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Author Topic: Unicomp boards two piece keytops.  (Read 1976 times)

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Offline naikon996

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  • Posts: 7
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 11:52:23 »
Hello fellow keyboard enthusiasts!

I bought a Unicomp Customizer 101 about 6 months ago and only
recently noticed the keytops still use the two piece design like
the original IBM 1391401 and Lexmark boards I have at home.

I have heard complaints that the Unicomp boards don't use the two piece keytops,
but after what I discovered, this does not seem to be true.

The Customizer 104 and the spacesaver might be a different story though.
I still prefer the customizer 101 because of the fact there are no windows keys :)

So, are two piece caps still the norm, or did I just get lucky?

Anyone here notice this?
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IBM Model M 1391401 (1988)
IBM Model M 1391401 (1989) *NIB*
IBM Model M 1370477 (1995)
Unicomp Customizer 101 (2008)
Cherry G80-3000LAMDE

Offline ozar

  • Posts: 352
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 11:55:12 »
The 104's and their SpaceSaver model definitely use a one piece keycap set.
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Offline Etinin

  • Posts: 17
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 12:04:54 »
The beige SpaceSaver uses two-piece keycap. The black one doesn't.
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Offline MANISH7

  • Posts: 155
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 12:09:04 »
I purchased a Customizer 101 6 months ago just like you. It has two piece keys and a few exceptions exactly like the 1391401. Recently I had ordered another Customizer 101 USB version. This one had two piece keys for the main part of the keyboard but the numeric pad and the arrow button areas were only once piece.

So my guess is that they use two piece for only part of the Customizer 101 (80%) now whereas they used to do 100% a few months ago. They are probably shifting towards one piece keycaps since it takes less work and Unicomp did unfortunately have to layoff some of its workforce.
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Offline ozar

  • Posts: 352
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 12:17:40 »
Quote from: Etinin;28338
The beige SpaceSaver uses two-piece keycap. The black one doesn't.

Interesting... maybe Manish7 is onto something here and they are slowly eliminating the two-piece caps.
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Offline ch_123

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Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 18:00:23 »
I was cleaning my black Endurapro the other day and I noticed that some but not all the keys are two piece. The only pattern I could see was that all the keys with the little nipples (F, J, numpad 5) had them. The two controls as well, and I think Tab. I guess theyre trying to use up stock or something.
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Offline nerp

  • Posts: 59
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 20:06:29 »
I bought a Customizer 104 in February and a SpaceSaver in March and both had two-piece keycaps. Smooooth.
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Offline FKSSR

  • Posts: 529
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 11 April 2009, 20:16:33 »
I just ordered a Spacesaver today.  I'll let you know if it has one or two piece key caps when I get it.  I ordered blank black (which are always one-piece) as well.
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Offline nerp

  • Posts: 59
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 12 April 2009, 07:14:46 »
That would make sense. Still, my black 104 has two piece caps. The keys are the speckled grey, though, not black. (I like seeing the letters)
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Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 12 April 2009, 11:35:43 »
Quote from: nerp;28396
I bought a Customizer 104 in February and a SpaceSaver in March and both had two-piece keycaps. Smooooth.

Well, that's piss*ng me off a bit.  When I ordered my Customizer in January I specifically asked for two-piece keys and Jim told me they were only available as one-piece.[1]  Grrr!

[1] Black Customizer 104 with metallic grey keys
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Offline Mikecase00

  • Posts: 74
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Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 12 April 2009, 20:02:44 »
Quote from: lal;28450
Well, that's piss*ng me off a bit.  When I ordered my Customizer in January I specifically asked for two-piece keys and Jim told me they were only available as one-piece.[1]  Grrr!

[1] Black Customizer 104 with metallic grey keys


I think it's likely that only the beige keys come as two piece designs.  Even the black keys on M-13s (which were pre-Unicomp) are one piece.  Why they continue to use two-piece designs for the beige boards is a little baffling.  I'm sure it's substantially more expensive, and I doubt most people even notice.
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IBM Model M 1391401 (dyed black) w/ keys from M-13
IBM M-13 Trackpoint (naturally black)
IBM Model M 1392934 SpaceSaver
Several plain IBM 1391401 Ms
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Offline nerp

  • Posts: 59
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 12 April 2009, 22:39:43 »
Seems like they just might build boards with whatever is handy. I never asked for dual keycaps and I assumed they were single keycaps. . . until I popped a few off and noticed. I originally thought it was just for the CTRL and ALT keys, etc, but sure enough, the letters have two pieces too.
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U N I.C O M P - Am I the only one that likes the logo?

Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 13 April 2009, 07:38:33 »
Quote from: Mikecase00;28496
I think it's likely that only the beige keys come as two piece designs.  Even the black keys on M-13s (which were pre-Unicomp) are one piece.  Why they continue to use two-piece designs for the beige boards is a little baffling.  I'm sure it's substantially more expensive, and I doubt most people even notice.

The strange thing is that nerp has the two-piece variant of the *grey metallic* keys!  Not black nor beige.  I don't really mind and I'm also of the opinion that it doesn't add anything to the typing feel.  But two-piece keys are nicer to clean because you can pop them off with just your fingers and putting them back is *a lot* simpler, too.

I've been on the Mini almost exclusively for the last couple of weeks anyway (thanks again, xs) :)
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Offline nerp

  • Posts: 59
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 13 April 2009, 08:29:21 »
I wonder if during the crush for parts because of the NPR story and what appears to be a resurgance in clicky keyboards caused them to just use whatever they had on hand.
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U N I.C O M P - Am I the only one that likes the logo?

Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 13 April 2009, 08:45:36 »
Quote from: nerp;28575
I wonder if during the crush for parts because of the NPR story and what appears to be a resurgance in clicky keyboards caused them to just use whatever they had on hand.


Probably they found a box of two-piece grey metallic keys in the closet when they were in a rush to fulfill your order, lucky bastard ;)
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline ozar

  • Posts: 352
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 13 April 2009, 09:06:58 »
It sounds like there might not be any consistency with the keycaps coming from Unicomp, or certain changes were implemented along the way.  The next time I speak with Jim Owens, I'll ask him about all of this, or perhaps someone else can if they speak to him first.
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Offline FKSSR

  • Posts: 529
Unicomp boards two piece keytops.
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 13 April 2009, 10:07:03 »
I'm pretty sure that this was happening before the NPR story.  I'm not sure why it is still so random, but I don't think it is due to anything as recent as the NPR story.
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