So yesterday I received the Unicomp Classic I ordered. Now, I already own several original Model M's and the main reason for ordering the Unicomp was based on the thinking that if the build quality was similar enough between the two that it would really be nice to type on the equivalent of a brand new Model M with brand new buckling springs. I had been holding out hope that the differences between the Unicomp and original M's would be somewhat negligible. However, after spending a bit of time with the new arrival I have to say that anyone who tells you they're basically one and the same is either lying, confused or has never owned an original Model M, in my opinion.
Firstly, there's no denying the weight discrepancy between the two. The Unicomp no doubt weighs less. How much so? Well, for starters, I can pick up the Unicomp off the table holding one side with one hand. It's not effortless but that's the difference between the Unicomp and an original Model M; the M requires far more effort to perform the same action. In fact, it's rather difficult.
And the plastic itself? While the Unicomp feels relatively weighty and sturdy compared to generic keyboards, compared to the original Model M it feels somewhat flimsy to me, as the original M has a very inflexible (and hard) outer shell that doesn't amend itself to bending. When I've tried bending the case of an original M, to me it feels as though it might crack before bending. I don't know what type of plastic was used, but it definitely has a sturdiness, hardness, and inflexibility that the Unicomp can't match, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, the Unicomp doesn't feel like rubber. Far from it, however the plastic doesn't feel nearly as dense as my original M's. In fact, you can really hear the Unicomp board creak when flexed vs the original M(which is relatively quiet).
On a positive note, when it comes to typing I like the feel of the Unicomp's keys. Key presses require a bit less force and the action feels quite nice, albeit not quite as smooth as my original M's. Still, there's something about the feel of the key presses inherent in the Unicomp that I could potentially see myself preferring slightly over my original Model M's, at least in some regard. The action seems rather balanced, although I suppose that's to be expected considering I'm comparing 20+ year old keyboards to something new.
In terms of sound, the Unicomp is nice and clicky. Compared to my original Model M's, the Unicomp exhibits far less pinging, ringing, and hollowness. In fact, comparatively speaking, the Unicomp is relatively quiet in that regard save for one or two keys. While I can't say I'm love with that metallic plonking which accompanies the keystrokes of original M's, I also can't say it necessarily gets on my nerves or drives me up a wall. You become inured to it, I suppose. However, I do tend to appreciate (and probably prefer) the lack of reverberation associated with the key presses of the Unicomp, and it's really that lack of reverberation that's most striking to my ears. In fact, it's the reverberant quality of the original M's that bothers me more than the metallic pinging itself.
So, to sum up, there are some things I like about both boards. The Unicomp is definitely different in a number of regards, although not strictly in negative ways, at least to me. If I had my way, I'd combine the weight (in connection with the steel plate) and sturdiness of the plastic associated with the original Model M with a bit of the typing action and lack of reverberation inherent in the Unicomp variant.
