Opinion of the Model M keyboard?

[MoonKnightSpidey]

I found one in the library, on the bottom shelf of a closet, I asked the librarian and now I own a Model M. I have had it for a few months now, and it has been on and off my daily driver. I like the sound, but that is the only redeeming quality. It is PS/2, and heavy as hell. Although it seems to let me hold down many keys at once, I am confused about what 'rollover' this has.

[Sors]

The model M is supposed to have a 2 key rollover,  so if you press 3 keys at the same time it may not register them.

[MoonKnightSpidey]

1 hour ago, Sors said:

The model M is supposed to have a 2 key rollover,  so if you press 3 keys at the same time it may not register them.

It seems to register them every time I press 3 at once, according to the microsoft ghosting tester. 

[KingKeith55]

I guess if you're like me and tend to mash the shit out of your keyboard keys when you type then it's probably a nice choice. I owned a MX Red mechanical keyboard and always accidentally hit keys, I returned it 2 days later.

[arnavvr]

They use buckling spring switches, which you will not find on a modern keyboard.

[Dredgy]

I think it's a terrible keyboard and people who are paying good money for it must be clouded by nostalgia or something. I hated it in the 90s and I hate it now.

[MoonKnightSpidey]

58 minutes ago, Dredgy said:

I think it's a terrible keyboard and people who are paying good money for it must be clouded by nostalgia or something. I hated it in the 90s and I hate it now.

I wasn't alive in the '90s and I enjoy it overall. Definitely not a nostalgia thing.

[Dabombinable]

8 minutes ago, Dredgy said:

I think it's a terrible keyboard and people who are paying good money for it must be clouded by nostalgia or something. I hated it in the 90s and I hate it now.

A Model M keyboard would pretty much last you through your entire life they are that durable.

[TetraSky]

3 minutes ago, Dabombinable said:

A Model M keyboard would pretty much last you through your entire life they are that durable.

Wouldn't literally any quality keyboard last you a lifetime? Kind of hard to break a keyboard, unless you're really rough with it.

[MoonKnightSpidey]

58 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

Wouldn't literally any quality keyboard last you a lifetime? Kind of hard to break a keyboard, unless you're really rough with it.

Not really, most of the razer and logitech keyboards I have used are flimsy and keycaps break etc. Unless you get a custom board or a pok3r it will break in the next 10 years I suppose

[Dabombinable]

4 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

Wouldn't literally any quality keyboard last you a lifetime? Kind of hard to break a keyboard, unless you're really rough with it.

Nope. When you compare the switches on the Model M to any other mechanical keyboard switch (and indeed the actual build quality) you'll understand why.

[Dredgy]

11 minutes ago, Dabombinable said:

A Model M keyboard would pretty much last you through your entire life they are that durable.

The aren't though. They're dust magnets (and in a spring, getting something stuck in there can cause permanent damage). I've had membrane keyboards last 20 years with nothing but cleaning. No Model M keyboards I've had retain the way they feel for longer than a few years. They become downright unbearable to use, not that I like typing with them to start. I remember when I switched from a Model M to Microsoft Membrane keyboard - was a notable day in my life.

 

They are fantastic for increasing in value though. I had so many of them - most of them sealed - and sold most of them last year for several thousand dollars. 

[MoonKnightSpidey]

58 minutes ago, Dredgy said:

The aren't though. They're dust magnets (and in a spring, getting something stuck in there can cause permanent damage). I've had membrane keyboards last 20 years with nothing but cleaning. No Model M keyboards I've had retain the way they feel for longer than a few years. They become downright unbearable to use, not that I like typing with them to start. I remember when I switched from a Model M to Microsoft Membrane keyboard - was a notable day in my life.

 

They are fantastic for increasing in value though. I had so many of them and sold most of them last year for several thousand dollars. 

Could you describe why you hate them so much. I like the feedback and it has a nice click and ting that you can't get with any other switch. I like the look of them too, no fanciness, just a keyboard. and if a piece of electronic technology can last 30 years without breaking, used every day, it is pretty tough imo

[Dabombinable]

31 minutes ago, Dredgy said:

The aren't though. They're dust magnets (and in a spring, getting something stuck in there can cause permanent damage). I've had membrane keyboards last 20 years with nothing but cleaning. No Model M keyboards I've had retain the way they feel for longer than a few years. They become downright unbearable to use, not that I like typing with them to start. I remember when I switched from a Model M to Microsoft Membrane keyboard - was a notable day in my life.

