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+Document: WM-102                                                 P. Webb
+Category: Computing                                           2026-09-05
+
+                Customizing my Compaq MX-11800 keyboard
+
+Abstract
+
+   It took a long time to get this keyboard the way I wanted so here’s
+   everything I learned to help you not deal with my nonsense.
+
+Body
+
+   The beginning
+
+      Back in January[1] I bought an Apple Extended Keyboard II from
+      eBay and had a blast typing away on old-tech. That keyboard is
+      still my main keyboard today. A few months ago though, I was on
+      Mastodon and saw a photo of a weird keyboard layout I’d never seen
+      before; the Compaq MX-11800[2]. Double function rows, a numpad,
+      AND A BUILT-IN MOUSE BALL?!! No way, I absolutely HAD to get
+      this thing!
+
+      I went on eBay again, bought one, and thought how cool it’d be to
+      also buy custom switches for it too! After doing some research I
+      settled on Gateron Milky Yellow Pro[3] V2s…this ALSO meant I’d
+      have to buy soldering tools and deal with that for the first time.
+      Easy-peasy right? WRONG
+
+   Soldering
+
+      I de-soldered the old switches, soldered the new switches, plugged
+      in the keyboard and…only a handful of keys worked. WTF!! I spent
+      far too much time trying to figure it out where I went wrong
+      because my soldering looked decent.
+
+      Annoyed, I chalked up this failure to my naivete and looked into
+      Mill-Max 3305 sockets[4], which allow you to hotswap switches on
+      mechanical keyboards. Buying these would cut down on soldering and
+      ensure I wouldn’t be locked into a switch type for the board I
+      install them into! I also bought another MX-11800 from eBay and
+      hoped I wouldn’t destroy this one (in my troubleshooting of the
+      first one, I stripped the lil’ rings from several places).
+
+      When the sockets arrived I set out to do a more careful job of
+      de-soldering the original switches and soldering the new Mill-Max
+      sockets. Added my new Gateron switches, plugged in the
+      keyboard and…THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. Most of the keys didn’t work
+      but the keys that _did_ work WERE THE SAME HANDFUL AS THE FIRST
+      BOARD. Relieved I wasn’t a failure of a nerd, I inspected the
+      original switches and the new Gateron ones[5]. The Gaterons only
+      have two prongs while the original switches have four. The
+      originals also have diodes in them.
+
+      So, these four prongs are all doing something which means my fancy
+      Gaterons are gonna sit in their container until I buy a MODERN
+      keyboard (I did take a keycap off my AEK II when I first got it,
+      to put new keycaps on them but the thingies are too wide).
+
+   My beautiful board
+
+      All this to say, I was able to solder the original switches back
+      (without issue) and every key works; even the mouse! You got this
+      far without seeing how my keyboard looks, here you go!
+
+      📸[left side of my keyboard][IMG1]
+
+      📸[right side of my keyboard, featuring Bean the cat][IMG3]
+
+      📸[top view of my keyboard][IMG4]
+
+      I wanted the keyboard to have a classic Mac look so I discovered
+      that the color closest to the original Mac color is Pantone’s PMS
+      420 C. MyPerfectColor[6] is an online service that will mix you
+      any color they have access to, which seems to be no limit. I
+      impatiently awaited for delivery. I use a combination of sandpaper
+      grit (I think 1000 and 800) before using Rust-Oleum primer,
+      letting that sit for a few days, and then the MPC Pantone spray.
+
+      As you can see in my glamour shots though, I forgot to spray the
+      mouse buttons (different piece that could detach from the
+      keyboard) but the people love it, it looks intentional!
+
+      The keycaps are Classic Light by MVKB[7]. I could not find them
+      anywhere and when I was able to give up, I found a distributor in
+      Australia who had ’em! Thank you, Keebz N Cables[8]!
+
+   Usage
+
+      Being that the Compaq MX-11800 was typically used in server racks
+      running Windows, the typical three-button layout to the left of
+      the spacebar doesn't exist…so how does this work on macOS? I code
+      a lot and depend on shortcuts like swapping between tabs in my
+      codebase (also, in web browsers). ⌥ + ⌘ + Left/Right is one of
+      those shortcuts that’s non-negotiable.
+
+      In Karabiner-Elements I made:
+
+      - left control → left option
+      - left option → left command
+
+      I don't use the Control key often and when I do need it, it’s to
+      the right most of the Spacebar. Actually, if I don’t use the Magic
+      Trackpad, I need to use right Control to navigate between spaces.
+      I also lose the two-finger swipe scroll without the Trackpad so I
+      need to use PageUp/Down.
+
+      (FUTURE PAUL EDIT: I apparently use Control to stop local servers
+      as well so okay, I use Control a lot. Will take getting used to,
+      using this key in a different place.)
+
+      The loss of the third key to the right of the Spacebar throws my
+      muscle memory off so I’m often pressing the wrong keys when using
+      shortcuts. I may just ignore the trackball if I don’t find a way
+      to make it move the cursor further when I flick scroll. There was
+      less lateral scrolling to do back when this keyboard was modern!
+
+      Because this is an old keyboard WITH a mouse, I had to look around
+      for a dual PS/2 adapter and I finally found one on Newegg[9]. It
+      took forEVER to ship and then to get to me. I then needed a USB-A
+      to USB-C adapter so as you can imagine, this looks quite silly
+      plugged into my Thunderbolt dock.
+
+      📸[dongle with a dongle][IMG5]
+
+   Something that was supposed to take a few weeks wrt shipping took
+   several months because I didn't know what I didn't know but now I
+   know, y'know? That's worth something. 🕸️
+
+   📸[Bean again, because he slid himself closer while I was taking pics…he clearly wants his fans to know how he's doing][IMG6]
+
+References
+
+   [1] </WM-080>
+   [2] <https://mastodon.social/@keyboards/116757312784865963>
+   [3] <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nPmh_QmuJk>
+   [4] <https://rndkbd.com/products/mill-max-sockets?_pos=1&_psq=mill&_psid=4aac05810&_ss=e>
+   [5] <https://social.coop/@netopwibby/117142885582227250>
+   [6] <https://www.myperfectcolor.com/paint/379581-pantone-pms-420-c/spray-oem-bottles-and-pens/aerosol-spray-paint/satin>
+   [7] <https://mvkb.com/classic>
+   [8] <https://www.keebzncables.com>
+   [9] <https://www.newegg.com/p/181-08M5-00FS7?Item=9SIC472KTV1656>
+   [IMG1] <https://cdn.webb.page/blog/2026/wm-102-a.jpeg>
+   [IMG2] <https://cdn.webb.page/blog/2026/wm-102-b.jpeg>
+   [IMG3] <https://cdn.webb.page/blog/2026/wm-102-c.jpeg>
+   [IMG4] <https://cdn.webb.page/blog/2026/wm-102-d.jpeg>
+   [IMG5] <https://cdn.webb.page/blog/2026/wm-102-e.jpeg>
+   [IMG6] <https://cdn.webb.page/blog/2026/wm-102-f.JPG>
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index a418ead..c8e058f 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026.09.02
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+2026.09.05
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