Replacement for Model M

[nullptr]

Hi everyone,

Last year I bit the bullet, and got myself a nice refurbished IBM Model M keyboard. I absolutely love it to death, since I type most of the day being a programmer. However, at night, when playing video games, I'm starting to see its limitations when pressing multiple keys, and it gets in the way. Is there any keyboard _like_ the Model M that also supports many keys pressed simultaneously? Money is not the greatest of objections, but it I prefer the price to be reasonable if it can be.

I appreciate your help.

[litster]

keyboards with Cherry MX Blue switches would be the closest to IBM's buckling spring keyboards.  Leopold and Filco both have full size and tenkeyless keyboard with blue switches and 6-key-rollover support (6KRO) over USB.  Leopold should support 17KRO over USB.  Both support NKRO over PS/2.

[theferenc]

The cherry blues are nothing like a good Model M, in my experience -- more like a cheap knockoff.

A nice Model F, on the other hand, is NKRO over USB via soarer's adapter, and has an even better feel to it than the Model M. And with a bit of work, a 122 key Model F can have a standard ANSI layout, as it defaults to ISO. The F AT layout is a bit hard to adapt to, in my experience.

But if you don't want to deal with adapters and whatnot, and just want to buy a keyboard and use it, a nice white ALPS board is a better choice than Cherry blues, in my mind.

[N8N]

for a keyboard that you can buy new w/ no modding, I would look into a Rosewill RK-9000 or WASD with blues (or you could buy something more expensive like a Filco or Leopold,) but previous comment is correct, it's really only kinda-sorta like a Model M.

I haven't tried an F yet...  bid on one on eBay a few days ago just because I was curious, but it went crazy expensive.

Personally I used to be a die hard Model M fan and am using a board w/ Cherry MX clears at work, but it doesn't click.  But the feel is more M-like than anything else I've tried, although the tactile point isn't anywhere near as crisp and distinct - it's more of a gentle hump rather than a pronounced bump.  I say that it's closer to an M than blues as the actuation force of the clears is greater.  Unfortunately your choices of off the shelf boards w/ clears is severely limited.

[nullptr]

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies!

Yeah, I'm not into modding, would prefer to buy new, and the connector can be PS/2. I like being able to both feel and hear the keys, not a big fan of the soft/mushy feel. The RK-9000 looks like a nice board, do you guys have any opinion on Das Keyboard?

[SmallFry]

I would go for the Rosewill. Das has a shiny finish that loves fingerprints.

[czarek]

The cherry blues are nothing like a good Model M, in my experience -- more like a cheap knockoff.

A nice Model F, on the other hand, is NKRO over USB via soarer's adapter, and has an even better feel to it than the Model M. And with a bit of work, a 122 key Model F can have a standard ANSI layout, as it defaults to ISO. The F AT layout is a bit hard to adapt to, in my experience.

But if you don't want to deal with adapters and whatnot, and just want to buy a keyboard and use it, a nice white ALPS board is a better choice than Cherry blues, in my mind.

Agreed 100%. Find yourself Model F terminal which has much better layout than regular AT Model F, only needs Teensy adapter to work with modern computer. If ping hurts you, bolt mod it and never look back at lesser keyboards.
If only there was Model F with Model M Space Saving layout...