TIGSource Forums

I've been looking around on this thread: http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=19.360 and saw Paul Eres and Notch with Model M keyboards. The keyboard is so god damn awesome. Now I want one :D. The question is do you have one? and are they worth $120? :O

god i know you guys love the 80s but is this really a thing?

they make clack clack noise and keeps the whole neighborhood of paterson, new jersey awake so please dont do it

well, my normal keyboard works fine and is good and comfortable and doesnt sound like a machinegun and isnt made of yellowing plastic that looks like solidified urine and smells like an explosion at a chinese toy factory, but it just has no weepy eyed nostalgia value. think i might invest in a 286 while im at it.

Best keyboard. Totally worth $120 in my opinion, though it seems likely you'd be able to find one for less.

A lot of newer keyboards have soft squishy keys, which drives me nuts. I don't know how people can stand using them.

whoa, i have one of these. never thought that they were so expensive.

I think I saw a guy sell one of these on an episode of Pawn Stars.

Keyboards (and other peripherals) have evolved for a reason. If not visually then ergonomically for sure. I remember those IMB monstrosities with beast of a keys that could wake a hibernating bear.

Why not use frickin' punch cards for programming because you know, that makes you really special and your game so much better as a result.

:-X

what do you guys do with these keyboards other than play chips challenge and type really fast in the input box for the scrolling marquee screensaver to watch it catch up with the keystrokes

have you ever heard paul eres type on that keyboard because i equate it to the sound your shelf of anime figures would make if an earthquake were happening

have you ever heard of the "Paterson clacks"

i got mine for $40 on ebay, clean and refurbished and working perfectly, so shop around, don't buy one for $120 if you can help it

also i would recommend this keyboard primarily to people who type fast. after you type at a certain speed (say, 100+ wpm) normal keyboards are just too slow, and you need a springy one. typing on those modern plastic keyboards at anything above 100 wpm is difficult

if you only type, say, 45 wpm, then the keyboard you use doesn't really matter

also it's not actually that loud, it only seems loud relative to other keyboards. but if you compare it to a typewriter it's much quieter (for those of us old enough to have used a typewriter)

What exactly makes it difficult? I never used those keyboards so I don't really know the difference.

ive done some independent research (by hitting the s key on my laptop repeatedly as if i were shooting a 90s arcade game boss in his glowing red weak spot (his ps/2 port)) and ive come to a conclusion: paul is wrong and stupid

Is that a product of research or are you just sayin'? Because, I believe that a lot of productivity is wasted every single day in this world of ours and the peripheral manufacturers are stupid and greedy pigs that instead of providing us with better and more advanced products, scam us daily with byproducts assembled in China.

Thanks, Paul. Now I'll never believe those scum sucking filthy companies that make peripherals.

i cant even think faster than i type and i type like 20 dums per minute wats da point!!!!!!!!

when you convince yourself that you type at record breaking speeds, you must be tempted to think that you also need the biggest, clunckiest, noisiest tool to immortalize your records.
That's how I see it.

It's like those sunday morning bicyclists who buy teflon suits and ceramic bikes in order to "gain a few vital seconds"

Yes this post was a gratuitous potshot at paul eres

there's a thread about it over here: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=549529 -- basically membrane keyboards are less expensive to manufacture and since only a small % of people type above 60wpm it was deemed by computer companies to be good enough

i haven't yet met *anyone* who types above 100 wpm who prefers membrane keyboards to clicky-style keyboards like model m / das keyboard / various model m clones. it's also typical to experience an increase in wpm when you switch over (after you get used to it); my typing speed went up around 15 wpm after switching from a membrane keyboard to the model m

as another illustration about how keyboards can make a difference: both normal keyboards and the model m are superior to the macbook's keyboard, which uses really thin keys with almost no feedback. my typing speed drops by about 30-40 wpm when i use my macbook, because the keyboard is smaller and the keys are thinner, which is why i only use my macbook in emergencies

It doesn't explain at all how are thy better at all. In fact it supports that even membrane users can type as fast.

Wikipedia says these aren't suitable for use in a library, due to the noise. Guess what kinds of keyboards they use at my library you guys? -.-

yes, i didn't mean that you can't physically type as fast on membrane keyboards, of course you can. it's just more difficult to do so since there isn't as much feedback. with the click sound you can be more sure of whether you've pushed a button in or not, if it's quieter, you have to either listen carefully or judge by the screen's feedback, and visual feedback isn't as fast as aural feedback

it's the same thing in games: people react faster to aural feedback from games than from visual feedback (try playing a game on mute some time, you'll notice that your reaction times are a little delayed)

there's also just the advantage that these keyboards last a lot longer. the keyboard i'm using was made in 1986. and i'll probably still be using it in 2036. membrane keyboards don't last as long. so even if there is no advantage to typing, there's the advantage to not having to repeatedly buy new keyboards every few years (this is known as planned obsolescence)

There are modernized mechanical keyboards, too. Like Das Keyboard (http://www.daskeyboard.com/), which even has a "silent" model which should be at least a little bit quieter.

