Unicomp financial issues

[naikon996]

Hi, I just heard the npr article about Unicomp possibly heading into
financial troubles. Would it be wise to stock up on M's to last a lifetime?

Surely because they serve such a small market, would it actually be possible
for Unicomp to go bust?

Being slightly cynical here, but do you fellow geekhack
members believe this is just a publicity stunt just to increase sales for Unicomp?

Not that I condem this, they deserve every penny they can earn.
Even if they went, surely these things could be built in a toolshed or something.

I really hope Unicomp don't go out of business : (
Kudos to one of the last remaining quality keyboard manufacturers.

[naikon996]

The Model M wikipedia entry says that Unicomp has troubles because retailers won't restock their boards, because they won't break. Part of the success of the Logitechs of this world is that their stuff goes bad.

True that, I have had a few mp3 players with "engineered to fail" quality over the
last few years. The moral of the story is that very high quality equipment seems
to do more financial damage than good. Wonder how long my Zen will last

[bigpook]

All of a sudden I want to buy a unicomp spacesaver.....while I still can. I think they are fine keyboards. It would blow if they were no longer available.

[itlnstln]

I want to buy one just to support the company.  I would hate to see a company that makes such a fine product go under, especially since it's due to their and their predecessor's fine "unbreakable" products.

[nerp]

I have one and I'm going to buy another. Love my Customizer 104. Going to swap out an old M for one.

Everyone stock up.

I might get a third to keep in the box and put into storage. Better safe than sorry.

[patrickgeekhack]

I was thinking about one of these Cherry keyboards (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=1391), when I get my income tax refund that is. But, now I'm thinking about a white SpaceSaver. I would hate to not have bought one if Unicomp goes out of business. Plus, I would also like to support Unicomp. I really love my Customizer 104.

[bigpook]

I was thinking about one of these Cherry keyboards (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=1391), when I get my income tax refund that is. But, now I'm thinking about a white SpaceSaver. I would hate to not have bought one if Unicomp goes out of business. Plus, I would also like to support Unicomp. I really love my Customizer 104.

I was thinking of the white spacesaver also. I had a black one that I traded to another member. Kind of wish I kept it. While it does have a numpad, which I don't care for, I really liked the key feel of the BS switches. IIRC, the are somewhat muted compared to my model m's.

Its weird since I don't really need another keyboard but I may not have a chance of getting one again if unicomp goes by the wayside. After they are gone, it will end up being would of, could of, should of.

[patrickgeekhack]

I was thinking of the white spacesaver also. I had a black one that I traded to another member. Kind of wish I kept it. While it does have a numpad, which I don't care for, I really liked the key feel of the BS switches. IIRC, the are somewhat muted compared to my model m's.

Its weird since I don't really need another keyboard but I may not have a chance of getting one again if unicomp goes by the wayside. After they are gone, it will end up being would of, could of, should of.

I can understand that feeling. I'm pretty sure my Customizer will be here in 10 years. Still, the feeling that I might not be able to get another one if the need arise is hard to digest. Moreover, I would like my daughter (3 months) to be able to use a good keyboard in a few years. I'm torn between getting another buckling spring or getting a Cherry keyboard. I can only afford one for now. My wife will kill me if I keep buying keyboards

[patrickgeekhack]

By the way, for those who have the Unicomp SpaceSaver, what is the main difference between the Customizer 104 and it? I mean besides the width.  The reason why I did not get the SpaceSaver instead was I was afraid that the keys would be smaller, but I think I was wrong

[FKSSR]

I want a Spacesaver, but I also need a Model M.  I was planning on getting the Model M, but maybe I should get a Spacesaver first...  choices!

[patrickgeekhack]

Too many choices causes paralysis

[bigpook]

By the way, for those who have the Unicomp SpaceSaver, what is the main difference between the Customizer 104 and it? I mean besides the width.  The reason why I did not get the SpaceSaver instead was I was afraid that the keys would be smaller, but I think I was wrong

The quick answer is that the unicomp spacesaver is just overall smaller. The keys are still full size though. So it doesn't take up as much desk space as the customizer( and to be fair the customizer is as big as a Buick : ))

[bigpook]

I want a Spacesaver, but I also need a Model M.  I was planning on getting the Model M, but maybe I should get a Spacesaver first...  choices!

