A "Rather Unique" Model M Keyboard
About | Information | History | Online | Facts | Discovery
Here is a rather different looking Model M keyboard from Unicomp... There are lots of oddball variants of the Model M floating around. Despite the varieties, most of them are pretty rare. I have a white one badged as a Lexmark board with a serial-connected Trackpoint and AT-DIN keyboard connection. I also have a "Thinkpad (or NetFinity) Black" model with a PS/2 Trackpoint. Other members of the "collection" include Unicomp's black/silver Customizer 104, a grey-bodied Model M, two models with trackballs built in, a "space saver" and the "library quiet" version. Unicomp does *not* mess around with shipping. This keyboard arrived the next day. All I paid for was basic UPS ground shipping. (Their customer service is also quite good.) Unicomp's official web site is here: http://www.pckeyboard.com/ I have no affiliation with the University of Kentucky, and I never attended a college of any sort after high school. I just found the keyboard too interesting and amusing to pass up. I'll admit it does look kind of silly.
Comments
-
anyone know where to find the rare unicomp black classic with black keys? ive seen them they just dont seem to sell them on their website
-
The IBM 4680/4690 POS systems also used keyboards with a built-in speaker and the same type of multi-way connector in the back. A speaker was put there for a good reason- so the operator could easily hear the attention tones from the POS system.
-
Oh god, I live in east kentucky.. you should see it lol
-
Nice! =D
Thankfully, this keyboard is American Made! -
I dug an old Model M keyboard out because I needed another keyboard. Unfortunately, there are some keys not working. The ones that aren't working are all keys in one column. (I think it was u j m 8 5 2) or something like that. Do you know if there is a problem on the circuit board, or if one of the tracers on the plastic sheet is burnt out?
-
I found that the computer itself accepts the model m, but windows doesn't enable the ps/2 port, or load the drivers for it. One workaround I found to use with it is if it has a detachable cord, or if you have a Joe Schmo ps/2 laying around, boot it with that, then be evil, and switch it quick with the M. Then once that's over with, use hibernate instead of shut down. It saves the drivers needed to run it for next time.
-
I just got my keyboard, comparing it to my model m, it seems like sometimes it capitalizes TOO long after i release shift. This problem shows up when i try to type words like STand or GAme . It doesnt show up when i try different letters, do you have this problem ?
-
Mine came with a fixed cable unfortunately. It's still a great 'board though.
-
Just checked their website today, they still have 3 of these in the bargain rack
-
Hmm this is neat.
-
Thanks.
-
GO WILD CATS
-
yay kentucky. i don't really like sports but i do live here.
-
@Snarfangel Thanks.
-
@kaiyoshi2243 If you like buckling spring keyboards, they are awesome. I got one myself, and it is fun to type on. Plus, I like the blue they use (not a UK grad, but my college colors were blue and white, so it's close enough). Granted, some of my coworkers comment on the audible feedback, but I have a defender who still types on an original IBM Model M. :) And you can't beat the price.
-
@uxwbill Ordered 2. I just couldn't pass up that deal they've got going on. Thanks for the video.
-
That is cool! I wonder if they have any more like this. I like the blue keys.
-
My Unicomp keyboard just came in! I'm not much of a video person, but here are some still shots I uploaded to geekhack.org site in the pictures forum, under the heading "Unicomp Wildcat Keyboard Unboxing." (YouTube seems to hate the URLs I type, so I left out the direct link.)
-
Do you have any RS6000 based PS/2 systems running AIX? If so could you please make a video about them talking about them in layman's terms I'll be able to understand? I'm fascinated with the speaker arrangement on the bottom of those keyboards you speak of, why did IBM decide to do that with those particular computers rather than just have the internal PC Speaker? I suspect there's something very simple that I simply do not understand going on there.
-
That's actually pretty cool -- but then I love blue.
3m 56sLenght
111Rating