New Model F with 104 Layout - Yay!

[Tempest790]

Well, it looks like my prayers have been answered. I saw on YouTube that the new Model F will have a 104 classic and compact layout available. That's in addition to his beamspring keyboards he's working on too. However, I'm all in on that Model F 104 layout. I'll have to save up a bit but will probably pre-order one next month or so.

I am curious about the add-on options. He lists a solenoid and solenoid driver option. I thought that was for the beamspring only?

I'm so glad I waited on getting any more keyboards. I thought I was finally done with keyboard collecting since my Topre is fantastic the way I have it customized.

https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/classic-f104-model-f-keyboard/

[Pretendo]

Wait, WHAT???

I had to double check to make sure that this wasn't an April Fools thing. My one gripe about the new Model F boards was that there wasn't an ANSI layout option, and there it is! Prayers answered indeed!

I already have an F122, but might have to put up for this anyway. If there's not some major flaw with it, a standard layout ANSI Model F is the summit for me in this hobby. I can finally be done.

[NixieType]

Didn’t even know this is a thing. Gonna need to pick one of these up for the collection.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ellipse]

Project coordinator here - yes this is definitely real!  Here is the project thread:  https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=79141.0

[Pretendo]

Thank you so much for piloting this and coming out with a 104 key layout!

The existence of this new option has me very conflicted, because it's my absolute ideal board. I already own a 122 key F though! For six years, it's been the best keyboard ever, and if this standard layout board didn't exist I'd would've happily had it on my desk for the rest of my life. I put the care, love and attention into its restoration and modification, cleaning and disassembling it, de-rusting the base plate, repainting that base plate, and have no doubt that it would work for another forty years with no issue whatsoever...

...but that standard layout "Model M that's really a Model F" is the summit.  It's exactly what I want. The 122 key is 90-95% of what I want. But not exactly.

I'm sitting here making flow charts and pro/con lists to try to justify spending $500 for that little 5% bump. And so help me, I might buy the thing, which is just insane given how great the 122 key F is.

Edit: Ordered it.

[mikekoz]

As an owner of 2 IBM Model M's, I thought this was cool until I saw the price!  . 

[Pretendo]

As an owner of 2 IBM Model M's, I thought this was cool until I saw the price!  . 

Oh yes, they are pricey for computer keyboards. Justifiably so (they're not easy to throw together after all, and they're low volume productions) but still probably the most expensive keyboard you'd ever buy.

I'd say that unless you type all day every day, you're doing just fine with your Model M's. They give allot of the Model F experience and are fantastic value for money. My only major issue with them is that the weighting makes them fatiguing after typing all day, but that's not an issue if you aren't typing all the time.

If you DO type all day, and you like the feel of the M but find that the weighting gets to be a bit much after typing allot, and you don't feel like dealing with archaic keyboard layouts, converter dongles, spacebar modifications, and maybe a foam restoration... and you can swing it without breaking the bank... that's when these are worth seriously considering.

[Rhienfo]

This is such a good price, it is pricey but I think that it is worth the price considering that it is alu and it is far more customizable than regular model m, plus reverse engineering model f buckling springs of course.

Semi related but those caps look insanely good for 40-50 bucks

[Entropia]

I would buy one but there are two things that always make me abandon the idea:

1st, you pay, but you have no idea when you will receive your keyboard. There's a sort of list where you can buy numbers for stickers on the bottom of your keyboard, paying a lot of extra money to have some kind of priority in the waiting list, but it's all very confusing and vague, or maybe it's my fault not understanding well.

2nd, the customs fees + taxes when importing the keyboard to my country. I've done numbers, and if I order the keyboard, the repair kit and a set of extra keycaps, adding the customs costs, the result is more than 800$, too much in my opinion for a keyboard, no matter if it's the best in the world. Actually, I'm not sure if it would be a better idea to travel to the US, buy the keyboard, and then go back home

[Ellipse]

Entropia in recent months there has been an update on the shipping timeline.  For all of the in stock items (beam spring, Model F keyboards and extras), shipping lead times are now 1-4 weeks, so you have a good expectation of when the keyboard goes out.

The remaining keyboards that are in production (round 2 beam spring and Model M style Model F) are expected to go out later this year. 

[clay]

Has anyone purchased the ultra compact F104 or FSSK already? I'm contemplating buying one for 3 months already. I just want to make sure that it actually feels good and is built well. 450 usd is no joke and I live far from the US

[Ellipse]

There are many reviews on the new Model F keyboards clay.  The new models are built with the same materials and standards (steel plates, metal case) as the 4,000 F62 and F77 keyboards that have shipped since 2019. 

PC World did a review on the compact F104 here:  https://www.pcworld.com/article/1928356/model-f-ultra-compact-keyboard-review.html

Various reviews are gathered on this page:  https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/press/

[Mandan]

Oh yes, they are pricey for computer keyboards.

An 84-key F/AT keyboard cost the the equivalent of $670 2023 dollars.  IBM had a separate SKU if you wanted just the keyboard without the computer.  And IBM amortized that $670 across multiple product lines and hundreds of thousands of sales, saving them a bunch of money compared to small-batch boutique production.

$420+options doesn't seem all that expensive, considering.

[clay]

Oh yes, they are pricey for computer keyboards.

An 84-key F/AT keyboard cost the the equivalent of $670 2023 dollars.  IBM had a separate SKU if you wanted just the keyboard without the computer.  And IBM amortized that $670 across multiple product lines and hundreds of thousands of sales, saving them a bunch of money compared to small-batch boutique production.

$420+options doesn't seem all that expensive, considering.

I am so close to sending an order