How are Lexmark in terms of quality? Unicomp, as I understand, is not quite as robust as the original IBM Model M.
Okay. White Label and Lexmark are essentially indistinguishable from each other when you are talking 139 series. Quality is exactly the same as far as I can tell.
IBM Blue Label 42H clamshells are much higher quality than 42H Unicomp clamshells. (Although everything else inside is *essentially* the same)
The keycap legends on the newer Unicomps are not as nice as the IBM keycap legends.
(Different font, sometimes off center, etc...There is a whole big discussion on that too.)
(I guess I was lucky with my 103, although there is a difference, it's still not too bad.)
Edit: * The barrels are a bit different with the 103 key bottom row configuration. *
So how do the blue label and white label ibm compare to one another?
Which Blue and White label are you being specific about? The Blue label 1391401, 1370477 or 42H1292 model?
More
Here is the 1370477:
Here is the 1391401 White label:
Here is the IBM 1391401 Blue label: (02-Jul-93)
Note: This is my nephew's keyboard!
Here is the Unicomp UNI0446: (42H controller)
The difference between the two 1391401's are really indistinguishable except for the label to be honest.
The 1370477 has single-piece keys, drainage channels, and a different SDL controller which is smaller in size, (it uses the same SDL cable) but functions the same as the other two. The Unicomp 103 is more like the 42H1292 model. (They have attached cables that are straight and are not removable, and an entirely different controller.)
I hope that answers your question.
** Edit** Perhaps there may be drainage channels on my nephew's Blue label M. Next time I get the chance to see it in person I can revise this. (Or someone here can verify it.) That's the only thing I can think of that *might* be different. Of course there may be drainage channels on some White label 1391401's as well? (Although both my White label 1391401's do not have them.) I never really thought about it until now.
Noted. The Blue Label 1391401 does in fact have drainage channels. The White Label 1391401 does not. This is interesting. (Unless someone does have a White Label 1391401 with drainage channels?)
