For anyone who loves the feel of these Model M "clicky" keyboards, a company called Unicomp purchased the rights and still manufactures them and even has USB versions.
How is the durability compared to OG Model M keyboards? I've been seeing Unicomps on eBay come up for around $50. If they are as rock solid as their predecessors, it should be an absolute deal.
I bought one of the Unicomp Model M keyboards in the 101 key configuration for comparison. Build quality is good, not great. Feels similar but is louder and the keys wobble slightly compared to my 89 model m.
If you want this experience, I’d suggest you grab a used model M on eBay. TFI had good reference on usb to ps2 adapters that work. For an xt cable, you can buy a sorros (sp?) converter for 40 bucks. Or a new usb to RJ cable that will plug directly into the keyboard.
Electrically, not perfect (but I don't know what the old ones were like). I have a USB one that simply died when I lost power one day. I was astounded to find that it was the keyboard that actually died and not the USB port stopped working or something.
The most reliable keyboards I've found to actually be basic Keytronic models.
I bought an endura pro, the ultra-nav (the red nub in the middle of the keyboard) doesn't work properly: it moves at different speeds depending on whether you're moving towards the right vs left. It drives me crazy.
The problem seems to be that it gets stopped by a key and doesn't get tilted enought to trigger pointer acceleration.
I'm supposed to erode a key somehow... To allow the lever to move a bit more, but it's a dumb solution to a problem that shouldn't be there in the first place.
Comments
For anyone who loves the feel of these Model M "clicky" keyboards, a company called Unicomp purchased the rights and still manufactures them and even has USB versions.
I own one and I love it.
https://www.pckeyboard.com/
How is the durability compared to OG Model M keyboards? I've been seeing Unicomps on eBay come up for around $50. If they are as rock solid as their predecessors, it should be an absolute deal.
I bought one of the Unicomp Model M keyboards in the 101 key configuration for comparison. Build quality is good, not great. Feels similar but is louder and the keys wobble slightly compared to my 89 model m.
If you want this experience, I’d suggest you grab a used model M on eBay. TFI had good reference on usb to ps2 adapters that work. For an xt cable, you can buy a sorros (sp?) converter for 40 bucks. Or a new usb to RJ cable that will plug directly into the keyboard.
Physically, the same.
Electrically, not perfect (but I don't know what the old ones were like). I have a USB one that simply died when I lost power one day. I was astounded to find that it was the keyboard that actually died and not the USB port stopped working or something.
The most reliable keyboards I've found to actually be basic Keytronic models.
One of the most useless purchases of my life.
I bought an endura pro, the ultra-nav (the red nub in the middle of the keyboard) doesn't work properly: it moves at different speeds depending on whether you're moving towards the right vs left. It drives me crazy.
The problem seems to be that it gets stopped by a key and doesn't get tilted enought to trigger pointer acceleration.
I'm supposed to erode a key somehow... To allow the lever to move a bit more, but it's a dumb solution to a problem that shouldn't be there in the first place.