Yes and no. He's asking about a New Model M, which is slightly different than what we were talking about. Here are some pictures of my New Model M and my thoughts.Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/MFWLrSj.jpg)Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/zflY4qo.jpg)
There are some mould marks on the back, but it's not bad and nobody looks at that stuff anyway.Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/c6AcnA7.jpg)
They've moved to one piece keycaps now, like they've threatened to do for years. I have a Lexmark with all one piece keycaps as well, but this is the first Unicomp I've had with them all as one piece.Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/Yu5y9xe.jpg)
They finally made a keyboard that looks good with the Unicomp logo. Now you can see here that this case looks very much like the space saving keyboard case, but elongated. Indeed, you can actually see that this is a variation on the case they're going to use for their new SSK when they launch it, but I didn't take many photos of that.Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/W99lg2M.jpg)
The feet seem slightly stumpier than on a normal Model M.Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/Y8Dr22I.jpg)Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/tjyiRTu.jpg)
Here you can see the internal layout of the keyboard. The metal backplate is slightly different, as it doesn't mount on the top right of the case any longer, but in the right middle. The barrel plate is also different. The New Models M myself and the guys over at the Model M subreddit are sharing have the same birthday on the barrel plate, and it's a much higher apparent quality than Unicomp has been using, with less spidering.
In terms of feel, it's the same as any Model M. In terms of sound, it's louder and deeper than my other Models M.
The quality feeling of the case is better than both the Ultra Classic, which is the one with the big issues, and the Classic, which has more minor issues. The case doesn't creak. Otherwise, same old Model M.
Note that it only comes in black, and you can't do any customizations.
I've written up a full review of the new M myself, I realized I hadn't posted here on Geekhack so I've fixed that:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=106969.0
The TLDR is:
Good:
- Much less deck flex
- Very Model M looking design
- Excellent Cap color coordination, it looks good
- Completely repairable inside as is tradition, you can open it up easily. (This is compared to an Ultraclassic)
- Good sign of things to come from Unicomp
The Bad:
- Not listed on their site in an obvious place, which is a shame.
- The mould markings are still there on the back, they are better, but they are still there.
The Ugly:
- The LED lights are Nuclear blue and are super bright.
They've moved to one piece keycaps now, like they've threatened to do for years. I have a Lexmark with all one piece keycaps as well, but this is the first Unicomp I've had with them all as one piece.
In terms of feel, it's the same as any Model M. In terms of sound, it's louder and deeper than my other Models M.
The Ugly:
- The LED lights are Nuclear blue and are super bright.
The Ugly:
- The LED lights are Nuclear blue and are super bright.
I could not write a better or more accurate description, unfortunately. Way too bright!
Thank you, jamster! :)
It's basically the same sound, but just slightly deeper and louder. The older Models M are a bit higher pitched and slightly quieter. It seems like the later you buy them, the deeper they are.
I've bought two Unicomps made this year, both of them had two piece keycaps. One actually was almost entirely two piece.
I noticed that my custom Geekhack keys were all two piece, but my brand new pearl US-International was all one piece. My replacement rubber dome keys were all two piece. Explain that ****.
They've moved to one piece keycaps now, like they've threatened to do for years. I have a Lexmark with all one piece keycaps as well, but this is the first Unicomp I've had with them all as one piece.
Really? I got a Spacesaver M (Mac model) about 3 years ago now, and I remember being sorely disappointed to see that it had all one-piece keycaps. Has it perhaps just been a while since you last ordered a Unicomp?
When I wrote them about a year later asking about ordering another with two-part keycaps, they told me to request that they use two-part keycaps "whenever possible." Their choice of words struck me as very odd indeed.QuoteIn terms of feel, it's the same as any Model M. In terms of sound, it's louder and deeper than my other Models M.
Louder than all your other Models M? Considering that you said "all," I hope that doesn't mean it's a bad thing? They've told me that a Mac version is coming, but to hear that it sounds different than all other Models M concerns me a bit.
Yes, that sounds about right. Was it the pearl and pebble keyset? I feel like they tend to keep those as two piecers more than the smaller batches.
This is rather amusing. For years, the "traditional wisdom" was that one-piece keys feel and sound better, and were more desirable in the old days.