linux keyboards?

Ok, I’ll admit it.  When I purchased a Microsoft mouse, I was dying to call and ask MS if they had a linux driver for it.  I somehow managed to put off the urge.

Now that I’m much more mature I can reveal that I also have a Microsoft keyboard, for which I have completely resisted the urge to call.  Unfortunately, I could use a linux driver for this.

It’s a MS 4000 Ergonomic keyboard.   These are my favorite for home and work.  I have to give credit where credit is due: this is a fine keyboard.  Microsoft is capable of making something that not only works, but doesn’t make you want to scream at it or require rebooting.  Oh happy day!

It’s large, foreboding, a shiny black color, and comes with this bizarre piece of plastic for the handrest that looks like a fender from an old car.  Thus I refer to the keyboard as my Corvette.  Never mind that the fender piece (removable, thankfully) pretty much defeats the purpose of having an ergonomic keyboard in the first place…. take it off, throw it out, use it for decoration in the living room when you’re expecting high-class company, or just glue it to your forehead: I don’t care.

Oh sure, you can plug it right in and go with linux, no problem.  It types as well as or better than any other keyboard.  But if you want to use any of those goofy buttons, bells, whistles, or lawn ornaments, you need a driver.    All of the sudden when I call Microsoft, the joke’s on me.

After a few years of 4000’s, it occurs to me to do a search to see how others have dealt with this conundrum (yes, I catch on quickly).  I located two immediate solutions: one hopelessly byzantine, requiring kernel hacking, and one applet.

Given that I have the attention span of a gnat (on good days), guess which one I decided to try first… No, not kernel hacking.  I like linux a lot, but kernel hacking for me is after the movie is over, trying to stick your entire hand into your mouth to remove that little bastard of a piece of popcorn that’s stuck between a rear tooth and your gum.

The software is called keyTouch (sic).   You have your choice of compiling from source (every linux newbie’s favorite task) or downloading a distro-specific build.  Since I use Ubuntu, I believe I made a wise choice in downloading the Ubuntu build (some may disagree but screw them).

It’s small, it went in quickly, and off I went.  Well, sorta.   The idea is that the software traps the keypresses and you set the software for what type of keyboard you have.  I went right into configuration to tell it what type of keyboard I had and was pleased to see a whole lotta Microsoft keyboards listed.

I should be used to this by now but my joy was short-lived.  They had every Microsoft keyboard listed except mine.   Mind you, this is a pretty popular keyboard (or so the voices tell me).  I figured this wouldn’t be a big deal.  I really need to start talking back to the voices, just for my own sake.

I picked a random MS ergo keyboard and went to town.  Yes, with absolutely no glancing at the README, I have achieved functionality!  After only twenty minutes on my own, I was now hooked up, with it, and generally hip.  Yes, I had a functional Calculator key.

The doctors keep telling me that I have to take my victories where I can get them, so this was an Event for me.  I didn’t even veer off into the knowledge that I have used a calculator under linux once in about three years, no sir, I just delighted in my success.

I even did a little scientific testing to try and push my luck a little further.  After hitting every spare button twelve ways, with the control key pressed, and hanging upside down from the ceiling, I can safely state that there are no other special keys working with this keyboard definition.

Deflated, with the attention span of a gnat (on good days), I couldn’t pull myself together to check the README so I …..  hey… look…. it has four bright green indicator lights!

Well, you get the idea.  I’ll play with it later, after committing the heinous act of reading the instructions.   The basics are there anyway.  It works.

TYPE ON!

Next week: left-handed trackballs.