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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Grr8 on Wed, 14 May 2014, 20:07:24

Title: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: Grr8 on Wed, 14 May 2014, 20:07:24
For an ambitious price of $299.95

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121341568385

I personally prefer the 1390131
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: dante on Wed, 14 May 2014, 20:20:23
Not very rare - I've got one up on ebay now for $105.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: 0100010 on Wed, 14 May 2014, 22:15:46
Thst 11/11/86 1390120 is yours?  I have it on my watch list - just cant bring myself to pull the trigger.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: dante on Wed, 14 May 2014, 22:23:31
Thst 11/11/86 1390120 is yours?  I have it on my watch list - just cant bring myself to pull the trigger.

Yea that one is mine.

I was all about the 0120 a while back - I liked the clean layout without the LED's - but now prefer the IBM M2 above all else - even the SSK.  As I understand it the M2 is probably considered by many to be the least durable - even compared to the Unicomp.  But due to the construction it feels better .. in a way some people prefer the HHKB over a Realforce.  I'm not even sure if it can be bolt modded!

I've been keeping an eye out for NIB M2's but they are not very common.

I'd say Topre TypeHeaven, IBM M2, and FC660C are my top 3 for the last 4 months.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: Pacifist on Wed, 14 May 2014, 22:31:57
Thst 11/11/86 1390120 is yours?  I have it on my watch list - just cant bring myself to pull the trigger.

Yea that one is mine.

I was all about the 0120 a while back - I liked the clean layout without the LED's - but now prefer the IBM M2 above all else - even the SSK.  As I understand it the M2 is probably considered by many to be the least durable - even compared to the Unicomp.  But due to the construction it feels better .. in a way some people prefer the HHKB over a Realforce.  I'm not even sure if it can be bolt modded!

I've been keeping an eye out for NIB M2's but they are not very common.

I'd say Topre TypeHeaven, IBM M2, and FC660C are my top 3 for the last 4 months.

M2 is BS? TIL
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: ebacho on Wed, 14 May 2014, 22:38:57
Thst 11/11/86 1390120 is yours?  I have it on my watch list - just cant bring myself to pull the trigger.

Yea that one is mine.

I was all about the 0120 a while back - I liked the clean layout without the LED's - but now prefer the IBM M2 above all else - even the SSK.  As I understand it the M2 is probably considered by many to be the least durable - even compared to the Unicomp.  But due to the construction it feels better .. in a way some people prefer the HHKB over a Realforce.  I'm not even sure if it can be bolt modded!

I've been keeping an eye out for NIB M2's but they are not very common.

I'd say Topre TypeHeaven, IBM M2, and FC660C are my top 3 for the last 4 months.

M2 is BS? TIL

Only some.  Make sure you check model numbers.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: tinlong117 on Wed, 14 May 2014, 23:33:03
Thst 11/11/86 1390120 is yours?  I have it on my watch list - just cant bring myself to pull the trigger.

Yea that one is mine.

I was all about the 0120 a while back - I liked the clean layout without the LED's - but now prefer the IBM M2 above all else - even the SSK.  As I understand it the M2 is probably considered by many to be the least durable - even compared to the Unicomp.  But due to the construction it feels better .. in a way some people prefer the HHKB over a Realforce.  I'm not even sure if it can be bolt modded!

I've been keeping an eye out for NIB M2's but they are not very common.

I'd say Topre TypeHeaven, IBM M2, and FC660C are my top 3 for the last 4 months.

M2 is BS? TIL

Yes. M2 is buckling springs. Even the M15 is based on the chassis of M2.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Thu, 15 May 2014, 00:57:01
IIRC the main reason I've heard for people disliking BS M2's is because something electric, don't remember what offhand, breaks easily or over time or something and when you buy one it's easy to end up with a paperweight.

Also something about it not being as solid feeling. I've never used one, though.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 15 May 2014, 01:33:09
IIRC the main reason I've heard for people disliking BS M2's is because something electric, don't remember what offhand, breaks easily or over time or something and when you buy one it's easy to end up with a paperweight.

Also something about it not being as solid feeling. I've never used one, though.
The capacitors in the controller have known to fail. I guess it's common enough that people have IBM M2 capacitor replacement kits on eBay :P
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 15 May 2014, 06:30:30
M2s are really nice in some ways but very frustrating in others.

If you just use the thing as a keyboard and never worry about "messing around" with it you might never even know.

The keys are different (standard M/F stems will fit and operate) with different profiles, etc. Stabilizers are plastic, not wires, and they are not nearly as easy to disassemble.

If I were not so spoiled with the F, an M2 might be more appealing to me. The configuration and form factor is very nice and compact.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: Limewirelord on Wed, 21 May 2014, 07:17:45
they are not nearly as easy to disassemble.
Ugh, the crappy plastic clips that are used to keep the M2 together are so awful.  I snapped two of them off entirely because I completely underestimated how brittle the plastic was going to be.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: EverythingIBM on Thu, 22 May 2014, 08:33:54
It's rather disappointing that people sell a lot of those keyboards at weird prices. I got an '86 M like that (with the LED panel) for $0.

They are however very noisy from the springs which is a bonus if you enjoy that. If not, a newer one is definitely better.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 22 May 2014, 09:36:02
It's rather disappointing that people sell a lot of those keyboards at weird prices. I got an '86 M like that (with the LED panel) for $0.

They are however very noisy from the springs which is a bonus if you enjoy that. If not, a newer one is definitely better.

EIBM! Haven't seen you in forever, how you been?

And I too, got a 1390120 for $0 (well, I had to pay shipping cost for three Model Ms, so not exactly $0).

At the same time, I also feel like more people are realizing that there is a real market for Model Ms, which is why they're jacking up the prices. Greedy bastards.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: dante on Thu, 22 May 2014, 10:16:57
At the same time, I also feel like more people are realizing that there is a real market for Model Ms, which is why they're jacking up the prices. Greedy bastards.

I've got a 1390120 on ebay for $100.  I think that is a fair price for a keyboard with twice the build quality of a Unicomp.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 22 May 2014, 10:31:07
At the same time, I also feel like more people are realizing that there is a real market for Model Ms, which is why they're jacking up the prices. Greedy bastards.

I've got a 1390120 on ebay for $100.  I think that is a fair price for a keyboard with twice the build quality of a Unicomp.

Price also depends on condition, but that's not really my point. Prices have increased as a result of more people knowing that Model Ms have a market. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are unreasonable...

However, the listing in the OP was unreasonable IMO.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 22 May 2014, 12:50:31
In the past I figured that you could benchmark the price of IBM Model M's to the price of new Unicomps.

I was always surprised that old Ms consistently sold for half the price of new ones.

Now, at roughly parity, it is a different ball game.
Title: Re: IBM Keyboard 1390120 October 22 1986 "Tested"
Post by: 1996 Ford Taurus on Sun, 25 May 2014, 11:33:36
One of my IBM model M's was made in 1986.