Unicomp's customer service was absolutely terrible when I bought from them. I ordered a black keyboard. They spent ages doing nothing. When I complained, they finally shipped me... a beige keyboard.<p>When I notified them, the rep said (and I quote), "I don't really see the problem... can't you use it as is?"<p>He refused to replace it, and reluctantly refunded me the purchase price (but not the extremely expensive postage). So if I wanted to get what I actually ordered, I'd have had to start the whole tortuous process from scratch, and <i>still</i> be out of pocket.<p>The whole experience was ridiculous.
I had a classic 101-key Unicomp Model M that I purchased while they were apparently having quality problems due to worn out tooling. The keys felt different than my real Model Ms and the spacebar frequently stuck. They've since refurbished the tooling and I hear the quality is back to the high level you would expect.<p>For me though I just chose to retire the Unicomp and refurbish my real Model Ms. I bought three about 20 years ago from <a href="https://www.clickykeyboards.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.clickykeyboards.com/</a> and sent them back last year. They're as good as new and they feel so good to type on. Plus I don't have those damned extra keys the "New" Model M has.
I grew up a half mile away from a major IBM office. My friends and I would sneak through the woods and go dumpster diving. We would routinely get 3-4 new in box keyboards, plenty of floppies, even real fancy chairs!
I've got one of these. It's difficult to beat the feel of those keys, that is for sure. But at full tilt I think the neighbors across the street can hear me typing. So it primarily sits in my closet these days, while I use a much quieter (but far from silent) CODE mechanical keyboard.
Love the New Model M keyboard. I have one for my personal setup and one for my work setup.
Recent batches also use Rpi Picos now which let you flash custom firmware. <a href="https://github.com/purdeaandrei/vial-qmk-overnumpad-and-aristides-2862/releases/tag/v0.2">https://github.com/purdeaandrei/vial-qmk-overnumpad-and-aris...</a><p>In theory, they're probably "worse" than a brand new IBM made Model M was but I think people overestimate the feel of extant Model Ms that have been around for 30, 40 years now. I also found PS/2 -> USB adapters to be pretty flaky after a few years.<p>My comparison is a IBM made SSK and Lexmark made regular M.
This is quite cool, but I really don't understand some people's affinity toward buckling spring switches, they're loud and odd feeling, not nearly as consistent as anything cherry or their alternatives are offering.
I've got a couple M keyboards floating around. I grew up using an IBM PC with the F keyboard; when I got my first computer I got a "focus 2002" keyboard that also had the mechanical (but not BS) keys.<p>Worked a university and availed myself of their "surplus junk" sales every 2nd tuesday of the month and adopted many a weird piece of hardware, and eventually had a stack of 3 decent M keyboards that I'd rotate through on my various systems.<p>Decades later, I got tired of the junky dell USB keyboards and tried one out in the WFH days and discovered ... too loud, too big, kinda too annoying.<p>I did, however, come upon a lexmark M4-1 keyboard, which has been an absolute delight. Good typing feel, has the trackpoint thing in the middle, not too big. Really quite wonderful. I don't even really notice the lack of all the fancy new keys -- I remap the capslock to whatever and it's almost like I'm back on my model f (or old "unix" keyboards of the 90s) with the control key next to the A. It's not the control key -- my muscle memory has firmly moved it to the bottom left / right, but the OS "meta" key kinda serves the same role.<p>I even got one of the model Ms with the trackpoint in the middle (no, not a black one) -- and I just don't like the feel as much as the m4-1, which the internet says is based on early IBM laptop keyboards.<p>Too bad the USB/PS2 dongle sometimes drops out and the keyboard reboots and flashes the 3 leds, which is somewhat annoying.
<a href="https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/store/" rel="nofollow">https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/store/</a> has some similar things.<p>The Model F 122 puts the Model M out to pasture.
