The Ultimate IBM Model M review (buckling springs)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2017
- Skip to 17:48 for a typing demonstration.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22
My other keyboard reviews: • Thomas' Keyboard Reviews
I'm Thomas and I do keyboard videos and reviews. Today we look at the IBM Model M, the most famous and influential keyboard of all time! And again length records were broken, it's the longest review I've ever done, there's just so much to talk about.
The practice sentence was: "Hello my name is Thomas and I'm typing on an IBM Model M right now. I know it's not a Model F and anything, but jeez, these things never disappoint. Lovely!" 
Наука
I honestly think that your voice only comes from my subwoofer.
Haha cheers mate xD .
it's his stupid fucking mic
I had to switch to my crappy speakers because the voice was way to bassy on my headphones. This kinda stuff happens when you're way too close to the mic
edit: his newer videos sound great though
Seriously, if this man doesnt already he could make some serious money doing voice over
@@Chyrosran22 Do you know what "Plt no" means on the back of american made IBM Model M Keyboards?
Gotta love those "Catastrophically Buckling Compression Column Switch And Actuator" boards - a timeless classic for sure.
The CatBuCoCoSAAC boards?
That's the one!
But the Catastrophically Buckling Compression Column Switch and Actuator was a prototype that wasn't used in any keyboards.
Truly the best named switch, seriously.
@@maciejpociecha6357CatBuCoCoSAAR even.
Girls speak with a higher voice around you when they like you!
Girls when they talk to me :
😂
awww cmon. give your best shot at them
@@Bazy420 xavier wulf pfp.nice
unicomp should step up their marketing game.
Mechanical keyboards are back due to gaming, but not just for gaming. I know many people who don't game but type a whole lot. People who don't know where to look because they're not in the mechanical keys business. They think blue cherry is the best thing for typing. They have heard of the legendary IBM keyboards but think they're absolete. And this is without mentioning all those hipsters who think that old stuff is better (in this case, the old design actually IS better, but that's because it's IBM).
Even my mom, who writes speeches on her computer, was so happy when I gave her a dell bigfoot for her birthday because they key switches were so fantastic compared to her degraded rubber dome keyboard.
Unicomp is sitting on the goddamn holy grail of typing keyboards. All the time I talk with people online and I'm like "but you know they still make them, right? Yes, these are the real model M still manifactored by the same factory'. Why don't they just do anything to put their name on the map? Beat cherry from their undeserved throne! Do this before Datacomp starts pushing out new Alps switches like an Amish mother.
A unicomp model M is still on my list. I'm gonna buy one for myself once I get my bachelors degree. Black chassis, grey and white keys.
I don't know if Unicomp will be able to beat Datacomp if Datacomp makes some good boards for their switches. Also we know nothing of switch qaulity yet, so they might not beat matias.
They only call their switches blue because it goes with the mx colors, but who knows maybe it legit is a modernized blue ALPS switch
I've seen the drawings and specs, and it's obvious that Datacomp don't make conplicated Alps at least, they're more like simplified Alps in terms of build. So that's basically Matias before they upgraded the design. I think the blue slider colour will help sell though :p .
yes, but weren't simplified alps just a whole lot better than cherries? This is exactly why unicomp has to act now: it's the same market as the Datacomp blues, except that unicomp's switches are far superior. I know one is clicky and one is tactile, but both are ment for long typing sessions.
Datacomp blues are clicky if I'm right, datacomp browns are the tactile, then reds are linear.
It's a sign that Datacomp are going going to market their keyboard against cherry, with their main disadvantage being lack of keycaps
Rodrigo Girão
No NKRO can suck for EVE if you use the hotkeys a lot
an omnikey ultra is the perfect board for EVE
1:57 Oh ok, I see what you did there
Was thinking "Meh... what's more about Model M? Another video?"
Ended up this video is well thought of, information packed, and concise.
Of course, forum people will debate about accuracy of many things as they please, but this is inevitably a very good IBM Model M video summary.
Please keep it up. Hope your subscription number continue to increase!
Thank you for posting such a great review along with the history. Ah the memories; I learned how to type on the model M back in high school in the mid 80s. This keyboard has always been my favorite and was surprised to see that there there is still a demand for these. I want one!
Episode 1: The Rubber Dome Menace
Episode 2: Attack of the Model M Clones.
Episode 3: Revenge of the SDL Cables
@7:07
@KahvinSuodatin Return of the Model F
@KahvinSuodatin episode 7:the model m awakens
I stumbled upon your content recently while just videos about keyboards. I'm loving what I'm seeing
You just earned a new subscriber
Very complete review of the Model M. One of the most concise I've seen!
