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Author Topic: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?  (Read 2051 times)

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Offline ctbear

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Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« on: Mon, 23 March 2015, 11:53:55 »
I took a look at ClickyKeyboards and was a bit overwhelmed with all the different, uh, models of model Ms. Ideally I want something smaller (so SSK) but those are out of stock.
Other than that, which one is a good starter for me?
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Offline FrostyToast

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 23 March 2015, 11:59:54 »
There aren't many different layouts for the model m. If you venture to the model f series then there are various layouts, however unless you get the highly elusive kishaver you won't find anything small.
Pretty much all boards in the model m series are the same. Some say the ones with grey labels are nicer however.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 23 March 2015, 12:09:47 »
Thee SSK is much less common and highly sought-after, so expect the price to be at least triple that of the standard M.

The internal plate was reduced in weight around 1988 and again around 1992, with the heavier ones generally carrying a premium. I like the 1390131 because of the metal badge, but the 1391401 with beige label is the "classic" and most numerous.

If you get one without a cable, or with, you might look at orihalcon's handsome direct SDL-to-USB cables which also come in beige.
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"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."
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 23 March 2015, 12:12:52 »
Quote from: FrostyToast on Mon, 23 March 2015, 11:59:54
There aren't many different layouts for the model m. If you venture to the model f series then there are various layouts, however unless you get the highly elusive kishaver you won't find anything small.
Pretty much all boards in the model m series are the same. Some say the ones with grey labels are nicer however.

OMG Frosty! Your Avatar!  What is going on here?!?!?!?  Shark infested waters!

On subject, you can get the Model M in several flavors, but be aware and avoid the rubberdome versions.  They usually start with a model number 7xxx.  You can also find them on ebay for a reasonable price, but be aware that prices fluctuate wildly there.  A good start, like Fohat said, is the 1391401.  You can also look into the 1390120, 1390131, 1398601, 1370477, 1394540, 51G8572, and the 1393464.
Beware of terminal boards.  You can get them and convert them but you have to get a 1391401 (or equivalent) controller and an SDL cable.  (Keeping that in mind, the price you paid for that "inexpensive" terminal board may have doubled or tripled after doing that.)
* You can also see pictures of my Model M's in my Sig. *
« Last Edit: Mon, 23 March 2015, 21:00:43 by Snowdog993 »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 23 March 2015, 13:42:52 »
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Mon, 23 March 2015, 12:12:52
You can get them and convert them but you have to get a 1391401 (or equivalent) controller and an SDL cable. 

Or build a converter (or buy one from orihalcon, not the SDL-to-USB cable, but with the appropriate socket) at any level of complexity for whatever connection the one that you buy comes equipped with.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58941.msg1348717#msg1348717
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"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 Snowdog993

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 23 March 2015, 23:11:18 »
Oh and be very careful of deceptive sellers trying to pass on a Model A as a Model M.  The Model A is NOT a buckling spring keyboard.  It is a rubberdome with a slightly different design.  Or they see pictures of Model M's and assume it is a "Clicky" keyboard when in fact it is not.
Some actually don't know the difference.  You just have to be cautious.  The model numbers that are listed are good and nice starter keyboards to get.
There are others too.  They have attached (rather than detachable) cables. 
If you like, you can go to the wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard
Scroll down to Features By Part number. (near the bottom of the page)
Right below that, it says (Part Number) and a [show] hyperlink.
Click there and you can see a lot of model numbers in a list.  Be sure the keyboard is buckling spring.  That is the important part.
It's a good cross-reference guide too.
« Last Edit: Mon, 23 March 2015, 23:13:35 by Snowdog993 »
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Offline hwood34

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 24 March 2015, 07:37:54 »
And most sellers are willing to quickly pull a cap so you can be sure
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 24 March 2015, 07:41:31 »
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Mon, 23 March 2015, 23:11:18
be very careful of deceptive sellers

Whatever anybody may think of Clicky Keyboard's prices, they are the repository of knowledge and selling in the Model M universe.
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"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 jevvix

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 24 March 2015, 07:53:24 »
Can't go wrong with a 1391401!
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Offline chyros

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 24 March 2015, 07:57:25 »
It really just depends on which features of detachable cable, fluid channel and two-part keycaps xD . Just make sure to look on wikipedia for the part number to see which features it has :) .
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 24 March 2015, 10:29:30 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Tue, 24 March 2015, 07:41:31
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Mon, 23 March 2015, 23:11:18
be very careful of deceptive sellers

Whatever anybody may think of Clicky Keyboard's prices, they are the repository of knowledge and selling in the Model M universe.

I bought a keyboard from Clickykeyboards.  I did get a good deal on a keyboard from them too!  I have also purchased parts from there.  No complaints at all about them!

Edit:  Link to Clickykeyboards with my keyboard.
http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/34297/subcatid/0/id/586811



http://imgur.com/a/tBZaV
« Last Edit: Thu, 26 March 2015, 13:44:05 by Snowdog993 »
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Offline ctbear

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Re: Thinking of getting my first model M...which one?
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 24 March 2015, 13:05:43 »
Good information, thanks. I will do some reading before I pull the trigger  :)
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