IBM 5251 keyboard (7361073 and 7362149)
Posted: 02 Apr 2012, 11:48
I'm well aware that this is an older review, originally posted 2010-05-07, but I'm migrating all of my reviews to Deskthority.
Pictures coming later.
So, this keyboard is ridiculously heavy. FedEx says, with a thin layer of bubble wrap and a barely big enough cardboard box, that it weighs 13 pounds. I fully believe that figure.
Keycaps are nicely shaped and textured.
Key travel is actually less than I was expecting, and I think it feels slightly shorter than a Model M. The British patent said about .15" key travel, which is 3.8 mm - so it should be relatively short, though.
The keys are quite light, pretty smooth, and nicely tactile and clicky. The linear spring does add some resistance to it that I could do without, but it feels good. I do find it MUCH easier to avoid bottoming out.
Sound is more clear than a Model M. As has been said, they don't ping like a buckling spring board, they hum - you can even feel the hum in the keys.
Spacebar is RIDICULOUSLY STIFF. That's something I'm going to want to mod. Edit: Spacebar is actually not too stiff at all, once the stabilizer bar was removed and then reseated.
This will be updated with impressions of how it actually works.
Unboxing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QAyYl4fmZI
Partial teardown video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYD0jzsw-6s
Pictures coming later.
So, this keyboard is ridiculously heavy. FedEx says, with a thin layer of bubble wrap and a barely big enough cardboard box, that it weighs 13 pounds. I fully believe that figure.
Keycaps are nicely shaped and textured.
Key travel is actually less than I was expecting, and I think it feels slightly shorter than a Model M. The British patent said about .15" key travel, which is 3.8 mm - so it should be relatively short, though.
The keys are quite light, pretty smooth, and nicely tactile and clicky. The linear spring does add some resistance to it that I could do without, but it feels good. I do find it MUCH easier to avoid bottoming out.
Sound is more clear than a Model M. As has been said, they don't ping like a buckling spring board, they hum - you can even feel the hum in the keys.
Spacebar is RIDICULOUSLY STIFF. That's something I'm going to want to mod. Edit: Spacebar is actually not too stiff at all, once the stabilizer bar was removed and then reseated.
This will be updated with impressions of how it actually works.
Unboxing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QAyYl4fmZI
Partial teardown video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYD0jzsw-6s
