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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: calvinhousecat on Mon, 20 April 2015, 11:25:18

Title: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: calvinhousecat on Mon, 20 April 2015, 11:25:18

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/unicomp-ultra-classic?mode=guest_open

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: redbanshee on Mon, 20 April 2015, 11:49:30

Wow, had no idea these are made in Kentucky! Very cool. Are there any other keyboard brands made in USA?

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: XMIT on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:17:55

Yes. Unicomp was founded when IBM/Lexmark decided to stop production and employees bought the factory and incorporated to keep things going. They are indeed based in Kentucky.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:24:13

Quote from: redbanshee on Mon, 20 April 2015, 11:49:30

Wow, had no idea these are made in Kentucky! Very cool. Are there any other keyboard brands made in USA?

TG3/Deck is still in the USA I think. Cherry did have production in the USA. Apparently under ZF (http://www.thomasnet.com/profile/10059431/cherry-zf-electronic-systems-pleasant-prairie-llc.html), they still do.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Snarfangel on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:27:23

I'm typing on my Kentucky Wildcats Unicomp right now. I really like the feel. I don't need another BS right now, especially since I just splurged on a pair of used Maltrons. :D

On the other hand, this is a pretty good deal for those who want a brand new BS keyboard with a Windows key. I hope it's successful.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:39:11

Quote from: Snarfangel on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:27:23

I'm typing on my Kentucky Wildcats Unicomp right now.

Jealousy levels so high. The caps on that board are gorgeous.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:44:25

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:39:11

Quote from: Snarfangel on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:27:23

I'm typing on my Kentucky Wildcats Unicomp right now.

Jealousy levels so high. The caps on that board are gorgeous.

Even when they reduced the price by $20, I dilly-dallied for about a year, and when I finally ordered one about 2 years ago, the last one had been sold less than 24 hours earlier.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Rotaku on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:56:11

That bottom row looks really awkward

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: SpaceGhost on Mon, 20 April 2015, 13:45:03

Quote from: Rotaku on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:56:11

That bottom row looks really awkward

I think the idea was to keep the Ctrl and Alt keys in the same relative locations as on a standard 101-key layout, so that touch typists trained on a 101-key would not have "muscle memory" issues.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: a_ak57 on Mon, 20 April 2015, 13:50:54

I don't get why the backspace is white and the zero on the numpad is grey.  Guess they want some of us to order custom multi wide keys as replacements? 

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Snarfangel on Mon, 20 April 2015, 17:52:17

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:39:11

Quote from: Snarfangel on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:27:23

I'm typing on my Kentucky Wildcats Unicomp right now.

Jealousy levels so high. The caps on that board are gorgeous.

It really is an attractive board (it's my keyboard at work, actually. Probably due for another key cleaning, though. :) ). I'm still amazed that it ended up in the bargain bin, but quite happy about it.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: dante on Mon, 20 April 2015, 17:53:33

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:39:11

Quote from: Snarfangel on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:27:23

I'm typing on my Kentucky Wildcats Unicomp right now.

Jealousy levels so high. The caps on that board are gorgeous.

Were the caps on the Wildcat any different than the Dyesub Blue keys they sell now?

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: vivalarevolución on Mon, 20 April 2015, 18:16:54

i think the white on blue modifiers are pretty unique.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kentucky+wildcats+keycaps&safe=off&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS573US573&espv=2&biw=1328&bih=753&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vog1VfuWD8XysAWXvoD4Cg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Elrick on Mon, 20 April 2015, 21:03:03

Quote from: prdlm2009 on Mon, 20 April 2015, 18:16:54

i think the white on blue modifiers are pretty unique.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kentucky+wildcats+keycaps&safe=off&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS573US573&espv=2&biw=1328&bih=753&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vog1VfuWD8XysAWXvoD4Cg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg (https://www.google.com/search?q=kentucky+wildcats+keycaps&safe=off&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS573US573&espv=2&biw=1328&bih=753&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vog1VfuWD8XysAWXvoD4Cg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg)

It's only printed on blue hence no dye-sub on any coloured key is available.

Downside of the White on Blue keys the white will wear away after some furious typing, so better stick with the traditional dye-subbed keys because they shall stay with you always no matter how hard or long you use them keys.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: ander on Tue, 21 April 2015, 01:36:46

I don't get it. A group buy of $76.99? The regular price (http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB40P4A) is $79.00—all this fuss over $2?

