Comment by bstar77 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bstar77 | Hacker News Reader

I still use my IBM Model-M from 1986. I have 2 of these that I got at the Trenton State Computer Festival (NJ) in 1992.

I had no idea what I was buying when I spent $4 for 2 disgustingly dirty keyboards back when I was 15. I've taken good care of both of them for nearly 30 years and they both still look new.

I've tried some more recent high-end mechanical keyboards, but I ended up giving them to my son. I just like the feel of the Model M more and I can type significantly more accurately with it. My Model M has no issues working with a ps/2 to usb adapter, so one is my daily driver and the other I connect to my KVM for my older PCs. I don't have any connection issues or latencies and they are fine for gaming. I do miss some of the media controls, but I mostly resolved that by using an external audio device.

I'm not really a purest with this stuff, I have lots of newer keyboards including current apple hardware, but I go back to this keyboard for my PCs because I really enjoy using it. I'm not against swapping it out, I've just not been compelled to yet.

For anyone who wants to try a Model M or had them and misses them, Unicomp continues to make them (in the original factory): https://www.pckeyboard.com/. They're even made with USB now, so PS/2 adapters aren't necessary :). Of course, there are also a bunch of older ones on eBay as well - as bstar said, they're built like tanks.

I used a Model M when I was younger and loved it, I'd probably get a used one or buy a Unicomp one if they weren't so dang big.

That's really interesting, I didn't know about these. $104 seems like a pretty solid deal too. Only thing is that the cable doesn't appear to be replaceable. I swap out different length cables quite a bit so this is a little disappointing.

If you buy at Unicomp, I'd recommend the New models. There are two. A full size and a compact. They have better finish than all their other models. Check the review of the full size New Model M here: https://sharktastica.co.uk/articles/newm_review.php

You can find the new Mini M here: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/MINI_M

Model M! Fascinating, are they so durable to last 30 years or you need to fix a key or two once in a while?

I've not had to do anything other than light cleaning. When I moved a few years ago all of my keyboards were in the same box. Apparently it got really hot because a smaller (TKL) style Lexmark era IBM keyboard in that box melted, but my 2 Model Ms were fine.

These things are built like tanks. I don't think I'll ever have to do any repairs on them.

One of the cost cutting decisions when designing the Model M was using plastic rivets. Some of these rivets break and the keys stop responding. My 1997 keyboard still have all the rivets intact, so I suppose that it might have to do with the treatment that the keyboard receives. This video shows how to replace the rivets with bolts: https://youtu.be/dStgzMpOTOA

Sometimes the circuit board might fail too. You can find replacement boards for them too. My keyboard is a 4th generation, which is almost identical to the design sold by Unicomp today. The circuit board died last year and another Model M user designed a compatible circuit board that adds full programability with the QMK keyboard firmware, so I will install that one instead. In addition to programability (Win/Command key, international characters, emojis), the new board converts the keyboard to USB. So yeah, this circuit board really modernizes the keyboard.

https://beta.docs.qmk.fm/

I got one as a present 1991, but I switched to MX Red as I age. My next keyboard will be MX Speed Silver.

I like the Cherry reds too. I don't think you can go wrong with any high end keyboard, I just don't care for rgb lighting.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com