Beginner buying a buckling spring IBM Model M: check part number!

[spremino]

Hello,

I've just been bitten by assuming all Model Ms were BS. Well, as you may already know they are not. So here is my advice to beginners: check its part number first. Wikipedia has a record of part numbers here http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Model_M_keyboard#Features_by_part_number

I've just updated that record with my (unwanted) find.

Happy typing ^_^

[ch_123]

Ah, the 71G'... lol

Moral of the story - search model numbers before you buy. If you had put that model number in the Geekhack search, or even went into the IBM Wiki and Ctrl-F with it, stuff like this could be avoided.

The other one to be avoided is the Unicomp 96U1114. People think they're getting a cheap M5-2, in fact, they're getting a rubber dome board.

[spremino]

Ah, the 71G'... lol

Right. You should have seen my face when I opened the box and pressed a key... then another one... THEN ANOTHER ONE... GASP!

;-)))))

What disappoints me the most is that Model Ms are difficult to come by in my country.

Moral of the story - search model numbers before you buy.

Yeah. However no online article warns the beginner. Time to write a blog entry about that.

[ch_123]

Other than about a kazillion articles in our wiki?

[spremino]

Other than about a kazillion articles in our wiki?

Yes. Search our wiki or the Internet for 71G4630.

What I was saying is: after reading tons of articles about Model Ms, in my mind - and in minds of newcomers, I think - Model Ms become THE BS keyboards. I learned a lot about grey/blue labels, drainage channels, IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp, AT vs PS/2, single/double pieces keycaps... yet I somewhat missed this pitfall. Luckily I just thrashed few bucks. I hope my fix to Wikipedia and this thread will help other people looking for a deal.

Happy typing.

[ch_123]

Mhmm. With international variants it becomes a bit problematic. It is noted in the IBM wiki in regards to the internation layouts that -

"They also made some rubber dome equipped variants, these can be avoided by ensuring to buy a keyboards with a 13914xx part number. Most of them however had part numbers of the form 71Gxxxx."

I do admit that the IBM Wiki in it's current form is rather verbose, and probably could do with a tl;dr summary at the top.

[spremino]

ch_123, your "IBM Wiki" effort is both remarkable and admirable. Thank you very much.

Maybe we just need a dedicated "Buyers guide" forum. A really concise guide for confused newcomers. Something along this lines:

   IBM Model M
...

Buyers beware

Check the plug
Terminal Model Ms do not work with PCs.

Check part number
Not all Model Ms are buckling spring based. For instance, part numbers of the form 71Gxxxx are acknowledged to be dome switch based. Check "IBM Wiki" to learn more.

[kishy]

Check the plug
Terminal Model Ms do not work with PCs.

Oh HELL NO you didn't!

[spremino]

Oh HELL NO you didn't!

Oh no, I didn't. At least I knew about terminal Model Ms ;-)

However a newcomer could fall for it.

[erricrice]

Oh no, I didn't. At least I knew about terminal Model Ms ;-)

However a newcomer could fall for it.

I think he was referring to this.  His PC compatible terminal Model M lol.  Or PC converted rather haha.

[kishy]

I think he was referring to this.  His PC compatible terminal Model M lol.  Or PC converted rather haha.

Lol well I guess it depends on how you define compatible. I'd say compatible is uh..."works even if it needed some hacks".

That might contradict something I said before, but whatever.