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Admiral Shark

@sharktastica.co.uk

260 followers 290 following 360 posts

Hi, I share retro IBM keyboards, PCs & ThinkPads! - Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, he/him, software engineer, Debian user, lover of sharks, rock, metal, Star Trek & Stargate! #LLAP Website: https://sharktastica.co.uk Socials: https://linktr.ee/sharktastica Subreddit: /r/modelm

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Nov 16

Hi, I'm Admiral Shark, and I've been on a mission to collect, research and document IBM, Lexmark, Unicomp, Lenovo & TGCS keyboards for 5 years for posterity! I also enjoy PCs, ThinkPads, terminals & POS equipment.
Site: sharktastica.co.uk
Socials: linktr.ee/sharktastica
Reddit: reddit.com/r/modelm

A photo of various 122-key Model M Converged Keyboards from IBM and Unicomp

A photo of an IBM PS/2 Travel Keyboard with UltraNav (SK-8840, top) and a Lenovo ThinkPad Compact USB Keyboard with TrackPoint (KU-1255, bottom)

A photo showing different "IBM" logos from various Model F and Model M keyboards of various ages

A photo of the sides of an IBM PS/2 Space Saving Keyboard (left) and a Unicomp Mini Model M (right)

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 16h

Some photos from my manual for it!

A photo of the IBM PS/2 L40 SX TrackPoint User's Guide front cover.

A photo of a page from the IBM PS/2 L40 SX TrackPoint User's Guide showing "track ball mode".

A photo of a page from the IBM PS/2 L40 SX TrackPoint User's Guide showing "mouse mode".

A photo of a page from the IBM PS/2 L40 SX TrackPoint User's Guide showing how to convert the device to "track ball mode"

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 16h

The original #IBM #TrackPoint design patent turns 35 today! It's not the #ThinkPad "nipple", "nub", etc. you may be expecting, but a mouse for the IBM PS/2 L40 SX laptop that can function as a trackball or a ball mouse depending on what side you use it!
sharktastica.co.uk/topics/paten...

U.S. Design Patent 5,063,289 (US5063289A) | Keyboard Patents

ASK Keyboard Patents database entry for U.S. Design Patent 5,063,289 (US5063289A)

sharktastica.co.uk

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 16h

Nice! The following logic helped me with the guess:
* 365X came with a floppy drive by default.
* 365Cx and 365Ex use a black inner cover (pictured via my 365ED) instead of the stylised one that 365Xx has.

A photo of my IBM ThinkPad 365ED notebook computer's inside showing the black inner cover I mentioned in my reply.

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 16h

365XD?

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 4d

The IBM 024/026 Card Punch design patent turns 76 years old today! sharktastica.co.uk/topics/paten...

U.S. Design Patent 160,720 (USD160720S) | Keyboard Patents

ASK Keyboard Patents database entry for U.S. Design Patent 160,720 (USD160720S)

sharktastica.co.uk

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 5d

Thanks!

Reposted by Admiral Shark

Laptop Retrospective @laptopretrospective.com · 5d

A very late entry for #ThinkPadThursday, a short tour and discussion about the #ThinkPad R52. Neat machine that gave me an opportunity to talk about some stories I've collected over the years. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy98...

Examining the IBM ThinkPad R52

YouTube video by Laptop Retrospective

www.youtube.com

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 8d

The most obvious issue is that I currently use several actual Windows Vista/7 icons as placeholders to indicate what I expect of the design but I need to replace with my own icons before I publish. I don't plan to make this my website's default style, but it will soon be provided as an option.

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 8d

I started by essentially emulating Windows 7's look, drawing heavy inspiration from khang-nd's 7.css to do so. I then began a continuous cycle of tweaking things here and there, steering design elements into something I'm happy with and keeping some relevance towards my website's existing style.

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 8d

I may have caught the #FrutigerAero bug. I also think #WindowsVista and #Windows7 were the best-looking operating systems. Thus, I've been working on a new theme option for Admiral Shark's Keyboards that looks a lot like Aero! Some screenshots of what is to come... WIP, of course.

A screenshot of Admiral Shark's Keyboards' index page with the future Aero theme applied

A screenshot of Admiral Shark's Keyboards' timeline page with the future Aero theme applied

A screenshot of Admiral Shark's Keyboards' "navigate via image" feature with the future Aero theme applied

A screenshot of Admiral Shark's Keyboards' upcoming keyboard layouts page with the future Aero theme applied

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 16d

Happy 55th birthday to two literal giants of the IBM keyboard world! sharktastica.co.uk/wiki?id=ibm3...

