Admiral Shark

[1/2] 1995 ThinkPad running a 2025 Linux kernel! Testing SHORK 486 on real hardware is progressing. Now I get to use this fantastic IBM Model M6-1 buckling sleeve keyboard with a modern OS without orphaning the laptop! This has been a dream for 7 years and I'm buzzing that it's within my grasp!

More SHORK 486 #Linux on an IBM #ThinkPad 365ED! github.com/SharktasticA...

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.

Nothing fancy, just does the job

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

*The* Personal Computer Keyboard

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.

Please wish my Unicomp-made IBM Model M4-1 ThinkPad Space Saver Keyboard with TrackPoint II a happy 26th birthday! 🎂

Capable of bringing a touch of the #ThinkPad experience to any computer

We do be clicking

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Just revamped my wiki page on IBM buckling sleeves, the keyswitch used by many Model M variants that didn't use buckling springs or rubber domes. They're also originally what established the ThinkPad as a portable keyboard powerhouse! Have a read: sharktastica.co.uk/wiki?id=ibmb...

IBM buckling sleeve | Shark's Wiki

The design, operation and evolution of the IBM buckling rubber sleeve tactile keyswitch found on IBM Models M3, M4, M6, M7, M8, M9, M11 & Modular POS keyboards (amongst others)

Been a hot minute! 🦈 SHORK 486 #Linux is now testing 7.1-rc kernels with 486 support re-added! SHORK 486 now also includes MicroPython, Lynx browser, sc-im spreadsheet editor with XLSX import/export, and mt-st for SCSI tape drives! c3270 and TN5250 for terminal emulation should be next up! 👀

W700 + newly improved shorkfetch with cute SHORK ASCII art and colour accent support! github.com/SharktasticA...

Ports

Another day, another ThinkPad gets Debian'd...

They may not be the most popular input devices, but I sure love my TrackPoints/nubs/nipples/whatever.

RIP mainstream #Windows10. Remember that if 11 says your hardware is "too old", it's probably not true. There are alternatives to help negate the possible e-waste disaster incoming. 10 LTSC is one, but it won't last forever. In the meantime/as an alternative, please consider giving #Linux a shot.

SHORK 486 and a 2025 Linux kernel release running on 8MB RAM, a sight to behold! I'm not gonna lie, there is not much free memory to work with lol. But hey, this is a cool proof of concept. Can it go any lower... 🤔

These old marketing photos of various IBM Model M RPOS Keyboards goes hard

I'm testing SHORK 486 Linux with kernel 7.0rc7! It kinda *just worked*, and naturally, I immediately threw it into the fire with 16MHz 486SX and just 7MB RAM... I'm amused at the prospect of this distro for a 1989 CPU having a newer kernel than most of the people reading this! 😆

After watching Action Retro's recent video, I'm now on a mission to make myself a 486SX-compatible #Linux 'distro'. I started with FLOPPINUX, but affording myself some luxuries like networking, nano, ftp, ssh, etc. I'm *hoping* to make something that will allow me to work from my early #ThinkPads!

I'm going into battle

This Unicomp Mini M 'public' prototype #1 turns 4 years old today! This is one of my proudest collection pieces from when Unicomp asked me to test this keyboard before launch.

One thing I hope to do more of this year is attend meetups, no matter how big or small. I missed not attending any the second half of last year and getting to show some cool keyboards from the last century. And BLÅHAJ.