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New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

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Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#51

Post by Ekaros »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #13
benlumen wrote: post #10

I told myself this would be my next keyboard years ago. So know this about mechanical keyboards in general - choose wisely, because you'll be stuck with it. First, you won't ever go back to rubber dome like everyone always says, but second, the damn things don't seem to wear out. I'm still using the original Razer Blackwidow that I bought in first year uni - 2010. I thought I'd managed to kill it with beer in the fir…

Same, I have a Filco Majestouch bought in 2011, still clicking like new. Of course, I did open it up at some point and that's not pretty. The steel plate where the keys are mounted on was actually a bit rusty; I think it was just painted and I may have scraped it while cleaning at some point, or something?

I should really get a new one... The spills aren't exactly the best for mx switches... The rest no problems. Ofc, I could swap the switches for second time, but getting bit lazy...

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#52

Post by Yizahi »

dt3ft wrote: post #43

Am I the only one who thinks the Model M is too elevated and thus unergonomic? With such elevated keyboards, several muscles in your hands are slightly but constantly active, especially when your hands are resting on the keys, in order to not press the keys unwillingly. The more elevated the keyboard is, the more your muscles have to work. Try resting your hands on your desk, move the keyboard aside for a moment and…

I also don't understand why every single keyboard on the market insists on having unergonomic lift for the back of the kb. Model M is an extreme example of this trend (or rather it's predecessor).

After using MS Natural keyboard with a front lift, which allows for straight wrist position you just can't turn back to the bad lift angle of common keyboards.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#53

Post by GuB-42 »

westoncb wrote: post #32
skocznymroczny wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of the hype around mechanical keyboards in general is overblown. I had a period of transitioning to mechanical keyboards. I couldn't get used to the high-rise keys and long travel times which made my wrists hurt and made typing a chore. I kept convincing myself that I just had the wrong type of switch, so I changed keyboards every few months seeking that perfect feeling. The closest I got was low-profil…

I've gone through a similar experience. I like the other concepts in keyboards like Ergodox/Moonlander etc., but as far as actual key-press-feel, none of these enthusiast keyboards come close to e.g. macbook keys. I think my ideal keyboard would be something like the Moonlander + the keys on the new macbook: a little bit of a click but basically zero travel.

I think it is all about preference.

I hated the new MacBook keys the instant I tried them. It felt like I was typing directly on the table. I had no problem with accuracy, but I found it really uncomfortable.

I guess it is like a mattress, some people prefer it firm and others prefer it soft.

I have a Topre keyboard BTW, which I chose by going to a shop and trying plenty of different keyboards without looking at the price and specs. Unfortunately, I ended up preferring the most expensive one...

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#54

Post by jtwaleson »

yoz-y wrote: post #22
tyfon wrote: post #19

Anyone know how this compares to Das Keyboard [1] that I am currently using? I have two IBM model M from the 80s that still work. They're currently assigned to my server room though not daily use. [1] https://www.daskeyboard.com/

Note that Das Keyboard switch quality was ruined with version 3, when they done away with variable actuating strength. I was sad when my version 2 died.

I've used my Das Keyboards 2, 3 and 4 quite a lot. Maybe I'm not picky enough, but I never noticed anything different in switch quality. "Ruined" is way overblown imho. Typing from my DK4 which I really love.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#55

Post by NohatCoder »

Wow, they actually have a pure Danish model. That afaik makes them the only boutique keyboard company that doesn't try to sell Danes a combined "Nordic" keyboard where you have to manually ignore the Norwegian and Swedish markings.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#56

Post by scaladev »

benlumen wrote: post #10

I told myself this would be my next keyboard years ago. So know this about mechanical keyboards in general - choose wisely, because you'll be stuck with it. First, you won't ever go back to rubber dome like everyone always says, but second, the damn things don't seem to wear out. I'm still using the original Razer Blackwidow that I bought in first year uni - 2010. I thought I'd managed to kill it with beer in the fir…

Not to rain on your parade, but 10 years is nothing. I'm still using my cheap A4Tech KV-300H bought back in early 2011 for about $15. It works just as it did the day it was bought, except for some minor cosmetic wear. It had tea, coffee, and water poured on it about a dozen times, continuing working as before after a few hours in a warm place.

