Sega TeraDrive HTR-2106 keyboard review (Alps buckling spring)

Skip to 9:17 for a typing demonstration.
Today we look at one of the prettiest keyboards ever made, as well as the most mechanical-sounding one I've ever heard. Quite a lot to talk about, then. Hope you enjoy the video! :)
Intro by Kyle Carter
Outro by Facundo Cabanne
My keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardowns: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
My TOP X videos: bit.ly/2FmpZfd
My XL typing demos: bit.ly/2OoAW3w
My tutorials and featurettes: bit.ly/2OrkLUh
My unboxing videos: bit.ly/2TSrr0m
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22
The practice sentence was: "Hello my name is Thomas and I'm typing on a Sega TeraDrive keyboard right now. These switches really are quite stiff and stubborn, but my god, is it one hell of a looker or what?"

[@kylecarter5802]

As a certified graphic designer I can confirm that is a noice looking keyboard.

[@littlelamp100]

r/mk - **complains about barely audible spring ping** this thing - *"allow me to introduce myself"*

[@CharlesHydronium]

buckling springs are known to ping, so this is nothing special imo

[@Klblaz]

Spring ping on a linear MX-style switch, where the ping is the only thing you can hear, is quite annoying. Ping on a buckling spring is just part of the sound.

[@theonlybass8947]

@@Klblaz especially if they have silenced sliders. the ping becomes quite loud.

[@SockyNoob]

Me: Loves ping in keyboards The keyboard community: Don't listen to this guy, we all hate it.

[@griftgfx]

r/mk is too busy posting shitty still-lives of their shitty everyday carry gear posed around their kb to care

[@fluffed_coyote1487]

I just realized why I watch these videos: It's not because I care about the keyboards featured, and your review of said keyboards (sorry), it's because of your personality. That and your beautiful voice.

[@FyrntyYT]

The Unicomp jab at the end, oh lord.

[@0M9H4X_Neckbeard]

oh lawd he cometh

[@HalianTheProtogen]

I don't get it. :(

[@1337Shockwav3]

He's not wrong tho ... I've spent the past 15 years on vintage Model Ms, being well aware of unicomp but never saw the point in spending more money on a lower quality reproduction without any benefits ... but joined the newly build Model F bandwagon shortly after their initial run.

[@FyrntyYT]

@@HalianTheProtogen Unicomp is the manufacturer of modern Model M reproduction keyboards. Their products are very polarizing to enthusiasts because some swear that they're basically NOS Model M's and others say they feel like utter garbage.

[@FyrntyYT]

@@1337Shockwav3 How'd the new Model F turn out?

[@antler4060]

This is the only review channel that is still going strong lol. Congrats for not falling into the abyss of dead review channels.

[@ivy_47]

Report of the Week!

[@compufood]

0:24 and there's my dinner table again ;) I'm glad you finally got one of these, the one in those photos was my first ever mechanical keyboard and I used it as my daily driver for about 2 years. It will always remain my favourite keyboard.

[@EreNyn3]

The keycap shine is quite uniform, which really goes to show that shine isn’t always ugly; really adds to that vintage appeal as well. This is definitely one of the cleanest vintage keyboards I’ve seen on your channel, as well as on the internet in general!

[@XalphYT]

The shine is so horrific, that I considered stopping the video just a few seconds in. I frequent /mkg/ and there’s a guy there that always posts one, specific, barf-inducing picture of shiny ABS keycaps. This video was like staring at that picture for 10 minutes straight.

[@EreNyn3]

@@XalphYT I think it's one of those preference things at the end of the day; I do generally prefer matte keycaps, but when the shine isn't blotchy and uneven, I think it looks quite nice. Especially so on lighter shades!

[@jesuszamora6949]

Wouldn't be so bad if the legends weren't surface-mount.

[@NolanAlighieri]

I live in Japan, and, just for the record: I absolutely LOATHE the Japanese layout, but finding American layouts here is tough. The keys next to the space bar are used for switching between the different alphabets common to japanese: Hiragana (the characters on the key legend), Katakana (characters used for foreign words or other special words), full-width alpha-numeric (ＥＸＴＲＡ　ＴＨＩＣＣ roman characters - usually necessary for entering english lettering on websites and data entry in Japan), standard alpha-numeric. While it's nice to have a dedicated key to switch between the different alphabets (without one on your keyboard, you need to manually click the setting you want in the toolbar on Windows.) because they always put it next to the space bar, and, at that, put it at the location where a normal full-sized space bar would be, it's easy for those more accustomed to a traditional QWERTY or western layout to accidentally smack that key and then suddenly start typiンgインじゃぱねせあｌｌおふぁsudden. The small backspace makes undoing these common mistakes a real nuisance. I've tried getting use to the keyboards, but I think as long as I have a standard US keyboard at home, my body will never adjust to the small spacebar and small backspace.

