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?…