I would think that if you really want to have both then get the spacesaver first. There are always lots of model m's available on e-bay. I don't think thats going to change any time soon either, unicomp on the other hand...

[Mercen_505]

What they need is a distribution deal with someone like Dell to supply keyboards for a special "rugged" model PC. Then an unbreakable keyboard is justifiable and they'll get some steady orders.

[FKSSR]

Rather than all of us just buying a keyboard or two, what would help the most is if we could get their keyboards into retailers by emailing retailers.  However, I'm sure Unicomp has already tried that, and it's not really too helpful to try such a strategy if you aren't in the company and have all the resources (marketing documents) Unicomp sales people and marketing people have.

[nerp]

Rather than all of us just buying a keyboard or two, what would help the most is if we could get their keyboards into retailers by emailing retailers.  However, I'm sure Unicomp has already tried that, and it's not really too helpful to try such a strategy if you aren't in the company and have all the resources (marketing documents) Unicomp sales people and marketing people have.

This is true.

I wish newegg would stock them. That would be pretty sweet, since it's really the de facto hardware site for almost everyone I know.

[FKSSR]

Newegg, TigerDirect, and Amazon would catch an astounding amount of people.

Amazon would be the easiest to get the keyboards on, but I don't know if that really helps since I'm not sure people do a lot of browsing there.  Most likely, people are searching Amazon for something they already know they want (except maybe in the case of books, CDs, and DVDs).

[CX23882]

I've found on numerous occasions that you can get some rather good deals on Amazon (better than eBay for sure) but whenever I've tried to sell things on there, I've had zero interest, even when I was selling for next to nothing.

I think that Unicomp needs a flashier website (not "website with Flash"!) because at present it doesn't look like a company selling to the public.  The keyboards are photographed in an un-flattering way and it just looks dated.  I'm not saying that I could do any better, and I'm sure that whoever developed the site did the best they could, but I think it could be improved.  The sites for other high-end keyboards have photos of aliens, robots or hot women (most gaming keyboards), or they go for the high-tech elitist route (like Das).  Unicomp's site doesn't go either way - it's mundane and doesn't really seem to target anyone.

They sell the boards on the power of the Model M name, and rightly so, but if people don't know what to expect from a Model M the claims on Unicomp's site are meaningless.  Their keyboards don't have a illuminated ultr@ p0wer fr@g button, so if you can get a cool keyboard which does, why would you choose something from the 1980's?  They need to aggressively market the Customizer as the brilliant piece of engineering that it is.

A lot of this could also be said about Cherry of course, but unless I'm mistaken, they have a lot of business customers, and they don't seem so dependent upon regular consumers.

I really want a Black USB Customizer, but at present, the exchange rate makes it prohibitively expensive.  I just hope that Unicomp can keep going.  I paid a lot for the PS/2 version, to have it shipped to the UK, but that was a couple of years ago.  Now, it's just too much money, and it's completely out of Unicomp's control.

[itlnstln]

They sell the boards on the power of the Model M name

To piggyback on what you're saying, CX23882, they need to treat the Model M name like the legend it is.  I guess what I am saying is they need a site that markets the Model M as something more than an old-style keyboard.  It needs to be revered as the invincible, ultimate warrior standing guard over elite desktops for over 20 years, etc.  Or something a little less lame, but I think you get the point.

[CX23882]

I completely agree.

How many other keyboard designs have survived almost 25 years?  In fact, how many things are on the market at all (computer or otherwise) that have been available for this length of time.  Okay, it's not exactly the same product that was launched in 1985 (86? not sure) but in my mind it's close enough.  The changes aren't like with the iMac which is completely unrelated to the original model.

[FKSSR]

If only ClickyKeyboards and Unicomp could work together there, but I think they are pretty much competitors, of sorts.

[itlnstln]

If only ClickyKeyboards and Unicomp could work together there, but I think they are pretty much competitors, of sorts.

I have noticed that ClickyKeyboards business has gone down over the last few years due to a lack of 'boards they have.  I see more and more non-Model Ms on their site.  I found a couple of Cherrys there yesterday.  Maybe they could form an alliance.  I think both, though, could use slicker-looking sites.

[patrickgeekhack]

I've been telling others that Unicomp still makes keyboards based on the Model M on quite a few blogs, both English and French. I've even mentioned on my blog.

