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Author Topic: Unicomp M5-2 NIB  (Read 4447 times)

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Offline jpc

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 363
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« on: Sun, 10 October 2010, 21:44:46 »
Here.

I asked:

Hi,
Do you know if this keyboard uses buckling springs or rubber domes? I will bid if it uses springs.

You can tell for certain by pulling one of the keys out, and if there is a metal spring underneath, that is a buckling spring board. (Pulling the key won't damage the board, they are designed to pop off and pop on again.)

Thanks!

Seller replied:

Hi,
I pulled one of the keys off , I did not see a sprin g , as in a coil spring , but there is a "U" shaped metal piec undernaeth , I hope this helps.

Thanks


I have no idea what that means.
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RSI prevention recipe:[/B] Kinesis Contoured, Colemak layout, touch typing, Contour Design Rollermouse,  Logitech TrackMan Wheel, Logitech m570 trackball, "workrave" break timer software, "awesome" window manager, tenkeyless boards, cherry browns, Wang 724 with "ghetto green" ALPS, standing desk and/or comfy adjustable chairs, stress reduction, computer time reduction.

Fun non-ergonomic things: bolt modded Model M Space Saving Keyboards with new springs, Kensington Expert Mouse v7, Unicomp Endurapro, Northgates

Offline KillerBee

  • Posts: 251
  • Location: Miami, FL
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 10 October 2010, 21:52:01 »
ask if it CLICKS?
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IBM Model M 1386304 Nov. 1985

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 10 October 2010, 22:01:01 »
The last 96U1114 listed, from my Box of Chocolates post, turned out to be a rubber dome, per clickykeyboards and eventually verified by seller when asked by jpc.
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Offline jpc

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 363
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 10 October 2010, 22:38:02 »
Quote from: ripster;232329
He might have pulled the spacebar.


Yeah, I should have specified the Esc key or something.  "Where's the ANY key?"

For all I know, Unicomp calls both rubber dome and buckling spring boards 96U1114.

I didn't ask if it clicks, because rubber dome Ms make a thunka-thudda-thunkadud noise, and they have a tactile bump. If you don't know what clicky means, a rubber dome M might be clicky.
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RSI prevention recipe:[/B] Kinesis Contoured, Colemak layout, touch typing, Contour Design Rollermouse,  Logitech TrackMan Wheel, Logitech m570 trackball, "workrave" break timer software, "awesome" window manager, tenkeyless boards, cherry browns, Wang 724 with "ghetto green" ALPS, standing desk and/or comfy adjustable chairs, stress reduction, computer time reduction.

Fun non-ergonomic things: bolt modded Model M Space Saving Keyboards with new springs, Kensington Expert Mouse v7, Unicomp Endurapro, Northgates

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 10 October 2010, 22:39:12 »
Quote from: jpc;232357
For all I know, Unicomp calls both rubber dome and buckling spring boards 96U1114.
True, I don't know any better than that either, could be as far as I know.  So you're right, best to ask & verify as you did before.
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Offline jpc

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 363
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 10 October 2010, 22:46:47 »
Yeah I would guess that the buckling spring M5-2 has a different part number (not 96U1114) but we don't know until we sight one.

Here's another Unicomp M5-2, with a different part number and an IBM label, still no info on whether it has steel springs or rubber drones: http://cgi.ebay.com/REFURB-IBM-M5-2-Trackball-Keyboard-1398149-Ivory-660-/140461567958
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RSI prevention recipe:[/B] Kinesis Contoured, Colemak layout, touch typing, Contour Design Rollermouse,  Logitech TrackMan Wheel, Logitech m570 trackball, "workrave" break timer software, "awesome" window manager, tenkeyless boards, cherry browns, Wang 724 with "ghetto green" ALPS, standing desk and/or comfy adjustable chairs, stress reduction, computer time reduction.

Fun non-ergonomic things: bolt modded Model M Space Saving Keyboards with new springs, Kensington Expert Mouse v7, Unicomp Endurapro, Northgates

Offline TexasFlood

  • Posts: 1084
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 10 October 2010, 23:54:52 »
Quote from: kishy;232367
ISTR determining in the past, from an archived copy of the Unicomp site, that the 96U M5-2s are all rubber dome.

Will try to confirm this again.

Edit: yes, that is the case. Refer to http://web.archive.org/web/20080613182501/pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/ontheball.html

96U1114 is "quiet touch", rubber dome construction
UNI0476 is buckling spring (which are believed to be very uncommon)

Yup, I saw the same thing.  Wonder if it's like the UNI04C6 with apparently was Unicomp's part number for the IBM space saver which was still labelled "IBM", at least near as I can tell from these historical materials.
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Offline ch_123

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 5860
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 11 October 2010, 05:14:19 »
Interesting, it's an older-type Model M - with the cable going in through the middle of the case, and using a coiled, flat cable.
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Offline jpc

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 363
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 11 October 2010, 08:39:20 »
Yeah and that '99 M5-2 has a gray label instead of a blue label. Not what you'd expect for '99.
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RSI prevention recipe:[/B] Kinesis Contoured, Colemak layout, touch typing, Contour Design Rollermouse,  Logitech TrackMan Wheel, Logitech m570 trackball, "workrave" break timer software, "awesome" window manager, tenkeyless boards, cherry browns, Wang 724 with "ghetto green" ALPS, standing desk and/or comfy adjustable chairs, stress reduction, computer time reduction.

Fun non-ergonomic things: bolt modded Model M Space Saving Keyboards with new springs, Kensington Expert Mouse v7, Unicomp Endurapro, Northgates

Offline mrsone

  • Posts: 70
  • Location: Charlotte, NC
  • Recovering Rubber Dome User
Unicomp M5-2 NIB
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 14 October 2010, 00:17:57 »
I saw that same exact keyboard on Ebay, and was considering trying to get it, and interestingly enough looking for the answer to the same question as the OP, I ended up back here....funny!
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Keyboards currently in my possession:
Filco Majestouch Cherry MX Brown 104 key, Unicomp Spacesaver 104, Rosewill RK-9000RE (Cherry MX Red), Leopold 660C Mini Capacitive keyboard, HHKB Type S, Logitech Illuminated Keyboard

Keypads:
Leopold 210TP Mechanical Keypad (Cherry MX Red), Leopold FC210TP/NB Mechanical Keypad (Cherry MX Brown)

Other Keyboards I have tried:
Filco Majestouch Cherry MX Red, Leopold  FC500RR/AB Linear Touch Cherry MX Red, Razer Blackwidow Ultimate, Razer Blackwidow Ultimate Stealth Edition, Realforce 103U/UB, Realforce 103U Black All 55g, Noppoo Choc Mini 84 Mechanical Cherry MX Black keyboard, Noppoo Choc Mini 84 Mechanical Cherry MX Red keyboard (white and black color versions), PLU G3000 NKRO keyboard (white w/ Cherry MX Red switches), Dell 101AT (black Alps switches), Mattias Mini Quiet Pro (modified white Alps switches), KBT Pure Pro, (2)Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2, Leopold FC210TP/CB Tactile Click Cherry MX Blue Tenkey pad
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