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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: E TwentyNine on Sat, 08 October 2016, 09:37:12

Title: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sat, 08 October 2016, 09:37:12: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Industrial-Model-M13-EXTREMELY-RARE-NEW-IN-BOX-PN-06H4173-/302098572465
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: fohat.digs on Sat, 08 October 2016, 09:41:54: This was already being discussed somewhere else.

Apparently it is the later inferior Lexmark trackpoint rather than the earlier superior IBM type.
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sat, 08 October 2016, 09:43:26: Want to point the other thread? I see nothing in recent updates.

Edit: or at all in search.
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: fohat.digs on Sat, 08 October 2016, 10:12:31: Sorry, these things get so jumbled up, and DT does not number replies.

18 posts before yours on the DT thread.
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sat, 08 October 2016, 10:22:16: Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 08 October 2016, 10:12:31
Sorry, these things get so jumbled up, and DT does not number replies.

18 posts before yours on the DT thread.

What post? ;D

Thanks.
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: Techno Trousers on Sat, 08 October 2016, 10:29:22: If you look at the picture of the label, it says made by Unicomp.
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: 1391406 on Sat, 08 October 2016, 10:51:57: Quote from: Techno Trousers on Sat, 08 October 2016, 10:29:22
If you look at the picture of the label, it says made by Unicomp.

For IBM.
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: Robert_Mauro on Sat, 15 October 2016, 15:45:01: Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 08 October 2016, 09:41:54
This was already being discussed somewhere else.

Apparently it is the later inferior Lexmark trackpoint rather than the earlier superior IBM type.

Wow, neat thread. That was my keyboard (one from my collection) that sold. Wouldn't have been appropriate to post before the sale concluded I thought.

Anyways, no, you are incorrect (but close - at least in my opinion - more on that at the end).

A little Trackpoint and Model M history:

The Lexmark Trackpoints are the IBM Trackpoints. The Lexmark and Maxiswitch Model M13's came with either the Trackpoint or Trackpoint II. The Trackpoint II was definitely the better of the two, and less likely to get stuck/pegged to a corner or side of the screen. All of them suffered from crappy attachment to the membrane cover plate - if caught early, the correct epoxy could permanently fix that (the "heat welds" would fail).

The keyboard that sold has a Unicomp force sensing pointing stick and does not have a Trackpoint (I, II or otherwise) in it, as mentioned in the auction itself.

It is not an IBM technology. It was used by Unicomp on all their subsequent M13's because, though they got the keyboard rights, they did not get the Trackpoint rights. I had a pretty detailed communication with them about this when trying to get Trackpoint (II) parts for one of my daily use M13's.

That brings us back to your "inferior" statement. Correcting for which one (Unicomp force sensing joystick type pointing device instead of genuine Trackpoint) I personally think you're right. It's "inferior".

More accurately, I simply don't like it. It feels like a broken Trackpoint. Perhaps that's because I've used (and still use) many many Trackpoints, from the very first iterations through some of the latest, in most of their incarnations, and even on other brands' licensed uses of the technology.

Part of what made this keyboard so rare, not just among IBM M13's (which, btw, were mostly made by others - and not by IBM), even among Industrial M13's is that it has the Unicomp stick instead of the better (in our opinion) Trackpoint or Trackpoint II. This was the absolute last production run of the Industrial M13's with the IBM logo. AFAIK, the only things left after that were shells and components to fulfill the few IBM service contract requirements for any replacements/repairs. But, this is from the last year, and the only time frame that used them.

As a matter of fact, this is the final production year of *any* production run Model M13's - the Industrial series as built by Unicomp. No blacks or beige.

It saddened me to part with such a very very rare Model M13/Model M, but the box had been collecting dust for seemingly ages.

Best,
Rob
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: xtrafrood on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:12:40: Sold for $999. One keyboard. Not a vintage keyboard/PC. Holy guac
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: Robert_Mauro on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:16:53: Quote from: csmertx on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:12:40
Sold for $999. One keyboard.

Yeah... but yet a far cry from the higher figures various Model M keyboard variants that are less rare have commanded. :rolleyes:

Quote from: csmertx on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:12:40
Not a vintage keyboard/PC.

Well, the design is vintage. The keyboard itself was over 17 years old. So... it's definitely far from "modern" when considering that criteria. ;)
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: jwaz on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:24:55: Damn. I'm about to sell mine :-\

that's ridic..
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: xtrafrood on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:26:40: Quote from: Robert_Mauro on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:16:53
Quote from: csmertx on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:12:40
Sold for $999. One keyboard.

Yeah... but yet a far cry from the higher figures various Model M keyboard variants that are less rare have commanded. :rolleyes:

Quote from: csmertx on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:12:40
Not a vintage keyboard/PC.

Well, the design is vintage. The keyboard itself was over 17 years old. So... it's definitely far from "modern" when considering that criteria. ;)

Keyboard + PC I can totally see going for that price but that's just my own opinion on the subject.

This is pretty much the most expensive keyboard I have seen since I joined GH this January (I think it was Jan, idk). Like whoa :eek:

(https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Industrial-SSK-for-sale.jpg)
https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/original-ibm-industrial-space-saving-keyboard-part-1395682/ (https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/original-ibm-industrial-space-saving-keyboard-part-1395682/) $1375

That keyboard radiates majesty. I'm insane, in case you didn't already know.
Title: Re: NIB Industrial M13
Post by: Robert_Mauro on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:45:55: Quote from: csmertx on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:26:40

This is pretty much the most expensive keyboard I have seen since I joined GH this January (I think it was Jan, idk). Like whoa :eek:

Show Image
(https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Industrial-SSK-for-sale.jpg)

https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/original-ibm-industrial-space-saving-keyboard-part-1395682/ (https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/original-ibm-industrial-space-saving-keyboard-part-1395682/) $1375

Kinda glad I never saw it up for sale. I've seen ones top that, including (oddly) beige SSKs and M14's.
Quote from: csmertx on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:26:40
That keyboard radiates majesty.
Yes it does. :)

Quote from: csmertx on Sat, 15 October 2016, 16:26:40
I'm insane, in case you didn't already know.

LOL! I think we belong to the same club. ;D :)) ;)