Unicomp Ultra Classic vs. Unicomp New Model M

[rhubarbpi]

After looking through Unicomp's website, there seems to be a "New Model M" available now (for $114 vs. $94 standard Ultra Classic/Classic price) that seems to use a new molding process & a design that is identical to the Classic but fit within the Ultra Classic measurements.  Also seems to have a new base plate.  Unicomp claims the finish is now free of "smiles blemishes" that occur on top, back and front of the standard Ultra Classics / Classics, along with being a full 1/2 pound heavier:

https://www.pckeyboard.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/Update%20and%20Announcement%20v_1.4.htm
https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/NEWM

Has anyone procured one of the New Model M's?
If so, any thoughts?

I'm curious to take the plunge and see how everything is manufactured and feels!

 

[jamster]

You want this thread: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=106210.0

[funkmon]

Yes and no. He's asking about a New Model M, which is slightly different than what we were talking about. Here are some pictures of my New Model M and my thoughts.





There are some mould marks on the back, but it's not bad and nobody looks at that stuff anyway.



They've moved to one piece keycaps now, like they've threatened to do for years. I have a Lexmark with all one piece keycaps as well, but this is the first Unicomp I've had with them all as one piece.



They finally made a keyboard that looks good with the Unicomp logo. Now you can see here that this case looks very much like the space saving keyboard case, but elongated. Indeed, you can actually see that this is a variation on the case they're going to use for their new SSK when they launch it, but I didn't take many photos of that.



The feet seem slightly stumpier than on a normal Model M.





Here you can see the internal layout of the keyboard. The metal backplate is slightly different, as it doesn't mount on the top right of the case any longer, but in the right middle. The barrel plate is also different. The New Models M myself and the guys over at the Model M subreddit are sharing have the same birthday on the barrel plate, and it's a much higher apparent quality than Unicomp has been using, with less spidering.

In terms of feel, it's the same as any Model M. In terms of sound, it's louder and deeper than my other Models M.

The quality feeling of the case is better than both the Ultra Classic, which is the one with the big issues, and the Classic, which has more minor issues. The case doesn't creak. Otherwise, same old Model M.

Note that it only comes in black, and you can't do any customizations.

[rhubarbpi]

Yes and no. He's asking about a New Model M, which is slightly different than what we were talking about. Here are some pictures of my New Model M and my thoughts.

Show Image

Show Image

There are some mould marks on the back, but it's not bad and nobody looks at that stuff anyway.

Show Image

They've moved to one piece keycaps now, like they've threatened to do for years. I have a Lexmark with all one piece keycaps as well, but this is the first Unicomp I've had with them all as one piece.

Show Image

They finally made a keyboard that looks good with the Unicomp logo. Now you can see here that this case looks very much like the space saving keyboard case, but elongated. Indeed, you can actually see that this is a variation on the case they're going to use for their new SSK when they launch it, but I didn't take many photos of that.

Show Image

The feet seem slightly stumpier than on a normal Model M.

Show Image

Show Image

Here you can see the internal layout of the keyboard. The metal backplate is slightly different, as it doesn't mount on the top right of the case any longer, but in the right middle. The barrel plate is also different. The New Models M myself and the guys over at the Model M subreddit are sharing have the same birthday on the barrel plate, and it's a much higher apparent quality than Unicomp has been using, with less spidering.

In terms of feel, it's the same as any Model M. In terms of sound, it's louder and deeper than my other Models M.

The quality feeling of the case is better than both the Ultra Classic, which is the one with the big issues, and the Classic, which has more minor issues. The case doesn't creak. Otherwise, same old Model M.

Note that it only comes in black, and you can't do any customizations.

Thank you so much @funkmon!
That is exactly what I was looking for.

My daily driver is a standard Ultra Classic, after being in the MX Blue keyboard "fields" for a while.
I saw the updated version, and was contemplating on whether to procure one & see how the look and feel would be.
After your pics and thoughts, I think I will be picking one up!

:thumb:

[jamster]

Crikey, there's a totally new iteration of the M? I have to read up on this. Thanks for the review.

[forgot_my_pa5sword]

How does this new Unicomp model M compared to an IBM Model M? I have a 1989 Model M as well as a 2017 Unicomp Model M and they are very different in terms of quality and typing feel - as different as changing switches in an MX design. Do you have any insight?

