The IBM Model M Enhanced Keyboard turns 40

[sharktastica]

40 years ago yesterday (21st May), IBM announced the 7531 and 7532 Industrial Computers with their brand-new keyboard design - the Enhanced Keyboard! Whilst technically not the first Model M, it is now the quintessential Model M design. Possibly the most well-known singular keyboard. The pioneer of the ANSI and ISO layouts, the 100% form-factor and enduring standardisation. (Usually) complete with IBM's delicious membrane buckling spring keyswitches.

For the occasion and as a celebration, I wrote this article as a sort of crash course on the keyboard. Please enjoy!

https://sharktastica.co.uk/articles/enhanced_40



Note: I wrote this entirely yesterday afternoon and evening intending to make the anniversary day itself, but I was so tired by the time I finished, I did not post it in all the places I wanted to last night. I technically missed the anniversary in my timezone (BST) as well... Do not leave things to the very last minute, people!

[YALE70]

The Enhanced Model M was my gateway drug into the keyboard enthusiast space - relatively recent at that. I got a 2011 manufactured Unicomp Classic late last year that needed some traces repaired (and a subsequent bolt mod), just for ****s and giggles. It ended up replacing my then two-year-old green switch Razer BlackWidow V3, which was actually only my first "true" mechanical keyboard. While the Unicomp's time with me was pretty short lived, I wouldn't have gone on to try things like blue Alps, Topre, and capacitive buckling springs had I never pulled the trigger on it.

[fohat.digs]

"someone out there who would pay north of $800 for a brand-new IBM Enhanced Keyboard if they were still making them, but most would not. That price is undigestible today. Remember that computers in general were still not as common nor viewed as a commodity back then as they are nowadays. Computers costed more, thus a larger budget could be afforded to a keyboard."

I bought my first computer in 1986 from Michael Dell when it was "PCs Limited" and "IBM clones" were just getting popular. It was a 80286 with a 10MB hard drive and 1MB of RAM (bad-ass!), and back then each one was assembled by hand to order, and monitor (small amber monochrome) and keyboard were priced seperately. I honestly cannot remember what keyboard I got (I wish I could) but I am sure that it wasn't a Model M because I would have remembered. Also I was cheap and the rig already cost me $2800 without a mouse (no need for that under DOS 2) or printer - slightly over half what comparable genuine IBM gear would have cost.