Admiral Shark here! Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad my site's content was helpful! It always means a lot to hear my work has helped someone.

Now this video brings me back memories from one of my past lives. I was a desktop support technician in the mid-90's. I made side money picking up old keyboards from the thrift shops, rebuilding them and reselling them. I could buy them for about $5.00, and after doing a full refurbish, I would sell them for between $30 to 60. I did a lot of the old IBM spring keyboards. I loved typing on them.

The “Open Apple” terminology comes from the Apple II line, where there were “open apple” (an outline of the logo) and “closed apple” (filled in logo) modifier keys. Some early ADB keyboard are used on both Macs and the IIGS, so had both symbols. The Apple key got replaced with the knot Command symbol on the Mac 128k. Steve Jobs saw an Apple logo as part of every keyboard shortcut listed in the menu, declared “We’re using the Apple logo in vain,” and had Susan Kare come up with an alternative. She found the ⌘ symbol in an international symbol dictionary. It comes from Sweden, where it’s used on road signs and maps to mark a point of interest or a campground.

I don't have any words of wisdom about your keyboard; I just want to say how cool it is that you found a Model M! My Dad had an IBM computer (not an AT) in the mid '80s and we had a keyboard just like that. Awesome channel!

The ironic thing about this is back in the day, when I owned and used an IBM XT, PC magazines of the time had numerous advertisements and reviews of alternate keyboards. Not everyone liked the original keyboard at the time. Now they are nostalgic and in demand. It's a little bit like old camera lenses that had various optical flaws, reviled by their owners at the time, but now sought after to recreate and remember the "character" of the old lenses.

Love the editing in this video, the new intro rocks aswell!

I loved the Model M! I want a clicky keyboard, I'm not interested in the M or restoring one personally, but I appreciate people like you and others keeping good old still useful tech like this alive. Great video! And nice work!!! This is like a walk down memory lane. Thanks for the nostalgia trip, and Rock on, Veronica!!

Bought one back in the nineties in CompUSA for 99 dollars... and rescued some from my old job that were going to the trash. Still in use today daily.

The classic keyboard really brings a satisfying experience of its own. But it also could test the relationship with your partner 😄

Actual the best feature of the soarers converter is supporting the terminal keyboards (layer 3 protocol). For normal model M it is a bit of overkill, as the DIN->PS/2 adaper and a PS/2->USB adaper work quite well and are extremly cheap (or still flying around anyways). So if you do not need makros or remapping, that might be the way to go (esp. if not changing the keyboard between different OS or computers). But terminal keyboards are a totaly other world - and sometimes a lot cheaper. I spend about 40€ a few years ago in good condition, while the normal model M already passed the 150€ mark. Soarer's converter was not available as "ready 2 use" solution back than. I had to solder it myself using a Teensy. But it worked perfectly. As I am from germany, many symbols often used are not available on normal keyboards - like the typographicly correct quotation marks. While using word, you can set an option to automaticly replace normal quotation marks by typographicly correct ones for the german language. But sadly, it becomes hard to use the normal quotation marks than (for code f.e.). So with all those extra keys, it was easy to set them to macros, to simply send the alt+keyboard number unicode. So no need to remap anything, as there are a lot of extra function keys. Of course, if you do not have this specific problem, I would still recomend to use terminal keyboards for example for OBS. Just use the extra function keys for switching scenes. Pretty usefull, as you do not need fancy combinations as hotkey, still can use the keybord for normal typing but call scenes without problems by one keystroke. As I used an old version I do not know if there is a function to make use of the unused I/Os, but it would actualy nice to trigger a KMV-switch by the capslock key, to use the keyboard on two computers....

Hearing someone refer to the command key as the Open-Apple key unlocked a whole bunch of memories! I remember teaching my fourth grade friends what copy and paste was, and them chanting "Open-Apple X, Open-Apple C, Open-Apple V, V, V!" like a rap song 😂 must have been around 2004. The school had a room crammed with Bondi blue iMacs loaded up with the At Ease launcher (to stop people like me from missing with the settings... I used to get around it anyway 😅) and a bunch of edutainment games!

