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The Best Keyboard in the World

TSE

TSE

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 25, 2007
4,063
3,699
St. Paul, Minnesota
Here is a tribute to the best keyboard in the world, the old, clunky, really loud IBM ones.

ballboard1024.jpg


Yes, they were very loud to type on, yes they were huge, but it is also true that I have never found a keyboard that is as pleasant to type on then the IBM ones. I have two of them that I still use regularly, none of the new Apple ones or any other keyboard will convert me.

Who else has used one of these before?
 
I like my keyboard like I like my women. Loud, Obnoxious and build like a brick **** house.

Model M <3
 
Mighty mighty, letting it all hang out.

This was maybe the best Apple Keyboard.
keyboard-apple.jpg


And the one I used for years.
Apple_ExtendedKeyboardII-M3501.jpg
 
o_adb3.JPG


I have this on my P3, and I loved it, after about 2 months of total effort.

But my chicklet is my new love. Only took about 2 weeks to get away from the 1/2" drop in the keys when pressed. ;)
 
MacNut said:
Mighty mighty, letting it all hang out.

This was maybe the best Apple Keyboard.


And the one I used for years.

Apple_ExtendedKeyboardII
Click to expand...

My parent's currently use my black Apple keyboard and I still use my Extended Keyboard a fair amount.

I don't really like my White BT one as the space bar is crap.


I always wanted the Apple Adjustable Keyboard, but at £150 it was too expensive.
 
I love my skinny alum apple keyboard. I don't think I could ever go back to a big clunky keyboard. Unfortunately I have to use a big clunky keyboard at the office. Sigh
 
I can type much faster on the Apple aluminium keyboard simply because it requires less movement to type. I'm not a super fast typer but can reach about 90 words per minute which is healthy improvement over the old Apple keyboard for me.

It did take me two or three weeks to get totally used too though.

I could never use a US keyboard though, the return key is just retarded. How do you guys cope with it?
 
I like Apple's slim keyboard. Always been a fan of laptop style keyboards and was about to buy myself a non-Apple one till they made their own.

If only the USB ports were real.
 
raggedjimmi said:
I like Apple's slim keyboard. Always been a fan of laptop style keyboards and was about to buy myself a non-Apple one till they made their own.

If only the USB ports were real.
Click to expand...

You mean they're just stickers? I don't quite understand.
 
TSE said:
Here is a tribute to the best keyboard in the world, the old, clunky, really loud IBM ones.

Yes, they were very loud to type on, yes they were huge, but it is also true that I have never found a keyboard that is as pleasant to type on then the IBM ones. I have two of them that I still use regularly, none of the new Apple ones or any other keyboard will convert me.

Who else has used one of these before?
Click to expand...

I have four or five IBM model M keyboards including one "Space Saver" model (image below). There's nothing quite like buckling spring keys for tactile feedback.

BTW, Unicomp still makes them (they purchased the license to the buckling spring keyboard technology from Lexmark in 1996).

spacesaver1280.jpg
 
Here's the keyboard I'm using now:

Logitech Wave (USB wired port version)

logitech_wave.jpg


The Wave keyboard is both PC and Mac compatible. :) Sure, I miss the clackety feel of the old IBM keyboards, but the Wave makes up for it with its excellent ergonomics.
 
localoid said:
I have four or five IBM model M keyboards including one "Space Saver" model (image below). There's nothing quite like buckling spring keys for tactile feedback.

BTW, Unicomp still makes them (they purchased the license to the buckling spring keyboard technology from Lexmark in 1996).

spacesaver1280.jpg
Click to expand...

My Grandma have one with a 10 years old comp. I wanted to take it with me to college until I realized it was lacking its Window buttons, which are used as cmd under Mac.
 
My keyboard's return/enter button is the size of 3 keys wide and 2 keys tall. THAT is a return key, not the one you pictured. The thing I hate about my keyboard is the backspace key is only one key in size. It took me forever to get used to it!
 
TSE said:
Here is a tribute to the best keyboard in the world, the old, clunky, really loud IBM ones.

Yes, they were very loud to type on, yes they were huge, but it is also true that I have never found a keyboard that is as pleasant to type on then the IBM ones. I have two of them that I still use regularly, none of the new Apple ones or any other keyboard will convert me.

Who else has used one of these before?
Click to expand...

Typing this reply on one as I speak a 1989 vintage UK made 1391406. Cost me a tenner (£10) with a free PS/2 PC.

The best was to come some weeks later when at the same computer fair (Bowlers in Manchester) I picked up 11 of the little blighters for 50p each. Yes £5.50 for 11 of these classics.

There does appear to be two slightly different types of springs in use as some seem to have a slightly deader feel than others. This one I'm typing on is one of the better, more tactile ones.

I have yet to find a keyboard which can match this for typing accuracy and comfort.
 
localoid said:
BTW, Unicomp still makes them (they purchased the license to the buckling spring keyboard technology from Lexmark in 1996).
Click to expand...

Yes, they do. I just bought one from them. I would like to try the Das keyboard to compare the two. But, I cannot justify another CDN $140.00 on another keyboard.
 
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