Rubber Dome Model M

[thedangerine]

So I'm purchasing a model keyboard from someone for the low low price of $15usd. Issue is its the rubber dome model (cringe I know) and was wondering if anyone here has used one and what they think about them. I mainly am purchasing it because I think its a cool piece of tech history and its dumb cheap even for the rubber dome model. Plus one day when I get an og buckling spring model m and lets say something broke I am assuming I may be able to swap something like the frame or maybe the keycaps. Either way just a cool piece of the ghost of keyboards past. Please let me know how you like it if you have used one in the past

[b emoji]

4 minutes ago, AdvancedMicroDisapointment said:

So I'm purchasing a model keyboard from someone for the low low price of $15usd. Issue is its the rubber dome model (cringe I know) and was wondering if anyone here has used one and what they think about them. I mainly am purchasing it because I think its a cool piece of tech history and its dumb cheap even for the rubber dome model. Plus one day when I get an og buckling spring model m and lets say something broke I am assuming I may be able to swap something like the frame or maybe the keycaps. Either way just a cool piece of the ghost of keyboards past. Please let me know how you like it if you have used one in the past

I have seen a few rubber dome Ms, and there's not that much you can do with them imo, the domes are super snappy more snappy than bke heavies, and can be quite unpleasant to type on after a while. Key caps are also different from normal ms, iirc they're one piece dye sub pbt plunger caps, which are made pretty well but are incompatible with other model ms. 

[BobVonBob]

They're good for rubber domes, but they aren't comparable to the buckling spring models. Although funnily enough IBM's buckling spring keyboards have domes under the springs.

[thedangerine]

Just now, b emoji said:

I have seen a few rubber dome Ms, and there's not that much you can do with them imo, the domes are super snappy more snappy than bke heavies, and can be quite unpleasant to type on after a while. Key caps are also different from normal ms, iirc they're one piece dye sub pbt plunger caps, which are made pretty well but are incompatible with other model ms. 

Dang sucks about the key caps. Likely wont use the keyboard on my main rig rather for the unraid storage server I have planned, Thanks for the info

[b emoji]

4 minutes ago, BobVonBob said:

They're good for rubber domes, but they aren't comparable to the buckling spring models. Although funnily enough IBM's buckling spring keyboards have domes under the springs.

WAIT WHAT? 
I don't think so. Some Model Ms use rubber domes like the ones OP is referring to. Buckling Spring Model Ms use MEMBRANES but not DOMES under the springs. What happens is that when the spring buckles it presses on a hammer which strikes on the membrane which registers the key. I don't know what kinda of loopy land you're in but Buckling Spring Ms do not use rubber domes under the springs, they use a strike hammer/foot that presses on a membrane. FYI Membrane =/= Rubber dome.  

[b emoji]

11 minutes ago, AdvancedMicroDisapointment said:

Dang sucks about the key caps. Likely wont use the keyboard on my main rig rather for the unraid storage server I have planned, Thanks for the info

Rubber dome Model Ms are actually reasonably rare, and for 15$ I don't think you really can go wrong. They're built real well, but too bad they're rubber domes. It's like having a Ferrari with 4 Cylinder from a yugo.

[BobVonBob]

4 minutes ago, b emoji said:

WAIT WHAT? 
I don't think so. Some Model Ms use rubber domes like the ones OP is referring to. Buckling Spring Model Ms use MEMBRANES but not DOMES under the springs. What happens is that when the spring buckles it presses on a hammer which strikes on the membrane which registers the key. I don't know what kinda of loopy land you're in but Buckling Spring Ms do not use rubber domes under the springs, they use a strike hammer/foot that presses on a membrane. FYI Membrane =/= Rubber dome.  

Huh, so they aren't. I've been misinformed.

 

[b emoji]

13 minutes ago, BobVonBob said:

Huh, so they aren't. I've been misinformed.

 

Rubber dome means that the switching action and switch feel comes from a rubber dome. Membrane means that the keyboard uses traces printed onto a sheet of plastic instead of an capacitive pcb.  Topre would a rubber dome, but not a membrane since it uses a capacitive pcb, and an IBM Model M is a membrane board, but not a rubber dome (Exception of the Rubber dome versions).