modern model M’s do they live up to the hype?
Unicomp Keyboards used to be rather derided due to declining quality resulting from aging manufacturing tooling, making them a mere shadow of the Keyboard IBM made. That being said, their “New Model M” uses new tooling. The situation seems to have improved quite a bit on this new model as a result. That being said, at $125 I find the New Model M rather pricey for what they are: a basic keyboard with limited customization and mere 2-key rollover. If you really want buckling springs and want them brand new, it is the way to go, otherwise consider buying an original Model M used or buying a regular mechanical keyboard with clicky switches.
i agree it’s a little pricey for what you get but my fingers only want leaf springs but i can confirm that the new model m has 6 key rollover. the standard spec for USB keyboards. NKRO would be nice but I also heard there would be issues with bios not seeing the keyboard on older systems. I have not verified that though.
They’re not 6KRO. All Model Ms are membrane keyboards, which make implanting diodes difficult, so they’re fundamentally 2KRO.
to clarify this is the new model m from unicomp not an OG model m. I have the new model m right in front of me and can confirm it’s 6KRO
Hm, must have googled that spec wrong, to be fair, they don’t list it on the product page.
I have that one too!!! Most excellent.
i picked up the Linux keycaps for the meta keys as well . Also can I ask you a question about your keyboard? Does your right menu key click like the others or is it liner with no spring?
thanks it must be just mine that’s broken no big it’s not like it’s a key I care about or type much with that key.
I wish they did a proper one with trackpoint, but apparently they only stick with that joystick.
The New Model M that came out a few years ago is pretty rock solid. I’ve had that, and a Mini-M and love them both.
Unicomp recently switched controllers to the Raspberry Pi RP2040. You can now flash them with QMK/VIAL and get a fully programmable Model M!
My daily driver since ~2016 has been an ISO layout Unicomp Model M (made in 2015), and i have currently no reason to replace it. One downside has been having to do the nut and bolt mod, because the plastic rivets holding the insides together have started to fail in large numbers after only a few years.