« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?  (Read 2038 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ckar

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 48
  • Location: Canada
How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« on: Wed, 25 June 2014, 18:17:31 »
I want to spend a minimal amount of money to try a IBM Model M keyboard.

It is an old keyboard so I cannot go out to a local computer store to try it.

Getting one shipped here can be expensive (I live in Canada).

They don't show up often in the local classified or they are too far away from my location.

What can I do?


« Last Edit: Thu, 26 June 2014, 17:26:47 by ckar »
Logged

Offline Pacifist

  • Report me *again* if there are gifs in my sig
  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 3599
  • Location: Cali
  • on hiatus
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 25 June 2014, 18:19:11 »
Logged

Offline brainT

  • Posts: 61
  • Location: Maine
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 25 June 2014, 18:55:25 »
Are you close to Vermont?
Logged

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 25 June 2014, 19:21:00 »
You could also try the modern equivalent from Unicomp.

Almost the same feel, more modern layout.
Logged
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline vivalarevolución

  • Posts: 2146
  • Location: Naptown, Indiana, USA
  • Keep it real b/c any other way is too stressful
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 25 June 2014, 19:37:11 »
What of Canada are you in?  There are plenty of Canadian members of Geekhack that might have one you could try out.
Logged
Wish I had some gif or quote for this space, but I got nothing

Offline Altis

  • Posts: 974
  • Location: Canada
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 25 June 2014, 21:06:00 »
I've got one, I'm in Ottawa ON.

What keyboards are you used to? I actually don't find the buckling springs to be any louder than my other boards really... MX Blues are louder, and my KPT102 is much louder.

As others have mentioned, the Unicomp keyboards are basically new Model Ms (they took over production). Shipping to Canada from them is no better though... a good $50-70.
Logged
WhiteFox (Gateron Brown) -- Realforce 87U 45g -- Realforce 104UG (Hi Pro 45g) -- Realforce 108US 30g JIS -- HHKB Pro 2 -- IBM Model M ('90) -- IBM Model M SSK ('87) -- NMB RT-101 & RT-8255C+ (Hi-Tek Space Invaders) -- Chicony KB-5181 (Monterey Blue Alps) -- KPT-102 (KPT Alps) -- KUL ES-87 (62/65g Purple Zealios) -- CM QFR (MX Red) -- Apple Aluminum BT -- Realforce 23u Numpad -- Logitech K740 -- QSENN DT-35 -- Zenith Z-150 (Green Alps)

Offline Melvang

  • Exquisite Lord of Bumfluff
  • * Maker
  • Posts: 4407
  • Location: Waterloo, IA
  • Melvang's Desktop Customs
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 25 June 2014, 22:39:28 »
I actually find that BS switches actually feel a touch lighter than Cherry switches of "equivalent" activation force.  Don't know why but they just don't seem that heavy to me.  I started with Browns for a few years but am typing on blacks with clear springs right now.  I love the feel and sound of the M switches. 

For what it's worth I have tried both traditional M (couple different part numbers) and a Unicomp.  The Unicomp to me felt the loosest, had the stiffest activation force, and had the highest pitch.
Logged
OG Kishsaver, Razer Orbweaver clears and reds with blue LEDs, and Razer Naga Epic.   "Great minds crawl in the same sewer"  Uncle Rich

Offline vivalarevolución

  • Posts: 2146
  • Location: Naptown, Indiana, USA
  • Keep it real b/c any other way is too stressful
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 26 June 2014, 06:22:40 »
Quote from: Altis on Wed, 25 June 2014, 21:06:00
I've got one, I'm in Ottawa ON.

What keyboards are you used to? I actually don't find the buckling springs to be any louder than my other boards really... MX Blues are louder, and my KPT102 is much louder.

As others have mentioned, the Unicomp keyboards are basically new Model Ms (they took over production). Shipping to Canada from them is no better though... a good $50-70.


From similar items that I have shipped to Canada, that should not cost more than $40 with USPS.  Unicomp does use UPS, so maybe that affects the price.
Logged
Wish I had some gif or quote for this space, but I got nothing

Offline fohat.digs

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 6533
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 26 June 2014, 09:00:34 »
Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 25 June 2014, 22:39:28
I actually find that BS switches actually feel a touch lighter than Cherry switches of "equivalent" activation force.  Don't know why but they just don't seem that heavy to me.