I love how you cite your sources in the correct format by including the date and stuff. Very cool. I happen to have two PS/2 models M’s. One made in May 1987 and the other made in 1992/1993. I use one and have been keeping the other as spare parts, but now I may try and offload one so I can spring (punny) for a Unicomp version. I can’t imagine it would be substantially different.

I also have a Model M and retired it because the active adapter I was using needed to be unplugged and re-plugged every time I rebooted the PC. Thanks for the new adapter. Time to drag it back out for my Raspberry Pi!!

I've used many many keyboards over the years including: original IBM PC, PC/AT (Model M), Northgate OmniKey, Gateway AnyKey, Dell's SK-8135, etc. etc. My biggest gripe against the Model M is that the spring is way too stiff. Your fingers will get tired in an hour or two of typing ( I type 110 wpm). For me, ergonomics and comfort are my top priorities. I currently like the Kinesis Freestyle2 (rubber dome) and Kinesis Freestyle Pro (Cherry Red Silent). I also switched from QWERTY to Colemak about 10 yrs ago and love it. My all-time favorite keyboard is the one on the IBM 3178-2 terminal. OMG!!! What a dream!!! If you imagine having a keyboard with the lightness and quietness of a rubber dome w/ the tactile feel of a MX-Brown, that would be the keyboard of an IBM 3278-2 terminal. Oh yeah .. my other BIG GRIPE w/ the IBM Model M is how IBM moved the left Control key from above the left shift key to below the shift key. STUPID!!! Curse you IBM.

I first used one of these keyboards back on 1989, when the company I worked for got me a new PS/2 Model 70 (top of the line, with an 8514/A graphics card for a whooping 1024 x 768 resolution :) ... I kept that keyboard for many many years, carrying it on to the newer PCs that the company used over the years, no newere keyboard was better and the windows key didn't meant much to me. When I retired, I did so with that keeyboard among my stuff, and used it for many more years on my home PC, until recently, when motherboards dispensed with the PS/2 interface .. it was really durable, lasting in constant use for over 25 years. Love your channel btw. Cheers!

I worked on IBM mainframes for decades. I had a few of these over the years; I think I finally got rid of the last one a few years ago. I believe these keyboards were very similar to the ones supplied with the old 3278 and 3279 terminals, at least as regards to the actual build quality. I wrote a lot of COBOL code back in the '70s & '80s!

Yellow card - minus 10 points for not using the phrase "kitty wampus" once in the video! 😉 Seriously though, great video. I used the Model M for years and a few years ago got the Unicomp as a holiday gift and love it, except my aging fingers and arthritis didn't like the keyforce required after a while and I've settled on shallow Cherry Blues which are fantastic. But I'll always have fond memories of the Model M. Also, the Model M is not open work environment friendly, but perfect for a private office/at home alone.

286 was my first pc too! Even in the school pc lab. I’m watching this to get to know my old keyboard better.

I actually have a Lexmark model M buckling spring keyboard with the two Windows keys on a PS/2 connector. It has always been my favourite keyboard. Only a few weeks ago I discovered that this was a collectible item, even though I'd picked it up at Goodwill for $2. Thank you for telling us the fascinating background to this classic.

The only Keyboard to fight off zombies in the apocalypse.

My dad bought 2 Model M keyboards in the early 2000s before they were cool. He put APL keycaps on one of them. It is a geeky coolness at a whole other level.

Just found your channel recently, and I love the videos! I just bought a Unicomp Model M a few days ago, and am so excited to see it arrive. Can't wait to see more videos in the near future!

I once worked on the original IBM PC AT with Model M keyboard - now use a Logitech G series mechanical keyboard - love the clack but at work for courtesy to my colleagues is a MS Keyboard.

When I think about tabs and spaces my brain short circuits and I just start chanting 'always blue! always blue!' Thank you for another great video!

yes, this bring back memories indeed...

