The Apple keyboard is especially noteworthy, since it is the only keyboard that Apple has ever made that doesn't suck. Not only doesn't suck, but is actually impressively good. Unfortunately, ADB has gone by the wayside.
The Apple M0115 and the Acer 6011 both used Alps mechanisms.
Buckling spring gives "clickety-click". Alps mechanism is more of a "tickety-tick".
Razer uses their own keyswitch mechanism, which is intended to mimic Cherry MX Blue switches. I like Cherry MX Blue switches, too. I have a few keyboards with them, but I'm not currently using them day-to-day.
Of the ones above, the IBM, Unicomp, and Razer I'm using day-to-day. On my MacBook Pro, I use a Razer keyboard. Yes, I use a keyboard on a laptop. I detest the MacBook Pro keyboard; but then again I detest almost all Apple keyboards, with the one exception noted above (which is a fabulous keyboard, albeit the size of a battleship).
Full disclosure: I'm an unabashed Apple fanboy, but I am not a fan of their keyboards, or their mice. They may be pretty, but they're not functional. Form should follow function.
The Model M does. The Model F gives "clickety-PING!". 😊 (Too annoying for me, sadly.)
I see we have similar preferences though. How old is your Unicomp? I bought a PC122 two weeks ago, replacing the cheap Cherry I mentioned in another comment, and the case, while being made from incredibly sturdy material (good old IBM stuff...), has its problems. (I posted a review here.)
I have six Model M keyboards, and seven various Unicomp keyboards (all buckling spring, all USB), and four Razer keyboards. I have a lot of computers that I'm actively using.
The Unicomp keyboards I have are between 3 months old to 20 years old. I've had two of them wear out on me (not included in the seven). I've had two Model M wear out on me (not included in the six). And by "wear out" I mean they're heavily worn out and no longer function and are not salvagable.
I've never used a Model F. Maybe that's a good thing. :-D
I do not have any of the 122-key keyboards originally designed for mainframe terminals, but I have used them in the past on mainframes.
I do miss the WHACKETY-WHACK of the Teletype Model 33. ;-) I don't think solenoid based keyboards will make a comeback, though.
I've never used a Model F. Maybe that's a good thing. :-D
Neither have I, but I have read and YouTube'd a lot before spending so much money. Unicomp seems to be the only chance to have a buckling spring keyboard without the "20 years of heavy usage" tag, and they don't make Model Fs - and the "new" Model Fs are far from actual Model Fs, except the switches, probably. Buckling springs seemed to be exactly what I was hunting for. I will see if I'll ever switch back again. (I never had Alps - but I'm much too late for that anyway.)
I deliberately chose the PC122 model though. I quite love the look and it is awesome to have 16 additional "macro keys" (F13-24 plus four on the left side) on Windows. I'm still undecided what to do with them all. You only have so many media keys to use. ;-)
I don't think solenoid based keyboards will make a comeback, though.
You might want to read the thread on the new Model Fs – those are so very close to the original that they are probably even more "Model F" then the old ones ever were ;)
Seriously, though: The guy who makes them is commited to make them as true to their ancestors as humanly possible; it's amazing.
Not sure what you mean with the Model M layout, but the size is an understandable point – I like my small keyboards, but I can fully understand the desire for an F122.
The price is… well, it's a lot – but you get something for it that might last decades ;)
The Model M layout is what you still use today, with the size and placement of Ctrl, Alt, Return et cetera. I should better name it the "AT layout", probably.
My favorite keyboards:
The Apple keyboard is especially noteworthy, since it is the only keyboard that Apple has ever made that doesn't suck. Not only doesn't suck, but is actually impressively good. Unfortunately, ADB has gone by the wayside.
The Apple M0115 and the Acer 6011 both used Alps mechanisms.
Buckling spring gives "clickety-click". Alps mechanism is more of a "tickety-tick".
Razer uses their own keyswitch mechanism, which is intended to mimic Cherry MX Blue switches. I like Cherry MX Blue switches, too. I have a few keyboards with them, but I'm not currently using them day-to-day.
Of the ones above, the IBM, Unicomp, and Razer I'm using day-to-day. On my MacBook Pro, I use a Razer keyboard. Yes, I use a keyboard on a laptop. I detest the MacBook Pro keyboard; but then again I detest almost all Apple keyboards, with the one exception noted above (which is a fabulous keyboard, albeit the size of a battleship).
Full disclosure: I'm an unabashed Apple fanboy, but I am not a fan of their keyboards, or their mice. They may be pretty, but they're not functional. Form should follow function.
The Model M does. The Model F gives "clickety-PING!". 😊 (Too annoying for me, sadly.)
I see we have similar preferences though. How old is your Unicomp? I bought a PC122 two weeks ago, replacing the cheap Cherry I mentioned in another comment, and the case, while being made from incredibly sturdy material (good old IBM stuff...), has its problems. (I posted a review here.)
I have six Model M keyboards, and seven various Unicomp keyboards (all buckling spring, all USB), and four Razer keyboards. I have a lot of computers that I'm actively using.
The Unicomp keyboards I have are between 3 months old to 20 years old. I've had two of them wear out on me (not included in the seven). I've had two Model M wear out on me (not included in the six). And by "wear out" I mean they're heavily worn out and no longer function and are not salvagable.
I've never used a Model F. Maybe that's a good thing. :-D
I do not have any of the 122-key keyboards originally designed for mainframe terminals, but I have used them in the past on mainframes.
I do miss the WHACKETY-WHACK of the Teletype Model 33. ;-) I don't think solenoid based keyboards will make a comeback, though.
Neither have I, but I have read and YouTube'd a lot before spending so much money. Unicomp seems to be the only chance to have a buckling spring keyboard without the "20 years of heavy usage" tag, and they don't make Model Fs - and the "new" Model Fs are far from actual Model Fs, except the switches, probably. Buckling springs seemed to be exactly what I was hunting for. I will see if I'll ever switch back again. (I never had Alps - but I'm much too late for that anyway.)
I deliberately chose the PC122 model though. I quite love the look and it is awesome to have 16 additional "macro keys" (F13-24 plus four on the left side) on Windows. I'm still undecided what to do with them all. You only have so many media keys to use. ;-)
Good!
You might want to read the thread on the new Model Fs – those are so very close to the original that they are probably even more "Model F" then the old ones ever were ;)
Seriously, though: The guy who makes them is commited to make them as true to their ancestors as humanly possible; it's amazing.
I have read about them.
But I respect the creator for his commitment anyway. :-)
Not sure what you mean with the Model M layout, but the size is an understandable point – I like my small keyboards, but I can fully understand the desire for an F122.
The price is… well, it's a lot – but you get something for it that might last decades ;)
The Model M layout is what you still use today, with the size and placement of Ctrl, Alt, Return et cetera. I should better name it the "AT layout", probably.
See this comparison.