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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

#61

Post by Nursie »

pvnick wrote: post #28

I've recently had to readjust the way type to be more wrist-friendly since I've been seeing the beginning (intermediate? God I hope not...) stages of repetitive stress injury. And that's on my relatively ergonomic macbook air, which from what I've read is designed from the start to prevent that sort of thing. I cringe to think of the kind of damage I'd do to my wrists from developing on one of these things for any pe…

Mechanical keys have a much better feel to me, and you don't end up with so many blunted impacts, the finger movements are much more natural and much less stressful.

IMHO, YMMV etc etc.

I can also go much faster on a model M or cherry.

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

#62

Post by VLM »

grandalf wrote: post #30

Caution -- I used one of these and I think it led to bad habits which eventually caused a bit of RSI. Before the model M I typed very lightly on the keyboard, but once I started using the M I began to press a bit harder in response to the positive clicking sound. Neither my speed or accuracy changed as a result of using the M. Next thing I knew, I'd pound the keys on any keyboard, regardless of whether it had positiv…

"I'd pound the keys on any keyboard, regardless of whether it had positive clicking."

My experience is the reverse, I have a couple cheap mushboards at work and the variability of force means I have to hit each key exactly the same each time (bad) and have to pound the heck out of it because the A key takes about twice the force of the F key (however small) and tiny variations in striking angle results in dramatic change in force required. So my hands have to be in exactly the same position every time and I have to pound the heck out of it. Luckily this is a secondary machine I don't have to type very much on!

On the other hand my model M at home is smooth as silk so I can microscopically vary my wrist positions with no change in force required, and decades later the force required is still more or less constant across all keys and lower than my mushboard at work.

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

#63

Post by ludzone »

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…

Agreed, this keyboard is just awesome. I own a Thinkpad laptop and one of these keyboards at home and work. Perfect key sizes and not very loud. But if you do need that feeling of getting some work done or type up a stern email or two, go ahead and give your keystrokes some oomph. I'm always pleased with results :)

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

#64

Post by Joeri »

pvnick wrote: post #28

I've recently had to readjust the way type to be more wrist-friendly since I've been seeing the beginning (intermediate? God I hope not...) stages of repetitive stress injury. And that's on my relatively ergonomic macbook air, which from what I've read is designed from the start to prevent that sort of thing. I cringe to think of the kind of damage I'd do to my wrists from developing on one of these things for any pe…

I have had RSI off an on over the past 2 decades. There are only two types of 'primary' keyboards on which I have no issues: my model M, and a curved layout keyboard (using a microsoft 2000 keyboard these days). I think they work in different ways. The curved layout avoids straining my wrists altogether, while the model M changes the 'quality' of the strain to something less harmful. Of the two the model M is definitely the nicest to type on. Anything you type on it feels important. It is too loud though, so I don't use it anymore. Also, my typing accuracy is much higher on the curved layout of the microsoft 2000.

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

#65

Post by brandoncordell »

I've used the Cooler Master Quickfire at my old job which made me fall in love with mechanical keyboards. After leaving the job (and the keyboard) behind, I decided to spend more time looking a keyboard that would fit my needs. The options are certainly plentiful but I ultimately ended up buying a Ducky Shine 3 with Cherry MX Blue switches.

I absolutely love this keyboard, and if you look past the tacky gamer/marketing features of the keyboard (various backlighting modes, like a "snake" that goes back and forth between your keys) it's a fantastic keyboard.

It works great on a Mac, the include a replacement spacebar which is way better looking than the ugly "backlight dragon" that advertise with the keyboard. It came in at just about $140.

Mechanicalkeyboards(.com) usually has the harder to find mechanical keyboards in stock.

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

#66

Post by unhappyhippie »

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.

I had the same thought, except this would be a parody of /g/ as well given how much Model M's are popular there.

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

#67

Post by rfnslyr »

When my office was moving, my friends (other coops) and I found a STASH of model M keyboard. It was amazing. We each got one, a few us sold them for $300+, but we spent a day or two after work cleaning them all out. Disgusting after 20 years of work but so satisfying once they looked brand new.

http://imgur.com/a/o4Gtw

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

#68

Post by cynwoody »

IBM keyboards of old were distinguished by their superior tactile feedback.

In fact, some of the old mainframe terminals, e.g., the 3270†, were capable of physically locking the keyboard when the program was not expecting input. When the keyboard was locked, you couldn't type — the keys would not depress. When the system was ready for input, it would send a keyboard restore order, you would hear a faint click from within the keyboard, and the keys would then go down when pressed.

†http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_3270

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

#69

Post by kbaker »

AbsoluteDestiny wrote: post #39
highace wrote: post #22

Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless with brown switches for me. It's reasonably priced, looks lovely, and is brilliant to type on. That the keys come off for washing and brushing out the keyboard base is also a nice bonus. http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-...

This is my favourite keyboard, particularly in the poorly-named 'ninja' version where the keys are printed on the front instead of the top which avoids the print rubbing off. http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-filco-ninja-majestouch...

Yes! I love this keyboard, and use it everyday. 10-key-full though, with Cherry MX Browns (also the US layout so there's a real backslash key):

http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/usa-filco-ninja-majestouc...

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