Awesome video; the first Christmas present my wife got me back when we were dating was an old model m that was sitting in a run down shack on her property. It was disgustingly corroded but she knew that I had wanted it. It was unfortunately not functioning, but after some tinkering and exploration, I managed to use some parts from a rubber dome model m to repair it and then bolt mod them together. I love it so much! Can't say how a bolt mod feels in comparison, but it helped in the teardown.

Yep I’m getting emotional looking at it, I was 14 programming QBasic on for schools PS/2 my passion for IT was sparked.

I don't have experience with the bolt mod but this keyboard has a "history of use", so in my book it's a candidate for modding. Great video, fun stuff. There are enough of these keyboards in museums. Letting this thing sit unused would be more of a travesty.

1390120 1986 model m owner here. Yes, bolt mod. If enough of the rivets fail, the keyboard will become unusable. The more rivets fail the more that the affected section collapses and becomes less responsive. I bought mine from an e-waste retailer and had it both modded and it was probably the best decision I made for it because I now know it's not going to have rivet issues ever again. Jason

I'm glad to see another "remap capslock to esc" person!

On tabs vs. spaces, "I'm not interested and you don't need to tell me what you think." ::deadpan Mom stare:: LOL! 🤣Another reason you've become one of my top small handful of computer/tech vloggers...

My other half used to love her Model M keyboard. Sadly her Mum threw it out when her (then very obsolete) PS/2 Model 80 was replaced with a newer, more modern PC. I don't think she ever forgave her Mum. *8') We now have dozens of dead and discarded keyboards in our garage, from trying to recapture that long lost dream. These days however, practicality has edged out nostalgia, and we've settled on Keychron Q6's as our daily drivers. After finally finding a keyboard that she both loved and lasted more than six months, she bought me one for my birthday this year. The Q6 has the same sturdy feel I remember of those early IBM keyboards (being a viable weapon for self-defence), with all the modern bells and whistles, while also being completely configurable (with QMK) and eminently hackable. Neither of us are keyboard snobs, I use my Q6 stock, and I'm very happy with it, but she's played with all sorts of upgrades, getting it into a state better than her memories of her Model M, while being a *lot* quieter. I never had a model M. My first PC was an original IBM PC, that I scavenged from an office fire. I ended replacing everything but the case, PSU (which amazingly survived) and keyboard, stripping the Model F keyboard down to the PCB to clean up all of the soot clogged contacts. It was only after I bought a new motherboard for that system that I discovered that with newer 8 slot motherboards, only two of the slots lined up with the old 5-slot IBM case. *8') Oh, and I'm going to steal your idea of remapping Capslock to ESC, I already use QMK to remap Caps lock functionality to fn+caps lock, to avoid accidentally SHOUTING, but re-using it for ESC makes a lot of sense. Also, TIA/EIA-568B for the win, just say no to T568A!

Love this channel, have learned some things I never heard on other sites. I will now have to do this with my old IBM key board just because it can be done. I was told that COBOL and Fortran was still used because of the accuracy of the mathematical computation that is necessary in things like aerospace and banking, where even a small rounding of numbers will become a big problem.

So blessed, some sell it for just US$10 those who're in a rusg but they're gone right away. May you get the Model F, the better one. God bless.

I work on a lot of older computers, and a while back some guy gave me an old IBM Aptiva computer from the Windows 98 era. He gave me an old keyboard with it as well, which he said was nasty and he was just going to throw it away. Low and behold it was a (dirty, but in good shape) Model M. It is branded as Ambra, which was supposedly one of IBMs lower end PC brands from back in the day. it is one of the later ones made by Lexmark, but it is still buckling springs, and it is before they got really light and cheap. I still use it on my main system, which is from around 2010, and I don't require any adapters of any sort, it just works.

