I too am now the proud owner of an IBM Model M.

3 years ago by Mike to c/mechanicalkeyboards

When 4 IBM Model M keyboards showed up during a cleanup at work (university) and I was asked if I wanted one, I of course said yes!

It's an IBM model M 1394540 from 1992 with the PS2 connector and the detachable cable. The keyboard and cable are in very good condition, even the manufacturing sticker on the back looks pretty good! All keycaps present, all keys work. It just needed "some" cleaning which ended in a 3h long process haha.

It will definitely be my daily driver for the next few weeks. I haven't decided yet if I will use it long term. I'm actually very happy with my modded Keychron Q6. Maybe I'll try some lube on the stabilizers and perhaps a little tape mod.

The best part was that I got to take a second Model M with me, which I will give to a good friend. This one is also in great condition.

It was an incredible day!

Fontasia 21 points 3 years ago

path: 0 4629835, hotness: undefined, score: 21, children: 0

mihnt 14 points 3 years ago

path: 0 4629847, hotness: undefined, score: 14, children: 1

mike 6 points 3 years ago

I can't imagine the sound of a room with like 20 pupils, each hammering on such a keyboard.

path: 0 4629847 4631557, hotness: undefined, score: 6, children: 0

blackluster117 9 points 3 years ago

I am unbelievably jealous right now. Gotta give us a sound check so we can live vicariously through you!

path: 0 4629516, hotness: undefined, score: 9, children: 5

mike 2 points 3 years ago

I'll do that! Question is where to post it. Lemmy doesn't support videos.

path: 0 4629516 4631501, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 4

blackluster117 3 points 3 years ago

You could always try hosting it on Vimeo or something, then post that link here.

path: 0 4629516 4631501 4632234, hotness: undefined, score: 3, children: 3

mike 6 points 3 years ago

I figured I could simply upload them on our webserver, so here you go:

Sound of the cleaned keyboard: https://quantentoast.de/ibm-model-m-cleaned.mp4
Sound with tapemod applied (no very noticeable on the video): https://quantentoast.de/ibm-model-m-tapemod.mp4

path: 0 4629516 4631501 4632234 4649117, hotness: undefined, score: 6, children: 2

danque 4 points 3 years ago

That was absolutely beautiful. Thank you. It's like porn but without the porn.

path: 0 4629516 4631501 4632234 4649117 4676649, hotness: undefined, score: 4, children: 0

blackluster117 2 points 3 years ago

The tape mod sounds like it got rid of some of the high frequency pinging and softened the sound of the keyboard down to a full and meaty thock.

path: 0 4629516 4631501 4632234 4649117 4670892, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

jukecity 7 points 3 years ago

What a find! It's hard to go wrong with any kind of IBM buckling spring.

path: 0 4630433, hotness: undefined, score: 7, children: 0

dontwakethetrees 4 points 3 years ago

Thats awesome! Model Ms sound and feel so nice. I really didn’t get it til I typed on one in person. Now I have one as my work keyboard.

path: 0 4631874, hotness: undefined, score: 4, children: 0

cypherpunks 4 points 3 years ago

congratulations!

path: 0 4629534, hotness: undefined, score: 4, children: 1

mike 2 points 3 years ago

Thank you

path: 0 4629534 4631595, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

Peace_Joy_Pancake 3 points 3 years ago

I can hear that picture 🙉

path: 0 4672416, hotness: undefined, score: 3, children: 0

theostermanweekend 2 points 3 years ago

Love the Type Mike. Tough enough to frame a house with it ..

path: 0 4631002, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

AlexisFR 2 points 3 years ago

I just want a modern version of this.

path: 0 4673251, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 2

Ibaudia 7 points 3 years ago

Unicomp makes copycat Model M's that are very high-quality and popular.

path: 0 4673251 4674508, hotness: undefined, score: 7, children: 0

Cethin 4 points 3 years ago

I'm pretty sure I've seen a modern mechanical keyboard inspired by this keyboard. It wasn't identical, but it looked similar.

path: 0 4673251 4673930, hotness: undefined, score: 4, children: 0

Rotten_potato 2 points 3 years ago

I happened upon two of these in much the same way, one of them unfortunately doesn't work but the other one has been my home office keyboard (too loud for the office) for many years. I've always wanted to fix the broken one by swapping in a modern controller, maybe even make it wireless (because that would be truly absurd).

path: 0 4719754, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

lorez 1 point 3 years ago

Too bad the keys don't light up. I have a Logitech G413 that I find fantastic even if it's cheap.

path: 0 4677320, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0

Maiznieks 1 point 3 years ago

I had this and i must be the only person in town that would hate to use one of those again. Low profile, silent keys ftw.

path: 0 4632068, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 1

d3Xt3r 2 points 3 years ago

I don't like using it as a daily driver either, but I love using it on my 486 - the nostalgia factor isn't complete without the keyboard. I'm missing a monochrome monitor though, a color monitor just doesn't seem right to me...

path: 0 4632068 4671528, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

mechanicalkeyboards

mechanicalkeyboards

@lemmy.ml

login for more options

Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

Banner by Jay Zhang on Unsplash

go to feed...

mechanicalkeyboards

mechanicalkeyboards

@lemmy.ml

login for more options

Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

Banner by Jay Zhang on Unsplash

go to feed...