Old-School Keyboard Makes Comeback of Sorts 519
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.
Responsive (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.
they are pretty good (Score:3, Informative)
By a coincidence, I just received a new keyboard from them on Monday. It feels much like the IBM Model M I'm typing this on now, but the keys feel 'looser' - there is a little more back and forth wobble on the new Customizer keyboard from Unicomp than there is on my Model M. Too soon to tell yet whether I will find it distracting or not; the new keyboard is on my game machine at home and I don't use it as often as my I use my work machines.
Comeback? They never went away (Score:4, 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.
Das Keyboard (Score:5, Informative)
I have a Das Keyboard [daskeyboard.com], 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.
Re:Matias (Score:3, Informative)
"I found the Matias Tactile for my Mac a few years ago, and was willing to shell out the $100 for it. Have never regretted it, either."
Tactile feedback improves performance and accuracy. There is good reason aircraft controls and switches are designed to provide it.
Re:Yay! (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Maybe more ergonomic? (Score:2, Informative)
Typing this on an original MNK, the crown prince of keyboards, accept no spurious imitations.
Re:I dunno about audible feedback.... (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know whether it's the audible feedback, or the mechanical feedback, but I've got a pair of old Focus FK2000 and FK2001 keyboards on my computers.
Maybe not quite an IBM Type M, but I can type about 20WPM faster, and with fewer errors, on one of these "clicky" keyboards than any of the crap rubber button ones.
They feel like you're typing in Jello. Seriously.
Something with a good solid thunk when I hit a key makes an incredible difference to my typing.
But, I've played the piano for 25 years, so it could be the mechanical feel of them, rather than the actual click. But either way, I hate cheap keyboards....
Re:Odd that we're seeing this again (Score:2, Informative)
Less, if you exclude the phone and light bills. It doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I got a roof, fridge, stove, hot water, and a computer. The weather's nice, and the beach is close by. Am I missing anything? And no, I don't get near McDonalds. Not after I saw the inside of their ice cream machine. Besides, they're very expensive.
Re:Nice (Score:2, Informative)
Re:5001 (Score:2, Informative)
There is no meta key, and it bothers me because my thumb tends to hit ALT because the meta key moves everything over. So the spacebar is smaller.
The bottom row is:
CTLR ALT SpaceBar ALT CTRL
Re:On thing mechanical typewriters had (Score:4, 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.
Re:Das Keyboard (Score:4, 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.
Re:I dunno about audible feedback.... (Score:3, Informative)
But not good when you have to type while others sleep. Some of us need the quiet keyboards or have them bashed over our heads at 2am.
ABS's M1 keyboard [abs.com] is a mechanical switch keyboard that provides the important tactile feedback, but supposedly does not produce those auditory clicks according to Tech Report's recent review [techreport.com].
I don't know how important the audible clicks are, but a quiet option exists.