I feel the same, and it is even more pronounced with the Model F.

I think that the mass of the ancient IBM iron (especially when sitting on one of my EPDM mats) creates a rock-solid body that absorbs all of the striking force, in a way that a lighter keyboard cannot.
Logged
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Altis

  • Posts: 974
  • Location: Canada
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 26 June 2014, 09:09:56 »
Quote from: prdlm2009 on Thu, 26 June 2014, 06:22:40
Quote from: Altis on Wed, 25 June 2014, 21:06:00
I've got one, I'm in Ottawa ON.

What keyboards are you used to? I actually don't find the buckling springs to be any louder than my other boards really... MX Blues are louder, and my KPT102 is much louder.

As others have mentioned, the Unicomp keyboards are basically new Model Ms (they took over production). Shipping to Canada from them is no better though... a good $50-70.


From similar items that I have shipped to Canada, that should not cost more than $40 with USPS.  Unicomp does use UPS, so maybe that affects the price.

They use UPS for domestic shipping. They claim to use FedEx for international (to Canada). The quote I got on a single keyboard was $50 and change to Ottawa. Likely import fees would be on top of this if they are using FedEx.

If they used USPS it would probably be less and include import fees in the initial cost. I had inquired about this some time ago.

PS  Enjoying the Model M, prdlm2009!
Logged
WhiteFox (Gateron Brown) -- Realforce 87U 45g -- Realforce 104UG (Hi Pro 45g) -- Realforce 108US 30g JIS -- HHKB Pro 2 -- IBM Model M ('90) -- IBM Model M SSK ('87) -- NMB RT-101 & RT-8255C+ (Hi-Tek Space Invaders) -- Chicony KB-5181 (Monterey Blue Alps) -- KPT-102 (KPT Alps) -- KUL ES-87 (62/65g Purple Zealios) -- CM QFR (MX Red) -- Apple Aluminum BT -- Realforce 23u Numpad -- Logitech K740 -- QSENN DT-35 -- Zenith Z-150 (Green Alps)

Offline microsoft windows

  • Blue Troll of Death
  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 3621
  • President of geekhack.org
    • Get Internet Explorer 6
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 26 June 2014, 14:24:17 »
You could buy a Model M and pay the shipping if you have to. I don't think an IBM Model M will be a purchase that you will regret. They are very well-built keyboards with a nice feel.
Logged
CLICK HERE!     OFFICIAL PRESIDENT OF GEEKHACK.ORG    MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN MERRY CHRISTMAS

Offline False_Dmitry_II

  • Posts: 1107
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 27 June 2014, 03:46:57 »
Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 25 June 2014, 22:39:28
I actually find that BS switches actually feel a touch lighter than Cherry switches of "equivalent" activation force.  Don't know why but they just don't seem that heavy to me.  I started with Browns for a few years but am typing on blacks with clear springs right now.  I love the feel and sound of the M switches. 

For what it's worth I have tried both traditional M (couple different part numbers) and a Unicomp.  The Unicomp to me felt the loosest, had the stiffest activation force, and had the highest pitch.

I think it's because of the base linearity of MX. Once you're past the tactile point on buckling springs, there is not alot of additional resistance; whereas the springs on MX are then at their strongest.
Logged
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin (11 Nov. 1755)

Offline ckar

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 48
  • Location: Canada
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 10 July 2014, 07:43:20 »
Do Model M keyboards have a PCB underneath the keys/springs?
Logged

Offline Computer-Lab in Basement

  • The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 3026
  • Location: NCC-1701, USS Enterprise
  • Live long and prosper
Re: How to try an IBM Model M keyboard?
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 10 July 2014, 07:46:07 »
Quote from: ckar on Thu, 10 July 2014, 07:43:20
Do Model M keyboards have a PCB underneath the keys/springs?

No, they have a membrane. Model F's have a PCB.
Logged
Quote from: Frenir on Mon, 23 March 2015, 15:16:48
Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 23 March 2015, 15:14:18
tp thread is tp thread
Sometimes it's like he accidentally makes a thread instead of a google search.

IBM Model M SSK | IBM Model F XT | IBM Model F 122 | IBM Model M 122 | Ducky YOTD 2012 w/ blue switches | Poker II w/ Blue switches | Royal Kludge RK61 w/ Blue switches
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »