Buckling Spring Keyboards (General)
At 02 JUN 2008 11:39:40AM Don Muskopf wrote:
If any of you miss the buckling spring keyboards that used to come with IBM computers (they were made by Lexmark), there is a company called Unicomp that still manufactures them. They have both USB and PS2 keyboards.
Compared with mainstream keyboards sold today (that use quiet rubber dome switch keys), I find that I can type twice as fast on these "IBM" keyboards. They're very durable and the keys are removable, replaceable and re-configurable.
If you're a heavy keyboard user, you might want to check these out. Google "Unicomp".
FYI
Don
At 02 JUN 2008 12:46PM John Bouley wrote:
At least it sounds like you are getting more work done…
At 02 JUN 2008 01:23PM Jim Vaughan wrote:
I use two of these keyboards, one on my laptop and one on my server. I hate using anything else.
I have two more unused in the Attic, just in case they stop making them.
You can also get the genuine thing on EBay, search for IBM Model M (I bought one a while back for $15.00). They are built like tanks and last forever.
However they do tend to drive anyone else in the office crazy…
At 02 JUN 2008 01:50PM Don Muskopf wrote:
Jim,
You're right. Once you re-discover this type of keyboard, you'll never go back to any other kind of keyboard. I was amazed what a difference it made the instant I tried it.
I must have tried 5 or 6 different keyboards before this and was not really satisfied with any of them.
I like the tactile feedback. Yes, there is the clickity-clack sound of the keys, but you definitely know when you've hit a key. :)
At 02 JUN 2008 02:50PM Jim Vaughan wrote:
Re: rediscover.
You know I have never stopped using these keyboards. I started using them when the IBM PC was first introduced. The first ones had the function keys down the left hand side and a funky return key.
Once you have used one any other keyboard feels cheap and hard to type on.
At 02 JUN 2008 03:28PM Mike Ruane wrote:
I love these keyboards as well. I one point a company named Northgate ( I think) made keyboards very similar.
The original IBM ones could be used to stop a bullet, or beat an intruder to death.
In fact, I still use the arrow keys on the number pad because some of these early keyboards didn't have dedicated arrow keys.
Mike
At 03 JUN 2008 02:46PM Dave Harmacek wrote:
I, too, use the arrows on the number pad!
Then I leave the NumLock off and the next user goes crazy since the numbers don't work!!!
At 03 JUN 2008 02:50PM Warren Auyong wrote:
Ahh, wish I knew about these 2 months ago when I built up my new system for the home. I guess I can always sell or keep as a spare the Keytronics keyboard.