I really don't get the usual "get one mechanical keyboard and it'll serve you for life". This thing will surely last for at least another 5 years. It's very comfortable, I can type for hours and the wrists don't hurt. So what does it come to, about $1 per year of use?

What mechanical keyboard can beat that? (I am not planing on living for 300+ years, mind you.)

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#57

Post by znpy »

I own a real model m and an unicomp endura pro.

The model m was cheap because I literally pulled it out of the dumpster.

The endura pro was a complete waste of A LOT of money considering double shipping (usa to usa and usa to europe since they would not ship to europe, and that implies a re-shipping handling fee) and import duties on top of that.

The keyboard is loud but doesn't add anything really to my typing. And the trackpoint works at different speed if you go right vs left, and that drives me crazy (regular in a direction, super slow in the other).

Really, don't waste your money on an unicomp keyboard.

So after having played with a bit of keyboard, my favourites are the ibm/lenovo sk-8845 and a plain and simple dell usb keyboard (https://www.amazon.com/KB522-Dell-Business-Multimedia-Compat...).

That dell keyboard is very good, way better than any mechanical keyboard. So good that I stole one from my previous employer before leaving.

Mechanical keyboard is just a meme in my opinion, and one of the dumb ones.

Believe me, I've wasted enough money on keyboards to tell.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#58

Post by pixel_tracing »

Is anyone else not a fan of these mechanical keyboards? I seem to have missed the hype (and I had old computers in the early 90s)

Just don’t understand the current hype.

If you use these please know bringing them to an office will make most dislike you due to the noise they make

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#59

Post by wccrawford »

scaladev wrote: post #56
benlumen wrote: post #10

I told myself this would be my next keyboard years ago. So know this about mechanical keyboards in general - choose wisely, because you'll be stuck with it. First, you won't ever go back to rubber dome like everyone always says, but second, the damn things don't seem to wear out. I'm still using the original Razer Blackwidow that I bought in first year uni - 2010. I thought I'd managed to kill it with beer in the fir…

Not to rain on your parade, but 10 years is nothing. I'm still using my cheap A4Tech KV-300H bought back in early 2011 for about $15. It works just as it did the day it was bought, except for some minor cosmetic wear. It had tea, coffee, and water poured on it about a dozen times, continuing working as before after a few hours in a warm place. I really don't get the usual "get one mechanical keyboard and it'll serve…

For a cheap keyboard, 10 years is forever. I was burning them out every year or 2 for a while.

Then I bought a decent mechanical keyboard, and it's been a beast. No signs of aging and it's been 4 years. Dramatic improvement.

His comparison wasn't between mechanical keyboards. It was from a cheap keyboard to a mechanical.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#60

Post by Syzygies »

m463 wrote: post #42
skocznymroczny wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of the hype around mechanical keyboards in general is overblown. I had a period of transitioning to mechanical keyboards. I couldn't get used to the high-rise keys and long travel times which made my wrists hurt and made typing a chore. I kept convincing myself that I just had the wrong type of switch, so I changed keyboards every few months seeking that perfect feeling. The closest I got was low-profil…

I have a topre keyboard. It is the most solid keyboard I've used and love it. I bought the realforce RGB. I didn't really care about the RGB, but it's nice to turn on a solid color dimly so I can find the keyboard in the dark. It also has an adjustable actuation point, so you can make it less or more sensitive. I keep it above the point where resting fingers on the keys can set it off. I could probably tune the actua…

I also have a Topre keyboard, the Leopold FC660C, with a Hasu FC660C Controller supporting QMK firmware. The 12 keys closest to my non-pinky fingers are all tap/hold, so for example my hands don't move for control sequences. Alternate keymaps like Dvorak make sense if one needs to optimize letters for composing words. Shortening finger travel for programmers is an entirely different ball of wax, with many solutions involving QMK firmware.

I had bought or built various mechanical keyboards, before settling on Topre switches. Topre switches are an obsession killer; many people find them vastly superior to any mechanical switch, and the customization options are nonexistent. One can't post pretty pictures of one's newest keycap set; one has to focus on the QMK keymap.

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