Video review of Model M

[phototristan]

I just did a video review of the Model M and posted it on Youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjZzAC6dKI

It's geared towards people who may not know about this keyboard. Just sharing. Comments appreciated, etc.

[patrickgeekhack]

Did you get an IBM Model M instead of the Customizer 104? I know (from our YouTube conversation) that you were thinking about the latter. You can't go wrong with any one of them though.

[phototristan]

Thanks ripster. Yeah, man if Unicomp ever folds prices are gonna skyrocket (even for Unicomp boards).

patrickgeekhack - I got both actually! I use the Customizer 104 mostly and have locked away the IBM Model M for special occasions (like when I wanna impress a girl or something )

[phototristan]

IBM M - New or used?

Used, off eBay. Looks like it was cleaned well and possibly refurbished though. There are some scuffs on it that you can't see in the video.

[dfrey]

The video review indicates that Unicomp holds patents that allow them to build modern model M's.  The buckling spring page on wikipedia indicates that the patent is already expired.  Can anyone clarify why Unicomp is the only manufacturer making buckling spring keyboards and what exactly it was that Unicomp bought from Lexmark?

[Viett]

Poor caps lock key . Nice video, though.

[patmok]

Thanks for the review, im thinking of buying one. Just curious if i use a ps2 adapter, does the model ghost easily? I play 1.6 so need to use quite a few keys around wasd.

[patmok]

thanks ripster, think i will have to settle for a steelseries 7G since im in the uk, nice keyboards seem difficult to find. I also had my eyes on G80-3000, do you happen to know if thats good for cs? 7G and g80-3000 are readily available here

[patmok]

Just dug out my old half broken AT102W, tried cs with it and it worked well. could use w,e,tab and ctrl/shift at the same time. Just bought a new AT101W off ebay for £18.50

[watduzhkstand4]

P.S.  Where's Watduz at - Geekhacker Entrance Exam:  Memorize 1391401 :fish:

Geez I'm sorry ripster, it was only a typo.

[ch_123]

The video review indicates that Unicomp holds patents that allow them to build modern model M's.  The buckling spring page on wikipedia indicates that the patent is already expired.  Can anyone clarify why Unicomp is the only manufacturer making buckling spring keyboards and what exactly it was that Unicomp bought from Lexmark?

Well, considering how much of a nice market it is, mechanical keyswitches are probably a more economically viable choice for manufacturers these days if they need to make either a highly durable or a top of the line typing/gaming keyboard.

There's also the fact that they'd end up competing against eBay if they didn't make something really special. As good as Unicomps are, I think anyone who has used a Unicomp and an original IBM Model M/F would prefer the latter.

[wheel83]

i found it to be quit boring to be honest.  those 15 seconds clips of people mashing away is more amuzing.

[ch_123]

Well, it's boring if you know it all (and then some) already.

[phototristan]

I've also just did a blog post as well at;

http://tristantom.com/ibm-model-m-keyboard/

[o2dazone]

Nice photos ^^

[phototristan]

Portrait Session With Karen was especially nice.  I don't just look at keyboards you know.

Thanks!

[keyb_gr]

JFTR, Model Ms (as well as Cherry G80s with Win keys, which share an almost identical matrix) do pretty well in terms for rollover for (invariably) 3-key boards. There are far worse matrix layouts around...