[@jesuszamora6949]

I can imagine it's a pain in the ass to get used to that layout. Honestly, that space bar drives me up a wall just looking at it.

[@gorkskoal9315]

WOWZA! the pain is real.

[@ratmatat]

Just as I was going to sleep my daily ASMR has arrived

[@shibasss]

That unicomp burn at the end

[@XalphYT]

6:21 Yet another example of an old keyboard with a top-tier feature that the keyboards of today lack.

[@bltzcstrnx]

Most modern keyboards have detachable cable and/or Bluetooth. So cable gutter are not as important as it used to. Edit: the mid to high end ones at least.

[@jesuszamora6949]

@@bltzcstrnx And there are many cheaper keyboards with gutters, such as Hyperkin's Hyper Clack.

[@bltzcstrnx]

@@jesuszamora6949 most keyboards nowadays have connection in the rear instead of bottom. So gutters aren't used in most cases. Combined with smaller keyboards getting popular means headphone cable are routed around keyboard instead of under it.

[@jesuszamora6949]

@@bltzcstrnx Yeah, with keyboards like the GMMK or similar, it's just as easy to wrap the cable around the board itself.

[@outtheredude]

I like it when old school keyboards sound totally metal. Ping away Teradrive!

[@hjalfi]

Unicomp actually have a new model, the New Model M, with new tooling and printing machines and everything. I wonder if it's worth revisiting them?

[@Supertimegamingify]

I don't think that he's reviewed the New Model M, but he has reviewed the Mini-M.

[@itsink6754]

Your reviews are S-tier, change my mind

[@apb.]

why would we want to?

[@giovannifurfaro9647]

“or sega genesis in imperial units” LMFAOOOO

[@blendernoob64]

That keyboard looks and sounds so freaking beautiful! Even though I am a Nintendo fan, I would love to try one so much!

[@RelakS__]

7:22 I fully agree. 7:41 I have two modern japanese keyboards, and the layout is exactly the same. 7:52 I won't understand why they use the small backspace instead of putting the Yen key in place of the international backslash key (between left shift and Z(Y)) 8:02 That "Spacebar" is: "Do not convert to Kanji"-swiches between kana sets, "Space", "Konvert to Kanji"-also select between conversion candidates, "Select kana input" Hiragana=selects hiragana ひらがな, Shift+Hiragana = selects katakana カタカナ (you know, where the つ becomes ツ (read: tsu), Alt+Hiragana=switches between normal and kana input. In kana input mode you type the japanese kana printed on the caps. In case you actually interested in it :D 8:16 if you set up japanese input then the keys will type exacly what printed on them, and the above mentioned buttons will work as intended as well. I use an NEC keyboard driver included in Windows to achieve this. 8:32 that IBM keyboard has different writings on them (e.g.: left Alt becomes Katakana?!), so it should work different from the Sega keyboard. I wonder if those extra keys output space scan code, how the computer knows what to do when japanese layout is selected. Actually, Windows should understand the nonconvert, convert, and katakana keys as space, and it would be much easier to use a japanese keyboard. Also, in english layout the Yen could work as backspace, and the ろ (ro) as right shift.

[@IvanOdintsoff]

TeraDrive had some awesome features. The MegaDrive was integrated instead of just "side-by-side" like the Amstrad Mega PC. There was a development pack for it that ran the game in the Sega hardware while programming it on the PC.

[@SockyNoob]

This thing is gorgeous and that Sega logo just takes the cake for me.

[@smakfu1375]

To my ears, that’s the best sounding keyboard I’ve ever heard. So deliciously clinky.

[@juvisy9626]

This beauty has always been my most desired keyboard but I have never been able to justify the ever increasing cost of one so it is great to see a nice video about it even though if means that they will become even more impossibly out of reach. At least I can enjoy its wonderful sounds.

[@UryT1]

I was going to do my homework, but this uploaded...