That intro was sooo sick let alone the entire editing on the vid

It is the mid 90s, I'm from the UK and in college. I eventually, in about 1994, get onto a computer course. A year later eventually get a 386sx. Some how we end up with a keyboard like this, a clicky one but feels nice. I think nothing of it as I know no better. Years go by and it gets shelved and, sadly, eventually binned. I then have memories of that nice keyboard I had that was a bit clicky. Little did I know it was a sort after keyboard and I'd skipped it :(

My personal choice, Model M for PC and Extended Keyboard I for Mac. I'm happy with this combo 😊

Great video! I use a model m as my daily driver (as a developer) and it's really helped with wrist and finger pain over a membrane keyboard. I think a better keyboard has yet to be invented. On the bolt mod question: Once the rivets deteriorate, which they eventually will, maybe it'll be years (the '92 I use at home has been in service for years without), maybe soon, the keys will get less reliable. The bolt mod permanently fixes this. I don't think it changes the feel much if at all from a properly riveted keyboard that has no broken rivets. You can get new springs on eBay or from unicomp for your end key.

I have a ThinkPad T430 that I've modded with the Tx00/Tx10/Tx20 keyboard, including reflashing the EC firmware to properly map it. Best mod ever, nothing beats a 7-row keyboard!

I fished my Model M from the trash at AAA, which I worked for back in 2010. Thoroughly cleaned it. Have been using it at every company I've worked for since, and still going strong.

You said it yourself, the model M is very much a capacitive MECHANICAL keyboard with the switch on the bottom and a buckling spring. Unique design for a switch but it does make it mechanical rather than membrane or optical.

Well, I mean, just one year after the release of the original Model M keyboard (which was designed mostly for their mainframes), IBM made a consumer model. This one used a simple PS/2 connector. You just need a PS/2 adaptor to make that one function if you don't have the PS/2 connector on your PC. Costs about five dollars on Amazon for one. Some people say the PS/2 model isn't as heavy as the original model and isn't QUITE as tactile, but they still used the exact same keyboard layout and the same Buckling Springs trigger mechanism for the keypresses. I would say for simplicities' sake, if you just want a great keyboard, this is the model you should get because one adaptor and barely any computer knowledge and you can just plug and play. I would only get the first model of the M keyboard if you're really a collector and are willing to do a bit more work to get it running on your computer. The first gen model M can cost upwards of 60 - 75 dollars more per keyboard just for the collectability of it. Also, Lexmark made several iterations of the Model M in the '90s, and they are almost just as good as the original PS/2 model because they got the design directly from IBM. You might even prefer these as they are not almost five pound keyboards like the original, they are more like 3 lbs and still sturdy and amazing clickers. Today, a company called Unicomp (spun off of Lexmark) actually makes a Model M keyboard that works over USB and the reviews have been quite good. I have never used one of these, but again, they use the exact same swooping keyboard layout and the Buckling Springs trigger mechanism (which is still rated to over 50 million activations per key!). And bonus is that these keyboards are easy to plug and go, and will only cost 45 or 50 dollars instead of over 100 dollars for an IBM or Lexmark Model M. So honestly, there are lots of great ways to try out a Model M keyboard for yourself and see what the hype is all about. The legacy lives on today as they're still making version of the M with the exact same layout and function in 2023.

This video really delivered. In uni in the 90s we had an IBM AIX terminal lab with buckling spring keyboards. I cherish the memory of the exquisite keyboard racket caused by a bunch of nerds chatting on IRC.

The clicky keyboards were awesome. That is THE keyboard.

Finally you're back! This is not just about the writing experience. But also that look! and that clicky sound. Sure the Unicomp is a good keyboard, it just doesn't sound right. The model M was the first keyboard I ever used, on THE AT and then ps2. I still miss that keyboard. It was is the definition of the PC keyboard. I wonder how much impact the IBM typewriters had on the design. Those typewriters had marvelous keyboards. Thank you for another great video. ❤️

My daughter used to go to sleep listening to me type on my '96 vintage Model M. Thinking of gifting it to her when she graduates from university ...

