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Old-School Keyboard Makes Comeback of Sorts

Posted by timothy on from the thrift-store-treasure dept.

CharlotteShma writes "Some old writer once said that in order to keep going, he needed to hear the scratch of the pen on the page. Some self-proclaimed keyboard aficionados would make the same argument for computer keyboards. Is it possible that the old 'clicky' keyboards are making a comeback? Now that we've replaced the old buckling springs with rubber domes, our keyboards are only getting quieter and quieter. According to the people at Unicomp Inc., all keyboards made since the early 1990s are, frankly, no good. They still use and produce vintage IBM Model M keyboards in their small factory in Lexington, Kentucky. The IBM Model M keyboards are ugly, built like tanks, and, most importantly, have a spring under each key which clicks when you press it." Not sure what's ugly about them — most other keyboards are ugly, when you shut your eyes.

5 of 519 comments (clear)

  1. Responsive by airos4 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have my Unicomp and I love it. There's nothing that gives you the same feedback in the fingertips as you type as a nice clicky board. My wife, on the other hand, hates it because - the bedroom is next to my office, and she can hear me at all hours of the night typing away. But... totally worth it.

    As a bonus, I honestly feel that I get less cramping and fatigue when I'm typing happily on this rather than the crap you get most times today. Not sure if there's anything to back that up with, but I graduated from a Microsoft ergo keyboard to this and I'm far happier now.

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    I wish there was a choice that said "Factually Wrong -1" when I mod.
  2. Comeback? They never went away by sokoban · · Score: 3, Informative

    This news is about 12 years old. They have been in Lexington, KY using the same old equipment that IBM used to make the Model M keyboards.

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    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 is the magic number.
  3. Das Keyboard by taucross · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have a Das Keyboard, based on the original Model-M design. Definitely recommended if you're sick of typing into a soggy sponge.

    There is something incredibly satisfying about solving a particularly complex problem, and hitting "enter" for a crunchy click. No other keyboard satisfies my lust for tactility the way this one does.

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    "In the absence of the ability to establish the attribute of truth they tried to establish the noble attributes."
    1. Re:Das Keyboard by bhtooefr · · Score: 3, Informative

      Cherry, actually, and the Cherry design is nothing like the Alps design.

      But, the Das III has some nasty, nasty quality issues. Myself, I use a ($50 new) Ione Scorpius M10, which has the exact same switches as the Das II and III. It has nasty quality issues, too, but they're not as bad as the ones on the Das III, and apparently not as frequent. And the board is $80 cheaper.

  4. Re:On thing mechanical typewriters had by bhtooefr · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ah, in that case, you probably want a Topre Realforce. It uses a rubber dome for cushioning the blow when bottoming out.

    But, ideally, you won't bottom out at all. A good mechanical keyboard will give you at least tactile feedback at the point of actuation, allowing you to begin releasing the key right then.