Das Keyboard is pretty nice, but it doesn't really capture the sound and feel of the Model M. I own one of each, and I'd take the M over the other one any day.

basically, every time paul eres types while on skype, it's impossible to hear anything other than the thundering sound of his keyboard

damn, I like typing on my 07 macbook. I hope my chip's challenge skills don't wilt

its interesting, from a perspective of cultural anthropology, to study the development of music. for example how the tuvan steppes bore throat singing, how the mass use of horses inspired old western rhythm, or how the staccato gunfire of the eresian keyboard was the genesis of the paterson, new jersey gangster rap scene.

I bought one of the new ones from Unicomp (http://www.pckeyboard.com/) about a year and a half ago, and it stopped working entirely when I spilled sugary water in it. :(
Maybe it's because of the USB stuff in the new ones, but don't believe the people that say that these things are dishwashable and undestructible. They can be fragile, and they're impossible to repair. It's so heavy that shipping it back to their office would cost me as much as buying a new one.
Don't get me wrong, I loved it when it did work, but I wouldn't buy another one.

When I broke my previous keyboard (a Kensington Keyboard-for-Life) in a humorous and non-sequitur fashion, I ended up buying a new one at Wal-Mart for eight dollars and it is the best keyboard I have ever used.

This thread caused me to dig up an old IBM XT keyboard. That thing is loud. I'm gonna see about getting an adapter so I can use it. I hope lack of f11 and f12 won't be too much of a problem.

Interestingly, despite being extremely picky about my keyboards, I'm completely the opposite when it comes to mice. I use a trackpad primarily, but I wanted a mouse a little while ago since it's slightly better for some games. I bought the cheapest one I could find at Target. Ultra basic, three buttons + scroll wheel, does everything I want. Totally satisfied.

I have a Unicomp Customizer. Unicomp bought up the patents from IBM, so these keyboards are exactly the same save for the USB cable (you can get a PS/2 one if you want). I absolutely *love* mine and it feels like a tank.


You're complaining because it didn't survive a bath in soda? That seems a bit silly. I can't imagine this thing pooping out natural wear and tear like modern cheap plastic ones will. You just have to treat it like you would treat any expensive electronic equipment.

My Apple wireless keyboard is nice.  Once you break it in the keys aren't too soft, though they are thin (something I prefer honestly, it's more comfortable for me).  It's a little loud, but it's nothing compared to old mechanical keyboards.

I currently use a Kensington Mouse-in-a-Box because it's simple and sturdy as heck.  It was like 9 dollars and I've had it for 6 years.

I use a $5 microsoft mouse and it has treated me incredibly well

logitech mx518

a god among mice

Sure, but I read things about how these keyboards are made to be spill resistant and easy to drain/wash in case that happens. Take that with a grain of salt.
Maybe I'm just bitter about the investment, accident and having to buy a new one. :-\

Logitech M305, another god of mice.

My fingers are too long.  Comfortable mice do not exist for me.  :(

I would be too  :). Short of spilling liquids I can't imagine anything ruining this thing though.

(http://www.pthree.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/das-keyboard-3.jpg)

is that how much weight it takes to push?

yes

Wouldn't that feel super weird for gaming?

afaik das keyboard is intended for typing / programming, not gaming

also the model m is terrible for gaming, but i don't play videogames with a keyboard anyway (unless it's a rts game, which kind of unavoidably use the keyboard)

I game with mine and it feels okay. I've never used a keyboard intended for gaming though, so I guess I have no point of reference.

main reason the model m is bad for gaming is that it doesn't recognize all of them, only some of them. i think it has a limit of like 4 keys at once or something, anything after that won't get recognized, which is affects some games more than others. i think all ps/2 keyboards do that though? (usb ones don't seem to have that problem)

also since it takes more strength to press down a key, games that require a lot of quick keypressing (such as sc1/sc2 or LoL) can tire you out, especially if your apm is very high. i find that my apm in sc1 was higher on a membrane keyboard than on the model m, even though my typing speed is faster on the model m

it's also really heavy so it's hard to adjust it to your hand positions on the fly

I don't think it's a PS/2 limitation - Das Keyboard supports up to 6 keys with a USB connection and 12 or more with a PS/2 connection (they call it N-key rollover).

