Admiral Shark
@sharktastica.co.uk
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
Website: https://sharktastica.co.uk
Socials: https://linktr.ee/sharktastica
Subreddit: /r/modelm
Not to mention that Model F keyboard production likely began with it! It is sort of competing with IBM 3232 Printer-Keyboard for the honour, something I've been researching and trying to establish the development timeline of. An article may eventually come of it.
December 1, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Not to mention that Model F keyboard production likely began with it! It is sort of competing with IBM 3232 Printer-Keyboard for the honour, something I've been researching and trying to establish the development timeline of. An article may eventually come of it.
The first two marketable sticks were the #Lexmark force-sensing resistor stick (US5467108A, 1st image) and #IBM #TrackPoint II strain gauge stick (US5489900A, 2nd), implementing it using the sensor techs in their respective names! (Note that both patents were filed after they were released.)
November 30, 2025 at 12:23 AM
The first two marketable sticks were the #Lexmark force-sensing resistor stick (US5467108A, 1st image) and #IBM #TrackPoint II strain gauge stick (US5489900A, 2nd), implementing it using the sensor techs in their respective names! (Note that both patents were filed after they were released.)
Bonus photo of sleeves on an IBM ThinkPad 365ED's Model M6-1 keyboard!
November 28, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Bonus photo of sleeves on an IBM ThinkPad 365ED's Model M6-1 keyboard!
I've spent most of today taking and editing photos of IBM buckling sleeves from various Model M keyboards and ThinkPads. This is one of the new charts I'm working on for my wiki!
November 28, 2025 at 11:51 PM
I've spent most of today taking and editing photos of IBM buckling sleeves from various Model M keyboards and ThinkPads. This is one of the new charts I'm working on for my wiki!
ThiccPads (mostly).
L: T480, Z61m, W530, W700
R: G40, G41, G50, A30p
L: T480, Z61m, W530, W700
R: G40, G41, G50, A30p
November 26, 2025 at 5:19 AM
ThiccPads (mostly).
L: T480, Z61m, W530, W700
R: G40, G41, G50, A30p
L: T480, Z61m, W530, W700
R: G40, G41, G50, A30p
I wanted a wallpaper slideshow of IBM patent diagrams, so I made it so! I took the patent drawings as seen on Google Patents, inverted them, removed any artefacts outside the bounds of the subject, and then made them 16:9. You can find them all on my FTP: ftp.sharktastica.co.uk/patents/
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I wanted a wallpaper slideshow of IBM patent diagrams, so I made it so! I took the patent drawings as seen on Google Patents, inverted them, removed any artefacts outside the bounds of the subject, and then made them 16:9. You can find them all on my FTP: ftp.sharktastica.co.uk/patents/
On Discord, I've been pinged this meme or a variation of it a few times since yesterday. I cannot confirm or deny I'm the shark in question nibbling on an undersea cable, so please do not blame me for any widespread internet outtages. I am hungry, though...
November 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
On Discord, I've been pinged this meme or a variation of it a few times since yesterday. I cannot confirm or deny I'm the shark in question nibbling on an undersea cable, so please do not blame me for any widespread internet outtages. I am hungry, though...
A complete rewrite of my IBM Model M6 & M6-1 buckling sleeve keyboard article is just around the corner! I can't wait to finally publish, further celebrating the OG #ThinkPad keyboard and present fresh research on the Lexmark Lexbook. For now, enjoy this comparison of the major M6/M6-1 design types!
October 30, 2025 at 11:01 PM
A complete rewrite of my IBM Model M6 & M6-1 buckling sleeve keyboard article is just around the corner! I can't wait to finally publish, further celebrating the OG #ThinkPad keyboard and present fresh research on the Lexmark Lexbook. For now, enjoy this comparison of the major M6/M6-1 design types!
Happy 41st birthday to the #Wheelwriter and #IBMModelM keyboard family! On 16th October 1984, IBM announced the Wheelwriter 3, Wheelwriter 5 and Quietwriter 7 electronic typewriters. These typewriters featured a then-new take on the buckling spring keyboard design, the Model M!
October 16, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Happy 41st birthday to the #Wheelwriter and #IBMModelM keyboard family! On 16th October 1984, IBM announced the Wheelwriter 3, Wheelwriter 5 and Quietwriter 7 electronic typewriters. These typewriters featured a then-new take on the buckling spring keyboard design, the Model M!
To be clear, #Linux won't perform miracles on literally everything. But Windows 11 cuts off a lot of devices that could run it competently, including hardware that is up to *10* years newer than a Core 2 Duo #ThinkPad I can get quite a lot of my work and leisure done on...
October 13, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Some photos from my manual for it!
October 9, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Some photos from my manual for it!
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.
* 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.
October 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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.
* 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.
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.
October 1, 2025 at 9:38 PM
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.
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.
August 16, 2025 at 10:40 PM
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.
August 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
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.
Hello, it's been a while. I recently got this #ThinkPad #R500! It is a good configuration with a 1680x1050 display and ATI 3470. I dropped a T9600 and 8GB RAM into this and installed #Debian, and it's golden. The thing is thicc and sturdy, and has great hinges. Honestly, much prefer this to my T400.
July 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Hello, it's been a while. I recently got this #ThinkPad #R500! It is a good configuration with a 1680x1050 display and ATI 3470. I dropped a T9600 and 8GB RAM into this and installed #Debian, and it's golden. The thing is thicc and sturdy, and has great hinges. Honestly, much prefer this to my T400.
I added this patent diagram to my IBM Model M Enhanced Keyboard 40th birthday article from last month. From 18th March 1985, I believe this to be the earliest published depiction of an Enhanced Keyboard!
Article: sharktastica.co.uk/articles/enh...
Patent: patents.google.com/patent/USD29...
Article: sharktastica.co.uk/articles/enh...
Patent: patents.google.com/patent/USD29...
June 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I added this patent diagram to my IBM Model M Enhanced Keyboard 40th birthday article from last month. From 18th March 1985, I believe this to be the earliest published depiction of an Enhanced Keyboard!
Article: sharktastica.co.uk/articles/enh...
Patent: patents.google.com/patent/USD29...
Article: sharktastica.co.uk/articles/enh...
Patent: patents.google.com/patent/USD29...
I absolutely love my one!
May 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I absolutely love my one!
Happy 21st birthday to this Unicomp-made IBM Model M13 3494 Track Pointer Keyboard! 🎂 It can now legally drink in the USA, but since this keyboard and I are in the UK, it's already been doing so for 3 years.
April 26, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Happy 21st birthday to this Unicomp-made IBM Model M13 3494 Track Pointer Keyboard! 🎂 It can now legally drink in the USA, but since this keyboard and I are in the UK, it's already been doing so for 3 years.
The 500 has a few other familial relations besides 510 as well. The Lexmark Lexbook SE10 has the same CPU and similar Model M6-1 keyboard but with a mouse-key instead of TrackPoint. Lexmark also designed the Apple Newton model X0044 keyboard, derived from 500/510/SE10 M6-1 design.
April 20, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The 500 has a few other familial relations besides 510 as well. The Lexmark Lexbook SE10 has the same CPU and similar Model M6-1 keyboard but with a mouse-key instead of TrackPoint. Lexmark also designed the Apple Newton model X0044 keyboard, derived from 500/510/SE10 M6-1 design.