Am i crazy for wanting an IBM M2?

[robo]

I have a problem. I like keyboards, but I don't want to spend thousands buying lots and lots of them. I've used a mid-80's Model M for years and honestly it's an amazing keyboard, but I keep spending time ogling other boards online. My biggest issue with the Model M is that it's huge, and I hardly ever use the number pad.

An SSK would be perfect, but their prices are crazy. I did have a moment of insanity when earlier this year I bought a RealForce TKL 55g board, only to find out that I really don't like Topre switches. I gave myself a week on it, and in the end it just frustrated me. I made more typos than before and I just didn't appreciate the feel at all.

So, back to clickier things. With SSKs so expensive, I keep seeing M2s for sale at much cheaper prices. It seems like a reasonable alternative. Buckling spring, and while not as compact as an SSK, at least somewhat smaller. And I think the design is rather attractive. Maybe I have some nostalgia for early '90s computers, at least the ones that actually had some thought put into their designs (maybe that's just Apple, IBM, SGI and Sun? Anyway...)

I've also heard that the keyboards are 'cheap' and not really the same typing experience as a real M. Can anyone comment?

I've floss modded my M and have been happy with that after a bit of tweaking. Would floss modding an M2 improve the feel or is the plastic base the problem? I'm OK with soldering and could replace blown caps, BTW, as that's apparently another common issue...

[Halvar]

Hi,
yes, the difference that makes it uncomparable to a classic Model M is the plastic base. But it's a keyboard with a nice feel nonetheless.

I guess you can buy one on ebay or on the forums to try it without too much risk, because you can probably resell it without much loss should you not like it.

[scottc]

They're really crap quality. Feels very plastic, lots of flex in the case, not a solid construction, and generally not as pleasing as a real Model M. I've got one, and I don't use it. I wouldn't recommend them.

[Halvar]

I've got one, and I don't use it.

OK, that's true for me, too, but I have enough choice ...
Let me put it this way: I would prefer it to a Cherry G80-3000 any time, but not to a Filco.

[Icarium]

Cutting off the number pad is very doable it's just hard to make the result look nice. Not sure what you're looking for in that regard.

[Halvar]

You mean on the M2 or on the Model M?

If you cut off the number block of the M2, where do you put the controller? I don't think it's worth doing, the M2 is pretty compact anyway.

[Icarium]

No, on the M, of course.

[robo]

Hmm... I wonder if a cut off fullsize Model M could work without the case? That would obviate the need to try to glue the end of the case back on (really hard to make this look good, I suspect) and might have a cool cyberpunkish look.

Almost 20 years ago in high school I used to use my hand-me-down Mac Plus keyboard without case, which worked well and looked cool (I thought so, anyway...)

[quantalume]

You'd need some way to support it as the case bottom currently holds it at the proper angle. Unicomp had SSK cases at one point; you might inquire if they still have them. Otherwise, wood might be the best option. Either that or tall standoffs attached directly to the rear portion of the steel backplate and rubber feet in front. Just make sure you don't cut through the membrane (Unicomp to the rescue if you do). I've thought about this and decided that a metal-cutting (horizontal) band saw would be the appropriate tool.

Edit: If you have access to a decent saw that makes square cuts, it wouldn't be that hard to cut the case and make it look good. You'd likely need to use some filler material where it was joined, but then you could sand and paint it and make it look pretty decent. I may try this soon. Someone did this (possibly sans painting) and posted pictures of the results to GH and/or DT.

[Muirium]

It can be done.



The hard one is going all the way to 60%.



Model M cases are much more amenable to chops in one dimension than the other, by geometry.

[E TwentyNine]

I've done two numpad chops on Model M's, it isn't super difficult to get a decent look for the case.

I just grabbed an M2 off ebay. Haven't gotten it yet, thinking of using it as a travel keyboard.

[Hak Foo]

If the M2 is small enough for you, you might look at the Unicomps with the smaller cases-- they're a touch bigger than a M2 but smaller than a real M.

The M2 is known for quality problems-- bad capacitors mostly.