Enough people have wondered/asked/complained to me about this that I'm posting this now as a public service.
IBM Model "M" keyboards are still available, *NEW*, today. They are expensive, but they are the original design that you can use as a melee weapon. The catch is that they don't say "IBM" or even "Lexmark" on them. They are available for purchase from the manufacturer, Unicomp, who can be found online at http://www.pckeyboard.com/.
You can also find some vintage NIB units from time to time at http://www.clickykeyboards.com/.
There are also a number of other manufacturers now making similar, but not quite as good, keyboards.
- CVT Inc., the maker of the Avant Stellar (I own two of them), which is the direct descendant of the Northgate Omnikey, seems to have restructured and no trace of their keyboard manufacturing operation can be found online. However, Northgate keyboards are still available new-in-box from (this is a horrible site, beware) http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/.
- The Happy Hacking keyboard (now owned by Fujitsu, apparently) is equally comforting to some people despite having a totally different feel. They, and many others, can be had from http://www.elitekeyboards.com/
- Das Keyboard
- Anything using Cherry MX Green, Blue, or White keyswitches. The "green" switches apparently are the closest anyone's come yet to emulating the IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp switches... and they can be had in MUCH cheaper keyboards, like the Rosewill RK-9000 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040 and http://techreport.com/review/23405/rosewill-rk-9000-series-mechanical-ke yboards-reviewed).
- And there are an increasing number (yes, again, after the big die-off ca. 2009) of speciality manufacturers of "ergonomic" keyboards that are making clicky keyswitches available as an option. One of the better ones is a tiny shop in Ontario, but I can't find the name right now.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicomp http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX
-Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net
Extremely interesting! This posting really clicked with me.
When I'm not on a laptop, my desktop keyboard is still the famous Maxiswitch 101 / Tucson 101 with the rubber dome keyswitches, which I've been using since 2006-2007 (yes, even the same unit - it lasts forever - and I got two spares back then which I still have NIB). It is totally silent (which I prefer), but has a clear-cut rollover effect that's not too far off the IBM clicky keyboard. This model did become the standard in many typing rooms in industry over the years of its availability.
An honourable mention also goes to Keytronic, and I have two NIB units of their superb KB2000 model, which has characteristics very similar to the Maxiswitch 101.
Frankly, I have no idea how secretaries and receptionists can be productive using today's crappy keyboards.
Hartmut Sager
On 14 September 2013 21:56, Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net wrote:
Enough people have wondered/asked/complained to me about this that I'm posting this now as a public service.
IBM Model "M" keyboards are still available, *NEW*, today. They are expensive, but they are the original design that you can use as a melee weapon. The catch is that they don't say "IBM" or even "Lexmark" on them. They are available for purchase from the manufacturer, Unicomp, who can be found online at http://www.pckeyboard.com/.
You can also find some vintage NIB units from time to time at http://www.clickykeyboards.com/.
There are also a number of other manufacturers now making similar, but not quite as good, keyboards.
- CVT Inc., the maker of the Avant Stellar (I own two of them), which
is the direct descendant of the Northgate Omnikey, seems to have restructured and no trace of their keyboard manufacturing operation can be found online. However, Northgate keyboards are still available new-in-box from (this is a horrible site, beware) http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/.
- The Happy Hacking keyboard (now owned by Fujitsu, apparently) is
equally comforting to some people despite having a totally different feel. They, and many others, can be had from http://www.elitekeyboards.com/
Das Keyboard
Anything using Cherry MX Green, Blue, or White keyswitches. The
"green" switches apparently are the closest anyone's come yet to emulating the IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp switches... and they can be had in MUCH cheaper keyboards, like the Rosewill RK-9000 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040 and http://techreport.com/review/23405/rosewill-rk-9000-series-mechanical-ke yboards-reviewed).
