…It was about ten minutes after I saw that my “ridiculous low-ball” Ebay bid for a branded battlecruiser had won. That said, it is way snappier (and louder) than any rubber dome I’ve ever used. It’s not a bad board at all, really, though the terminal scan code set it was flashed with means the converter is more or less mandatory, despite the board having a PS/2 connector.

    • @wjriiOP
      link
      English
      41 month ago

      Holy shit, you’re right. Very TNG era.

    • @wjriiOP
      link
      English
      6
      edit-2
      1 month ago

      It’s electrically identical to a regular Model M, so almost certainly not. In looking into it, they changed three things:

      • dense little rubber domes in each key’s barrel instead of the buckling-spring assemblies
      • keycaps with stems that are mostly solid to actuate the domes. I put in a spare buckling spring keycap to see if it worked, and while nowhere near well enough to rely on, it snapped right in, and if you push hard enough it’ll actuate.
      • removed a thin sheet of rubber that cushioned the membrane from the plastic flippers attached the buckling springs.

      That’s it. Same controllers, same membranes, even the same cases.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        31 month ago

        I always wanted a mech version but after I released it has no rollover I lost interest. Thanks for sharing though. You’re right I didn’t even know these were real.

        • @wjriiOP
          link
          4
          edit-2
          1 month ago

          If you want it badly enough, there’s the pricy “New Model F” capacitive buckling spring boards, and they have all three Model M layouts.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            41 month ago

            Ugh why did you tell me about this? You’re working for them aren’t you, you esoteric keyboard shill 😜

            • @wjriiOP
              link
              31 month ago

              lol, I have a lot of keyboards, many homemade, but I don’t think I’ve spent over a hundred bucks or so on any single one of them, and most are closer to half that. No Model F of any kind here, much less a new one.

  • @Mandarbmax
    link
    31 month ago

    Ya, they aren’t as special as the buckling springs ones, but dome model Ms still are kick ass keyboards and I’m glad to see this one is in a loving home doing what it does best!

  • ProdigalFrog
    link
    fedilink
    English
    17 days ago

    I used one of these for a while, and weirdly it’s the only keyboard I’ve ever used that gave me finger pain.

    • @wjriiOP
      link
      27 days ago

      I can imagine. It’s a different kind of typing experience.

      • ProdigalFrog
        link
        fedilink
        English
        1
        edit-2
        7 days ago

        I suspect it was due to how much force is required to finally overcome the membrane, which caused a sharp and semi forceful drop as I bottomed out, and there’s not much squish or dampening to soften it. I think I’m a somewhat heavy typer though, so that likely compounded it.

        • @wjriiOP
          link
          English
          27 days ago

          Yeah, if you were using one of these rubber dome M’s, then the tactile event is firm and has quite the drop-off. I like it better than the average dome, but it’s not fuckin’ around.