Had one of the Model M, but mine has Dell branding on it... It's been sitting on a shelf in one of my classroom for two years, so I took it with me on my last day of school.
I actually got to use it a couple of months later when I started my first job (my laptop doesn't have a ps2 port). Eventually, I gave it to my buddy when I left San Francisco... My cube-mate at the time probably hated it, but no one complained to me directly, so I kept using it for 2 years before I had to move :handmetalL:

It does sounds beautiful when you hear it typed, may be that's why people didn't mind it.
And I wasn't using it because it's comfortable or anything... it's just sounds AWESOME.

It's a 15 years old keyboard and every single keys works perfectly. The thing is build to last!

I type 120 words per minute and I must say that you, sir, are incredibly incorrect--as I have a generic Dell keyboard that most likely came from China and I have a 120 wpm and I still am able to type just as well as I normally would (although I would prefer bigger keys in the long run, I make a few typos when I'm typing super-duper fast.)

have you tried both? it's possible you'd type even faster on a model m / das keyboard / etc.

My keyboard has cherry mx brown switches, which are like the same thing except for not being super loud for no reason. I don't know about any of this typing speed bullshit but it definitely feels better to use since you're not pressing down on rubber bubbles with every stroke. It's also a normal black colour and doesn't have dumb key matrix issues.

Care to share what that keyboard is?

probably something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201042

I remember sharing a keyboard to play Gunstar Heroes co-op with a friend when I was a kid. I would jump over a bottomless pit and then when it was my friend's turn to do the same I would hold down as many keys as I could to make he run straight without jumping and fall down on it and die. We have never finished that game playing together.

might make an interesting 2 player game, either cooperative or competitive, where the number of keys that register at once is purposely clamped to like 4 or something

this is what i listen to when im typing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByLWpAEfOC8

what do you listen to when you are at full speed?

I think it's this (I could flip it over and just check the model number but fuck you all):
http://www.geek.com/articles/games/review-filco-majestouch-keyboard-2010045/

I chose this review because it has disgusting dandruff all over it in the pictures and he screwed up the colour.

I like how loud my keyboard is. It makes me feel really powerful. I like to feel powerful.

I got a Leopold Cherry MX Blue keyboard for myself... Model M is just too big, bulky, and needs too much pressure on the keys for me. Model M's are some of the most heavy handed keyboards, which can limit your typing speed. Although, with this one, I feel like putting key bumpers underneath would give the optimal typing experience...

I've got a "Microsoft Wireless Comfort keyboard 5000", but I really do think the Model M is superior (evident by the many reasons listed above), I love the sound of the keyboard :3, and   I just love it's retro look ;) But I'll think I wait until I find the keyboard for less than $120... :)

http://pckeyboard.com/page/product/UB40P4A (http://pckeyboard.com/page/product/UB40P4A)

Before this thread I didn't even know that anything but buckling spring mechanical keyboards existed. I figured Das Keyboard was buckling spring too. It turns out there's a whole world of modern mechanical keyboards. I still absolutely love my Customizer and I wouldn't want anything else for my desktop (I like my keyboard to feel like something I could smash a zombie's head in with), but I think it would be cool to get one of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/Noppoo-Mini-w-Brown-MX-Switch-Mechanical-Keyboard-/330761514028?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4d02ec2c2c (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Noppoo-Mini-w-Brown-MX-Switch-Mechanical-Keyboard-/330761514028?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4d02ec2c2c) to suplement a laptop keyboard.

are you sure it's 120$? like i said i got mine refurbished on ebay for 40$. let me check...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-IBM-Vintage-Classic-1995-Model-M-Keyboard-71G4644-PS-2-to-USB-Cable-/271012927363?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item3f19a11783

that one is brand new (not used) for 60$

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-Model-M-Clicky-Keyboard-52G9700-1993-Get-It-Quick-Next-Day-Ship-/150858698464?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item231fe10ee0

a used one for 45$

Well, the thing is, I live in Australia, and the postage ends up being ~$60 from the USA. The seller I found was based in Sydney, Australia.

Here: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/IBM-Model-M-101-clicky-ps2-keyboard-/261066857455?pt=AU_Computers_Vintage&hash=item3cc8cc1bef#ht_500wt_1413

A few auctions have shown up recently so I might keep an eye on them: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/IBM-keyboard-Model-M-/320945409221?pt=AU_Computers_Vintage&hash=item4ab9d64cc5#ht_500wt_1413

I just woke up from a terribly nightmare where my Customizer turned into a dome-switch keyboard and it was all mushy.