Hi Veronica!!! Just letting you know that I am typing this right now on my Model M!!! The RJ45 to USB converter works amazing with my Alienware Aurora R13!!! LOL

I am a 90s kid and used a hand-me-down model m keyboard with a hand-me-down 386. I had no idea that the hardware I thought was lame because it was old had so much cachet until I showed photos of my childhood bedroom to my keyboard enthusiast coworkers.

My preferred way to test keyboards is by typing the sentence "How do you go to the bathroom in space?" (Without the question mark) It makes for a good mix of keys from both sides of the keyboard, and is long enough to give you a good analysis. Note: that's for testing out display models in stores, to see how they sound and feel. For actually testing out new-old keyboards to make sure they work, you would want "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" for obvious reasons, followed by long strings of numbers and other characters.

I have bolt modded several model Ms. It’s honestly preference. For model Ms with some of the plastic rivets falling off, the key feel is lighter and sounds hollower than when the rivets are tight and intact. When you bolt mod, you can sometimes tighten more than the rivets ever did, making the key feel even firmer than it ever did. It’s all preference really.

I discovered your channel today. I love your content! Best wishes to You, for continued success! From London, Ontario, Canada.

I am also a vim user. I used to remap caps lock to esc... nowadays, I have the keymaps "kj" and "jk" which = ... so much easier than even caps lock!

definitively, I love this video, I came here because I had the curiosity on whay if I use a model m, or any classic ibm keyboard without a power key, not the answer I waited, but Much better on what I thought

Ohh. Love the old keyboard. I still use an early PS/2 IBM Model M on my machine.

You're so agnostic, potent and to the point! Probably one of my favorite linux channels, hat's off my dear.

IBM Selectric. Pure pleasure. Every key feels different, so you know if your hands are too far left or right.

This is the best Model M video. Love it!

ROTFLMAO at the Arch comment, and the tabs/spaces. Thanks for the info on the Soarer's stuff, been working on a similar HID and this might save me time.

I bought two of these in the early 2000's when I went to the teacher store with my wife in San Jose. They had a big crate box of them, I got two for 1$ each. Best value other than the bamboo back scratcher.

I use to work at a UPMC hospital and we had a storage area with old model m keyboards with stickers just like that on the keys. It was used with some old word processing software that they used to check people into the ER.

That spring ping and crunchy typing sound! It's not r/mechmarket and that's a good thing. Glad you found your typing bestie.

How nostalgic. I have my model m from a boat anchor ps/2 server that I rescued from a company I worked at. They were closing down a building and I took a truckload of good stuff. My model m has been diligently serving on my HP Z800 for several years. We shoiuld all work so well after 35 years.

Always amazing humor.... but I missed the "because linux is amazing, and so are you!"

Your statements at the end about legacy software is spot on. Programmers of Cobol, Fortran and even Assembly language will not be out of work soon.

Nice video, good memories from those long gone days (age 51 here). Thank you!

Recycling is the best part of computing!

The algorithm giveth! Thank you for this overview of the best keyboard that has ever been made.

The plastic rivets can deteriorate and break. This'll cause some keys to stop responding. The bolt modification will spare you this frustration.

First off, Veronica, you are awesome. I am saddened the algorithm hadn't drawn me closer to you sooner. Second, creators, especially women and other non-men, should be able to perform the following actions online and in front of the camera without comment nor controversy: • Use whatever editors and other tools they so choose • Use whatever indentation that pleases them • Apply thermal paste in a way that suits them • Learn and demonstrate things in a way they deem most effective • Play the games they want to play • Relax with the media they wish to wind down with Women and other non-men folk should also be able to say things without having to skirt around nor preface the controversial nature of these things, nor acknowledge the contentious nature of such items. edit: oh gosh I just found your entire video on this very subject, h*ck yeah! :D

Hats down for the "White and Nerdy" cameo.

Capslock to Escape - My world has changed!

