I have a Unicomp New model M and I used for a long time. The only reason I am using something else is because it kept waking the baby up and apparently I should "get a less noisy keyboard like a normal person."
Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
11–20 of 191 posts
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#12I used one for years and liked it, but, after switching to an ergonomic keyboard, I wouldn't want to primarily move back to a standard one.
Which ergonomic model did you choose?
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#13Not sure if this breaks HN's rules, but I'd love to hear anyones suggestions on favorite split keyboards. There's a lot of homebrew boards out there that're very small/light but I have sausage fingers and the demeanor of an orangutan. https://www.amazon.com/KINESIS-Advantage360-Professional-Erg... ^closest I've found, but $$$
I didn't know Kinesis had a split board. Thanks for the tip.
The ErgoDox/Moonlander are in that price range and are highly thought of.
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#14These are the second loudest keyboards I've ever used. The first loudest plays a sound on every keypress (a loud typewriter keypress), with the sound instead changing to me yelling "DING!" whenever that key is . This is done in software, and I'm certain everyone who's ever had a hand in writing it regrets it.
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#15I used one for years and liked it, but, after switching to an ergonomic keyboard, I wouldn't want to primarily move back to a standard one.
Which ergonomic model did you choose?
Not OP, but I use the kinesis advantage but if I was going to pick one again I'd go with the ergodox, also had a keyboardio but switching between types is kinda tricky and annoying
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#16Huh. Neat, I guess.
I was lucky enough to get an original IBM Model M keyboard from a friend when the lab he was at was clearing out their old equipment.
Plugged it in a few years back through a USB-to-PS/2 adapter when my basic Logitech keyboard crapped out for no reason.
Mapped CapsLock to the "Win" (Super) key, and...
...still using it, without feeling that anything's missing.
Some things have reached their peak form, I guess. A 3-speed city bicycle is one of them; IBM Model M keyboard is another. Glad there's a company out there making it.
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#17Not sure if this breaks HN's rules, but I'd love to hear anyones suggestions on favorite split keyboards. There's a lot of homebrew boards out there that're very small/light but I have sausage fingers and the demeanor of an orangutan. https://www.amazon.com/KINESIS-Advantage360-Professional-Erg... ^closest I've found, but $$$
I supported the Keyboardio kickstarter and purchased two Model 01s which I liked very much. The problems I had with it were twofold: first - I use my pointer finger for the "c" key, which was very difficult and I had to switch to my middle finger. This adjustment was made with a little effort and eventually my brain was able to switch depending on which keyboard my hands were fit to - sort of like a dialect. The much larger problem was that _both_ the 'b' keys broke within the first couple of years. It did not quite fit the heirloom quality point for me and I didn't feel like taking it apart and figuring out what was going on.
Since then, I have switched to Mistel split keyboard which have the exact feel as any other qwerty keyboard and I haven't looked back (though I did rebind some of the keys, like the arrows for example, to match the vi movement keys).
I'm interested in keymouse (keymouse.com) but frankly don't feel like dropping a bunch of money on another experimental design. So I've got two Mistels for both my daily drivers and will likely continue with that brand as I've been very happy with the quality.
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#18I have a Unicomp New model M and I used for a long time. The only reason I am using something else is because it kept waking the baby up and apparently I should "get a less noisy keyboard like a normal person."
Fwiw, open office with short cubicle walls + standing desks that put your desk surface above the wall + mech keyboards was the bane of my existence. Appreciate having some awareness and compassion for those around you.
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#19As an aside and a huge lover of mechanical keyboards since the original IBM model M with the buckler springs, I picked up a Keychron Q5 Pro a few months ago and really like it.
https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q5-pro-qmk-via-wi...
It's pretty easy to replace the key caps and it has a very good tactile feel to it. It does weigh as much as a houseboat but that's fine as I prefer it to stay stationary.
One thing that makes their keyboards stand out over almost any other mechanicals is it has a means of quickly swapping between three different Bluetooth pairings, so I have it paired with three different computers.
Now if only I could find an equivalent mouse with a mechanical switch underneath it that let me swap between three different computers wirelessly via BT I would be set...
Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard
#20Not sure if this breaks HN's rules, but I'd love to hear anyones suggestions on favorite split keyboards. There's a lot of homebrew boards out there that're very small/light but I have sausage fingers and the demeanor of an orangutan. https://www.amazon.com/KINESIS-Advantage360-Professional-Erg... ^closest I've found, but $$$
ZSA Moonlander is awesome (https://www.zsa.io/moonlander).
Their configuration tool is excellent, its a really easy keyboard to use and configure without making it a full time hobby.