Rubenerd

Enough talk already! After weighing up all the options, I finally plonked down the dough and ordered a Unicomp SpaceSaver buckling spring keyboard. While I was drawn to the retro beige and light grey key colour scheme I ended up getting the black and grey version so it would match my Apple hardware, Samsung monitors and whatnot. Plus it looks just like my Commodore 16 :-D.

Despite having some older machines that only recognise PS/2 and that I could only configure an alternative key layout if I used the PS/2 version, I opted for USB. I already carry far too many adaptors, dongles and other riff raff between Singapore and Adelaide as it is, and I worry a PS/2 to USB adaptor would just be another thing to lose. Plus, I've read the IBM Model M series keyboards draw far more power than regular keyboards and that you need an active converter rather than just an adaptor to change the signals. Not sure if that's true for the Unicomp keyboards too, but I figured I may as well play it safe.

If you skipped my obsessive coverage of keyboards of late (IBM Model M and Northgate Omnikey keyboards and Unicomp and CVT keyboards), Unicomp manufacture keyboards to the same specifications as the original IBM Model M keyboards from the 1980s that use buckling springs which feel much nicer to type on and give a classic audible click with each keystroke. I was able to use a classic IBM keyboard back in Adelaide at my university and it really does make a huge difference.

While I do love the svelte keyboards Apple are currently producing and will continue to use them on my other machines (even my non-Macs!) I'm looking forward to using this IBM/Unicomp keyboard for programming and writing blog posts.

10-15 business days… I might explode waiting that long! Yes, I get excited about computer keyboards, shaddup.