Need Mechanical Keyboard Advice

[djhpwizard]

Hi again,

I got a used Model M about a month ago and actually hated it. I loved the layout and the sturdiness of the board, but the feel of buckling springs gave me the willies. I haven't been deterred though, I'm looking around and seeing some pretty cheap vintage boards that look great.
Is there any reason not to pick up one of the following if price is right? Looking at: Apple Extended Keyboard II, Dell AT101W, Wang 724, NMB RT101.

Thanks!

[noodles256]

wlcm2gh

[iindigo]

Hey and welcome!

I don't know a lot since I don't actually own a mechanical keyboard yet (it's in the pipeline), but from what I gathered from reading here, buckling springs, complicated ALPS, simple ALPS, cherry switches, and even XMs (alps clones) are all going to have an extremely diverse range of feels and sounds. Nothing is quite like a buckling spring keyboard.

The AEKII and Dell keyboard are both pretty popular vintage boards (though the AEKII sees little love around here for some reason). Is there any reason you're not interested in newer cherry switch board brands such as Filco, Leopold, and WASD? While not as as solid as a model M or AEKII, they're all pretty solid and built better than mass-market rubber dome keyboards by miles. They typically average about 2.5lbs in weight - roughly a pound less than the AEKII (not sure about the model M).

[Pretendo]

I'm new at this myself, but it seems more important to look at the switch type rather than the actual board.  If you look up the switches that those boards use it would tell you allot about how that board is going to feel.  Most of the boards you have listed use Alps switches, which seem to have a good reputation, but are also said to be easy to bottom out on.  Are you looking for that particular switch type?

Old boards also have the disadvantage of sometimes being worn down by previous use.  You may beed to either do refurbishing or pay a premium for a nice board.  Don't take the Model M's sturdiness for granted!

Right now I type on a Model M, but my first Cherry Blue board is arriving tomorrow.  It's a Rosewill RK-9000 available for $100 on newegg.  I'll tell you how it differs from a buckling spring board tomorrow and you can do whatever you want with my $.02.

[djhpwizard]

Thanks all. Pretendo, I'd be interested to know the difference you feel between the buckling springs and cherry switches. I just purchased a Wang 724 NIB which has black Alps. When it arrives, I'll post the results of my comparison.

[False_Dmitry_II]

As long as the NMB is in fact the mech space invaders and not rubber domes, then yeah those are all good things to nab. Unless you're after a good rubber dome, of course, because it is supposed to be a good one.

[Thinkpad Fan]

Model M boards vary a bit - if you want a firmer feel, go with the earlier boards from the 1980s, or a Model F. If you find those too firm for your liking, go with a 1990's IBM/Lexmark built board (Blue Label or M13) or a Unicomp.  And yes, you may have gotten a worn out board that was not representitive of what a good Model M really feels like.   These boards were made in multiple factories and countries, and have been in production since the mid-1980s!  Some got little use, some stayed in service for decades, among multiple users in an office somewhere.  And you may find out that you just need to give the different "feel" a little time to grow on you - it requires a little "getting used to", if you are used to current, cheezy production rubber domes.  My only Unicomp. a 2001 Model M, is absolutely awesome - but slightly different from my 1987 IBM made 0131 board.  If I switch, it takes me a day or two to "recalibrate my hands" - and then I'm fine with either one.  Something for everyone - if you get the right Model M for you!  Thinkpad Fan

[fohat.digs]

Thinkpad, you rave about the Unicomp that I sold you so much that it makes me almost regret selling it.

However, I have multiple Model Ms that I really like, from various eras.

The Dell AT101 is a very nice board, I have had several, but they do wear eventually.

The Apple Extended Keyboard is great (I like the AEK better than the AEK2) but you have to have an ADB-to-USB adapter to make them work on a modern computer, even Apple orphaned them long ago. Those usually sell on ebay for considerably more than the boards, but are nice to have.

I had an NMB RT101 that I thought was junk. I tried to sell it on ebay for weeks and finally gave it to charity. I did not realize that there was a good version.