And if you do buy one, will it really look as good as the example? The photos on Unicomp's site looked great when I ordered an Ultra Classic from them in January, but when it arrived was so badly printed I returned it. (I was sorry to do that, as I admire what they're doing. But honest, I'd never seen anything so amateurish—and a lot of you are pickier about these things than I am.) Does anyone have any evidence they've improved since then?

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Snowdog993 on Tue, 21 April 2015, 01:51:21

Just to point something out.  If you want to convert this particular model into a 103, I believe you have to use the long grey spacebar, not the white one.  Unicomp does not have a long spacebar in brilliant white.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 21 April 2015, 02:21:07

Quote from: a_ak57 on Mon, 20 April 2015, 13:50:54

I don't get why the backspace is white and the zero on the numpad is grey.  Guess they want some of us to order custom multi wide keys as replacements? 

I also thought this was really weird :confused:

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: nightdriver on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:16:54

Quote from: SpaceGhost on Mon, 20 April 2015, 13:45:03

Quote from: Rotaku on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:56:11

That bottom row looks really awkward

I think the idea was to keep the Ctrl and Alt keys in the same relative locations as on a standard 101-key layout, so that touch typists trained on a 101-key would not have "muscle memory" issues.

but does anyone really ever use the right-side win key?  would look so much better without it!

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:21:23

Quote from: nightdriver on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:16:54

Quote from: SpaceGhost on Mon, 20 April 2015, 13:45:03

Quote from: Rotaku on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:56:11

That bottom row looks really awkward

I think the idea was to keep the Ctrl and Alt keys in the same relative locations as on a standard 101-key layout, so that touch typists trained on a 101-key would not have "muscle memory" issues.

but does anyone really ever use the right-side win key?  would look so much better without it!

I'm using a couple of SSKs at the moment, and the only thing I really use the Win key for is Win-R to open the Run dialog, for which I exclusively use the left Win key.

Sometimes I miss that on the SSK.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: berserkfan on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:23:55

Quote from: nightdriver on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:16:54

but does anyone really ever use the right-side win key?  would look so much better without it!

I do!

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: morpheus on Wed, 22 April 2015, 03:35:11

yay or nay on this one? I sort of want this, but my previous experience with Unicomp wasn't so good....

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: vivalarevolución on Wed, 22 April 2015, 07:11:33

Quote from: nightdriver on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:16:54

Quote from: SpaceGhost on Mon, 20 April 2015, 13:45:03

Quote from: Rotaku on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:56:11

That bottom row looks really awkward

I think the idea was to keep the Ctrl and Alt keys in the same relative locations as on a standard 101-key layout, so that touch typists trained on a 101-key would not have "muscle memory" issues.

but does anyone really ever use the right-side win key?  would look so much better without it!

I would bet that this would have more success if they went with the 103-key layout.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Snarfangel on Wed, 22 April 2015, 09:13:58

Quote from: berserkfan on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:23:55

Quote from: nightdriver on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:16:54

but does anyone really ever use the right-side win key?  would look so much better without it!

I do!

You're a rebel and will never be any good.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: 0100010 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 11:36:42

Quote from: prdlm2009 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 07:11:33

Quote from: nightdriver on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:16:54

Quote from: SpaceGhost on Mon, 20 April 2015, 13:45:03

Quote from: Rotaku on Mon, 20 April 2015, 12:56:11

That bottom row looks really awkward

I think the idea was to keep the Ctrl and Alt keys in the same relative locations as on a standard 101-key layout, so that touch typists trained on a 101-key would not have "muscle memory" issues.

but does anyone really ever use the right-side win key?  would look so much better without it!

I would bet that this would have more success if they went with the 103-key layout.

I agree.  I think they didn't though because Unicomp doesn't have any 7x white spacebars.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: a_ak57 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 13:51:55

Turns out the white backspace and grey zero was a mistake and they'll have the normal scheme.  Now to decide if I really want to risk poor QC as well as buy this instead of continuing to wait the eternal wait for that TKL they talked about...If this was actually a legit deal rather than like $5 cheaper after shipping, I'd jump.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: ander on Wed, 22 April 2015, 15:55:07

Hey guys, if I was clueless about the points I posted, I wish someone would tell me.