As an aside and a huge lover of mechanical keyboards since the original IBM model M with the buckler springs, I picked up a Keychron Q5 Pro a few months ago and really like it.<p><a href="https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q5-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard" rel="nofollow">https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q5-pro-qmk-via-wi...</a><p>It's pretty easy to replace the key caps and it has a very good tactile feel to it. It does weigh as much as a houseboat but that's fine as I prefer it to stay stationary.<p>One thing that makes their keyboards stand out over almost any other mechanicals is it has a means of quickly swapping between three different Bluetooth pairings, so I have it paired with three different computers.<p>Now if only I could find an equivalent mouse with a mechanical switch underneath it that let me swap between three different computers wirelessly via BT I would be set...
As long as we're talking mechanical keyboards, do they all require maintenance just to keep working, or is the basic Cooler Master one I bought just a dud?<p>After only like 2 years, many of the keys stopped working reliably. They'd double type or fail to register. I looked into it, and this seems to be a common issue with many mechanical keyboards. I tried some of the recommended solutions (blow dust out, use contact cleaner), and it improved things, but it's still not quite right.<p>I do like the feel, but I don't like the maintenance or lack of longevity. I'd be willing to pay more for a mechanical keyboard that is darned near maintenance free, but I'm not sure whether such a thing actually exists.
There is also a mac version: <a href="https://www.pckeyboard.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=NEW_M_MAC" rel="nofollow">https://www.pckeyboard.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Prod...</a>
I tried one of the new Unicomps at work and it was fine, but it has a different (and in my opinion, lesser) feel and sound than the real Model M. I'm not sure what sort of plastic the Unicomp uses for the case, but it's thin and hard and resonant. The real model M uses a thick ABS case that dampens vibrations and the resulting noise/harsh feel.<p>I have continued using my old (June 2, 1987) Model M at home, and now that I don't work at the office anymore, it's the only keyboard I use. I keep the Unicomp on hand in case of emergencies, but it mostly just gathers dust.
Not sure if this breaks HN's rules, but I'd love to hear anyones suggestions on favorite split keyboards. There's a lot of homebrew boards out there that're very small/light but I have sausage fingers and the demeanor of an orangutan.<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/KINESIS-Advantage360-Professional-Ergonomic-Keyboard/dp/B0BCHMGZMD" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/KINESIS-Advantage360-Professional-Erg...</a><p>^closest I've found, but $$$
Was just thinking how much I miss my old model M. I got a stack of them from an old girlfriend when (and this is back in maybe 1999) a place she was working at was getting rid of a whole load of old IBM PCs. They were 486s in the age of the Pentium 2/3, so basically useless, but each one came with a PS2 model M.<p>I used that keyboard for about 10 years, then gave it to a friend when I was moving country. I moved back, and they gave it back. I used it for another few years, though a little less as it is <i>so</i> loud. Then I moved country again and gave it to a workmate who is a real keyboard enthusiast kind of guy, and I understand it's now back in daily use.<p>It's bigger than I want these days - I'm a fan of the TKL keyboard now. But I see they do a Mini!<p><a href="https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/MINI_M" rel="nofollow">https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/MINI_M</a><p>Hmmm....
I really enjoy typing on the unicomp buckling spring keyboard; I've had an older model for a long time.<p>It seemed very well built on the outside, however eventually a number of keys stopped functioning. Taking it apart, I found that the plastic rivets holding the assembly together failed.<p>It was repairable by drilling and replacing the rivets with machine screws. Although original model M's were built in the same way, the design or manufacture of these rivets on my unit is completely insufficient. I'd expect better for a keyboard in this price range. This also seems to be a common problem based on scouring the forums. I'd hope this would be re-designed in newer models, however also don't hold out much hope.
I have a Unicomp New model M and I used for a long time. The only reason I am using something else is because it kept waking the baby up and apparently I should "get a less noisy keyboard like a normal person."
I daily drive one of these. There’s nothing quite like the crunch of an actual buckling spring.<p>I wish there were a bit more of a customization market, but I’m pretty happy with mine, despite it being beige on beige.
I bought one of their keyboards back maybe 6 years ago and it simply died one day after warranty but not long onto its life. I would consider trying again but the price is just too high to risk it.
I bought a couple Unicomp keyboards in late 2011, I don't even remember the model name, something like SpaceSaver. I'm currently typing this comment on one of them and the other one is in another home.<p>I love the clickiness, the heft, the fact that it's built like a tank. I am not a big fan of the PS/2 (2011 me worried about USB rollover and didn't expect PS/2 to die out) and my coworkers weren't big fans of the clickiness at all, but it's one of my favorite possessions.
