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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ThirdLap on Sat, 21 August 2010, 07:34:31

Title: NIB Unicomp Model M for $22 shipped
Post by: ThirdLap on Sat, 21 August 2010, 07:34:31

This one. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250682582772#ht_912wt_911)

I did some research prior to bidding, and it seems Unicomp manufactured these boards for Affirmative Computer Products. They were offered in rubber dome or 'tactile', with the latter having the 'T' designator at the end of the model name. Information on this exact board seems to be elusive as heck.

Quote

By providing the same layout and heavy duty quality of original IBM terminals, users will instantly be familiar with the layout of their new thin client or PC device.  In addition, if you choose the 12XXT models they will also have the same touch and feel of the original IBM tactile feedback keyboards.

If I'm right, I just scored a NIB buckling spring Model M for $22 shipped.  

Here are a few of the links I found:

http://www.seasip.info/Misc/1227T.html (http://www.seasip.info/Misc/1227T.html)
http://ioconnections.com/productdetail.aspx?id=498 (http://ioconnections.com/productdetail.aspx?id=498)
http://www.datapathusa.com/archive/yesboard122.pdf (http://www.datapathusa.com/archive/yesboard122.pdf)
http://www.twindata.com/affirmative/5250k.html (http://www.twindata.com/affirmative/5250k.html)

Title: NIB Unicomp Model M for $22 shipped
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 21 August 2010, 09:16:30

That one is a terminal emulation one for a PC.

Title: NIB Unicomp Model M for $22 shipped
Post by: ThirdLap on Sat, 21 August 2010, 09:46:51

Yep, according to data from Affirmative, it 'connects directly to and is wholly compatible with your PC'.  Pretty excited about this one. Hopefully everything is as it seems.

As an aside, I'm about to do a ton of keyboard hunting today.  Will report back with my findings tonight/tomorrow if anything good turns up.

Title: NIB Unicomp Model M for $22 shipped
Post by: ThirdLap on Sat, 21 August 2010, 10:42:35

Quote from: ripster;215346

It looks kinda  like my 1397000 (see link in sig) or the 122key Affirmatives but with 101 keys.  So my first guess is it would work fine on a PC - it's just the keys are labelled for terminals.

I used The Wayback Machine to check Affirmative's website as far back as '98 and was still unable to find conclusive information on this specific 101key board.  I'm thinking that they ceased production of this unit and some point and later used the 1047T designator for another board with a card reader and 104 keys (https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.affirmative.net/pics/archive/usr_pricelist.pdf).  It appears the modern equivalents are the 1010T and the 1040T.

With all its peculiarities I'm really diggin' the uniqueness of this keyboard.  Really hope it's a BS.

Title: NIB Unicomp Model M for $22 shipped
Post by: iMav on Sat, 21 August 2010, 10:44:57

Cool.  Look forward to the details once you receive it.

Title: NIB Unicomp Model M for $22 shipped
Post by: ThirdLap on Sat, 21 August 2010, 11:05:45

Quote from: ripster;215366

The 104 key model with Card Scanner is NOT PC compatible. (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=151920&postcount=24)

Right, but this one does not have a card scanner and appears to be a completely different model produced a number of years earlier.  I'm thinking they just realigned their nomenclature as technology changed, reusing some of the same numbers.  The standard 101 and 122 boards appear to be compatible with traditional PCs.

Title: NIB Unicomp Model M for $22 shipped
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 21 August 2010, 12:39:45

In terms of Model M derivatives, if it has lock lights on it, it's PC compatible.

Hell, just about every Model M derivative is PC compatible in one way or another,