Really chyros I can't stop watching you... I have rewatched ever single one of your videos atleast 10 times. Like why would I not want to combine the voice of odin himself with keyboards. Well anyways I love your video and have a good day m8
Freaking awesome video, Chyros! I knew most of what you said in here, but your unique style, gorgeous voice, and that ultra-rare industrial Model M really make it special!! A great way to end the week! :)
P.S.: Typing this on my bolt-modded "rainbow" early-1987 IBM Model M 1390131. :D
My Unicomp Mini M just got delivered today and so far I am super happy with it! I'm still on the lookout for an older Model M to keep around though. Great outline of all the different "generations" and the differences between them!
Hey boss! I heard by way of a clever hawk that you're getting a special keyboard of unspecified type soon. The current owner got it from me and I'm helping him to get it to you safely. You're welcome! ;-) Awesome channel, by the way. I'm glad someone is giving this kind of attention and love to mechanical keyboards. Keep up the great work. I'll await your review of my old clacky friend eagerly.
Jody Bruchon Thank you, and looking forward to it!
"And although their marketing skills are abysmal (bless them)". You got a good chuckle out of me from that one.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. It was very informative and you have a very pleasant voice. :D
Found one of these in the attic, built in mid '87. Just finished cleaning it. Looks brand new again, and types like a dream. As good, if not better than the Commodore SX-64 keyboard, but more versatile for sure.
Man, this video brings me back. Among other things, I’m a lifelong computer nerd. Growing up, I never got much help from my parents along those lines, because they weren’t into it and didn’t get it.
But, in middle school, I made friends with a neighbor whose father worked in IT at a large bank and was very much into computers. His father was cool to me and taught me a ton, gave me old equipment he could spare, etc. Along with the old PS2, I got one of those keyboards. I can still recognize the sound of one immediately to this day, and I swear I can still remember how they feel to type on. I need to get another for nostalgia.
My work just went through piles of old computer parts and was getting ready to toss them. Inside a box was a model M from 1984... I saved it and now have it in my office. It's really nice to type on. I was not expecting it to be that freaking solid.
The two-part design sounds awesome!
A Colemak user like me would love that!
Saw the thumbnail and knew I was in for a treat. Glorious.
Without Chyros there is no reason to look forward to the weekends
Well, you've got video games.
I have recently acquired one of the industrial versions with a black badge from August 1985. It’s by far the best model M I have used so far. Its a tank and solid as a rock. Seems quieter and has more of a mechanical sound to it. I absolutely love it. Works perfectly and in great shape. No signs of needing to be bolt modded yet. Thanks for making this video.
Oh damn, I can't imagine how much you must've paid. Those boards are lovely.
@@jugostran well actually it came with a ibm computer I bought. They had no idea and almost threw it away. So very lucky on that one.
where can I get a model M?
@@Falkenroth1 that's insanely lucky, I wish I could have one of those
You! Sir, should be a voice actor or make a living with that voice of yours - your voice would be perfect for Audio Books.
Thank you for this great little video about the best keyboard in the world.
I remember the Lexmark-made blue label models with all the features of the earlier white label models (detachable cable, two-part multicolour keycaps etc.) were extremely common back in the 90's here in Denmark where I live - way more so than the Lexmarks with the different lock lights and fixed cable. I for sure remember that the IBM PS/2 Model 56 that we had back when I was a kid had one of these keyboards - so did a lot of the PS/2s at my school (i clearly remember that you could swap the keycaps around).
The Model M I have today (blue label, model 1391407, made 1993-11-26 in Scotland) is apart from the blue label basically completely identical to a white label one, and I'm 99% sure that it is the exact same model at the one from the PS/2 that we had when I was a kid.
I think this is the best Model M Keyboard video I have seen so far.
I came across your channel because of my love for the Model M. I am looking to see if there is a decent competitor and to my surprise you have a ton of keyboard stuff, thanks!
i have a very early unicomp model m from 2004 and its beautiful build quality. very heavy, but its before they started including windows keys and its still a PS/2 connection. honestly my favorite keyboard of all time. ive compared it to my friends 1987 model M, and while they feel exactly the same i still prefer mine due to the black body and the lock lights, which are not included on his. im not sure how the quality on the new unicomp keyboards are, but if theyre half as good as they were in the early 2000's i would consider them an excellent buy
Awesome review, learned a lot.
I also love using my Model M on my Win98 Pentium 3 retro gaming PC with a 3dfx Voodoo 3 3000 graphics accelerator. Such an amazing keyboard.