Maybe the "deal" price appeared incorrectly for me (I'm in Canada) and is actually more than $2 lower than the regular price? And maybe someone knows for sure that Unicomp's print quality has greatly improved in the last couple of months? (Someone suggested I might've gotten one of their "old stock" KBs before they upgraded their dye-sub equipment.) I'm really curious. I'd like to see Unicomp do well as much as anyone else would.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:48:45

Quote from: a_ak57 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 13:51:55

Turns out the white backspace and grey zero was a mistake and they'll have the normal scheme.  Now to decide if I really want to risk poor QC as well as buy this instead of continuing to wait the eternal wait for that TKL they talked about...If this was actually a legit deal rather than like $5 cheaper after shipping, I'd jump.

So now it comes down to the non-standard layout of the bottom row.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: ander on Thu, 23 April 2015, 00:28:13

Ah, it must be this Cloak of Invisibility I'm wearing. I forgot about that—and dang, unfortunately I don't have anything else on underneath.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: morpheus on Thu, 30 April 2015, 18:57:34

Quote from: a_ak57 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 13:51:55

Turns out the white backspace and grey zero was a mistake and they'll have the normal scheme.  Now to decide if I really want to risk poor QC as well as buy this instead of continuing to wait the eternal wait for that TKL they talked about...If this was actually a legit deal rather than like $5 cheaper after shipping, I'd jump.

I got in on this because of the shipping to Korea, it's much cheaper than if I shipped with Unicomp. I assume it's the best way for international customers to get a hand on one.  Anyways, I got it because I hate buying used keyboards, even if it is Model M, which the last one I got had bad keys.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 01 May 2015, 00:02:21

Quote from: rowdy on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:48:45

Quote from: a_ak57 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 13:51:55

Turns out the white backspace and grey zero was a mistake and they'll have the normal scheme.  Now to decide if I really want to risk poor QC as well as buy this instead of continuing to wait the eternal wait for that TKL they talked about...If this was actually a legit deal rather than like $5 cheaper after shipping, I'd jump.

So now it comes down to the non-standard layout of the bottom row.

Yes and No Rowdy.

The bottom row actually suits the standard 101 Model M.  It's just putting 1x keys between the Ctrl and Alt keys instead of a 1x flat spacer.

I like the newer layout so you can make it a 103.

(http://i.imgur.com/YEIA2Ul.jpg)

Definitely 103. 

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 01 May 2015, 01:25:08

Quote from: Snowdog993 on Fri, 01 May 2015, 00:02:21

Quote from: rowdy on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:48:45

Quote from: a_ak57 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 13:51:55

Turns out the white backspace and grey zero was a mistake and they'll have the normal scheme.  Now to decide if I really want to risk poor QC as well as buy this instead of continuing to wait the eternal wait for that TKL they talked about...If this was actually a legit deal rather than like $5 cheaper after shipping, I'd jump.

So now it comes down to the non-standard layout of the bottom row.

Yes and No Rowdy.

The bottom row actually suits the standard 101 Model M.  It's just putting 1x keys between the Ctrl and Alt keys instead of a 1x flat spacer.

I like the newer layout so you can make it a 103.

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/YEIA2Ul.jpg)

Definitely 103. 

Should be Alt either side of the space bar.  Unicomp has Alt on left side and Win key on right side.

That would totally bug me 'cause I use both Alt keys all day every day, and I'd keep hitting the right Win key instead.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 01 May 2015, 01:34:16

Rowdy...  Look again at the 103.  Alt is on either side of the long spacebar.

You just take off the short spacebar and right windows key.  Replace with long spacebar.  Done.
Edit: Nobody remembers this post?  Oh yeah, I did it for nothing!  *grin*
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67076.0

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: Touch_It on Fri, 01 May 2015, 10:03:52

The 103 key IMO is far superior to the 104 key's crazy bottom row.

Title: Re: Unicomp Ultra Classic on MD
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 02 May 2015, 05:26:17

Quote from: Touch_It on Fri, 01 May 2015, 10:03:52

The 103 key IMO is far superior to the 104 key's crazy bottom row.

+1