[funkmon]

The typing feel will vary a little bit. I find the Unicomps to be smoother and heavier feeling than the IBMs, with a lot more key wobble, but otherwise basically the same. If the IBM Model M is a Cherry MX Blue, the Unicomp to me is an Outemu Blue: louder, deeper, a little bit heavier (am I crazy on that with the Outemus?)

The keyboard feels very similar to the IBM I keep in my daily rotation, and very similar to my late 201X Unicomps. I don't know how yours feels, but I detect very little difference.

It's kind of like when you go to another country and taste their Coca Cola and it's not quite the same, but still very much Coca Cola.

[jacethesaltsculptor]

I've written up a full review of the new M myself, I realized I hadn't posted here on Geekhack so I've fixed that:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=106969.0

The TLDR is:

Good:

• Much less deck flex
• Very Model M looking design
• Excellent Cap color coordination, it looks good
• Completely repairable inside as is tradition, you can open it up easily. (This is compared to an Ultraclassic)
• Good sign of things to come from Unicomp

The Bad:

• Not listed on their site in an obvious place, which is a shame.
• The mould markings are still there on the back, they are better, but they are still there.

The Ugly:

• The LED lights are Nuclear blue and are super bright.

[rhubarbpi]

I've written up a full review of the new M myself, I realized I hadn't posted here on Geekhack so I've fixed that:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=106969.0

The TLDR is:

Good:

• Much less deck flex
• Very Model M looking design
• Excellent Cap color coordination, it looks good
• Completely repairable inside as is tradition, you can open it up easily. (This is compared to an Ultraclassic)
• Good sign of things to come from Unicomp

The Bad:

• Not listed on their site in an obvious place, which is a shame.
• The mould markings are still there on the back, they are better, but they are still there.

The Ugly:

• The LED lights are Nuclear blue and are super bright.

Thank you so much @jacethesaltsculptor!
This is amazing!
Unicomp makes an excellent iteration of the Model M, like stated though, they should really try to become more communicative with the community at large.  Staying in their own bubble keeps them from being accessible to a new subset of users who would LOVE to use their products. I had to really do research to even realize they existed before securing an Ultra Classic.

[macguy80]

They've moved to one piece keycaps now, like they've threatened to do for years. I have a Lexmark with all one piece keycaps as well, but this is the first Unicomp I've had with them all as one piece.

Really? I got a Spacesaver M (Mac model) about 3 years ago now, and I remember being sorely disappointed to see that it had all one-piece keycaps. Has it perhaps just been a while since you last ordered a Unicomp?

When I wrote them about a year later asking about ordering another with two-part keycaps, they told me to request that they use two-part keycaps "whenever possible." Their choice of words struck me as very odd indeed.

In terms of feel, it's the same as any Model M. In terms of sound, it's louder and deeper than my other Models M.

Louder than all your other Models M? Considering that you said "all," I hope that doesn't mean it's a bad thing? They've told me that a Mac version is coming, but to hear that it sounds different than all other Models M concerns me a bit.

[macguy80]

The Ugly:

• The LED lights are Nuclear blue and are super bright.

I could not write a better or more accurate description, unfortunately. Way too bright!

[jamster]

The Ugly:

• The LED lights are Nuclear blue and are super bright.

I could not write a better or more accurate description, unfortunately. Way too bright!

These things are great for mitigating overly bright LEDs. I've got them on loads of my equipment around the house. They'd probably be able to attach to the inside of the case, as long as the LEDs are not designed to protrude through case holes.

https://www.lightdims.com/index.php

Prior to this, I used electrical tape or black marker, which work but are pretty ugly fixes.

[macguy80]

Thank you, jamster! 

[funkmon]

It's basically the same sound, but just slightly deeper and louder. The older Models M are a bit higher pitched and slightly quieter. It seems like the later you buy them, the deeper they are.

I've bought two Unicomps made this year, both of them had two piece keycaps. One actually was almost entirely two piece.

[jamster]

Thank you, jamster! 