17:48 - typing asmr
I greatly enjoyed watching this.
My wallet is catastrophically buckling because of Chyros ;)
That was very educational thank you! One can definitely hear that clacky sound coming from those switches. A throwback from a different time:)
very informative. great video! thanks
I am proud to have grown up learning how to type and use a computer on a model M, my dad worked for IBM during the 90's so we had at least three of them for myself, my dad and my brother. No mechanical keyboard I've ever used has ever held a candle to it.
This is the first of your videos ive watched, but let me tell you, the professional narrative, makes those couple of F bombs just goddamn perfect. Love it.
I've watched you for 3 years now but i can't get over your voice.
The deep voice makes the video so satisfying for some odd reason
Dear god after watching your video, typing on my model M just feels so much better! :D
Just want to make a comment tho, for people who dont have the cash they can purchase a Terminal board and modify the cable (mine was RJ45) with an Arduino to allow it to be connected to a PC via USB. Its a great alternative also if your PC doesnt have a P2 port. I dont use my P2 board cos I would rather have a terminal board break than a p2 one!
Overall, fucking awesome review, going right into my favorites!
Excellent video, I thought I knew enough about the model M, but you elucidated me. Great pacing, great script, great voice, great sound, great videography. ONLY gripe: Watching you type at the end, pressing the spacebar with your right hand index finger makes me wince. What's going on there?
great review :) I already made the bolt mod to my model M it was very hard to do.
This was a truly fantastic video!!!!!!!!
*typed on Cherry MX Blues*
Love mine, takes up like half my desk and weighs like 2.25 kg.
Mine is a 1390120 from an XT (Silver badge, non-terminal, detachable cable, matte brass colored plate and no LED indicators) with a date of manufacturer of March 1986 making it an earlier one, it's got that barcode sticker which seemed to go away in 1987. Got it "as-is" missing a few key caps and untested, needed some work as some of the spring assemblies came loose due to broken rivets.
Couldn't reseat the spring assemblies so I had to fully disassemble it which meant drilling out the remaining rivets and bolt modding it. But being so old the barrel frame plastic was more brittle than a potato chip/crisp and didn't stand a chance. Not wanting to source a replacement barrel frame I salvaged one from another newer Model M I had lying around, a early to mid 90's Lexmark made blue label 82G2383, some rudimentary measurements and I figured the barrel frame from it would fit inside the older Model M's case and back plate after some rather aggressive trimming.
Of course I could have transplanted the entire 82G2383 assembly into the older case but the thicker backplate is uncommon and sounds slightly different than the "newer" Model Ms.
So I got this Frankenstein '86 Model M with a mid-90's barrel frame, but the later barrel frame with the drainage features seems to be made from a thicker plastic and the drainage ridges probably add some structural reinforcement, my particular keyboard now has drainage channels... but no where for liquids to actual drain out of which is somewhat amusing. Additionally due to the difference between the barrel frames I had to use some of the newer keys since the newer barrel frame used stabilizer inserts rather than a metal bar stabilizer.
Sadly the sheer size and lack of NKRO is a bit limiting for gaming due to the lack of mouse space (a personal problem), and trying to do weird key macro combinations while moving in some games and trying to do other actions. So I had to sideline mine for something with a smaller physical footprint.
I could listen to you for hours.
was so nice to hear your informative video, I do have one myself. Researching how to clean it up and make it quiter, but I use photoshop and game quite much so I am afraid it will not register much keys ... ? anyways awesome thing is - u can customize keycaps with new ones and making interesting artistic choises ...
My IBM model M keyboard is almost as old as I am, and I still use it to this day. About the only inconvenience to it is the lack of a Windows button, but a quick re-mapping fixes that nicely.
Best review ever! =)
Great Work. Very good video. Thank you.
funny to think that the first computer class i had, there was a room with about 30 of these things, all pre-windows.
I never thought you would curse in the video, due to the professionalism you put in this. Funny and Solid! Not for kids...lol
Oh wow I've been waiting for years to see an RM branded keyboard again! We had these in school
Mine is a Brazilian Portuguese ABNT2 and made in the US in 1993 with Part #64F7707. It has the extra switch left of the shorter right shift, detachable cable and all the ABNT2 keycaps. If I'm not mistaken that part number was sold with a RS6000 workstation.
