Unicomp Tenkeyless 6 week delay, and new Model M:

[jacethesaltsculptor]

Seems Unicomp is creating another new Model M variant with a removable USB cord, in addition to announcing another delay for their Tenkeyless keyboard for 6 weeks:

Update and Announcement from Unicomp!
For those people interested in the status the Mini M, i.e. the tenkeyless, the unfortunate news is we are not ready to ship it this month. But we are very close. All of the molded parts are in Lexington. We have over a thousand sets of those parts. The rest of the parts are “design complete” and are in various stages of pre-production. We estimate we are about 6 weeks away from beginning production and delivering first orders.
Of course, the Mini M is quite different from the current products and, as such, has some new features. For example, the membrane layout is focused on reducing the possible number of phantom keys. No, it doesn’t have N-key rollover, but we believe it will be better suited for gaming given the new layout.
Another new feature, shown in the first photo below, is the detachable keyboard cable. The cable itself will have USB Type A connectors on both ends and the end plugged into the keyboard is latched. The connector can be released from the keyboard by depressing the release located just above the connector with a small screwdriver. Replacement cables are available commercially or from Unicomp.


I know we have disappointed a few people by missing the March date. But we really are getting close to starting production. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, even through the haze that COVID-19 presents. Hopefully you will grant us your patience just a little longer.
So, not all of our news today is dour. We are announcing the release of the New Model M, a 104/105 key keyboard which is the same width and height as the Ultra Classic but is roughly ½ inch deeper made possible by extending the ledge behind the function keys by that amount. Injection molding tooling for the covers and the feet is all new. Also, the baseplate fabrication process is new. The finish of the covers looks very nice -- particularly when you compare it to the aged covers of the Ultra Classic. It’s difficult to see the grain of the top cover finish in the second photo below but take a look. Zoom in close. I don’t think you’ll find a blemish!


Also, the cover design is much more robust than previous designs. Witness the front edge of the New Model M in the third photo below. It is very clean with no “smiles” like we see sometimes on the Ultra Classic these days. Given this new cover design, the weight of the new keyboard ( 3 lbs. 11 oz.) is nearly ½ pound heavier than the Ultra Classic. Even though the footprint of the Classic is much larger, the New Model M is within 2 oz. of the weight of the Classic! We believe this new cover design gives us a much more rugged keyboard than we have available today.


Just to be clear, the New Model M has the attached USB cable and the same membrane layout as the Ultra Classic. The Mini M features previously described are not in the New Model M. Perhaps, sometime in the future, we might add those features to the New Model M, but there are no plans for changing this cable design or membrane layout right now.
The New Model M will be available for sale on March 31 in the colors you see in the pictures. The covers will only be available in black. Initially, button colors and language support will be limited. If you have specific language or button needs, describe what you want in a ticket at support.pckeyboard.com and we’ll work to give you a scheduled build date for your configuration.
Please pass on the news of these two keyboards to your friends by likeing and sharing this note.

They included these three pictures:

Redundant I know, since this can be looked up on Facebook, but I'll save everyone a click or two.

[FaisonSiu]

I think this is a good idea. Easy to move and much more convenient.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

It's the most changes to a Model M we've seen in sometime, it also opens up the custom cord market to them, which is interesting.

I like the changes, but I'll similarly like with the Tenkeyless, believe them when they are available.

[Maledicted]

Cool. latched USB type A is probably about as robust as they could go without venturing into the realm of non-standard, like aviator connectors. I like the idea. Unicomp seems to be rolling with the punches right now. I might even get one of those minis if they end up haunting my dreams too much.

[TopreMoon]

Thanks for sharing! I had been wondering what was up.

[envyy24]

I wonder if they have proxy in the UK or EU. Shipping this heavy boi from the US would be costly.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

I wonder if they have proxy in the UK or EU. Shipping this heavy boi from the US would be costly.

They do, they actually keep a list on their website of their European resellers: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/resellers

Currently only two, one in the UK and the other in Germany.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

Cool. latched USB type A is probably about as robust as they could go without venturing into the realm of non-standard, like aviator connectors. I like the idea. Unicomp seems to be rolling with the punches right now. I might even get one of those minis if they end up haunting my dreams too much.

I've been agonizing over that myself, I'll probably wind up with one.

I got an IBM ssk, and loved it quite a bit, I didn't think I'd get into it. (I've got a second keyboard for the numpad, so my big worry is gone.)

I really do want to see it in black, though I wonder if they'll do a beige for it.

[JimByr]

"Just to be clear, the New Model M has the attached USB cable and the same membrane layout as the Ultra Classic."

The image of the keyboard with the removable cable is the SSK (aka the 'Mini M').

[odysseusgiacosa]

I wonder if they have proxy in the UK or EU. Shipping this heavy boi from the US would be costly.

They do, they actually keep a list on their website of their European resellers: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/resellers

Currently only two, one in the UK and the other in Germany.

Yeah, but there's a small-ish problem: they don't take custom orders. You can only buy what they have in stock. So, if you want a custom keyboard or something they don't have in their inventory, you need to order directly from Unicomp in the USA.

[Maledicted]

I wonder if they have proxy in the UK or EU. Shipping this heavy boi from the US would be costly.

They do, they actually keep a list on their website of their European resellers: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/resellers

Currently only two, one in the UK and the other in Germany.

Yeah, but there's a small-ish problem: they don't take custom orders. You can only buy what they have in stock. So, if you want a custom keyboard or something they don't have in their inventory, you need to order directly from Unicomp in the USA.

I wonder if they could work out a deal where you specify what modifications you want, and just wait for whenever they're replenishing some stock in Europe and just send it in that shipment, then have one of the European locations ship it to you. I imagine you could save a lot of money that way, by sacrificing a lot of time, if they're willing to work with you on it.

[odysseusgiacosa]

I wonder if they have proxy in the UK or EU. Shipping this heavy boi from the US would be costly.

They do, they actually keep a list on their website of their European resellers: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/resellers

Currently only two, one in the UK and the other in Germany.

Yeah, but there's a small-ish problem: they don't take custom orders. You can only buy what they have in stock. So, if you want a custom keyboard or something they don't have in their inventory, you need to order directly from Unicomp in the USA.

I wonder if they could work out a deal where you specify what modifications you want, and just wait for whenever they're replenishing some stock in Europe and just send it in that shipment, then have one of the European locations ship it to you. I imagine you could save a lot of money that way, by sacrificing a lot of time, if they're willing to work with you on it.

I'm not sure they're willing to start offering this kind of capability. It's a great idea, but it's up to them.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

Yeah, but there's a small-ish problem: they don't take custom orders. You can only buy what they have in stock. So, if you want a custom keyboard or something they don't have in their inventory, you need to order directly from Unicomp in the USA.

Oh, I never thought of that. I'd imagine that the outbound shipping must be rough from Kentucky across the Atlantic. 

[jacethesaltsculptor]

in seperate news: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/UT40U4A

The New Model M is on their site now. I'm tempted to order one, and see if it comes in.

[ed_avis]

I just bought a Unicomp "Original IBM style keyboard" which is the same size and shape as the original Model M.  I'm quite pleased with it so far, especially for the price (GBP 99).  I wanted to get the "New Model M" but I don't think they have made any in ISO layout.

[cheesy_jones]

The fact that they have a Model M-based keyboard with a Mac layout was so stunning to me I almost bought one on the spot when I first stumbled upon their site.

[fohat.digs]

The fact that they have a Model M-based keyboard with a Mac layout was so stunning to me I almost bought one on the spot when I first stumbled upon their site.

With any Model M you can swap around key caps and re-map them to be whatever you want.