I picked up an '88 model M around 2000 and kept it around. I couldn't resist the fact it weighs five pounds and feels like it's made to survive an apocalypse. And now I can adapt it for something that doesn't have an AT connector! Not before the kids are out of the house. I don't want to lose any more key caps.

How did I not find this channel earlier, this is my favorite kind of content. Awesome stuff!

This made me want my old model M keyboard back, even more than I already did! It's easily the best keyboard I've ever typed on.

"...Javascript or...Klingon." Hilarious, and as a fully paid-up, card-carrying member of the Star Trek Fan club, I heartily approve! Nice video, too. Enjoy your keyboard!

I was so lucky to use that Keyboard on an Aptiva 486. I missed so much "that" keystroke sound with the spring totally releasing at the end, is a part of my childhood. Nowadays I have a Keychron K2 with blue-switches (the clicky ones) but It is not the same.

your content arrived in Brazil and hit me hard. thank you so much for these wonderful videos.

This channel is awesome.

I have 2 Model M keyboards, one of which I rescued from the trash at work. Both of them are perfectly functional using an active ps/2 to USB adapter and can be used for home defense in a pinch. Clicky keyboards were less than entirely popular in the office, but permanent WFH means I can make as much noise as I want. What I learned: If you get a trash/eBay keyboard, don’t think too much about what comes out from under the keys… and wash your hands afterwards or wear gloves. Magic eraser works well for stains on the exterior plastic… don’t think about those either, and wash your hands. 4 or 5 denture cleaning tablets and a 4 hour soak did a great job cleaning the nasty gunk off the keycaps without scrubbing, but mine were just gross with no adhesive residue. Don’t think about what’s on the keys… you didn’t touch them with your bare hands, did you? If you need to take your keyboard apart and can’t find a 7/32” nut driver, a 5.5mm nut driver works just fine. Buy some replacement parts while you still can. E.g. spare springs, etc.

Modell M stands for "Maschinengewehr" .... collegues back then in my old company hated me for using this beast. But this is probably still the best keyboard for fast tiping around. No wonder, these precious things have become so pricey. Also: with some luck there are still some of these to find, which feature the PS/2 connector, which makes it even much easier to hook up on a modern PC.

I definitely have learned to keep my monologues on what computers I want INTERNAL 😅

Good one Ronnie! Many thanks, N.C. from sunny Oz land'

I had one of these keyboards growing up and your channel makes me nostalgic.

I'm not a retro nerd but there's something very attractive about this keyboard, I've always loved the way it looks

I have two similar ones in my office, one with a PS2 connector and one with an AT connector. This makes me want to get it working. It feels so satisfying!!!

I have a few Model M's in various states of completeness. I did start doing a bolt mod on one, and I'd say, do it only when you have to. Unless you like do that sort of thing, it is a task. Especially when you have it all back together and a key still doesn't work. My weapon of choice is a terminal style M122 complete with RJ45 connector. I have found these to be cheaper than most other Model M's as the connector puts people off. The RJ45 really does make no difference to the use of the keyboard though. The converter programmes in the same way, and once in the back of the PC, you can't even see it. I chose the M122 because of the extra keys. It does take up more desk space, so you have to be really serious about living with one. However, you have a plethora of extra keys to amaze your friends with. There is no ESC key, so mapping one of them is a good idea, and using another for a super key and a menu key is very helpful. Unicomp makes keycaps to buy separately so you can cap these keys to remind yourself what they do. They also make media key caps, so with some remapping there as well, you can drag your Model M kicking and screaming into the modern era. A single key can run a macro to open a terminal and start a programme even, or just run a multiple key shortcut. Many terminal M122's come with some interesting labels on their keycaps and you can find a Copy key or a Paste key or an Undo key. Plus if you don't like where a key is.... well, move it!

Love your channel. Combining IBM Model M keyboards and star-wars clips. Chefs-kiss. Clickiness FTW. I am NOT in favor of "bolt mods" or such. Maybe lubing the keys might improve the experience. Just bought a Unicomp keyboard because I'm tired of my cherry red tenkeyless and want something EVEN CLACKIER.