Now, I need to convince my wife that I need 2 other keyboards: a SpaceSaver and a Cherry. She completely understood my need for a Customizer 104, and even encouraged me to get my AT101W. But, now she cannot understand why I need more keyboards She's not totally wrong. I have a Customizer, an AT101W, a MacAlly IceKey (should not have bought this), a Microsoft Natural Elite, and a Microsoft wireless (which was on sale for $10 Canadian). She's using my weapon of choice: make the other party feel guilty. She is saying: "Do you know how many toys you can buy for Angelica?" She knows I love my daughter more than keyboards

[FKSSR]

Doesn't your daughter need a new Spacesaver?  She's going to have to learn to type on something...why should it not be one of the best...It's for her future...

[FKSSR]

you know... I just thought of something we could do...  We could take pics of the all black Customizer, write up some stuff comparing the Unicomps to the "almighty" Model M, and basically put together some things that Unicomp could use to sell their product "better."

Again, I'm not sure if this is really our territory to step on, but I think that it could be helpful...

If someone has pics of a Unicomp board completely disassembled as well as a Model M completely disassembled that could also be cool.  I like it when retailers show the guts of their keyboards, at least with a key off and multiple angles...

[wheel83]

I vote that Unicomp re-do their logo, add a real spacesaver keyboard, and offer blank legends on their model m models. I think these three things could help them a lot.

[FunkTrooper]

I like it when retailers show the guts of their keyboards, at least with a key off and multiple angles...

For Unicomp to do this, they should at least make all the keys on their keyboards the same type.  If you buy a Unicomp keyboard, you'll get two part keys on seven of the keys, and one part keys on all the others.  It just seems very unprofessional to do this, like the keyboards are just kinda thrown together with whatever parts they can find lying around.

[MANISH7]

If you buy a Unicomp keyboard, you'll get two part keys on seven of the keys, and one part keys on all the others.

Really? Right now I'm typing on a 101 Customizer PS2. All the buttons have 2 parts...a key stem and a key cap. Maybe it is your particular model or something has changed since I purchased my current keyboard 5 months ago. Hope not. I have 2 new Unicomps in my closet but I'd can't check because I want to leave them NIB.

[wheel83]

I have a Customizer 104 USB and its mostly 1 part.

[MANISH7]

I have a Customizer 104 USB and its mostly 1 part.

OK...then I better go check my Customizer...hold on...

Interesting. The Customizer 101 I purchased 5 months ago has two parts for every key except space bar, shift and the rest of the same keys that were one piece in the 139401 too. I'm happy with that.

The Customer 101 I purchased 1 week ago has 2 piece keys in the in the QWERTY, ASDF, ZXCV, `123 keys but the rest are one piece. This isn't really that important but for the sake of original design I prefer it to be 2 piece.

Hmmm...thanks for point this out to me. I felt like a sucker for getting the Customizer 101 PS2 right before the USB version became available. I was going to sell of my PS2 version for cheap and then order a new USB. Now I'm just going to keep the PS2 keyboard and order  a "back up" USB gut in case later on PS2 causes problems.

[CX23882]

I purchased a black PS/2 105 key Customizer maybe 4 years ago and it had two-part keys for all keys except for the three Windows keys and the stabilised keys.  The key stems were differing colours too dependent on where they were on the board.  F and J were one colour, CTRL etc were another colour, alpha keys another.  Maybe they stopped making 2 part keys and for a while just used up old stock, but now they're making new single-part keys?

I regret selling that keyboard, but at least I've still got my Greenock-assembled Model M still.  If Unicomp are still around when things pick up I'll definitely be buying a new USB Customizer.

I wonder what a black Unicomp would look like if it was sanded smooth, spray painted black, lacquered and then polished (and rinse and repeat...)?  It'd sure be a fingerprint magnet but I think it might look pretty sweet.

[MANISH7]

how come the companies that make Topre Realforce or HHKB are also not sharing the same plight? admittedly, i only heard about those keyboards one week ago on this forum so i don't know much about them. i realize that they have different aim / appeal than the model m's but...$250+ keyboards? sheesh! compared to that, model m's are much more affordable and that's why even in this forum you've got people with lots of model ms but holding back to buy a topre or hhkb. in my case i'll be waiting quite some time before i can get a topre whereas if it was a $70 model m i already bought an extra just for the heck of it.

