Keyboard similar to Model M, but "flatter"

[Excelsis Dei]

Does anyone know of a good (vintage) keyboard that feels the same as a Model M, but the keys aren't curved like they are on the M? I was thinking of buying a Dell AT101W, is this a good choice?

[chyros]

The AT101is pretty curvy.

How about a Model M2?

[Findecanor]

The IBM Model M2 ("Selectric Touch keyboard") has the same buckling springs as the Model M but has a flat backplane instead of a curved one.
The keys are shorter and all the same profile, except for the function row. The entire construction is plastic and quite compact but it does feel a bit flimsy.

There is a known issue with capacitors on the controller board having failed: this tends to happens on keyboards that have not been plugged in for many years, especially those that have been completely unused since they were manufactured. The capacitors can be replaced - but unfortunately the case is mostly snapped together, and those snaps break easily.

[jacobolus]

You should try to elaborate a bit. How strict is your requirement that the keyboard “feels the same as a Model M”? What other types of keyboards have you tried?

Also, you should explain a bit what you mean by flat. Like, do you want the keyboard to be low profile? Do you want completely flat keytops?

Is there a reason that the Model M shape doesn’t work for you? E.g. is it too big? Is the curved shape causing some other problem? Or do you just have an aesthetic preference for flatness?

Help us understand your context and we can probably give better advice.

[Excelsis Dei]

Thanks for the replies. The M2 looks great! I guess the 101 is a little curved, but not as much as as the M. If I buy a M2, I'll buy a few caps jic at the same time. Jacobolus: I meant flat as in the center of each key faces straight up. I don't have any issue at all with the keycaps being kind of curved, where the corners are higher than the center of the key. My only regret about buying these older kb's is that there are little to no aftermarket keycaps.

[klennkellon]

The IBM Model M2 ("Selectric Touch keyboard") has the same buckling springs as the Model M but has a flat backplane instead of a curved one.
The keys are shorter and all the same profile, except for the function row. The entire construction is plastic and quite compact but it does feel a bit flimsy.

There is a known issue with capacitors on the controller board having failed: this tends to happens on keyboards that have not been plugged in for many years, especially those that have been completely unused since they were manufactured. The capacitors can be replaced - but unfortunately the case is mostly snapped together, and those snaps break easily.

I've also heard that the M2 is not as pleasant to type on, rougher and harder to press?

It's kind of similar to how the Model M is actually an inferior typing experience to the Model F.

[chyros]

The IBM Model M2 ("Selectric Touch keyboard") has the same buckling springs as the Model M but has a flat backplane instead of a curved one.
The keys are shorter and all the same profile, except for the function row. The entire construction is plastic and quite compact but it does feel a bit flimsy.

There is a known issue with capacitors on the controller board having failed: this tends to happens on keyboards that have not been plugged in for many years, especially those that have been completely unused since they were manufactured. The capacitors can be replaced - but unfortunately the case is mostly snapped together, and those snaps break easily.

I've also heard that the M2 is not as pleasant to type on, rougher and harder to press?

It's kind of similar to how the Model M is actually an inferior typing experience to the Model F.

The difference between an F and an M is way bigger than between an M and an M2 .

[jacobolus]

Jacobolus: I meant flat as in the center of each key faces straight up.

When you say that the keys should face upwards, does it matter whether the keycaps are uniform? That is, is the important thing the switch axis, or the plane of the keycap top?

Can you explain why you want this feature? Right now, I don’t have any understanding/explanation for your preference. It seems arbitrary. This makes it hard to give any kind of useful advice.

[Findecanor]

I've also heard that the M2 is not as pleasant to type on, rougher and harder to press?

I don't feel any difference. I think it does sound rougher though because of the different construction.
The spring/hammer assembly in the Model M and M2 are actually identical. The Model F has a different hammer.

By the way, as with the Model M there are also rubber-dome variants of the M2. It is less common and I think most (if not all) of them have a thicker border.

[Snowdog993]

Why not just take the top part of the 2 piece caps off?  That would be flat on the tops, but you won't have legends at all.  Another problem would be the 1-piece caps like shift / return / backspace etc...
I don't know if that's what you mean either....

[jacobolus]

I don't feel any difference. [...] The spring/hammer assembly in the Model M and M2 are actually identical.

There’s quite a noticeable difference if you put the two side by side. The M has a “cleaner” force curve and sharper tactile feel when the spring buckles. I think the M2 also has a shorter overall switch travel, though I haven’t measured.

[chyros]

I don't feel any difference. [...] The spring/hammer assembly in the Model M and M2 are actually identical.

There’s quite a noticeable difference if you put the two side by side. The M has a “cleaner” force curve and sharper tactile feel when the spring buckles. I think the M2 also has a shorter overall switch travel, though I haven’t measured.

One of the two springs is also longer, I think it was the M2. You can't exchange M2 springs with M ones, they won't work. They're quite different, really.

[E TwentyNine]

I don't feel any difference. [...] The spring/hammer assembly in the Model M and M2 are actually identical.

There’s quite a noticeable difference if you put the two side by side. The M has a “cleaner” force curve and sharper tactile feel when the spring buckles. I think the M2 also has a shorter overall switch travel, though I haven’t measured.

One of the two springs is also longer, I think it was the M2. You can't exchange M2 springs with M ones, they won't work. They're quite different, really.

M2 and M spring/plate assemblies are completely interchangeable.

[chyros]

I don't feel any difference. [...] The spring/hammer assembly in the Model M and M2 are actually identical.

There’s quite a noticeable difference if you put the two side by side. The M has a “cleaner” force curve and sharper tactile feel when the spring buckles. I think the M2 also has a shorter overall switch travel, though I haven’t measured.

One of the two springs is also longer, I think it was the M2. You can't exchange M2 springs with M ones, they won't work. They're quite different, really.

M2 and M spring/plate assemblies are completely interchangeable.

Really? I tried it once with a keyswitch tester and it didn't work at all Oo .

[Excelsis Dei]

Thanks for the replies. Jacobolus, I kinda lost you there. I just meant that I prefer keyboards that don't have curved shells.

[Snowdog993]

Thanks for the replies. Jacobolus, I kinda lost you there. I just meant that I prefer keyboards that don't have curved shells.

The Model M lies perfectly flat.  What are you talking about?

[jacobolus]

Thanks for the replies. Jacobolus, I kinda lost you there. I just meant that I prefer keyboards that don't have curved shells.

Can you explain why you have this preference? Like, is there some other reason for it, or it’s just something you like? (There’s nothing wrong with the latter. Just if you have some reasoning behind it, then we might be able to give better advice.)