- And there are an increasing number (yes, again, after the big die-off
ca. 2009) of speciality manufacturers of "ergonomic" keyboards that are making clicky keyswitches available as an option. One of the better ones is a tiny shop in Ontario, but I can't find the name right now.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicomp http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX
-Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net
Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
They're pretty great. My first computer had one.
-- Edwin (on the move)
On 2013-09-14, at 9:56 PM, "Adam Thompson" athompso@athompso.net wrote:
Enough people have wondered/asked/complained to me about this that I'm posting this now as a public service.
IBM Model "M" keyboards are still available, *NEW*, today. They are expensive, but they are the original design that you can use as a melee weapon. The catch is that they don't say "IBM" or even "Lexmark" on them. They are available for purchase from the manufacturer, Unicomp, who can be found online at http://www.pckeyboard.com/.
You can also find some vintage NIB units from time to time at http://www.clickykeyboards.com/.
There are also a number of other manufacturers now making similar, but not quite as good, keyboards.
- CVT Inc., the maker of the Avant Stellar (I own two of them), which
is the direct descendant of the Northgate Omnikey, seems to have restructured and no trace of their keyboard manufacturing operation can be found online. However, Northgate keyboards are still available new-in-box from (this is a horrible site, beware) http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/.
- The Happy Hacking keyboard (now owned by Fujitsu, apparently) is
equally comforting to some people despite having a totally different feel. They, and many others, can be had from http://www.elitekeyboards.com/
Das Keyboard
Anything using Cherry MX Green, Blue, or White keyswitches. The
"green" switches apparently are the closest anyone's come yet to emulating the IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp switches... and they can be had in MUCH cheaper keyboards, like the Rosewill RK-9000 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040 and http://techreport.com/review/23405/rosewill-rk-9000-series-mechanical-ke yboards-reviewed).
- And there are an increasing number (yes, again, after the big die-off
ca. 2009) of speciality manufacturers of "ergonomic" keyboards that are making clicky keyswitches available as an option. One of the better ones is a tiny shop in Ontario, but I can't find the name right now.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicomp http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX
-Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net
<winmail.dat> _______________________________________________ SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/
This probably isn't the Canadian ergo keyboard you are thinking of, but it has MX Browns in it (a bit softer that the blue/green/clear, but still with the tactile bump). http://www.trulyergonomic.com/
My daily driver is an old Kinesis contoured keyboard, again with browns, but also available in reds (similar to brown, but without the bump). http://www.ergocanada.com/detailed_specification_pages/kinesis_corporation_a...
A similar keyboard is the Maltron keyboard. While much more expensive, they are hand built and thus can be easily custom built, so I'm sure they would make one with whatever MX switch you liked. http://www.maltron.com/keyboard-info/dual-hand-fully-ergonomic-3d-keyboards
There is also the ErgoDox, designed by keyboard enthusiasts and sold as a kit. It is often sold through Massdrop.com and I believe you can choose pretty much any MX switch you want. http://ergodox.org/ https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox/talk
As you can perhaps tell, I have more of an interest in the mechanical ergo keyboards than the super clicky boards, but since ergo boards were mentioned I thought I would point these out. Also, since all of these boards are MX based, the switches can be modified/swapped with your favorite type (blue, green, clear, etc). There are a few great keyboard forums out there, namely geekhack.org and deskthority.net, which talk about that kind of procedure and other keyboard things.
On Sun, Sep 15, 2013 at 11:07 AM, Edwin Amsler edwinguy@gmail.com wrote:
They're pretty great. My first computer had one.
-- Edwin (on the move)
On 2013-09-14, at 9:56 PM, "Adam Thompson" athompso@athompso.net wrote:
Enough people have wondered/asked/complained to me about this that I'm posting this now as a public service.
IBM Model "M" keyboards are still available, *NEW*, today. They are expensive, but they are the original design that you can use as a melee weapon. The catch is that they don't say "IBM" or even "Lexmark" on them. They are available for purchase from the manufacturer, Unicomp, who can be found online at http://www.pckeyboard.com/.