I bought a Unicomp New Model M in early 2021. Had some issue with its USB controller, but was able to get a replacement. Overall a very good keyboard. The only thing is I wish they would have offered a beige color scheme.

Amazing!!!

Yes, Veronica! Bolt-mod the sh*t outta that lovely Model M. A big time-investment, but you know you really want to 😀

I bought a model-m recreation from Unicomp a couple of years back. It was the best typing experience of my life. I loved it... Two weeks later I felt like my hands were about to fall off. This is a genuine question for model-m users: How do you type on these things for any significant amount of time without incurring a wicked case of RSI? In any case, thank you for the video!

very good, as always. Thank You

....one of the best discussions on this topic I have seen though i have a few questions One of the negative comments I've seen about the Unicomp version is the durability of the key fonts. This is a common issue with "cheapie" keyboards. My small complaint is they've gone to a black motif rather than retained the "classic" "off white" body. One concern I saw in my research on how adapt the Model M to a newer system, well newer than the 1990s as mine is going on 13 years (built on an ASUS P6T X58 motherboard) is getting the BIOS to "see" the keyboard in Windows 7. It seemed a number of users around the time W7 was released had serious troubles getting the keyboard to work after a cold boot.. One solution was to then do a soft boot (sometimes repeatedly) afterwards to get it recognised which can get old rather quick. Eventually the solution came down to using a PS2 to USB converter. However, some people mentioned that using the converter resulted in a bit of lag between when the key was pressed and when the character would echo to the screen which was fairly noticeable. While I no longer am a 55 - 60 WPM touch typist (advancing arthritis) I have become pretty adept at the "search and destroy" technique (I can only use one finger on my right hand). Remember Scotty on the Mac 512 in Star Trek 4? Yeah that's me now. Of course this is rough on those cheap keyboards as it tends to wear out the printing on the keys in the span of several months. That is one of the major reasons for looking at the IBM M model as the printing is far more durable. Of course the other is the feel as I worked for many years on an M and loved the more positive touch and feedback (I used to play classical keyboard instruments before my arthritis set in).. Back to the lag issue. I am wondering if anyone here experienced this and found a solution? I have a pending purchase of an M but ant to be sure I can get it working properly before i laid the money down on it,. BTW I love the idea of converting the Caps Lock (which I seem to accidentally hit with relative frequency) to esc. I already use the UK keyboard setup that makes certain combinations (like Shift + quote) easier to handle.

Never had one of these myself, IIRC, but a bit before I moved to PCs from a C-64, friend of mine had an IBM XT and the moments we spent smashing that keyboard definitely still bring a tear to my eye. Just seeing the keyb fills me with joy. Remembering games like Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego, alllll the Sierra games, Eye of the Beholder etc. A+ memories.

I just stumbled over your channel. Somuch fun! Thanks.

Awesome t-shirt!!! The Ethernet colors cables mapping for me is like as a nursery rhyme.

In 1988, I found two CRT's and a Model M keyboard at a Goodwill store in Berkeley CA. All three had metal ID tags attached indicating they had once been owned by Industrial Light & Magic !! Unfortunately, I no longer own them!

My Model M (built like a tank) came with an RJ45 connector and both a PC (*not AT as you mention) DIN connector cable and a separate PS/2 cable to be able to plug into both style of connectors. Both cables are wonderfully long too! Hardware mapping is also awesome when using Synergy or a KVM switch, so much better than software. Sitting beside a 250+ word-per-minute typist on a model M is like sitting in a bunker with a machine gun (or so my coworkers told me). COBOL rocks! Shared memory with some JCL FTW!!

as a US govt employee, I can attest to the fact that our main database I interact with is based on COBOL. We keep hearing rumblings of it being replaced, but we'd have to completely overhaul EVERYTHING, and that would take at least a year. Our agency can't afford to be completely down that long...unfortunately lol. The history of COBOL is pretty cool, though!