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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: RamaBot on Fri, 27 August 2010, 19:56:19

Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: RamaBot on Fri, 27 August 2010, 19:56:19
Just got myself a new Customizer 103 after the death of my Model M.
It feels like a model M but more so.
It took less than 48 hours to ship from the states to my hovel in the UK.
It has a lovely sound. Like the model M but without the ringing.
It has 2 part keycaps.
It is lovely.

After the death of my model M I bought a cherry g80-3000 to try out the blue cherries. They are not for me.
Even thought he cherry is a quality keyboard it was too lightweight for me.
The keys had a sort of puny feel to them. Like crushing little beetles.
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: Superfluous Parentheses on Fri, 27 August 2010, 20:02:21
Just curious in case I have to import a new Unicomp to the Netherlands: how much did you pay for shipping and dues and taxes?

Also: I understand the appeal of the Model M; it's definitely in my top 2 boards, but my quest recently was for lower force switches and smaller size (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=217304&postcount=257).
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: ironman31 on Fri, 27 August 2010, 20:20:56
Quote from: RamaBot;217478
Just got myself a new Customizer 103 after the death of my Model M.
It feels like a model M but more so.
It took less than 48 hours to ship from the states to my hovel in the UK.
It has a lovely sound. Like the model M but without the ringing.
It has 2 part keycaps.
It is lovely.

After the death of my model M I bought a cherry g80-3000 to try out the blue cherries. They are not for me.
Even thought he cherry is a quality keyboard it was too lightweight for me.
The keys had a sort of puny feel to them. Like crushing little beetles.


Exactly what happened to your model m? Do they ever just die from old age? aside from plastic rivets breaking
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: RamaBot on Sat, 28 August 2010, 04:12:48
Quote
Just curious in case I have to import a new Unicomp to the Netherlands: how much did you pay for shipping and dues and taxes?

Shipping was $43 using Fed-EX. I have no idea about the taxes yet

Quote
Exactly what happened to your model m? Do they ever just die from old age? aside from plastic rivets breaking

A couple of keys started to be a intermittent. Then one stopped working alltogether.
I tried a few things to fix it but no go. I will always keep it for the memories and the parts.
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 28 August 2010, 05:12:15
If you are prepared to rip open the old Model M (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6615) you can fix the broken keys easily enough, and the ping will go away. You can also fix the spring tension while you are at it if you order new ones from Unicomp.
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: RamaBot on Sat, 28 August 2010, 11:02:41
Quote from: ch_123;217564
If you are prepared to rip open the old Model M (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6615) you can fix the broken keys easily enough, and the ping will go away. You can also fix the spring tension while you are at it if you order new ones from Unicomp.


I have had it apart a couple of times to re-furbish it. I have also swapped the springs and keycaps around to see if that made any difference. It didn't.

I think I will just have to leave it alone for a while now so the wife doesn't go ape**** about me buying a new unicomp when I could have fixed the model M.

I will have a go at it in a few weeks. Then if I fix it I will have two lovely keyboards.
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 28 August 2010, 12:40:55
Experience shows that the contacts on the cable that links the membrane to the controller are a common point of failure. If you get a silver gel PCB trace repair pen, and 'draw' a new trace from the membrane to the contact, you'll get the thing working again.

Whilst not as reliable as other contact mechanisms, membranes make it up for it by being ridiculously easy to fix if they die.
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: RamaBot on Sat, 28 August 2010, 13:07:55
Quote from: ch_123;217620
Experience shows that the contacts on the cable that links the membrane to the controller are a common point of failure. If you get a silver gel PCB trace repair pen, and 'draw' a new trace from the membrane to the contact, you'll get the thing working again.

Whilst not as reliable as other contact mechanisms, membranes make it up for it by being ridiculously easy to fix if they die.


Thanks very much for that tip. That's one I'd never heard before. I will, without doubt try it out.
Title: Unocomp Customizer 103
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 28 August 2010, 13:48:39
I used this one (http://cgi.ebay.ie/1-pc-Conductive-Silver-ink-Pen-Writer-CSIP-Taiwan-/130354490676?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0) to fix two different IBMs. I may/may not get around to posting up a guide at some point... If I don't, let me know and I'll give you some pointers.