You can also find some vintage NIB units from time to time at http://www.clickykeyboards.com/.
There are also a number of other manufacturers now making similar, but not quite as good, keyboards.
- CVT Inc., the maker of the Avant Stellar (I own two of them), which
is the direct descendant of the Northgate Omnikey, seems to have restructured and no trace of their keyboard manufacturing operation can be found online. However, Northgate keyboards are still available new-in-box from (this is a horrible site, beware) http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/.
- The Happy Hacking keyboard (now owned by Fujitsu, apparently) is
equally comforting to some people despite having a totally different feel. They, and many others, can be had from http://www.elitekeyboards.com/
Das Keyboard
Anything using Cherry MX Green, Blue, or White keyswitches. The
"green" switches apparently are the closest anyone's come yet to emulating the IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp switches... and they can be had in MUCH cheaper keyboards, like the Rosewill RK-9000 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040 and http://techreport.com/review/23405/rosewill-rk-9000-series-mechanical-ke yboards-reviewed).
- And there are an increasing number (yes, again, after the big die-off
ca. 2009) of speciality manufacturers of "ergonomic" keyboards that are making clicky keyswitches available as an option. One of the better ones is a tiny shop in Ontario, but I can't find the name right now.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicomp http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX
-Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net
<winmail.dat> _______________________________________________ SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/
SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/
On 2013-09-14 Adam Thompson wrote:
IBM Model "M" keyboards are still available
I've been using nothing but an original IBM "M" since 1995 (just one, the same one, never replaced, never repaired!) and will never switch, so I can for sure vouch for these things! Good thing I don't use Windows much, as there is no Windows key :-)
*NEW*, today. They are expensive
I just checked and $70-$100 is not what I would call expensive for these amazing keyboards.
you can use as a melee weapon
Joke of the month, that one!
from the manufacturer, Unicomp, who can be found online at http://www.pckeyboard.com/.
Question, which one do you need to buy to get the Windows key (should I ever desire that abomination)? 101? 104? more?
still got my model m keyboards :)
On Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 6:25 AM, Trevor Cordes trevor@tecnopolis.ca wrote:
On 2013-09-14 Adam Thompson wrote:
IBM Model "M" keyboards are still available
I've been using nothing but an original IBM "M" since 1995 (just one, the same one, never replaced, never repaired!) and will never switch, so I can for sure vouch for these things! Good thing I don't use Windows much, as there is no Windows key :-)
*NEW*, today. They are expensive
I just checked and $70-$100 is not what I would call expensive for these amazing keyboards.
you can use as a melee weapon
Joke of the month, that one!
from the manufacturer, Unicomp, who can be found online at http://www.pckeyboard.com/.
Question, which one do you need to buy to get the Windows key (should I ever desire that abomination)? 101? 104? more? _______________________________________________ Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
On 2013-09-28 06:25, Trevor Cordes wrote:
Question, which one do you need to buy to get the Windows key (should I ever desire that abomination)? 101? 104? more?
Generally speaking, the standard PC-101/102 with two Windows Keys and the extra whatchamacallit key is called a PC-104/105 keyboard. However, if you're buying from Unicomp, I suggest using their Custom Keyboard Configurator, and talking to them to figure out precisely what features you want.
I honestly don't know what you old fogies are going on about... Those old keyboards are stiff and hard to type on. I can type about 30% faster on a laptop keyboard that has minimal key travel than I can on a typical modern keyboard and the "clicky" ones are are even worse. Technology marches on and that includes keyboards.... </troll> ;)
On Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 4:24 PM, Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.netwrote:
On 2013-09-28 06:25, Trevor Cordes wrote:
Question, which one do you need to buy to get the Windows key (should I ever desire that abomination)? 101? 104? more?
Generally speaking, the standard PC-101/102 with two Windows Keys and the extra whatchamacallit key is called a PC-104/105 keyboard. However, if you're buying from Unicomp, I suggest using their Custom Keyboard Configurator, and talking to them to figure out precisely what features you want.