[wellington1869]

how come the companies that make Topre Realforce or HHKB are also not sharing the same plight?

good question, particularlly at 300 bucks a pop. (or maybe thats the answer, lol).

[bigpook]

Maybe Topre and Realforce are large companies and keyboards are not their whole business?

As for Unicomp, all they have are keyboards.

[xsphat]

To clarify, Realforce is Topre's brand of keyboards — not two separate companies. And Topre makes a bunch of stuff besides keyboards. Check out their site (link is in the wiki I'm sure), it's a global company.

[wellington1869]

so what unicomp needs is to be *bought* by a global company.

[Parn]

I want a USB   Endurapro 104
However,I read this from the Unicomp web
"Shipments of the USB model outside the USA are currently suspended awaiting government approval."

[ozar]

I vote that Unicomp re-do their logo, add a real spacesaver keyboard, and offer blank legends on their model m models. I think these three things could help them a lot.

lol... last year, when I went to buy my first Customizer 104, I almost didn't buy because of the logo.  Maybe they should put on a contest and accept entries for best logo (if they haven't done so already).  I agree with the other parts of your post, as well.

I'm not sure how good their rubber dome models are, but they probably need to be of high quality and promote those as well since lots of folks think that's all they need.  Repeat sales of those might help to keep them in business and supplement the sale of the higher quality buckling spring models.

It will indeed be a very sad day if they should go under.

[xsphat]

I called Jim Owens today and his message was:

"Hi, this is Jim Owens. I'm away from the office and don't know when I'll be back."

Don't know if that's truly as ominous as it sounds, but ...

I watch my company shrink every quarter, a lot of us do I'm sure, so maybe this is the time the buckling spring goes the way of the Alps (real non-simplified ).

[ozar]

I called Jim Owens today and his message was:

"Hi, this is Jim Owens. I'm away from the office and don't know when I'll be back."

That sounds extremely bad... wonder how long that message has been playing?

I've got to admit, I'd be afraid to order until I know more.

[xsphat]

I'm gonna call again tomorrow morning and see if I can get a human on the phone. If they are closing shop I have to order a cable from them like right flippin' now.

[iPwned]

What is the typical turn around time for orders with unicomp?  I placed an order on Monday, and haven't heard anything and my card hasn't been billed yet.  And now I'm finding out that the recession may have eaten them...great.

[ozar]

Both times that I've ordered, I received the keyboard within two days.

Oh, and in each case, they sent shipping/tracking information right away.

[iPwned]

well, then I can only hope that it's because I mistyped my card number.  Guess I'll have to try calling them.  I was looking forward to getting my hands on those endurapros.

[nerp]

Took about a week for them to process and send my order. My board was made the day AFTER I placed the order. I think that they're just backlogged, which is a good thing. I think every coffee-guzzling writer who grew up in the 80s heard that NPR story and ordered one like I did.

[ozar]

I have a couple of the Customizer 104 boards already, but would really like to have a set of those totally black keys to put on one of them.  I didn't see them available on the website, so I guess a phone call is required to get them.

If they stay in business, I plan to purchase at least one more board, as well.

[iPwned]

Well, that's good to hear.  I'll wait until Monday before I start to worry then.  I did try calling just a little while ago and got the voice mail on both extensions, but at least it rang and answered as unicomp, which was comforting.

[bhtooefr]

I believe the grey keys used on the black boards are mostly one-piece, except for a few keys like Ctrl.

Anyway, a few months ago, a friend of mine ordered a custom black blank Customizer 104 USB, and it took around a month to get, with poor feedback from Unicomp.

I will note that that does run counter to my two experiences with Unicomp, though - my EnduraPro 104 USB got here very quickly (made and shipped the day after I ordered it, IIRC,) and was repaired quickly when it needed repairs.

[iMav]

I've always received fast order fulfillment from Unicomp and they have always, if anything, over-communicated with me.

If Unicomp had ever delivered on their "Mighty Mouse 2.0" 'board, I think I would've spent a LOT of money with them.  I purchased the last numpadless, buckling spring keyboard to roll out of their location and have been waiting for something to take its place ever since.

[nerp]

Just ordered a SpaceSaver today. I like my customizer at home so much, I'm starting to realize the used M I got at the office just isn't quite as good. I dunno. Deep down, I just wanted an excuse to buy something. I'll throw the M in the closet. I'll make note of how long it takes for my order to get processed and sent and what the manufacture date is.