I remember once I walked into a salvation army resell shop and walked out with 10 old clicky keyboards for $1 each, $10 total. Didn't really pay any attention to what type they were. There may have been a few model Ms in there... Cut the AT ends off and stripped the wires / tapped PS2 connectors on the end because that's what most boards had at the time, although a few custom systems still had AT ports, even though all store-bought OEM computers only used PS2 ports. This would have been... about the time that the first DOS-based Duke Nuk'em came out. I should have kept those keyboards. I did not foresee how expensive good keyboards would be in the future, or how much nostalgia would be associated with them. None of the other old parts got that same type of love. The 20MB 5.25" double-stack hard drives definitely didn't. No one talks about how great those were.
Your voice is just ASMR
Also Note: Unicomp has gotten better since your review was made, and they also make MacOS and Linux layouts.
Benrob0329 what's the difference between the Windows and Linux layout?
Linux has a Super key, rather than a Windows key.
Mine also has the Caps and Control, ESC and Tilde keys swapped (which is a more classic design and easier for using Emacs and Vim)
Also, Linux layout makes much better use of alt gr, and alt gr+shift modifiers.
If you have alt gr, the US layout does not.
Not really, they got new tooling? BTW, that 'Linux' layout you're thinking about is the Sun Unix Spacesaver keyboard. Nothing to do with Linux.
“Bless them”
Literally just got my first M in the mail this morning, what are the chances lol..
Got you covered man ;D .
unintentional ASMR right here....love ur deep voice and nice video...i was trying to understand a joke about this keyboard being so loud it sounds like ur hitting a table on a mic or smth
I had a Model F keyboard when I was a kid. I can still remember the ringing of the springs when typing....
Man...I remember learning how to type on one of these in school. No keyboard I've used since has come close. Time to save up and hit ebay!
It's been 10 days since your last video and I am quite literally dying
Ye11ow patience, young padawan. I shall return from holiday next week :p .
I've not used an IBM Model M keyboard since 1999 or 2000, relatives of mine had a hand me down IBM PS/2 PC I believe, I was told the computer was a 386 based machine. I'm thinking the keyboard they had was a generation 2 model, though I could be wrong. I think that's the only Model M keyboard I've used. I know I used an Ollivetti PC that I think came with a buckling spring keyboard, but I could be wrong about that too.
You forgot the Rubber Menace cartoon and jingle from videos past!!
Btw, Epson made buckling springs too, they're not bad.
Thanks for a great overwiev. I have a silverbagde model m from 1986 (1390137) The cabinet is ABS and yellow-ish. Keycaps are like new, but it needs to be bolted.
Enjoy your holiday!
Finally you got these awesome beauties
Fascinating. How do you know this much about keyboards?
Deskthority wikis. I just made an account and the community is nice from what I can tell.
Hey Chyros, regarding the plate number part in the plate that appears at 4:46 (1386719). I got a 08-1988 White Label M and it's parts number is, oddly, 1386718. Its weights 2.25 kg so it has the 1.2 mm thick plate. I've search about these part numbers and they don't seem common. What can you say me about my M? Would it be as good as the 1.2mm Silver Label? I heard the older the better. So, when did White labels start to decrease quality? Thx, love your videos.
Time to fire up the projector to watch this :D
Wait what, should I be dead?
I am so confused
uh oh, weird, I've been commenting on the majority of these videos.
Ok
Found an old model M at my grandparents house, have been using it for 10 years now.
I have a terminal model I need to order some replacement caps for from Unicomp. Love the thing and the extra keys get used for macros in my case as mine gets used with a prebuilt external Soarer's Converter I bought for about 35$.
I actually program in an IBM I series environment. I feel like I NEED one of these.
I nearly spit my coffee on my keyboard when I heard the f word in his sexy bass voice! Love the intermittent swearing, tho ;)
Cool. Can you do a review/analysis of the Model F? Relevant as this summer the new model F keyboard will finally ship.
He did a video of this style of the Model F.
@@nerdyneedsalife8315 You are right! Thanks.
i still have my Model M (1391411) from my first computer that was a IBM PS/2 Model 57SX.
9:15 can confirm. I have a model m that cant decide if its an early gen 2 or late gen 1 or something. its missing the lock lights but has the newer plate and long key stabilizers.
Yes!
I just bought a 1991 Model M space saver keyboard. They go for ridiculous prices on eBay, so wasn't going to pass it up if it's below $150.
Excellent. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought ABS plastic yellowing was the result of a chemical that stopped being using...I'm not sure when, ie. modern ABS doesn't yellow? I love the speckled gray case - reminds me of SGI keyboards at their zenith.
The grey case isn't speckled, but the lighting makes the texture light up unevenly, so it might show up as speckled. Speckling would be highly un-IBM xD .
I remember typing on these back in grade school, I think, or something close too it.
