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Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

arstechnica.com

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Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#91

Post by keyle »

I have 4 mechanical keyboards, DAS'es, and Duckies... And I reverted to using an apple (aluminium) keyboard.

I tried Brown and Red switches. I have to say, my favourite is the Duckies by far, with Red switches.

Of all the keyboards though (I'm a freak with them), the AUD 60 apple keyboard wins (has to be replaced once a year). It's just super quiet, and my typing tests show I can easily get more words per minutes on it.

I don't want to be a mood killer, these are just my findings. Apple's are great. Even on PC.

Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#93

Post by microtherion »

ek wrote: post #52

Mechanical keyboards are actually quite a broad market. Of course Cherry are the most famous, aside of vintage models like the Model M, and Model M users often actually discount modern mechanical keyboards since they think Cherry is representative of modern mechanicals and those aren't like Model Ms. I use the Matias Mini Tactile Pro with my Mac http://matias.ca/minitactilepro/mac/ . It has custom Matias Click switch…

Over the last few years, I held on to my mechanical Apple keyboards with increasing desperation as they started failing. Now, I’m very happy using a Matias Quiet Pro http://matias.ca/quietpro/ since I like the mechanical feel but was never too fond of the noise.

Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#94

Post by gyepi »

I recently moved to South Africa from the US for 10 months and had to be very judicious about what to take with me. My model M keyboard made the list even though it weighs a ton and takes up much valuable space. I was willing to "downsize" from two large monitors to a single laptop monitor, but there is no way I'm going to spend all all typing on a laptop keyboard!

I'll travel to the ends of the earth with mine!

Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#95

Post by brickmort »

p4bl0 wrote: post #40

I'm sorry to say that, and I didn't even visited the link, but I actually laughed when reading the title of this link. After the thread about what 4chan thinks of HN, this is like HN trying to parody itself :-D.

Yeah, this is too much for me. It's creating a problem out of something that I would never consider to be a problem otherwise. I'm typing here on my Dell laptop keyboard with zero problems. As a matter of fact, mechanical key sounds would probably make my computing experience incredibly annoying.

Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#96

Post by ljosa »

icecreampain wrote: post #41

I don't suppose any of y'all would know of a Model-M type keyboard, with nice clicky keys, but without: 1. the windows buttons and 2. the right keypad I find that I never use the keypad anymore and that the increased distance to the trackball is rather of a pain.

They made a Model M like that. It's referred to as the Model M 84-key keyboard or the Model M space-saving keyboard. They are hard to find, and will probably cost you $200 or more. Here are some pictures: http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/categories.main/...

Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#97

Post by ljosa »

A few years ago, I got a Matias Tactile Pro and ended up with wrist pain. I replaced it with a new Model M (from Unicomp), and have not have any problems since.

But I also like the keyboard in my Macbook Pro. If Apple's external keyboards are identical, I would be happy to settle for that if I ever get an office mate that minds the noise.

Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#99

Post by zem »

arun_bansal wrote: post #98

I got one for ~$32, TVS-E Gold USB, they uses Cherry MX Blue. http://www.amazon.in/TVS--Bharat-Gold-Wired-Keyboard/dp/B00A...

my tvs gold was one of the very few things i carried over when i moved from india to the us. been using it for the last five years, and it's still going strong.

Re: Why I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard

#100

Post by goldenkey »

csmuk wrote: post #32

Model M's are horrid. They are like playing a broken piano. I use one of these keyboards on my desktop: http://www.thinkpads.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lenovo_t... It's the same as my laptop. Big thanks to Lenovo for making this piece of awesomeness. Edit: to the downvoters. I was a model M fan for years until it nearly fucked my hands up. CTS surgery was required. Now I prefer lighter touch positive action keybo…

Seconded. The best keyboard I ever had belonged to a third generation IBM Thinkpad. When I saw the Thinkpad keyboard on amazon, I jumped on it. The trackpoint takes a bit of getting used to but it is really great for programming because your hands can remain in a single position and it'll help conserve energy and alleviate strain.

This is the one I bought, is this the same one? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002ONCC6G/B004D9R9OM...

Apparently they removed the touchpad in this later model but improved the stickyness of the keys (some folk complained about the keys being mashy in the 1st generation.) I kind of would have liked a trackpad but the trackpoint does suffice, it's just really hard to get used to after years without one!

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