5 ms·

If you're interested in buying one of these, Unicomp (https://www.pckeyboard.com https://www.pckeyboard.com) purchased the rights to continue making Model M sty

If you're interested in buying one of these, Unicomp (https://www.pckeyboard.com https://www.pckeyboard.com) purchased the rights to continue making Model M style keyboards once Lexmark removed them from their line of products. If you want to buy one of the originals, https://clickykeyboards.com https://clickykeyboards.com has them. Also, the Model F (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_F_keyboard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_F_keyboard) is considered by many as being superior to the Model M. IBM made far fewer Model Fs compared to the Ms, so if you find one of these in the wild, it'll be really expensive. https://www.modelfkeyboards.com https://www.modelfkeyboards.com is trying to re-create the original Model F.

huhtenberg 7y ago
Unicomps are covered in the video, including the backstory.
elric 7y ago
While it's true that Unicomp have purchased all the rights and equipment to make Model M keyboards, the quality doesn't seem to a candle to the original. I managed to break two in the span of two years. At which point I gave up on them and simply built my own. This could just have been catastrophically bad luck. Or like Linus says in the video, maybe it has something to do with their version being based on the newer, cheaper Lexmark version and not the IBM original. Model F was a very interesting keyboard. I was rather fond of the 24 function keys on mine. And I now regret not having taken mine with me when I moved out at age 18.
- Aloha 7y ago
  I've had pretty good luck with them.
- jrockway 7y ago
  The model M got progressively "cheaper" throughout its lifetime. Mostly, metal was replaced with plastic. The keyswitches and keycaps are still top quality. What Unicomp makes today is a mid-90s version of the model M. It's not the best ever made, but it's still pretty good. However, there are other keyboards around that are also pretty good.
- throw7 7y ago
  Same robustness issues with my unicomp. The alt and spacebar keys don't register if not pressed a certain way (wonky)... all in about a year of use. I still have a few model m's, but I got tired of not having a "windows" key, so I gave it a shot and can't recommend them.
  - dlevine 7y ago
    I have a Unicomp, and my roommate spilled water on it once, which caused a bunch of the keys to not register and required a rebuild (which cost almost as much as a new keyboard).
- michaelcampbell 7y ago
  Like every piece of anecdata, it varies. I have a unicomp with PS/2 adapter from ... at least a decade ago; before they even made one with "Windows" keys. Maybe longer. It works as good today as it did then.
  - LukeShu 7y ago
    What I've heard is that Unicomp owns the actual original molds and such, and keeps using them, even though they're deteriorating. So I guess it makes sense that older Unicomp hardware is better. (I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it's what I've heard.)
- CommieBobDole 7y ago
  I use both (model M at home, Unicomp at work) and while I've not had any failures, it's clear that the Unicomp is made of cheaper materials. One example is the case itself - the Model M's case is made of thick ABS, while the Unicomp is made of thin polystyrene. As a result, the two keyboards feel different - there's a a resonance from keypresses on the Unicomp that's almost entirely dampened on the M.
jacobolus 7y ago
> If you're interested in buying one of these, Unicomp ... Or get a used Model M at a flea market, on eBay, or the like. They are relatively indestructible, and generally still work fine 30+ years after production. > if you find [a Model F] in the wild, it'll be really expensive This is a recenct phenomenon. The price e.g. on eBay has gone way up in the past 10 years. You used to be able to buy them for quite cheap. It’s absurd that people will spend >$100 for an XT keyboard with its overlong spacebar, terrible layout, and obsolete communications protocol. There were hundreds of thousands if not millions of Model F keyboards produced (both XT and AT varieties). The keyboard being recreated in https://www.modelfkeyboards.com https://www.modelfkeyboards.com is something different: a very obscure banking keyboard, cf. http://kishy.ca/?p=648 http://kishy.ca/?p=648
- cipherboy 7y ago
  > They are relatively indestructible. I can second that. I have the pleasure of having my grandfather's Model M ('87) and I use it nearly every day. I had to clean it extensively when I first got it, since both grandparents smoked in their house. Cleaned up nicely, good as new. To think, grandma wanted to throw it out! I've flown with it several times... Gotten a few smiles from older TSA agents. Haven't mailed it, but its gone both under the seat and in checked baggage and survives each time. (It fits snugly in my messenger bag). I use it a lot more than my laptop's keyboard and I've had to replace the laptop's up arrow a couple of times... Oh, and it works wonders with my father's text editor too (vi, though I prefer vim).
  - thelazydogsback 7y ago
    > I have the pleasure of having my grandfather's Model M ('87) Yikes. Thanks for that little kick in the pants :)
    - cipherboy 7y ago
      It is about a decade older than me too. :)
- lightedman 7y ago
crimsonalucard 7y ago
unicomp keyboards are terrible quality. FYI before you purchase.
40four 7y ago
Have seen clickykeyboards.com before, seems like a great place to get a refurbished model M. They seem to take great care in making sure everything is in good working order. Considered picking one up when I got into mechanical keyboards last year, but I went with a WASD with Cherry MX ‘Clear’ switches. Really happy with it!
op00to 7y ago
The Unicomp keyboards are nowhere near as nice as the model ms.

