<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Extremely interesting! This posting really clicked with me.<br> <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
When I'm not on a laptop, my desktop keyboard is still the famous Maxiswitch 101 / Tucson 101 with the rubber dome keyswitches, which I've been using since 2006-2007 (yes, even the same unit - it lasts forever - and I got two spares back then which I still have NIB). It is totally silent (which I prefer), but has a clear-cut rollover effect that's not too far off the IBM clicky keyboard. This model did become the standard in many typing rooms in industry over the years of its availability.<br>
<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">An honourable mention also goes to Keytronic, and I have two NIB units of their superb KB2000 model, which has characteristics very similar to the Maxiswitch 101.<br>
<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Frankly, I have no idea how secretaries and receptionists can be productive using today's crappy keyboards.<br>
</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Hartmut Sager<br>
<br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 14 September 2013 21:56, Adam Thompson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:athompso@athompso.net" target="_blank">athompso@athompso.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Enough people have wondered/asked/complained to me about this that I'm<br>
posting this now as a public service.<br>
<br>
<br>
IBM Model "M" keyboards are still available, *NEW*, today. They are<br>
expensive, but they are the original design that you can use as a melee<br>
weapon. The catch is that they don't say "IBM" or even "Lexmark" on<br>
them. They are available for purchase from the manufacturer, Unicomp,<br>
who can be found online at <a href="http://www.pckeyboard.com/" target="_blank">http://www.pckeyboard.com/</a>.<br>
<br>
You can also find some vintage NIB units from time to time at<br>
<a href="http://www.clickykeyboards.com/" target="_blank">http://www.clickykeyboards.com/</a>.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
There are also a number of other manufacturers now making similar, but<br>
not quite as good, keyboards.<br>
<br>
- CVT Inc., the maker of the Avant Stellar (I own two of them), which<br>
is the direct descendant of the Northgate Omnikey, seems to have<br>
restructured and no trace of their keyboard manufacturing operation can<br>
be found online. However, Northgate keyboards are still available<br>
new-in-box from (this is a horrible site, beware)<br>
<a href="http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/" target="_blank">http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/</a>.<br>
<br>
- The Happy Hacking keyboard (now owned by Fujitsu, apparently) is<br>
equally comforting to some people despite having a totally different<br>
feel. They, and many others, can be had from<br>
<a href="http://www.elitekeyboards.com/" target="_blank">http://www.elitekeyboards.com/</a><br>
<br>
- Das Keyboard<br>
<br>
- Anything using Cherry MX Green, Blue, or White keyswitches. The<br>
"green" switches apparently are the closest anyone's come yet to<br>
emulating the IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp switches... and they can be had in<br>
MUCH cheaper keyboards, like the Rosewill RK-9000<br>
(<a href="http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040</a> and<br>
<a href="http://techreport.com/review/23405/rosewill-rk-9000-series-mechanical-ke
yboards-reviewed" target="_blank">http://techreport.com/review/23405/rosewill-rk-9000-series-mechanical-ke<br>
yboards-reviewed</a>).<br>
<br>
- And there are an increasing number (yes, again, after the big die-off<br>
ca. 2009) of speciality manufacturers of "ergonomic" keyboards that are<br>
making clicky keyswitches available as an option. One of the better<br>
ones is a tiny shop in Ontario, but I can't find the name right now.<br>
<br>
<br>
References:<br>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard</a><br>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicomp" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicomp</a><br>
<a href="http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX" target="_blank">http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX</a><br>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
-Adam Thompson<br>
<a href="mailto:athompso@athompso.net">athompso@athompso.net</a><br>
<br>
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<br></blockquote></div><br></div>