Unicomp Customizer vs IBM Model M

[Goi]

Hi,

I currently have an IBM Model M and there's no way I would exchange it with a non-buckling spring keyboard. However, the lack of a Windows key, which I used to see as a pro but lately has become more of a con, is tempting me to get another keyboard. I've read about the Unicomp customizer keyboards that use buckling spring technology bought from IBM, but I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with both of them. I have a few questions:

1. Do them feel exactly the same?
2. Are they as durable?
3. Are the keys removable like the Model M?
4. Is the cable detachable like the Model M?
5. Are they as heavy as the Model M?

The price is kinda steep, but if it matches up to the Model M then I wouldn't mind spending money on it.

Thanks!

 

[Ghouler]

OT: what is "buckling spring technology"?

 

[Goi]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckling_spring

 

[Zepper]

I believe Unicomp has switched over to using the Alps mechanical key switches which have a nice feel, but not the same. The purpose of buckling spring is to give the touch typist a positive sense of when the key has made contact. The Alps gives a similar tactile signal. Another advantage to the original IBM/Lexmark boards are the double-shot keycaps where the legend on the keycap is actually a different piece of plastic instead of being painted on, so they can never wear off. I don't know if even Unicomp does the double-shot caps any more - just too expensive, but definitely the best. I really hate how the legends on the reasonably priced kbds start wearing off so quickly. I've got a Cherry mini kbd which isn't cheap (check Mouser.com) and the "E" and "C" legends are almost gone and several others have a good start...

.bh.

 

[Goi]

Crap, that's bad news. Has that been confirmed?

 

[Zepper]

Well, you can go to http://www.pckeyboard.com and ask them. The Space Saver model is the only 104-key w/ buckling spring that you can get in white instead of black with silver keys (full size chassis). You can also get the S-S in black/silver if you want.

.bh.

 

[Goi]

OK, will email them. Does anyone here own the customizers?

 

[Zepper]

I've sent them a message asking about the keycaps but not about the switches as I'm not a fanatic about them. A good, long-life switch with non-disappearing legends is good enough for me.

.bh.

 

[Goi]

Well, basically I just want a Model M with the Windows key and a USB interface, which preferably doesn't weigh a ton(though I can live with that too...)

 

[ThousandStars]

I wrote this review of the Customizer, which answers most of your questions. To answer some of your specific questions in a somewhat facile way:

1) It's hard to say whether the keyboards feel _exactly_ the same, but I can't really tell the difference.

2) Having only had mine for a year or thereabouts, I can't say yet, but it still feels perfect, in contrast to the Dell and Apple keyboards that begin crapping out after a few months. Ask me again in ten years and I'll have a better answer. Were I betting, I'd wager "yes."

3) Yes. Not only are they removable, but I just swapped the Windows and Alt keys for Command and Option keys, which are more Mac friendly, so I don't have to tell friends "Hit command-q... command is the button directly left of the spacebar. I know, it's not labeled right..."

Unicomp charged $10 for five new keys, which was pretty sweet.

4) No, or at least mine isn't. I have the USB version.

5) No. If I had a scale handy, I'd weigh mine.

 

[Zepper]

Hey Thousand,

Are the keytops still double-shot? You can tell by looking underneath and there should be a layer of black plastic in under the top of the keys. Basically the legends in the outside of the key tops are holes in the white plastic and the black plastic is pressed into the holes. Double shot = a shot of white plastic into the mold followed by a shot of black plastic to make the legends.

.bh.

 

[Goi]

Thanks Thousand! Appreciate it.

 

[ThousandStars]

Are the keytops still double-shot?

No, or at least not as far as I can tell. Actually, based on your description, I can almost certainly say "no." If I had a digital camera?I lost mine?I'd take a picture of some keys.

You might want to leave a comment about this issue on my blog, as others might be interested in it. It seems like the comments page has become a de facto home for Unicomp discussion.

Thanks Thousand! Appreciate it.

You're welcome?happy keyboarding, and I hope those comments help.