It's hard to exaggerate just how great these things are. I know the idea sounds kinda dumb, they're just semi-transparent stickers and I felt a bit silly ordering them as electrical tape is essentially free. But they're bloody excellent- I use them to tune down all the LEDs in bedrooms, or the bright LEDs in gear sitting in the TV cabinet that at eye height. Or the irritating LEDs built into the Fn keys of my Thinkpad.

Some LEDs on my gear are so bright that I needed to layer 2 stickers over them.

[macguy80]

It's basically the same sound, but just slightly deeper and louder. The older Models M are a bit higher pitched and slightly quieter. It seems like the later you buy them, the deeper they are.

Thanks! That's a relief!

I've bought two Unicomps made this year, both of them had two piece keycaps. One actually was almost entirely two piece.

Interesting! One wonders why they would decide to mix and match. Clearly, based on their response to me, it's not that uncommon, though.

[funkmon]

Yeah, I think they've been manufacturing one piece keys for a long time, but probably also still have to have some two piecers lying around for the IBM repairs. I've noticed that the vast majority of Unicomps I've gotten with nonstandard (ie non pearl or pebble) keycaps come in one piece.

But then again, here's a 2012 board I'm typing on right now. The grey keycaps are all two piece, except for the ones that have been one piece for 30 years, like some of the modifiers.

I noticed that my custom Geekhack keys were all two piece, but my brand new pearl US-International was all one piece. My replacement rubber dome keys were all two piece. Explain that ****.

It just does seem that their general trend has been going to one piece, and honestly I'm fine with it. It's a little bit more difficult to pop out the keys, but in the grand scheme of things, who cares? They feel the same to me really.

[macguy80]

I noticed that my custom Geekhack keys were all two piece, but my brand new pearl US-International was all one piece. My replacement rubber dome keys were all two piece. Explain that ****.

Definitely seems random. Incidentally, what do you think of the rubber dome model? I've heard that the key travel is short for some reason, but I've still been curious about it.

[funkmon]

I haven't used their rubber dome; only Lexmark's. I have a NOS 122 key Lexmark rubber dome terminal and a NIB Lexmark rubber dome 101 key. The Lexmark rubber dome feels completely normal. Totally unremarkable. I've heard the same about Unicomp's rubber dome, that it's much firmer with less key travel. I would put the Lexmark rubber dome at the same level as Silitek. Completely normal.

[rhubarbpi]

They've moved to one piece keycaps now, like they've threatened to do for years. I have a Lexmark with all one piece keycaps as well, but this is the first Unicomp I've had with them all as one piece.

Really? I got a Spacesaver M (Mac model) about 3 years ago now, and I remember being sorely disappointed to see that it had all one-piece keycaps. Has it perhaps just been a while since you last ordered a Unicomp?

When I wrote them about a year later asking about ordering another with two-part keycaps, they told me to request that they use two-part keycaps "whenever possible." Their choice of words struck me as very odd indeed.

In terms of feel, it's the same as any Model M. In terms of sound, it's louder and deeper than my other Models M.

Louder than all your other Models M? Considering that you said "all," I hope that doesn't mean it's a bad thing? They've told me that a Mac version is coming, but to hear that it sounds different than all other Models M concerns me a bit.

My year 2020 Ultra Classic has 2 piece caps - FYI.
They must do it on a build by build basis.

[funkmon]

Yes, that sounds about right. Was it the pearl and pebble keyset? I feel like they tend to keep those as two piecers more than the smaller batches.

[fohat.digs]

This is rather amusing. For years, the "traditional wisdom" was that one-piece keys feel and sound better, and were more desirable in the old days.

[rhubarbpi]

Yes, that sounds about right. Was it the pearl and pebble keyset? I feel like they tend to keep those as two piecers more than the smaller batches.

Actually, standard black 103 key Ultra Classic. 
I was wholly expecting 1 piece from user reviews/accounts, but indeed they are 2.

[funkmon]

This is rather amusing. For years, the "traditional wisdom" was that one-piece keys feel and sound better, and were more desirable in the old days.

On a personal level, I have found that Unicomp's one piece keys don't sound better, but DO feel better. The two piecers have a deeper sound to them than the oners, and the one piece ones have ever so slightly less key wobble. I actually have one with only the left arrow key as a one piece, and I basically can't tell unless I press left and down in succession and I can hear the difference.