The one and only IBM Model M Keyboard

Dion Moult

2013-06-22

Any computer enthusiast will tell you that whereas computers in general have been getting better over the years, keyboards have been steadily degrading in their preference for design rather than build quality. Simply put, all keyboards nowadays (characterised by mushy rubber dome chicklet keys) are terrible. If all of this sounds like a weird geek fetish to you, stop reading now. Otherwise, read this series of posts which will give you a good general knowledge of the subject.

I had been debating for a while now whether or not to invest in a proper mechanical keyboard. Given that I am mostly mobile on a laptop, lugging around another keyboard would be a pain. But recently I stumbled across an IBM Model M back from 1991 (there is a birth certificate on its back).

IBM Model M Keyboard
IBM Model M Keyboard

After giving it a thorough cleaning, I have been using this for a month now and it is a beauty to type on – I doubt I’ll ever go back to using a regular keyboard again.

A few gotchas for the uninitiated:

For those who have had the same dilemma as I did, make the switch. You won’t regret it.

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