If they could make the ergo version (M15) I'd drop dead and quickly purchase/preorder one. M15 has somewhat been a keyboard that I was hoping to become a thing apart from sourcing seconds (or thirds, etc) of the same variant on ebay.
Imagine an ergo keyboard with buckling springs.. or rather just the idea of ergo keyboards. Be able to kill to brids with one stone, satisfying those who just want a regular Model M to be just a normal keyboard and those who wants to make it fit their style (i.e. ergo).
It seems as though M15 is maybe something that Unicomp has rights to produce and considering how much the M15 were priced on pre-loved goods it just seems unfair considering their rarity. Ultimately I guess I am only dreaming haha.
I highly doubt that Unicomp has M15s. The only way we know they MAY be working on SSKs is because we've talked to them. Nobody's asked about M15s, and if they could, they should've brought them out ASAP if they had them, considering their current price.
Yeah I figured as much but hey, wishful thinking wouldn't hurt wouldn't it? I don't know much of the inside stories with Unicomp but I have heard plenty of times that it might be SSK or some compact keyboard. Although I have no gripes with SSK/compact (I am using one right now anyway), I thought it would be quite interesting if they somehow brought out something different to excite the market.
In either case, I am sure SSK/Compact would really also surprise the market (but probably to a lesser degree to something different as what they have been telling others) just as well if Unicomp decides to bring out something quite different from their regular lines of keyboards.
SSK, 122 keys, M15 or even keyboards with trackpoint. It seems like the markets these days are either targeting at compacts or enticing gamers with mechanical boards. There isn't all that much innovation in being all that different given the fact that manufacturers could easily play ball and try to change the market. It is also a given at the same time that manufactuerers face a tough time to be able to satisfy all sorts of markets but if there was a way or mean to stop these overpriced pre-loved goods it would be nice imo.
As for those who doubt that ergo keyboards will be a hit. I personally wouldn't admit that is completely true. Whilst the market seems to be heading in other directions, it is not like ergo keyboards are exactly dead. If ergo keyboards were to be that extinct. Think about the ridiculous pricing of a M15 in good condition. I heard it was sold for $1500. What about those data hands? they were not sold as much when the manufacturer was still around but when the manufacturer has disappeared the price of those data hands rocketed up (not as much as that M15 keyboard but still way higher than original pricing). There was a somewhat semi-broken M15 keyboard for sale which I was tailing at the price of it, the keyboard was eventually sold for USD$400. That is enough for one to virtually be able to buy a HHKB Pro (and not to have it delivered to places where there would be import taxes such as EU).
Ergo keyboards aren't dead, but they aren't that much of a hit either. It is on similar level imo as the compact keyboards, as long as one has a preference for them, there will always be an interest. If ergo keyboards were "extinct", I am sure keyboards like M15 and data hand would not have been sold at some really high price, given the fact that they are second hands just like those who are still after SSK.
