Mechanical purist? The IBM model M still lives!

NullenVoydNullenVoyd Orlandish Icrontian
One of the common aspects of my relationship with my awesome wife, has been supplying her with her favorite keyboard - the classic IBM model M.

As the years have gone by, it has been harder and harder to find these old tanks, and the units we've had wear in one way or another. I gave up for a while and was giving her some of the newer popular clickey keyboards (like the Razor Black Widow), but she kept going back to the old IBM units.

So it may be old news to some, but I was ecstatic to find that not only is there a company still producing new models with almost the exact same design as the IBM model M, but they are right here in Lexington, Kentucky! Unicomp has apparently been doing this for a number of years, having started with some of the same folks who were behind the classic original buckling spring keyboards. The company is small, and they may have to build your keyboard before they can ship one out for you, but the customization options are pretty decent (though sorry, no backlighting).

Last week I decided to give them a go for the wife's xmas present, and I was VERY impressed with the look and feel of their product!

image

Yes! You see that? 101 keys - no Windows keys! Yes kids, get off my effing lawn. xD
But seriously, when I pulled it out for testing (because of course I need to make sure it is going to be a solid product for the lady person) and clicked away, it was... just, wow. I never thought I would know the feel of brand-new buckling spring key switches, but now I have felt it and it is gooooood.

image

So there you have it. So-far I'm sold on 'em but of course we'll have to see what the reception and use is by the intended target. Maybe, just maybe, this will slightly redeem me for messing up the one she was using while I was trying to clean it for her. :)

On a side note, a really interesting reference for keyboard technologies seems to be this place/thread/thing:
http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide
BobbyDigiCliff_Forster

Comments

  • BandrikBandrik Elkhart, IN Icrontian
    edited December 2013
    I have replaced all my keyboards with the Razer Blackwidow Ultimate (typing on one at work right now). I love them. Clicky clacky goodness galore. But the Model M is like the grandpappy source of such wonderfulness... so maybe one day I'll pick one up as well.

    Also, that mechanical keyboard guide is great. I've gone to it before, and it's very well written. The animated diagrams of the difference between the various switches is particularly illuminating.

    Also, funny enough, the lady that shares an office with me JUST NOW made the comment, teasing that "you're being awfully noisy on that keyboard over there! Keep that up and you're liable to give me a headache!"

    Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood... :cool:
    Cliff_Forster
  • I've never used the Unicomp copy but I've heard so many good things about them. The Model M is a classic, they are built to last.
  • I wish they came in brilliant white.
    Signal
  • TushonTushon I'm scared, Coach Alexandria, VA Icrontian

    I wish they came in brilliant white.

    I wish your mom came in brilliant white! Oh waiitttttt........

    /badjoke?
    Cliff_Forster
  • drasnordrasnor Starship Operator Hawthorne, CA Icrontian
    edited December 2013
    I'd honestly been staying away from these after reading @RootWyrm's review in the Ducky keyboard thread. Can you speak to any of the points he made?
  • That's definitely a NOS (new-old stock) 101, not one of the new ones. So it was made on the worn out tooling, which is the primary cause of my complaints. Haven't had my hands on one of the new 103/104's, but decidedly not a fan of the new layout.

    The chassis is ABS, so a few doses of Krylon Fusion will turn it very white. The standard color for the key caps is 'pearl' but Unicomp also offers white.
  • NullenVoydNullenVoyd Orlandish Icrontian
    So-far the wife is absolutely loving it! I'll agree that the case at least has a "not fitting absolutely perfect" feel to it, but that switch action is just so nice, so worth it.

    Unicomp seems like an odd company to me. They have (as far as I can tell) the only newish buckling spring keyboards available, in various configurations, and I would figure they would be marketing the heck out of those aspects. Seems like they're trying more to be a factory than a shop, but going to their site, there was no indication whatsoever what their product was. Nothing in the entryway, no posters, signs or anything. *shrug*
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