Hi everyone, been a long time lurker on geekhack here and I've decided to say hi and ask you veterans some age-old questions...
SHORT VERSION:
My ultimate question is...for a man who loves his IBM Model M, and cannot live without the flat scissors keyboards like Logitech Ultra X and Thinkpad Laptop keyboard, what would be a good recommendation for him to try? Assuming price is of no object, (also assuming that $250 is the most I'll be shelling for a keyboard that is short of doing the typing for me). So what about it? What do you guys suggest I try?
LONG VERSION:
I've been studiously going through this site's articles and videos and unboxings, etc and reviews, but I am still a little lost on the "feel" of a some of these keyboards...namely the Filco Blue and browns, (and whites?), and the Realforce keyboards... I've listened to all the sound samples and I guess, for me, the sound is a secondary factor. The feel of the keyboard as it responds to each finger press is a more important factor for me...
I know it's very difficult to describe a feel to someone, so I'll start listing all the keyboards I've used for the past 5 years and maybe someone on here who's used the same ones I have and some other ones, can provide a more detailed feedback based upon comparison in what kind of keyboard is more suited for me...
Anyways, around 5 years ago, when I was deciding on my first laptop, I read somewhere that IBM Thinkpad keyboards were legendary to type on among all the laptops out there at the time. After some research, I promptly purchased an IBM Thinkpad T43 for college. I was not disappointed.
1. IBM Thinkpad T43. Honestly the best flat keyboard I've used that just responds to my fingers really well.
2. Logitech UltraX. I've now used my Thinkpad for a full year and decided that it was time I built myself a desktop PC. I did a little research and decided to try this Logitech OEM keyboard. To my surprise, the flat keyboard grew on me. It is not quite as good as the IBM Thinkpad, as the build quality, construction, tactile response, was not the same. However, it was close enough.
3. IBM Thinkpad X60. I decided to pass the T43 to my Dad (he needed a laptop for something and I didn't know any better at the time), and bought a X60 tablet for school to replace my original T43. This laptop's screen was really good for taking notes on in class, but noticeably, the keys were a little more cramped and the keys didn't quite feel the same as the T43 ones that were made by IBM. The X60 thinkpads were already sold to Lenovo and so the keyboards were already a bit different feel compared with the T43.
4. IBM Model M 1390131. After college, I came across a dirty IBM Model M 1390131. I cleaned the keycaps and took it apart (followed the guides on this forum, woot woot) and cleaned the inside too. I use this keyboard almost everyday for 8+ hours a day for work. This was my first noisy keyboard and I surprised myself with how quickly I fell in love with it. keyboards 1,2,3 from above were all flat keyboards, and after trying this sturdy Model M, I started doing more research and found out that Unicomp had bought the patent for the buckling spring. I went to their website and ordered a 104 customizer and tried it out. To my dismay, despite the newer materials used and supposed improved quality, I found the unicomp to be inferior to my 1390131 in every which way. I mean the keys felt looser (not as tightly fit as my Model M), the feel of the plastic kind of make it feel cheap, something about the backplate or the key caps themselves make every actuation feel like a snapping a spring inside a hollow tube that was too thin to contain the actual spring. It was different than my Model M, as my Model was just built like a tank and each spring snap still had that "sprrrriiiinnnggg" sound to it. In the end, I quickly sold the Unicomp to my coworker who sat a few cubicles away from me. He's loving it, I'm glad.
5. I recently just purchased the Filco Majestouch Tactile touch (browns) Ten KeyLess for a friend who didn't have a credit card/paypal. The keyboard came and he gave me half a day to test and play with the keyboard. I was at work so i was obviously comparing it against my Heavy Duty model M..... my initial impressions were that the craftsmanship was very top notch. The keyboard doesn't look as tank-like as my Model M, but it sure felt sturdy. However, there's only 1 problem. The keys felt kind of weird because there were no clicks (I know there shouldn't be ...) but something about the Brown switches that I couldn't put my hand on...didn't feel right. Anyways, that day passed and I no longer have access to test that brown anymore.
What is weird is that I type on my model M at work for 8 hours a day, and when I come home and I use my Logitech Ultra X or Thinkpad, I'm totally fine. I think it's because both of these keyboards are scissor switches (I've taken them apart and checked). The logitech scissors are not as good as the Thinkpads (IMO), as the logitech keys feel looser the more I type on it over the years....but my thinkpad has stayed fresh and tight.
My ultimate question is...for a man who loves his IBM Model M, and cannot live without the flat scissors keyboards like Logitech Ultra X and Thinkpad Laptop keyboard, what would be a good recommendation for him to try? Assuming price is of no object, (also assuming that $250 is the most I'll be shelling for a keyboard that is short of doing the typing for me). So what about it? What do you guys suggest I try?
