I just ordered a standard 101-key 'board from Unicomp, and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I remember the classic "Model M" buckling spring keyboard, when I was in high school back in the mid-to-late 80's. I was taking some business class (can't remember the name of the class, been too many years ago). The machine was a PS/2, and the keyboard was, of course, a Model M. At the time, I didn't give much thought to the sound the Model M makes as one types on it; I just thought that was the way the keyboard was supposed to sound. How little did I know how right I was (although I can definitely empathize with the people who complain about the noise; this keyboard is definitely not silent, although that's the trade-off you made for choosing a great keyboard).
I attend Kansas State University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer systems technology (computer science), and since proficiency in coding and writing essays has become somewhat of a "holy grail" for me, I have since revisited the topic of keyboards. Some time ago, I started researching what makes a keyboard great, and have come away with the impression that IBM did it right almost 30 years ago -- great tactile feedback via buckling springs, extremely durable construction, completely standardized layout, and operating system agnostic.
I use Linux (Slackware to be specific), and after great deliberation, have come to the conclusion that the Model M (and its successors) follow the UNIX philosophy: Do one thing, and do it well. The keyboard is, above all, meant to be a text entry device, whether you are using it to compose essays, write web pages, or for programming. No more, no less.
Sorry to have rambled on so much, but I feel quite passionate about my keyboard, and feel that the Unicomp keyboard has been, and will continue to be, a good investment.