-- -Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net
______________________________**_________________ Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/**listinfo/roundtablehttp://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
On 2013-09-28 John Lange wrote:
I honestly don't know what you old fogies are going on about... Those old keyboards are stiff and hard to type on. I can type about 30% faster on a laptop keyboard that has minimal key travel than I can on
OMG, laptop keyboards and modern cheap PC keyboards are complete garbage, and the Mac Air / Intel Ultrabook super thin ones are even worse! I don't know how you can stand to use them, let alone believe they speed up your typing.
Maybe it's time to have a MUUG keyboard showdown, Adam on his OmniKey, me on my "M" and you on your laptop. May the best keyboard reign supreme! (Though I'm afraid Adam will clobber us all...)
:-)
On 2013-09-29 02:30, Trevor Cordes wrote:
On 2013-09-28 John
Lange wrote:
I honestly don't know what you old fogies are going
on about... Those old keyboards are stiff and hard to type on. I can type about 30% faster on a laptop keyboard that has minimal key travel than I can on
OMG, laptop keyboards and modern cheap PC keyboards
are complete
garbage, and the Mac Air / Intel Ultrabook super thin
ones are even
worse! I don't know how you can stand to use them, let
alone believe
they speed up your typing.
I see you missed the "TROLL" tag in John's email...
*Some* people type faster on tactile keyboards, whereas other people type faster on chicklets or low-key-travel mechanisms. I think it largely depends what you learned to type on, and also on how you process sensory information and how your brain handles the task of typing.
FWIW, I haven't used a clicky keyboard in >2yrs (or so) and am quite able to live without one. I *do* still miss them, though. Even the semi-tactile ones like the MS Natural Keyboard are better than the soft-touch keyboard I use right now. (For those of you that are wondering: I needed a very lightweight, low-force keyboard for use with my Erogotron sit/stand monitor stand, to stop the monitor from bouncing all over the place!)
-Adam
What a coincidence... As of 9:00pm tonight (Monday), Memory Express is putting the Cooler Master QuickFire XT (with Cherry MX Brown switches) on sale. Regular price $99, don't know what the sale price is yet.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX48428?utm_source=eFlyer&utm_medi...
-Adam
MUUG Round Table is always ahead of the curve!
Slash dot story today on the same topic.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/14/10/08/1547203/the-greatest-keyboard-ev...
For the record, I still hate those keyboards.
On Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 12:24 AM, Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net wrote:
What a coincidence... As of 9:00pm tonight (Monday), Memory Express is putting the Cooler Master QuickFire XT (with Cherry MX Brown switches) on sale. Regular price $99, don't know what the sale price is yet.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX48428?utm_source= eFlyer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sep2013_24hrDailyDeal-Sep30
-Adam
Adam's original post apparently started a run on "clicky" keyboards causing a world-wide shortage....
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/race-meet-demand-mechanical-keyboard-makers-sw...
John
On Wed, Oct 8, 2014 at 4:03 PM, John Lange john@johnlange.ca wrote:
MUUG Round Table is always ahead of the curve!
Slash dot story today on the same topic.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/14/10/08/1547203/the- greatest-keyboard-ever-made
For the record, I still hate those keyboards.
On Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 12:24 AM, Adam Thompson athompso@athompso.net wrote:
What a coincidence... As of 9:00pm tonight (Monday), Memory Express is putting the Cooler Master QuickFire XT (with Cherry MX Brown switches) on sale. Regular price $99, don't know what the sale price is yet.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX48428?utm_source=eFl yer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sep2013_24hrDailyDeal-Sep30
-Adam
-- John Lange www.johnlange.ca
-
Adam Thompson -
Adrian Stoness -
Benjamin Bergman -
Edwin Amsler -
Hartmut W Sager -
John Lange -
Trevor Cordes