geekhack Community > Keyboards

quality of new vs old Model M's?

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davo:
I was thinking about buying a Model M IBM keyboard for my Mac, and I noticed that http://www.clickykeyboard.com still has some that are new old stock.  It's tempting.  I'd have to buy a PS->USB converter, though.  I think the ones I saw for sale were from the mid-90's, and made by Lexmark.  $80 for the ones I saw.

Then there are the Unicomp versions, like the Customizer, which I could get with USB output -- no converter needed.  This also is attractive, but I've heard a couple people say the key molding has a lot of flash, and the picture of one of the keyboards online also seemed to show less-than-clean edges on the keys.  Then again, it wasn't a very good picture.

So I'm hoping you good folks can tell me what you've experienced regarding quality of the new vs. the old.  If the new is up to the level of the Lexmark Model M's, maybe I should wait and see if a new Mighty Mouse is in my future.  :-)

Thanks,

David

iMav:
personally, I really like the new unicomp boards.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the spacesaver and the endurapro (the two currently available models that i have had my hands on).

If anything, they are tighter than the old models.  The single piece keycap are a little lower in quality...but not so much that it has bothered me at all.

I think that a lot of people are waiting on the new mighty mouse.  It is going to generate a lot of conversation here once it is released (good or bad).  :)

bhtooefr:
Finish on the Unicomp boards is absolutely lousy.

But how the thing LOOKS isn't nearly as important as how durable it is, and how it types.

Although my Unicomp board is in for service (the right mouse button was acting up,) the buckling spring keyswitches should be extremely durable. And, it types great - in some ways, better than my best 1391401 (which I'm typing this post on.)

Oh, and might I mention... finish isn't so hot on this 1391401 (more misaligned keys than on my EnduraPro,) and my (Lexmark-built) Model M13 is literally the worst quality keyboard I've laid hands on. Sure, it TYPES better than a $2 rubber dome disposable keyboard, but the keys stick, and some of them were even malformed - I actually had to use my 1391401's spacebar on it, because the spacebar that came with it was badly warped. Oh, and the TrackPoint buttons are wired backwards, and the right one doesn't even work, now.

bigpook:

--- Quote from: bhtooefr;5382 ---Finish on the Unicomp boards is absolutely lousy.

But how the thing LOOKS isn't nearly as important as how durable it is, and how it types.

Although my Unicomp board is in for service (the right mouse button was acting up,) the buckling spring keyswitches should be extremely durable. And, it types great - in some ways, better than my best 1391401 (which I'm typing this post on.)

Oh, and might I mention... finish isn't so hot on this 1391401 (more misaligned keys than on my EnduraPro,) and my (Lexmark-built) Model M13 is literally the worst quality keyboard I've laid hands on. Sure, it TYPES better than a $2 rubber dome disposable keyboard, but the keys stick, and some of them were even malformed - I actually had to use my 1391401's spacebar on it, because the spacebar that came with it was badly warped. Oh, and the TrackPoint buttons are wired backwards, and the right one doesn't even work, now.
--- End quote ---


Dude, that is harsh. I wouldn't say the finish is absolutley lousy. I have 2 unicomp keyboards. One is  the full size, can't remember the part #, but I got it with gray keys, and the windows key. This board has the the key stem with the caps. I love that board. I think it has better action than any of my IBM keyboards I own. Blasphemy, I know.

My most recent unicomp keyboard is a spacesaver, with all black keys. These keys don't come with key caps. I would have preferred the key caps as I think they add to the feel. But I could be imagining that. But the action IS different compared to the one with the keycaps. But I like them both, if I had to pick one, damn, that would be hard.

I took apart the unicomp keyboard to take a look at it, as some people seem to think that the quality is inferior when compared to the IBM keyboards. The unicomp has a single metal plate on the bottom which is not as thick/heavy as the IBM. Is this a bad thing? Only if you want it to be.  It is still a buckling spring keyboard. Yeah, I wish the unicomps had a  keyboard cable that disconnected, but what are you going to do. They don't make them that way. Everything else seemed well thought out and well made.

There are some artifacts on the back of the keys that are visible from the manufacturing process. I have taken pictures of this but the pictures really exaggerate it. Besides, the artifacts are on the back of the keys. You simply cannot see them when you are using the keyboard.

Sometimes you need to take the negativity with a grain of salt.
The people that write/post about their keyboards are a different breed. I know, I am one of them. Most people could care less about keycaps, springs, switches and so on. The point is that sometimes we tend to look a little bit to close at these things.

The question at the end of it all is if you enjoy typing on your keyboard of choice. That is the end game, at least for me.

Typing this at work on my HHKB lite, time to program another phone switch, later.

bhtooefr:
Let me put it this way...

I've seen better injection molding on $1 toys at the dollar store.

So, the finish IS lousy on the Unicomp boards.

But, like you said...


--- Quote from: bigpook ---The question at the end of it all is if you enjoy typing on your keyboard of choice. That is the end game, at least for me.
--- End quote ---


And that is why I paid $99 for my EnduraPro, and why I'd do it again.

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