Is anyone offering a metal cast chassis for the Model M? ... I was thinking about Unicomp's offerings and how people seem to think the case is the major short coming...
It's true Unicomp's cases aren't as robust as IBMs or Lexmark's. On the plus side, being slightly lighter, they have a different, more resonant sound—and that's great for those of us who love the twang and clickety-clack of the buckling spring.
People have found several ways to reinforce Unicomp cases so they don't creak (although I never find that a problem when typing, just when carrying the board around). One GH-er found it helped to insert some black electrical tape between the bottom tabs (on the inside edge closest to the typist) and the brackets they fit into in the case bottom—
see thread here. And here's
another interesting and chatty thread on the topic that includes some particularly creative de-creakification methods.
Unicomp sells a true Model M with Windows keys and native USB... Haters whine and criticize modern Unicomps as having lesser QC standards than IBM "back in the day" but a brand new Model M keyboard with a warranty is a perfectly legitimate purchase.
Spoken like the Keeb Immortal you are! (Fo gets embarrassed when I call him stuff like that, which is why I do it of course.)
Personally, I think we're awfully lucky to have access to
both vintage and newer Model M's. It's great to alternate between them, and appreciate what each of them has to offer. And they'll probably last longer than we will—especially if our president can't figure out how to stop acting like a 12-year-old. :?D
