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New Beam Spring Keyboards

modelfkeyboards.com

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Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#51

Post by filchermcurr »

WesolyKubeczek wrote: post #13
rbanffy wrote: post #11

In the meantime, I would remind the people who would like to experience a vintage keyboard to take a look at the Unicomp model M keyboards. They are not Model Fs or beam spring, but are rock solid, reliable, and sensibly priced considering their quality.

My Endura Pro started having issues three months in after arriving to me in 2013; I remember how it was $99 and shipping was $98, and then I had to pay VAT on it. It died quite quickly after and become parts donor for old IBM Model Ms I bought out from people’s attics. It was a wonderfully repair-unfriendly thing, too.

I love Unicomp and fully support their goal of keeping these switches alive, but I had a similar experience. The controller on the keyboard died after about a year. Meanwhile all of my 30+ year old IBM Model M's continue to work flawlessly.

This was the same time, around 2013, so I like to hope things have improved since then. I know they did switch the controllers they use in the intervening years and they also replaced the original IBM tooling for the other parts of the keyboard, so hopefully things are in better shape now.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#52

Post by wincy »

ModelFKeyboards wrote: post #49

Hello, project coordinator here. If you haven’t been following the project recently, I am happy to report that more than 7,000 Brand New Model F and Beam Spring keyboards have shipped since 2019, and the very first Round 2 classic style Beam Spring B104 keyboards started shipping this month, as noted here. If you want to see current comments about the project, please do check out the recent user feedback on the curre…

This is really interesting and a part of history. Really appreciate the candid insights.

My grandfather is a long retired design engineer and has told me about designing a keyboard like this because the typists didn’t like their first few iterations because they didn’t feel “like a typewriter”. I should send this over to him and see what he thinks about it. I’m curious if this is the keyboard he designed (he’s in his 80s now). He’s very spry intellectually despite his advanced age, I bet he’d be willing to answer any questions about the original design, he loves talking about the glory days.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#53

Post by moepstar »

MengerSponge wrote: post #37
__s wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had to switch to low force choc couple years ago over tendon pain. Ended up on totem for day to day & bad wings for travel. 20g silent nocturnal switches. Silencing mechanism also gives bottom out a rubber feel, worth it just for that

Totem and bad wings are gorgeous, but I'm here to thock. I'm actually a Topre purist.

I could probably $searchengine this, but not being into keyboards: none of that made any sense to me :D

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#54

Post by jaggederest »

WesolyKubeczek wrote: post #24
jaggederest wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Contrariwise, my unicomp model M has been going strong as a daily driver for at least 18 years. They may have lowered the quality more recently, and I'd recommend something in the cherry mx brown ballpark over it perhaps.

Many people swear by Unicomp, but I had that bad luck that I first paid for the thing, got the thing, and then read that as of recently, there had been problems. Problems with quality, problems with output. Then they went so quiet people thought they had gone out of business, then they resurfaced. By that time, I've had an original Model M and two different OG Model Fs. When I buy old stuff from eBay, at least I have…

Yeah I believe it's a 2006 model shipped in May 2007

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#55

Post by ModelFKeyboards »

xwhatsit wrote: post #28

Awesome! I'm happy I have a future option in case my 3727 ever wears out (which I somehow can't see ever happening...). I'm not associated with this project in any way, but I'm excited to see the Beamspring (and Model F capsense stuff) is still ticking along. I keep meaning to redesign my controller for the 2020s but the original crappy design keeps working perfectly for my needs and I can't justify the time to updat…

Nice to hear from you xwhatsit! Project coordinator here. Your contributions to the mechanical keyboard community are still well-regarded as probably the one who single-handedly saved thousands of original IBM keyboards and gave them a second life.

Not sure if you've been following but forum member Rico recently created a new controller based on your original: an RP2040-based controller that runs on Vial. Check out Rico's github for the "Leyden Jar Controller"

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#56

Post by LAC-Tech »

I'm a bit of a clicky switch enthusiast. I use gateron melodics, which have a click leaf, meaning the click sound directly corresponds to actuation, unlike most modern clickies.

So I am very curious about beam springs. I doubt I would ever use one every day (I am pretty set on split ortholinears that sit low on the desk with short keycaps) but would love to try one.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#57

Post by LAC-Tech »

porknubbins wrote: post #22
MengerSponge wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Like a Model F, but louder" is a heck of a pitch. I'm interested!

Are mechanical keyboards becoming a way to show off like the programmer equivalent of loud truck exhaust? The sound is satisfying yes, but with other people in mind I am looking for the quietest mechanical keyboard I can find these days. I have become self conscious about typing quietly during phone calls or meetings in case I am unmuted.

Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but is the loudness of your keyboard really a big deal in office environments?

Like I get if where you work is as quiet as a library, but in most places people are on voice calls, talking to each other over your head, etc. Any one complaining about clicky keys in that kind of environment can get stuffed as far as I am concerned.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#58

Post by ModelFKeyboards »

stodor89 wrote: post #40
userbinator wrote: post #17

Some keys won’t work right away – you are responsible for making this keyboard work Do not use any beam spring keyboard in a mission-critical environment. I can say this is the first time I've seen this in the sales description for a keyboard. Are these assembled from NOS parts?

Woah, how is this legal?! Actually, is it?

All it means is you have to follow the instructions to set it up; it doesn't come working out of the box. Yes, it's legal to sell products that require setup and are only partially assembled out of the box. Think of a more extreme example like a backyard swing set for kids that comes all packed up in a box. The keyboard is guaranteed to work after you follow the setup, and you can send an email for help if you are stuck.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#59

Post by userbinator »

stodor89 wrote: post #40
userbinator wrote: post #17

Some keys won’t work right away – you are responsible for making this keyboard work Do not use any beam spring keyboard in a mission-critical environment. I can say this is the first time I've seen this in the sales description for a keyboard. Are these assembled from NOS parts?

Woah, how is this legal?! Actually, is it?

Probably, if "for parts or not working" is a valid description for items on eBay.

Re: New Beam Spring Keyboards

#60

Post by ihateolives »

__s wrote: post #23
porknubbins wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are mechanical keyboards becoming a way to show off like the programmer equivalent of loud truck exhaust? The sound is satisfying yes, but with other people in mind I am looking for the quietest mechanical keyboard I can find these days. I have become self conscious about typing quietly during phone calls or meetings in case I am unmuted.

I had to switch to low force choc couple years ago over tendon pain. Ended up on totem for day to day & bad wings for travel. 20g silent nocturnal switches. Silencing mechanism also gives bottom out a rubber feel, worth it just for that

20g? How do you use it? I'm light typist, I'm not hammering on keys at all and even 32g is too nervous for me, I can't rest my fingers on keyboard without typing a novel. Can't imagine 20g keys.
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