IBM 3210 & 3215 Console Printer-Keyboards

Information on the IBM 3210 and 3215 Printer-Keyboards for IBM System/370 mainframes

sharktastica.co.uk

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · 27d

My website and continuing mission for #IBM, #Lexmark, #Unicomp, #Lenovo and #TGCS #keyboard excellence has reached its sixth year! Like most past years, I have written this post to go over everything we achieved since September 2024 and to give my thanks! sharktastica.co.uk/announcement...

Six years of Admiral Shark's Keyboards

Celebration of the six-year anniversary of Admiral Shark's Keyboards!

sharktastica.co.uk

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 26

All my homies love the Nebula-class.

RJB / Mallacore 🇨🇦 @rjb-mallacore.bsky.social · Aug 26

Good morning.

Time for an art showcase.

Some of my scenes I made over the years.

Enjoy.

#scifi #SciFiArt

Reposted by Admiral Shark

Foone @foone.bsky.social · Aug 25

happy windows95mas

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 16

All T60:
web.archive.org/web/20100326...

web.archive.org/web/20110821...

web.archive.org/web/20110821...

web.archive.org/web/20110821...

web.archive.org/web/20110821...

web.archive.org/web/20110821...

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 16

G50: web.archive.org/web/20110821...

R60e: web.archive.org/web/20110821...

X60s: web.archive.org/web/20111219...

X60T: web.archive.org/web/20100326...

Z61t: web.archive.org/web/20111219...

web.archive.org

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 16

@laptopretrospective.com @espi.me @floral-anvil.co.uk @scarlettscafe.lenowo.org A suggested activity for when you're bored?

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 16

Whilst I was archiving some #IBM documents for my posterity and research, I came across these #Lenovo #ThinkPad paper models amongst the IBM/Lenovo Japan lot! You print, trim, and then assemble. I have not found other language versions. Download links in subsequent comments.

A printable paper model of a Lenovo ThinkPad G50 desktop replacement computer

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 12

Wake up, a new ASK wiki page has landed! The 75 & 87-key #IBM Model F buckling spring keyboards for the 3104 Display Terminal and 3178 Display Station! Often called "blue switch" keyboards, referring to their charming monocase/dualcase switch on their forehead. sharktastica.co.uk/wiki?id=mode...

Model F 3104/3178 Base Keyboards

Information on the IBM 3104 and 3178 Base Keyboards, amongst IBM's last unique terminal keyboards before embracing ANSI and ISO layouts.

sharktastica.co.uk

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 6

I do have a Vortex SSK that I won it at a keyboard convention last year. I won't be too hard on a free gift, but as I'm used to real Ms, it's hard to ignore how some proportions are wrong. For example, the oval badge and side wedge profile shapes do not match a rea lone and it bothers me. 😅

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 6

I agree. Model M isn't just about the looks, it's the complete experience. Ultimately, whether buckling springs feel or sound the best is subjective. But if this is what you like (which I certainly do), you simply cannot find it with a Cherry/Cherry-compatible keyboard.

A photo of an IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard and a Unicomp Mini Model M side by side.

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Aug 6

I recently revamped this wiki page on these absolute units of a console for #IBM System/370 #mainframe models 135, 145 and 155! Depending on exact model, these weight between 42kg and 130kg... sharktastica.co.uk/wiki?id=ibm3...

IBM 3210 & 3215 Console Printer-Keyboards

Information on the IBM 3210 and 3215 Printer-Keyboards for IBM System/370 mainframes

sharktastica.co.uk

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Jul 30

Dr Pepper mixed with a bit of Fanta Fruit Twist goes hard.

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Jul 27

New page dropped! I created this as a new sources database for future research and articles, but it doubles as a very nice gallery! Besides keyboards, there are also relevant IBM mainframe, #Selectric, #ThinkPad and #TrackPoint patents as well. sharktastica.co.uk/topics/patents

Keyboard Patents

A gallery list of patents relating to IBM and family keyboard, typewriter and keypunch technology

sharktastica.co.uk

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Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk · Jul 20

Thank you, hope you've been well! 🙂 Rest assured I don't plan to just leave, but I do somewhat go through phases where I try being active for a period but then find it difficult to continue. I can't really explain it, but it's nothing personal. I just find being publicly social hard I guess.

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