Used a unicomp Model M 8+ years ago. Spilled coffee on it and it was dead dead.<p>It's a very loud keyboard. You couldn't use one today if you had to type during a zoom or teams meeting.
Case is only available in black?<p>Wish they wouldn't put that hideous logo on it.<p>I've heard claims that the keycap shapes have decayed as the original injection moulding moulds have worn. But judging by comments above it sounds like they have resolved that.<p>Audio keys feel like a necessity for me nowadays. The Ducky one3 I use puts them where the LEDs usually go and I feel that works really well. There's also existing Model Ms but lack of Super keys is a total dealbreaker for me.
Huh. Neat, I guess.<p>I was lucky enough to get an original IBM Model M keyboard from a friend when the lab he was at was clearing out their old equipment.<p>Plugged it in a few years back through a USB-to-PS/2 adapter when my basic Logitech keyboard crapped out for no reason.<p>Mapped CapsLock to the "Win" (Super) key, and...<p>...still using it, without feeling that anything's missing.<p>Some things have reached their peak form, I guess. A 3-speed city bicycle is one of them; IBM Model M keyboard is another. Glad there's a company out there making it.
I will once again ask you guys to check out TVS Gold keyboards, they are a functional successor to the Model M and ubiquitous in India. Did I mention they are also really cheap?<p><a href="https://www.tvs-e.in/keyboards-and-mice/gold-pro/" rel="nofollow">https://www.tvs-e.in/keyboards-and-mice/gold-pro/</a>
Man I love those switches, and had a Model M for years... but I hate the layout and am not a huge fan of the keycaps. Useless CapsLocks where control should be is one of the worst legacies of the IBM PC, along with the x86 instruction set.<p>I would love to see the buckling spring keyswitches paired with some doubleshot SA profile keycaps.
They should try to cash in on the lucrative custom keycap market. When my last Unicomp model died years ago, I replaced it with a modular board and Box Navy switches to simulate the buckling spring feel. It’s close, but not exactly the same. I’d switch back to a Model M if there were custom keycaps.
Somewhat relevant, you can get the sound (but not feel) of this keyboard as software:<p><a href="https://github.com/zevv/bucklespring">https://github.com/zevv/bucklespring</a><p>Might even be in the repos depending on your linux distro, e.g apt install bucklespring
My Unicomp model M is good and I appreciate it daily. Fit and finish are just a little cheaper than an original 1980s IBM (which I also had but it finally died) but it's USB and feels good to type on. I actually use the OS key so having that is a plus for me
I ordered one of these and returned it instantly. Very cheap and weird compared to nice and modern mechanical keyboards you get today. I really wanted an original model M but didn’t want to deal with weird ps2 conversion stuff.
Hey kids. Stop whining about Model M and Unicomp keyboards being loud.<p>You haven't typed on an IBM 029 card punch. That puts a Model M to shame.<p>You haven't typed on an original ASR 33 terminal. That puts an IBM 029 card punch to shame.<p>My hearing is shot. I'm not sure if it's the rock music or those old keyboards.
I had one of these exact keyboards (at least the same keycap color scheme, etc). It was actually really pleasant to use, but it was far too large for my liking. I ended up going back to 60% boards with blue switches.
I recommend owners purchase an automotive pick set. It's given me hundreds of idle-plaything hours stuck on zoom calls, picking dog hairs out from between the keys like a neurosurgeon.
have they solved the power-on draw problems?<p>that was the thing that finally soured me on them... my dell optiplex at work couldn't reliably handle the power surge especially during soft reboots and had a tendency to hang the whole system. worked fine when I was mostly in the office (and when I had coworkers who could reboot it for me if needed) but once we went WFH I had to have them unplug it until I eventually got my stuff...
These are the second loudest keyboards I've ever used. The first loudest plays a sound on every keypress (a loud typewriter keypress), with the sound instead changing to me yelling "DING!" whenever that key is <enter>. This is done in software, and I'm certain everyone who's ever had a hand in writing it regrets it.