 

They are fantastic for increasing in value though. I had so many of them - most of them sealed - and sold most of them last year for several thousand dollars. 

Membrane keyboards-feel like shit after using any mechanical keyboard. I should know-I've still got the KTX keyboard with its AT plug that was used with my 286, 386, 486 and finally Super Socket 7 motherboards, and then after I got an adapter my Celeron 300A and Pentium III 667EB rigs. It may feel the same as when it was new (and better than any new rubber dome/membrane keyboard), but it doesn't beat an Model M or my current Dragonwar Atomoz.

 

[MoonKnightSpidey]

59 minutes ago, Dabombinable said:

Membrane keyboards-feel like shit after using any mechanical keyboard. I should know-I've still got the KTK keyboard with its AT plug that was used with my 286, 386, 486 and finally Super Socket 7 motherboards, and then after I got an adapter my Celeron 300A and Pentium III 667EB rigs. It may feel the same as when it was new (and better than any new rubber dome/membrane keyboard), but it doesn't beat an Model M or my current Dragonwar Atomoz.

 

ktk?

[spwath]

I love my model M. Nice and clickey, and feels nice. PLus you can kill somone with it.

[NickTheMajin]

The model m keyboards are alright. I used to have a real one but overtime several of the springs broke so I got one of the unicomp slim keyboards (Same company that made the model m and still continues its legacy. Makes copies of them now with the same designs). 

 

They're a novelty though. I type way faster on blue switches. Buckling spring keyboards are very fatiguing after a long period of typing. 

 

6 minutes ago, Dabombinable said:

Membrane keyboards-feel like shit after using any mechanical keyboard. I should know-I've still got the KTK keyboard with its AT plug that was used with my 286, 386, 486 and finally Super Socket 7 motherboards, and then after I got an adapter my Celeron 300A and Pentium III 667EB rigs. It may feel the same as when it was new (and better than any new rubber dome/membrane keyboard), but it doesn't beat an Model M or my current Dragonwar Atomoz.

 

 

I disagree. I have a unicomp, Blackwidow Chroma, Corsair k70, and Blackwidow Stealth so I have pretty much the full gamut of mechanical switches. Most membrane keyboards are shit but some of the nicer ones are just as good to me as red or brown switches. Some of the Lenovo membrane keyboards are fantastic. They're also extremely easy on the fingers. I type ~150-180wpm, so even blues fatigue my fingers over a long period of time. 

 

[Dredgy]

25 minutes ago, MoonKnightSpidey said:

Could you describe why you hate them so much. I like the feedback and it has a nice click and ting that you can't get with any other switch. I like the look of them too, no fanciness, just a keyboard. and if a piece of electronic technology can last 30 years without breaking, used every day, it is pretty tough imo

1. For the reasons I outlined above. Mine would almost universally become clogged with dust and the springs would get damaged. The tactile feedback is never equal across keys, and my typing accuracy would drop dramatically and speed would too if I didn't want sore hands. Plus that terrible 90s beige.

 

12 minutes ago, Dabombinable said:

Membrane keyboards-feel like shit after using any mechanical keyboard. I should know-I've still got the KTK keyboard with its AT plug that was used with my 286, 386, 486 and finally Super Socket 7 motherboards, and then after I got an adapter my Celeron 300A and Pentium III 667EB rigs. It may feel the same as when it was new (and better than any new rubber dome/membrane keyboard), but it doesn't beat an Model M or my current Dragonwar Atomoz.

 

I've never used a KTK and modern mechanical keyboards are excellent, far far far superior to dome keyboards and both my WASD keyboard and Das Keyboard blow most keyboards I've used out of the water. But I think buckling spring is the worst feeling switch type I've ever used. I prefer the typewriter I learned on.

[Dabombinable]

15 minutes ago, MoonKnightSpidey said:

ktk?

*KTX