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Author Topic: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.  (Read 2882 times)

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Offline tricheboars

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My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« on: Wed, 10 April 2013, 23:04:13 »
Part No: 1391401
ID No: 3930305
Date: 25Jul89
Plt No JL Model M
Made in the USA

So I have had this guy for a while. I bought him as a refurb off ebay 5 or 6 or 7 years ago. He is the keyboard that got me started. I love his weight and his look. But i do not use him anymore.

I dont think I like him anymore. Ever since i got started on Cherry Blues the Model M just feels sluggish. I use to remember loving the IBM. But now its just.... blurgh.  He hasnt been cleaned in a long time. Perhaps he could use a tune-up. Perhaps there is something wrong with it, I dont know. I dont ever see other IBM Model M around to compare it.

Has anyone else ever had this happen to them after messing around with Cherry? or Topre? Alps? or even a Unicomp?

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Offline longface

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 10 April 2013, 23:50:48 »
I'm the other way around.  I started with a Filco with Cherry MX blue switches, but after I got the IBM Model M, I couldn't type on the Filco any more. 

The Filco does sound and feel "better", but for some reason there is not as much fun as typing on the "antique" Model M. 
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Offline sleepy916

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 00:13:27 »
My model M didn't get used anymore either, after I went to a Model F...
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Offline aggiejy

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 00:14:14 »
BAM!
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Offline CommunistWitchDr

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 00:15:43 »
I love the switches on my unicomp, but hate the layout. So big.
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Offline minority

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 02:25:51 »
Quote from: CommunistWitchDr on Thu, 11 April 2013, 00:15:43
I love the switches on my unicomp, but hate the layout. So big.
And.... I love the big size layout, XD
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Offline bazemk1979

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 07:19:41 »
your model M probably needs bolt mod, most likely it lost the crispy sound and feel of the springs
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 08:25:27 »
Quote from: sleepy916 on Thu, 11 April 2013, 00:13:27
My model M didn't get used anymore either, after I went to a Model F...

This.

After a Model F you are spoiled.

But I also second the bolt-mod and cleanup suggestion.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline FoxWolf1

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 09:27:58 »
I have a Model M but figured out that I prefer the smoothness of linear switches, so the M stays in the closet while I use the Noppoo with MX Black.
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Offline czarek

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 09:29:36 »
I somehow prefer Unicomp to Model M, but I'm not a fan of any Cherry MX switches. I was using MX Blue at work for years before I tried BS, but once I tried the proper switch there is no turning back. I only sometimes use HHKB sometimes, mostly because of the layout, but I also like the Topre, it's pretty much opposite of BS (silent, light and smooth) but it's also very high quality feel which I appreciate.
I also sometimes (but rather rarely) use IBM Model F AT I recently restored. I love the feel, but can't live with the layout.
And one more word about Blue Cherry MX. To me it feels like a cheap rip off of BS...
« Last Edit: Thu, 11 April 2013, 09:31:43 by czarek »
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Offline tricheboars

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 09:35:32 »
hmm bolt mod eh?  my key presses feel slow and sluggish on my IBM. you guys think this mod would resolve that?
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 09:43:16 »
A Model M will never be as "crisp" as a Model F, but the bolt-mod really tightens things up. It also allows you to adjust the feel.

I have done several, and suggest that you install the bolts but just make the nuts "finger-tight" (I use the socket in my fingers, no wrench handle) to keep the feel light. The tighter the bolts, the "deader" the sound and feel, in my opinion. They need to all be in place (broken rivet problem) but not forced down.

I have also bought a couple of lightly-used M-122s (harder to find now) to harvest springs. The jury is out on how much fresh springs will improve the feel, but it doesn't hurt.

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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline tricheboars

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 10:03:15 »
how would i know if i need to replace the springs?
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 10:23:41 »
Quote from: tricheboars on Thu, 11 April 2013, 10:03:15
how would i know if i need to replace the springs?

You don't really know, that is a pretty esoteric mod.

- IF - your current keyboard has a lot of miles on it, and - IF - you can get your hands on a set of fresh spring/hammers for cheap, then while you have it apart, you should do it.

Otherwise, don't worry about it. You might consider swapping the half-dozen or so most-used ones (Enter, Spacebar, Delete, arrows) for springs from F12, Pause, etc).
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Krogenar

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 10:55:27 »
I started with a Model M, then went to a Model F 122-key (it's like using an aircraft carrier for a keyboard) and then tried out Cherry Blues. I'm still loving the Model F and M over the blues. Blues are too wimpy feeling. They're clicky and all, but the Model F feels so much more substantial. At least with a Model M you're typing on history.
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Offline daerid

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 11 April 2013, 11:03:56 »
I switched to 55g Topre and sold pretty much everything else.
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Offline 1391406

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 12 April 2013, 07:38:29 »
It's a tossup between a Model F and Chicony KB-5181 for me.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: My IBM Model M and why he doesn't get used anymore.
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 12 April 2013, 09:17:35 »
Quote from: 1391406 on Fri, 12 April 2013, 07:38:29
It's a tossup between a Model F and Chicony KB-5181 for me.

Very close to my feelings. Too bad the Chicony is such a junk package with those exquisite switches in it.

(and also I hate the bigass Enter and small Backspace.)
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30
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