Hacker News Reader

That keyboard there was a work of art. I can still remember typing on one as a kid. So responsive, so satisfying, it just compelled you to want to write more. I own a few mechanical keyboards now and none of them compare to the original IBM Model M (I have heard that there are companies making 'new ones' though so maybe I'll have to try one.)

View on HN

Note that the original PCjr keyboard was notorious for being terrible. One of the major flaws that helped making that system a flop.

What were the other major flaws?

* No standard ISA slots, instead a bulky and expensive ”sidecar” system

* Partially incompatible with regular IBM PC software

* Max 128K RAM

IBM likely did this stuff on purpose to avoid cannibalizing PC sales, but it ended up killing the Jr. Later on Tandy would borrow the PCjr sound and graphics hardware (superior to a normal CGA PC/XT) for a line of more successful personal computers.

> * Max 128K RAM

IBM sold a 128K memory expansion sidecar to bring it to 256K. There is also apparently a way to swap in denser RAM chips to make it 512K (640K total).

And very expensive for all of that.

Thanks

I type every day on an IBM model M ps2 keyboard that I have owned for 30 years lol. Currently connected to an i9-13900K system via a ps2 to usb adapter

Reply on news.ycombinator.com