uncomfortable to use, as the keys had very little spring and you would ram home hard against the 'end stops' all the time. I suppose keyboards are pretty subjective.

They did a second ADB based version for the later model NeXTStations, which I found a lot better to use. It had an interesting 'command bar' feature too, with a long bar like a space bar at the bottom for typing command sequences.

michaelpinto• 14 years ago

i wish there was an easy to use NeXT emulator for my Mac — it's somewhat sad to me that i'm running Windows in VMware yet trying to emulate NeXTstep is major pain (i tried to find the OpenStep CDs on eBay too!!!).

USB NeXT Keyboard with an Arduino Micro

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