 

[skriefal]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I believe Unicomp has switched over to using the Alps mechanical key switches which have a nice feel, but not the same. The purpose of buckling spring is to give the touch typist a positive sense of when the key has made contact. The Alps gives a similar tactile signal.

Are you perhaps thinking of CVT, who markets the modern equivalent of the old Northgate Omnikey keyboards? Those certainly use Alps-like switches. Unicomp is still using buckling spring switches, at least to the best of my knowledge. It's what sets them apart from the other manufacturers. (I actually prefer the Alps switches, btw).

 

[Zepper]

Well, I found out that the key tops are not double-shot, but they say they drive the dye down into the plastic somehow so it shouldn't wear out, but I'm skeptical. I can wear the legends off the best of them...

.bh.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah, my black IBM M-13 trackpoint II PS/2 keyboard seems to be wearing the legends off of the keys too.

 

[nerp]

I just ordered a Unicomp Customizer 104 for my home machine and ordered a used Original IBM Model M from www.clickykeyboardss.com for $40 for my office writing machine. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THEM.

I can't believe I've tolerated membrane keyboards for so long.

The CVT boards (modern day Northgate Omnikey) are expensive! OMG. I prefer buckling spring over Alps anyway.

These keyboards are simply the best units if you're a professional writer or programmer. Nothing compares. I'm also happy about the nostalgia factor. I was graduating high school in the mid 1990s and most of the machines I had used up until then, including my original XT keyboard, were these solid IBM Model Ms. It's been a few years since I've had my paws one one.

clickykeyboards has new, never used, in-box IBM Model Ms for about $80 to $100. The original IBM manufactured, pre-1993 models can go for $200.

I suggest you guys rummage through your closets. You can make some quick cash on the side because these things can fetch some good money for units in good condition.

 

[heymrdj]

Well probably don't matter that much but the tactile feel of my DiNovo keyboard is all I've ever wanted. I don't think I can like any other feel again. Though the Logitech made Dell keyboards are pretty sweet...

 

[skriefal]

Originally posted by: nerp
The CVT boards (modern day Northgate Omnikey) are expensive! OMG. I prefer buckling spring over Alps anyway.

They're definitely more expensive than the Unicomp models. But are they really that expensive in comparison to lower-quality -- but still expensive -- keyboards like the Logitech G15 or Dinovo? CVT also appears to be a much smaller operation than Unicomp, and may even be making the keyboards to order (or in very small batches).

I haven't used a CVT-branded keyboard, but I've used several of the Northgates as well as a Unicomp-branded 'M' and original IBM 'M's, and the Northgates and original IBM 'M's are definitely built to a higher quality standard than the modern Unicomp 'M's. The CVTs are supposed to be every bit as sturdy as the Northgate Omnikeys. But the Unicomp keyboards are still much better than any rubber dome keyboard!

Any of these keyboards will likely outlive a G15, Dinovo, Microsoft, Saitek, etc, keyboard by a decade or two... so it's all good.

 

[nerp]

I'm going to have a lot of fun comparing my Model M with my Customizer 104. Both are supposed to be delivered into my office tomorrow. Considering I write on deadline for a living, my editor is going to be glad to see me so excited about hammering away with my word processor.

If the person sitting next to me takes issue with the clacking, I'll just order her a Model M and tell her to outclack me. I know that once I get going with these buckling spring boards, I'm never going to want to type on anything else ever again. Already, I'm wondering why I've tolerated these spongemush atrocities so long. My current keyboard is an $11 Lite-On that felt decent for the first month or so but quickly has degrated into garbage. My compaq laptop's keyboard is OK but I struggle to write for any length of time on it. Maybe I'll consider a SpaceSaver to use with the laptop just to have a buckling spring interface for every machine in my repitoire!

 

[nerp]

Woohoo. Got my Model M today. The Unicomp is coming tomorrow.

The Model M I got is interesting. It's a 1994 made by lexmark but it has the two piece keycaps. Not sure if this was standard at the time or if clickykeyboards.com refurbished it with the two part keys. Either way, I'm glad because the key action is good and supposedly better than the single part keys.

