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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

#181

Post by TimTheTinker »

alberth wrote: post #150

Butterfly keyboard / low-travel. Am I the only person who has grown to love the butterfly keyboard? It take sooo much stress of my of joints to type since the travel is so shallow. I also type considerably faster with the shallower/lower travel required. I know folks had issues with reliability with he design but I guess I'm on the of the lucky few who hasn't had issues.

The "Magic Keyboard" isn't butterfly as far as I know, but it does use a scissor design. I think it's great -- agreed that low travel is better ergonomically and speed-wise.

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

#182

Post by war1025 »

ghostpepper wrote: post #160
dkarl wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never got to try a trackball. I remember that touchpads back in the day were garbage compared to touchpads now, though. I remember the Thinkpad nub was better than any touchpad I ever had until I got my first Macbook Pro. The Apple touchpads were so amazing I assumed they would eventually figure out keyboards, too. Still waiting ten years later.

It's not too late! Thinkpads still come with a nub.

I tried to use the nub thing once since I have a Thinkpad through work. Really not to my taste.

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

#183

Post by hinkley »

skocznymroczny wrote: post #26
formerly_proven wrote: post #2

The IBM Model M hype is absurdly overblown. Anyone who has used decent mechanical keyboards should be able to pretty much immediately notice just how cost-reduced that keyboard is. It is quite literally the cheapest buckling spring keyboard IBM managed to make in '89, and it shows. Cherry boards are often bashed for their flexing and wobbly cases, but the IBM Model M is hardly better with the top and lower parts of t…

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 said it before but I can say it again.

I tried and tried to love mechanical keyboards, but when I was gaming I settled on the Apple USB keyboard because I could button mash all day without any distress.

I now have a little cache of ones I bought from residual stock after they were discontinued. The wireless ones are not the same (for one you can't plug usb devices into it, like the Logitech receiver)

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

#184

Post by thisisben »

adingus wrote: post #37
formerly_proven wrote: post #2

The IBM Model M hype is absurdly overblown. Anyone who has used decent mechanical keyboards should be able to pretty much immediately notice just how cost-reduced that keyboard is. It is quite literally the cheapest buckling spring keyboard IBM managed to make in '89, and it shows. Cherry boards are often bashed for their flexing and wobbly cases, but the IBM Model M is hardly better with the top and lower parts of t…

On the contrary, I think the issues you state are overblown. I have been using a 1989 mfg IBM model M for close to 10 years now and haven't noticed any of the problems you point out. No problems with fit & finish or longevity... I use the keyboard for gaming (fps mostly) and coding and have never had a problems with KRO. I haven't been impressed with the few other types of mechanical keyboards I've used (which I admi…

Same here, using an '89 Model M which I've modded to support native USB connectivity and also using QMK [0]. The ability to leverage all of the niceties of QMK (especially key remapping) combined with the feel of the Model M is what's kept it as my primary day-to-day keyboard some time now.

[0]: https://www.crackedthecode.co/how-to-supercharge-your-ibm-mo...

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

#185

Post by cgh »

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 have a Majestouch 2 with Cherry Blue switches. It's loud and obnoxious, especially when meeting online as my laptop sits right next to it. I love it, so satisfying to clack away on and it is built like a tank.

Edit: the only bummer is that it has one of those dumb Windows keys. And I do wish I could get this exact keyboard in an ergonomic layout.

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

#186

Post by slibhb »

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…

I used a mechanical keyboard for 2 years.

In my opinion they're like record players. The appeal is the retro factor. Chiclet keyboards are better in every measurable way and I'm using one of those now, some $25 keyboard from Dell. I can type faster on this one, more accurately, it gets dirty much slower, and it's significantly smaller.

Of course there's nothing wrong with using something because it's cool.

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

#187

Post by breakfastduck »

formerly_proven wrote: post #2

The IBM Model M hype is absurdly overblown. Anyone who has used decent mechanical keyboards should be able to pretty much immediately notice just how cost-reduced that keyboard is. It is quite literally the cheapest buckling spring keyboard IBM managed to make in '89, and it shows. Cherry boards are often bashed for their flexing and wobbly cases, but the IBM Model M is hardly better with the top and lower parts of t…

This entire comment reads like someone complaining that the hype is overblown on an iconic classic car because it doesn’t have power steering and the windows are manual.

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

#188

Post by enraged_camel »

executesorder66 wrote: post #45
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…

So I'm not alone. I really can't understand the appeal of a mechanical keyboard. - They are loud - They are expensive - The keys are massive and ugly - Massive travel time (So slow to type on) Sure they are a bit more customizable, but is that really worth all the drawbacks? Especially the worse typing, which is the main point of a keyboard. If you are a mechanical keyboard fanatic, and my comment angered you, please…

Loudness is particularly annoying. I cannot do any typing (e.g. note taking) in conference calls because people complain about the noise. I always have to mute myself first.

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

#189

Post by executesorder66 »

freeone3000 wrote: post #164
executesorder66 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the keys have enough force to actively push back into position, which gives a great pressed/not-pressed response. I'm not sure I understand this. How does a rubber dome keyboard not do this? > The key travel distance should be about the same as a membrane keyboard I must disagree. I've tested them side by side, and all the mechanical keyboards activate at at least twice the distance. (I've tried like 5 different on…

It's so you don't bottom out. The goal is for you to press the key, it activate, and you release for the return without any jolts along the way. (Some models, like browns, have a tactile bump where the resistance changes). The "bonus" 50% travel is to avoid the shock of bottoming out and pressing against an inflexible surface.

Thanks that makes a bit more sense to me. I think maybe I should just get one and experiment a bit more. Perhaps I wasn't giving it enough of a chance.

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

#190

Post by oflannabhra »

pjsg wrote: post #110
3dbrows wrote: post #5

There are probably several dozen of us reading this thread who are still using ancient Model Ms. I have a Greenock-made UK model (built 1988-11-15) which feels indestructible. The Greenock IBM factory closed down years ago, sadly, so there won't be any more coming from there. The factory has been the site of some interesting urban exploration. [1][2] [1] https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/ibm-greenock-dec-2008....…

My model M (daily use on a Mac) was built 24-sep-1987 plant code J1 which seems likely to have been Lexington KY. I really need to pop all the key caps off and clean them as some of them are pretty grungy.

Lexmark (the printer company, also an offshoot of IBM) bought the Model M design from IBM and continued production until 1996. Unicomp, another company in Lexington bought the rights from Lexmark and has been making them ever since.
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