The terminator reviewing a Model M, nice
Did you do the bolt mod recently? I recently was at the same University workshop for a bolt mod :p
Arian van Putten nah, that was back in the UK, over two years ago :) .
Mine has ALPS switches which are great. I did own a Model F in a steel case but gave it ti a friend with nerve issues who used to break keyboards due to hitting keys are due to lack of finger signal feedback.
Fuck me I need an industrial model m, that grey is so nice.
I thought the same thing... maybe even some Olivetti keycaps...
do compatible olivettis exist?
The grey looks SO MUCH BETTER in person, as well. On camera and on pictures they always look nowhere near as nice.
I saw some reproduction Olivetti style cherry caps. Not doubleshots though. www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/5mx0ec/olivetti_cherry_pbt_keycaps/
Hi. Where did you get the black badge visible at time 16.56? Looks very good
The metal plate is steel and has zinc plating with a chromate passivate. This gives exceptional corrosion resistance but would lead to ROHS/WEEE noncompliance due to the presence of a class 1 carcinogen. In the trade the "rainbow" is called iridescence and is due to the chromate layer being very thin, around a micron. This causes interference effects with light.
wow I love your deep bass voice on my speaker
dude this keyboard is so beautifull
Next video: I found this intact symbolics keyboard at the recycling center for about 2 pounds
I just did a screw mod on my Model M. Feels good to give an old broken keyboard a new life.
that shiny rainbow plate
my Model M is a blue text 1993 1391401, but it has the bizarre 15' long removeable PS/2 cable (I think this standard keyboard for the RS/6000??). I got from a guy cleaning out whatever tech he had that _didn't get destroyed in a house fire_. yes, my Model M went through a house fire and survived; the top case is warped along its length from the heat. There's still soot embedded in the cable and textured bits of plastic. the key barrel frame was also cracked between the bottom two letter rows, so I retrofitted in a Unicomp key barrel and bolt modded it.
Well, I do have my own Model M now. Model number is 1399580, ISO layout with side legends for Croatian language. It has matte black detachable cable with DIN plug, two-part keycaps, and drainage channels. It's a blue badge Lexmark-made unit from late 1993.
I don't know, but this must be your voice or something. I had hoped I'd be happy with my Vortex Race 3 with Clears, but no, I am now typing this on a Model M that somehow found its way from Croatia to Poland... crazy.
I use a 1989 ps/2 one for gaming all the time and never notice any rollover issues. It can definitely recognize more than 2 keys at a time
Yeah I agree with this, it’s probably the best gaming experience for a keyboard I’ve had. I have an alps board that actually has 2 key rollover and while I love the feel of white alps, I can notice the 2 key rollover when gaming. So I end up just sticking with my model m cause nothing compares to it 😂
@@JohnDoe-qk7wxcan I have the white Alps board.
Very well done and entertaining video as always, however you failed to mention the model ms made in mexico by maxi switch.
Maxi Switch only very briefly made Models M. They are most famous for making the M13.You're probably thinking of the Guadalajara plant, which I did mention ;) .
yeah, they made almost all of the black m13s out there. I had one from 1998, which is one of the latest model ms that I have seen not made by unicomp.
I've been using a Philips P2814-090 keyboard that's very much like an IBM M, since I bought it new in 1989. This is how I think tech should be built.
Holy shit! Your #1390136 was built on my birthday in 1987!
When I was a kid I used to swap the F and Z caps on my dad's Model F, drove him nuts.
Great video! This really gave the context I wanted for my beloved Model M #1391401 (USA, 1990-08-28).
Now to look up that floss trick, because it's too noisy for my girlfriend...
Which old keyboard of IBM has N/Key rollover feature needed to play competitive fighting games on the same keyboard?
The Model F has NKRO since they're capacitive switches. He said the high hysteresis and heavy weighting makes it a meh gaming keyboard but I love using my Unicomp Model M for gaming. Sure the 2KRO gets in the way sometimes but I just love the switches.
I got a Model M from 1994 and some of my keys have a metal sort of ringing sound to it (after the 'click'; on key release). Do you know why I get this 'ping' only on some keys and is this a sign of heavy use ? Love your videos. Keep up the great work!
Hmm, not entirely sure. They do ping by themselves a bit.
@@Chyrosran22 Thanks for the reply. If I find some time I will push a non-pingy key 15 million times and see what happens...
@@padan_fain just thought of something; are you sure it's not plate ping?
Not quite sure. I need to educate myself on this. I am pretty new to this oldschool keyboard fetish. I watched hours of your videos and now I own 2 Model M, a chicony with futabas and one mitsumi board is on the way. Thanks for the help