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Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

pckeyboard.com

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Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#61

Post by ahefner »

adrianmonk wrote: post #26

As long as we're talking mechanical keyboards, do they all require maintenance just to keep working, or is the basic Cooler Master one I bought just a dud? After only like 2 years, many of the keys stopped working reliably. They'd double type or fail to register. I looked into it, and this seems to be a common issue with many mechanical keyboards. I tried some of the recommended solutions (blow dust out, use contact…

I think they're generally reliable. I have a pair of Filco keyboards, one five years old, the other ten, and I haven't had any trouble except I did have to open the older one up and clean it recently as a couple switches had gotten gunked up.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#62

Post by intrasight »

imaginarypedro wrote: post #8

I had a classic 101-key Unicomp Model M that I purchased while they were apparently having quality problems due to worn out tooling. The keys felt different than my real Model Ms and the spacebar frequently stuck. They've since refurbished the tooling and I hear the quality is back to the high level you would expect. For me though I just chose to retire the Unicomp and refurbish my real Model Ms. I bought three about…

Every couple of years, I try a new keyboard. But after a day or two I return to the Model M that I'm typing on now. I bought a few on ebay about 20 years ago - so I'm good until retirement.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#63

Post by al_borland »

imaginarypedro wrote: post #8

I had a classic 101-key Unicomp Model M that I purchased while they were apparently having quality problems due to worn out tooling. The keys felt different than my real Model Ms and the spacebar frequently stuck. They've since refurbished the tooling and I hear the quality is back to the high level you would expect. For me though I just chose to retire the Unicomp and refurbish my real Model Ms. I bought three about…

How long ago were the issues? A co-worker of mine bought one many years ago (10-12 if I had to guess). It was pretty bad. He spent a bunch of time filing down all the bits of extra plastic from the manufacturing process. I had seen better finishing on keyboard costing a fraction of the price. Not that Unicomp has the highest prices in the market, far from it, but it’s not a $10 OEM board either.

I had wanted to buy one, but seeing his always made me think twice, so never did.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#64

Post by JasonFruit »

h2odragon wrote: post #40
geophile wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it's loud. My wife complains about it. (I didn't realize how loud until I got hearing aids.) Fortunately, we have offices far apart from each other.

I've had complaints that a burst of typing sounded like a spray paint can being shaken. I beat other kinds of keyboards to death in months. My unicomp is into year 4 . I had a stack of real Model M's from 87 to 93, that I got from a school system and refurbished in '97. Those lasted me an average of 3 years each. I got the unicomp after trying a few of the other brands in the gap after pounding the last of that stack…

That sounds like a you problem, not a keyboard problem. A good mechanical keyboard should last better than that. Excessive force doesn't code faster.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#65

Post by AshamedCaptain »

doublepg23 wrote: post #37
TillE wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of nostalgia built up in that ~10 year period where it was really difficult to find a new mechanical keyboard, so the old Model M (and to a lesser extent the Apple Extended Keyboard) developed something of a cult following. Personally I've settled on Kailh BOX White switches as pleasantly clicky without too much resistance.

My model Ms are older than me, I don't think it's nostalgia.

Considering that most people who used model Ms in the era just threw them away (I remember the days you'd find them on resale bins by the kilo), I don't know what it is.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#66

Post by neom »

jtriangle wrote: post #5

This is quite cool, but I really don't understand some people's affinity toward buckling spring switches, they're loud and odd feeling, not nearly as consistent as anything cherry or their alternatives are offering.

For me, it's straight nostalgia, although I do think they feel great. I learned to type on a 5150, so it feels very "right" for me. I'd imagine a lot of folks who grew up with green screens and literal floppy disks love them. I don't always use a mechanical keyboard, but I've always owned one.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#67

Post by op00to »

al_borland wrote: post #63
imaginarypedro wrote: post #8

I had a classic 101-key Unicomp Model M that I purchased while they were apparently having quality problems due to worn out tooling. The keys felt different than my real Model Ms and the spacebar frequently stuck. They've since refurbished the tooling and I hear the quality is back to the high level you would expect. For me though I just chose to retire the Unicomp and refurbish my real Model Ms. I bought three about…

How long ago were the issues? A co-worker of mine bought one many years ago (10-12 if I had to guess). It was pretty bad. He spent a bunch of time filing down all the bits of extra plastic from the manufacturing process. I had seen better finishing on keyboard costing a fraction of the price. Not that Unicomp has the highest prices in the market, far from it, but it’s not a $10 OEM board either. I had wanted to buy o…

The unicomp Model M I got 15 years or so ago was an absolute dog that felt like a wish.com version of the venerable Model M. It had constant problems and I ended up releasing it into the general computer lab to be destroyed by postdocs.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#68

Post by h2odragon »

JasonFruit wrote: post #64
h2odragon wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had complaints that a burst of typing sounded like a spray paint can being shaken. I beat other kinds of keyboards to death in months. My unicomp is into year 4 . I had a stack of real Model M's from 87 to 93, that I got from a school system and refurbished in '97. Those lasted me an average of 3 years each. I got the unicomp after trying a few of the other brands in the gap after pounding the last of that stack…

That sounds like a you problem, not a keyboard problem. A good mechanical keyboard should last better than that. Excessive force doesn't code faster.

I have skin problems, and shed enormous amounts of dead skin dust. Often with blood. Its unusually corrosive, just to add fun.

Re: Unicomp's "New" Model M Keyboard

#70

Post by op00to »

I grew up a half mile away from a major IBM office. My friends and I would sneak through the woods and go dumpster diving. We would routinely get 3-4 new in box keyboards, plenty of floppies, even real fancy chairs!
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