Reborn IBM Model M a great improvement on average keyboards, features USB port

For me the quality of a keyboard is based entirely on how well my wrists and fingers deal with typing on it. I have been using a Kinesis keyboard for nearly a year and it makes my finger pain nearly go away. When I use my laptop keyboard instead, it comes back within a few days -- it's just immensely more comfortable on the Kinesis.

It's $300, but the cost-benefit analysis was easy for me to make: if I don't buy it, I either can't type (not really an option for me), or I end up spending much more than that on surgery or something insane.

I don't know what technology is behind the springs in the keys, but it has two important characteristics for my fingers -- it doesn't require much force to press, and I can type without my fingers "hitting bottom" (the keys travel quite far, 4mm according to their website, and they activate at 2mm). Furthermore, the keyboard makes a little electronic 'click' when the key activates, providing that auditory feedback.

I went on a bit of a Keyboard Quest earlier this year...

1) Started with a Microsoft Natural USB keyboard - one of the split ones. Good, but not great keyfeel, and lots of typing on my MBP 17" got me used to typing on a standard keyboard again... I felt like going back to mechanical keyswitches, so...

2) Moved to an original IBM Model M and a PS/2 adapter.. Great, except for the immediately apparent fact that there was no Windows/Command key, thereby making it incredibly useless for a Mac power user.

3) Moved to a Griffin iMate and Apple Extended Keyboard II - The Nimitz. Worked fine, but the key feel was a little flimsy compared to the Model M.

4) Moved to a Griffin iMate and Apple Extended Keyboard I - The USS Enterprise. Liked the key feel a little better, but still didn't have that Model M feel to it.

5) Bought a USB Unicomp Customizer. Key feel of the Model M, with the Windows/Command key to keep me happy. It doesn't have the same internal metal frame, which does make it feel rather lighter when picking it up and perhaps slightly flimsier, but nothing you'd notice when actually typing on it... as near as I can tell, the keyswitches themselves are identical.

Thumbs up on the Unicomp Customizer, but the old-fashioned Apple keyboards are very nice as well... anything with mechanical keyswitches will feel far better than a new-fangled membrane keyboard. Well worth the $60 IMHO.

WARNING: I used a model M for a few years and during that time got into the habit of pounding the keys far harder than necessary. This has led to some RSI problems.

Beware. The model M was designed to please secretaries who were used to positive click from the days of mechanical typewriters -- it's silly, and analogous to making running shoes with metal in the back to mimic the jingling of spurs.

I did enjoy the positive click, it made my typing sound like some sort of engine rattling away... but that entertainment comes at a cost.

I'm using a dell AT101W that I found deep within my organizations storage...It's not quite a model M but it has the buckling springs and that distinctive clacking when i type. everyone in my office knows when i'm typing, don't know whether or not that is good...

Jesus christ what's the key travel there? 1cm or so?

I love my Model M's. I bought 2 off eBay and have been using them on my computers ever since. One had a key stick (not mechanical, oddly) but the seller sent me a replacement for free. If these new clones are any good I would love to pick up a couple.