huhtenberg 7y ago

Unicomps are covered in the video, including the backstory.

elric 7y ago

While it's true that Unicomp have purchased all the rights and equipment to make Model M keyboards, the quality doesn't seem to a candle to the original. I managed to break two in the span of two years. At which point I gave up on them and simply built my own. This could just have been catastrophically bad luck. Or like Linus says in the video, maybe it has something to do with their version being based on the newer, cheaper Lexmark version and not the IBM original. Model F was a very interesting keyboard. I was rather fond of the 24 function keys on mine. And I now regret not having taken mine with me when I moved out at age 18.

Aloha 7y ago
I've had pretty good luck with them.
jrockway 7y ago
The model M got progressively "cheaper" throughout its lifetime. Mostly, metal was replaced with plastic. The keyswitches and keycaps are still top quality. What Unicomp makes today is a mid-90s version of the model M. It's not the best ever made, but it's still pretty good. However, there are other keyboards around that are also pretty good.
throw7 7y ago
Same robustness issues with my unicomp. The alt and spacebar keys don't register if not pressed a certain way (wonky)... all in about a year of use. I still have a few model m's, but I got tired of not having a "windows" key, so I gave it a shot and can't recommend them.
- dlevine 7y ago
  I have a Unicomp, and my roommate spilled water on it once, which caused a bunch of the keys to not register and required a rebuild (which cost almost as much as a new keyboard).
michaelcampbell 7y ago
Like every piece of anecdata, it varies. I have a unicomp with PS/2 adapter from ... at least a decade ago; before they even made one with "Windows" keys. Maybe longer. It works as good today as it did then.
- LukeShu 7y ago
  What I've heard is that Unicomp owns the actual original molds and such, and keeps using them, even though they're deteriorating. So I guess it makes sense that older Unicomp hardware is better. (I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it's what I've heard.)
CommieBobDole 7y ago
I use both (model M at home, Unicomp at work) and while I've not had any failures, it's clear that the Unicomp is made of cheaper materials. One example is the case itself - the Model M's case is made of thick ABS, while the Unicomp is made of thin polystyrene. As a result, the two keyboards feel different - there's a a resonance from keypresses on the Unicomp that's almost entirely dampened on the M.

jacobolus 7y ago

> If you're interested in buying one of these, Unicomp ... Or get a used Model M at a flea market, on eBay, or the like. They are relatively indestructible, and generally still work fine 30+ years after production. > if you find [a Model F] in the wild, it'll be really expensive This is a recenct phenomenon. The price e.g. on eBay has gone way up in the past 10 years. You used to be able to buy them for quite cheap. It’s absurd that people will spend >$100 for an XT keyboard with its overlong spacebar, terrible layout, and obsolete communications protocol. There were hundreds of thousands if not millions of Model F keyboards produced (both XT and AT varieties). The keyboard being recreated in https://www.modelfkeyboards.com https://www.modelfkeyboards.com is something different: a very obscure banking keyboard, cf. http://kishy.ca/?p=648 http://kishy.ca/?p=648

cipherboy 7y ago
> They are relatively indestructible. I can second that. I have the pleasure of having my grandfather's Model M ('87) and I use it nearly every day. I had to clean it extensively when I first got it, since both grandparents smoked in their house. Cleaned up nicely, good as new. To think, grandma wanted to throw it out! I've flown with it several times... Gotten a few smiles from older TSA agents. Haven't mailed it, but its gone both under the seat and in checked baggage and survives each time. (It fits snugly in my messenger bag). I use it a lot more than my laptop's keyboard and I've had to replace the laptop's up arrow a couple of times... Oh, and it works wonders with my father's text editor too (vi, though I prefer vim).
- thelazydogsback 7y ago
  > I have the pleasure of having my grandfather's Model M ('87) Yikes. Thanks for that little kick in the pants :)
  - cipherboy 7y ago
    It is about a decade older than me too. :)
lightedman 7y ago

crimsonalucard 7y ago

unicomp keyboards are terrible quality. FYI before you purchase.

40four 7y ago

Have seen clickykeyboards.com before, seems like a great place to get a refurbished model M. They seem to take great care in making sure everything is in good working order. Considered picking one up when I got into mechanical keyboards last year, but I went with a WASD with Cherry MX ‘Clear’ switches. Really happy with it!

op00to 7y ago

The Unicomp keyboards are nowhere near as nice as the model ms.