The board does have a little 'twang' to it, which some people find undesirable, but I personally don't mind. My main concern in buying a used board was whether the key action would be smooth and if there were any loose/problematic keys. So far, I've got nothing but positive things to say about the board. The spacebar is SLIGHTLY firm in the sense that I have to give it more pressure than I'm used to, but this might be the effect of typing on garbage rubber dome boards for so many years where if you sneeze, the spacebar is caving in.

I've been typing up a storm this morning, replying to emails that don't really warrant a response just to have an excuse to keep writing. My coworkers gathered around me and admired the board once I took it out the box. It's so pristine and new looking, you'd think it was brand new. Already, a few other reporters are pledging to look into getting their own. Many of us grew up and got through college on these boards, so the revalation that there's a big market for them and they're still proving to be reliable workhorses has caused quite a stir in my office.

The real test will be when the Unicomp arrives tomorrow. I'm going to be torn between both boards, I think, deciding which one should sit on my desk at home and which should end up here at the office. My writing time is spent about equally both home and in the office, so it's a real tossup.

I'm thinking I'm going to splurge and buy a new in box Model M from Clickykeyboards.com and keep it in storage as a backup. It would be nice to know that I have a brand spanking new, never been used Model M. Considering how well these are made, I might never need to use it, but it would be some nice insurance to have.

 

[nerp]

Well, I've got both keyboards setup but I haven't had enough time to compare each since I literally just plugged in the Unicomp at home. I do have to say on the outset that there is a fairly noticable difference between the two but it is very subtle. I think comparing a 15 year old used board with a brand spanking new one is always going to produce differences, especially since one board has had time to break in fully and the other hasn't. What's interesting is that I actually feel like the Unicomp has a better feeling. I'll know more for sure in a few days once I've had a chance to really work on the Unicomp, but my initial feeling is that the Unicomp is slightly more enjoyable to use.

The Unicomp has a birth date of Feb. 19 2009, and I ordered on the 18th so this board was literally made the day after I ordered. I like that. I also like knowing that it was built in the USA and all the keys were attached by hand by someone earning a fairly decent wage. Hand made American goods are hard to come by these days, especially when it comes to technology. Yay for Unicomp!

I'll write more about each board and my overall feelings later. I need time to do some seroius work on the Unicomp before I can make a fair assessment.

But for anyone wanting the M experience but not willing to get a used board, the Unicomp is more than close to the real buckling spring M experience. This IS a model M, subtle differences aside. Anyone who loves Model Ms should be happy with the Unicomp, for sure. It might not have quite the build quality of the pre 1993 Ms, but it's damn close. And if you close your eyes and just write on the damn thing, you'd never know. Having the windows keys is a big plus. USB is nice too.

Happy keyboarding!

 

[nerp]

Could someone else please write large blocks of text about the subject? !!!

 

[maniaugustine]

Hi,

Now that you've used both for awhile, do you have any more input on the differences between the 2?

Is one clearly a nicer model than the other?

Thanks!!

*Mani

 

[nerp]

To be honest, I prefer my Unicomp a bunch more. The Model M I have is nice, for sure, but the Unicomp feels just slightly better. It's also less twangy and pingy -- not sure if this is all due to the Unicomp being newer, or what. The M also requires just a little more effort to depress a key. There's a sort of. . .firmness with it. The Unicomp, in comparison, has the perfect amount of resistance.

Either way, I like the Unicomp so much I ordered a SpaceSaver this week. I think the M is going to go into storage.

And the issues of build quality, etc, the Unicomp is still _very_ well made in the grand scheme of things. You're not going to sit down at a Unicomp and be dissapointed in the build quality unless you're a total keyboard whore and slight effects from the injection moulding are visible. It still weighs a ton, types like a dream and has the exact type of tactile feedback you want in a buckling spring board.

Keep in mind that different Ms feel differently. You could have two models manufactured within days of each other and one is slightly more enjoyable than the other.

If you're really into keyboards, I think you should buy a used M pre 1993, a new in-box, never used M (IBM or lexmark made is fine), and a pair of Unicomps. Switch them around, find out which ones work best and save the ones you don't prefer for parts/backup.