Cherry's New Keyboard Switches Emulate IBM Model M Feel 298
crookedvulture writes "Slashdot has already covered the four main flavors of Cherry MX mechanical key switches: red, black, blue, and brown. Now, there's a green MX variant that emulates the feel of the buckling spring switches in old-school IBM Model M keyboards. The green switches combine tactile feedback, an audible click, and a stiff spring that requires 80g of actuation force. They're a stiffer version of the MX blues that more closely matches the characteristics of IBM's buckling spring design. Previously reserved for use with space bars, the green switches have now taken over an entire Cooler Master keyboard. And, unlike the old Model M and contemporary copycats, the new CM Storm Trigger has modern conveniences like an integrated USB hub, LED backlighting, and programmable macros." I've had my hopes raised and then dashed by some other keyboards whose makers promised Model M feel, so I'll believe it when I feel and hear it.
Re:As opposed to actual Model Ms which are still m (Score:4, Interesting)
1000 fake modpoints to you sir. You win an internet.
Or just buy a used model M. All the ones ever made likely still work. Some of them might be in the dump but even those likely still work.
Typed on a keyboard born on 1990-07-17.
Never Mind the Model M.... (Score:4, Interesting)
Why buy a copycat? (Score:4, Interesting)
Why purchase an imitator when you can buy the original âoeModel Mâ. We have produced the buckling spring âoeClickâ keyboard for IBM and thousands of discriminating users worldwide for 15 yearsâ¦. Join the many that have made the switch to a much more accurate data entry alternative.
http://www.pckeyboard.com/ [pckeyboard.com]
IBM originally contracted out their keyboards to Lexmark and, when the contract ran out, Lexmark employees bought the rights and formed Unicomp.
Re:So... (Score:5, Interesting)
So true, 8" cast iron skillet belonged to my grandmother, it really shows no signs of wear that a good wire brushing of the outside surface won't fix. Probably good for a couple hundred years of use, easily. No stickier than your average 'no-stick' thing that even if you pay $100 bucks for it will last 2 years tops.
Older ain't better, but it ain't worse either.
Re:Ok now how about an ergo version (Score:4, Interesting)
Also "reverse tilt" please! That's being able to prop up the front of the keyboard. The only remotely normal keyboard (e.g. not one of those Kinesis things) that I know that has that built in is the MS Natural 4000. I've bought a few of those and they're good, but it'd be nice to have more options. The reverse tilt is basically a killer feature for me.
Re:As opposed to actual Model Ms which are still m (Score:4, Interesting)
"I have a hell of a time finding Model M keyboards. "
Goodwill is where I've found all of mine.
Re:Ok now how about an ergo version (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:As opposed to actual Model Ms which are still m (Score:5, Interesting)
Thrift stores are the cheapest bet (think out-of-the-way Mom and Pop Christian Ministry type thrift stores, not Goodwill).
Stopped by one recently and asked if they had any old keyboards in the back. The employee pointed me outside to a shed behind the building. There was literally a pile of old IBM Model Ms laying behind the place, had been hit by rain several times. Took a garbage sack of them home, let them dry out and everything was fine (there was even an old IBM model 5150, but my wife wasn't about to let me add that to the PC graveyard in the office).
The annoying bit is that so many of them are AT instead of PS/2 (good luck even finding PS/2 ports on modern hardware, now it is just 4 USB ports in the back).
Model F (Score:2, Interesting)
A couple of mentions of the Model F already but I think it's worth a dedicated post! My understanding is that the Model M (a keyboard before whose build quality, longevity and tactility modern keyboards quake in fear) originated as the cheaper, mass-market version of the older Model F keyboard. I have both a Model M and a Model F; I do find the key feel of the latter to be even nicer. It's also even louder and heavier - and I don't have one of the really big 122 key terminal variants.
The Model M does actually use a membrane (a bit like a modern keyboard) to detect key presses but it puts a spring and a hammer / foot on top. The Model F uses a hammer / foot but senses its movement using capacitative sensing. In principle it seems like there is even less to wear out using this mechanism - not that the Model M typically has lifetime issues! I've also heard that this potentially gives the keyboard n-key rollover, which the Model M cannot achieve. I suppose you might need a custom controller to actually get the benefit, though.
It's worth trying a Model F if you get the chance; the only trouble is that at least some of them had a horrible, heavy space bar - that can be fixed by a spring modification. The other problem is that the layouts are varying degrees of crazy, since it appears people still weren't really sure what keys should be on a keyboard (or where). Still, it's the only keyboard you can successfully use to intimidate Model M users, when you're telling them to get off your lawn.
Re:As opposed to actual Model Ms which are still m (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Because it isn't ergonomic (Score:4, Interesting)
As Wikipedia likes to say [citation needed]. I can full well understand wanting a good keyboard, but I'd need some actual evidence that high activation force means good. Cherry switches can do a nice mechanical action with a positive bump AND low activation force.
Also you may want to be a little careful. Perhaps your body is structured such that no form of RSI will ever affect you, but probably not. Most people have a threshold where repetitive motion in an unergonomic form will cause a problem at some point. If you spend all your time typing and do so on a straight, high force, clickey keyboard, well you may discover that you no longer have that option later in life. You'll get some pain and numbness, then it'll get worse, then you'll start to lose range of motion and so on and it'll get worse, and worse until you either deal with it, or you are disabled.
Ergonomics aren't about "coddling", as though if you just toughened up and dealt wit it things would get better, they are about preventing problems. You ignore proper ergonomics at your own risk.
I'd suggest you pick up Dr. Emil Pascarelli's book "Repetitive Strain Injury" and educate yourself on it if you do indeed type "all day, every day" as you say. It is good information, and has several pages of references to journal articles on the subject.
My concern with good keyboards, desks, chairs, etc is not if I can be an "effective" typist by whatever artificial standard you've set in your head. It is if I can continue to use computers regularly for my whole career without becoming disabled. I already have had the problems of basic RSI so it is something I'm quite aware of. You should get yourself aware of it, given that your use sounds pretty intense, and deal with it BEFORE it is a problem.
Or, you can try and be a tough guy, and then end up at 40 or 50 crying because you can't work, have difficulty lifting a cup to your mouth, etc (it really can get that bad) because you thought you knew the One True Way(tm) to be a typist.