geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: erricrice on Thu, 06 August 2009, 23:24:43

Title: Which model m?
Post by: erricrice on Thu, 06 August 2009, 23:24:43

Hi guys,

I'm planning on getting a model m, probably from ebay, and I was wondering which model I should get(or part# or whatever it is called lol).  I know there are a few main ones that I have seen around here being the 1401 and some others.  Just wondering your opinions and wanted some data on what the differences are between them.

fanks

Title: Which model m?
Post by: rdjack21 on Fri, 07 August 2009, 00:13:37

The king of all Model M's the Space Saver not sure if any are on ebay right now though. And they can be a little expensive but their have been some lately that have gone for a reasonable price.

Other than that 1401's are nice as well.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 07 August 2009, 06:58:48

The Keyboard Reference (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Keyboard+Reference) explains the difference between the different models if you're interested in some of the finer details. The best Model Ms are probably the silver labeled 1390131 if you can find them (they are rare enough), followed by the 1391401 (very common). As has been pointed out, try to get a NIB one, or a refurbished one that's sold by ncbound10, brian o neill (both are ebay sellers) or one from clickykeyboards.com.

Here's (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-IBM-1390131-M-Clicky-Keyboard-RESTORED-OCT-86_W0QQitemZ290335668425QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item43995ab8c9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) a good example of one from ncbound10.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: erricrice on Fri, 07 August 2009, 08:52:39

How about this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-CLICKY-VINTAGE-KEYBOARD-Model-M-1391401_W0QQitemZ290336341090QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item439964fc62&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

doesn't specifically say refurbed but it's from ncbound

Title: Which model m?
Post by: cmr on Fri, 07 August 2009, 10:29:07

assuming it is as described it should be fine

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 07 August 2009, 10:56:28

Quote from: erricrice;107865

How about this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-CLICKY-VINTAGE-KEYBOARD-Model-M-1391401_W0QQitemZ290336341090QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item439964fc62&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

doesn't specifically say refurbed but it's from ncbound

It's a good one, but I'd pay the bit extra for the real original one.

I must get myself a silver-label Model M some day, preferably an Industrial 1390653.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: timw4mail on Fri, 07 August 2009, 12:08:05

Quote from: ch_123;107927

It's a good one, but I'd pay the bit extra for the real original one.

I must get myself a silver-label Model M some day, preferably an Industrial 1390653.

The dark beige Model M?

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 07 August 2009, 12:50:01

It's a dark OD green colour.

(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/_ebay/05548/05548-001.jpg)

They have ones with silver labels too.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: erricrice on Fri, 07 August 2009, 12:53:34

the reference you linked didn't note any difference between the switches in the two keyboards(1401 and 131), but is there an actual difference in the feel or just the construction quality?  I'm not really worried about durability as I don't transport my keyboards much and I don't really eat around them or anything.  I just want to make sure I'm getting a good 'board when it comes to tactility.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: erricrice on Fri, 07 August 2009, 13:42:35

ok rip, good to hear, i'm not really in the collector area, I just want to try out some good feeling keyboards and maybe find a permanent one(i'm very fickle haha, seems like a lot of you guys are too) or at least one i can stick with for a while.  ch_123 was saying ncbound is a good seller, so it should be as described.  thanks for the help

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 07 August 2009, 16:57:59

Yeah, a few people around here have got good boards from him, including myself - he was the seller from which I got my beloved Model F.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 07 August 2009, 17:37:17

You should try to get a Model M with an integrated trackball.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 07 August 2009, 18:05:17

I cant help but think those things would be rather gimmicky considering how small they are.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 08 August 2009, 07:59:55

Quote from: ch_123;108063

I cant help but think those things would be rather gimmicky considering how small they are.

Not mine.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3650&d=1249736389)
It's still gimmicky but the trackball doesn't hurt anything and is a little more comfortable to use than one may think. (I use it as the sole pointing device on my main computer)

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 08 August 2009, 08:08:43

I'd much prefer a trackpoint. Much more comfortable to use than the trackball located way off to the side.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 08 August 2009, 08:58:05

I wonder, if you did some hacks with the respective controllers, and made a cutout for the Trackpoint buttons, could you mount a M5-1 front on a M13 and have a combination trackpoint/trackball keyboard?

Title: Which model m?
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 08 August 2009, 09:17:39

To do that, you'd need a mainboard from a Unicomp On-The-Ball Plus, which I believe is discontinued.

Title: Which model m?
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 08 August 2009, 09:36:49

That's why I said hacks... I doubt that the controller does much with the mouse that the trackpoint's electronics couldnt do. Then agian, Im not really familar  enough with how either works to comment for definite.

You could of course always stick the controller of the the M5-1 into the M13 somewhere and it for the trackpoint part alone?

And yeah, the OTB Plus went out of production two years ago.