[@PreuKaiser]

9:00 rlly hit me hard, stillll waiting for my model m ssk

[@ducciboi]

It's insane that Unicomp has the patent to the greatest keyboard ever yet they barely do shit with it aside ugly designs/color schemes.

[@RBLevin]

They really do suck.

[@McSinyx]

isn't the patent expired a long time ago, @@ducciboi?

[@RBLevin]

Unicomp: "Not that they care about selling things." 🤣

[@pandaonabus]

What was he making reference to there? I think I'm out of the loop.

[@RBLevin]

@@pandaonabus Just look at their awful website.

[@Rummeltobi]

Well, I've received my custom Unicomp Model M 2 weeks ago and I absolutely love it! 😍 The typing feel is just amazing and it's actually really fun to type on 😁 Ordered it with the Ultra Classic chassis/ frame and Windows 95 keys 😁😁 9:00 well Unicomp brought out the New Model M this year which has the same look as the original. Only in black-grey-white but I guess that you can order custom colored keys if you want.

[@LanceMcGrew]

I bought the Unicomp Classic 101 March 2021 and now September 2023. Used a few times and was put into storage. Recently rediscovered and noticed "P" key was acting erratic requiring two or three taps to make contact. Contacted Unicomp and was given RMA but would cost $48.00 plus $16 shipping. After doing my own disassembly I found all but 6 plastic rivet heads were broken off. Unicomp claims this issue was resolved before I purchased in 2021. I would not advise purchasing from Unicomp based on my experience.

[@Doty6String]

Amazing looking. Also notice the robots are laid in radially from the center. Gorgeous

[@bentstraw827]

this is perhaps my favorite you reviewed so far... super cool I want one.

[@pessie83]

The design of this keyboard reminds me of those tan/beige coloured keyboards with the grey keycaps with the inidicator for the keys, Numlock, Scroll lock and Capslock but only straight.

[@raulsaavedra709]

@5:05 Two of the best looking keyboards ever elbowing each other right there! In spite of the poor-quality caps, that white on black font on the caps of the Sega is just awesome and super legible. That is the kind of keyboard legibility that puts backlighting and RGB to shame. (Look at those black keys @2:58 and 7:00 ! ) And the black+grey/charcoal color combinations of keys and keyboard housing also indeed look amazing! @9:20 The sound is way too pingy for my taste though.

[@D9Beats]

As a Sega fan, I love this so much

[@macboards9778]

Making a keycap set with the same colors should be something within Tai-Hao’s realm of possibilities. Imagine this stuff on a black Dell Bigfoot.

[@noel3850]

Holy shit this is an early upload. Nice one mate!

[@lanceschneider6843]

These keycaps are ace, I almost thought this was a gmk set for a moment. Great board

[@pongopea]

genuinely the best looking keyboard I've ever seen

[@mynt017]

Do a review of cherry pale(navy) blue pls. They appeared to be very rare, and the sound is way better than modern sky blue cherry.

[@aCivilServant]

Really nice sharp keyclicks on this board and good looks to go with it. Nice piece of kit, thanks for demonstrating it Thomas.

[@monstermug]

I am missing a button on the right of the spacebar (if looking at it) on my teradrive keyboard. Do you happen to know what replacement i need? I dont mind just a black plain one as long as it fits. You mentioned something about the alps mechanism being shorter? Please help?

[@SoI_Badguy]

It sounds like typing on an M1 Garand. I wish that typing demonstration was longer.

[@johnjoyce]

Japanese typing absolutely uses the space bar all the time, especially to shuffle through the conversion options. Typing is usually done using alphabetic phonetic input and conversion candidates are presented based on context & history. The keys to either side of the space bar are usually for switching amongst several varieties of input within the Japanese input methods. Oh, and typos absolutely happen as much as with any other language. The Japanese legending is for the other, non-alphabetic phonetic input that is used by quite few people and is something akin to Dvorak for Japanese and only useful if you NEVER use English or European words mixed in, which is really rare.

[@maxmouse3]

This is the coolest looking and sounding keyboard I've ever seen! Really interesting! :D

[@blueebon03blue]

Great video, thank you for sharing. I own the Sega HTR-2106 but its missing the ESC keycap. Do you know where i can find a replacement?

[@ArtistMaterial10]

Where do you buy this stuff? Wondering if I'm just checking Ebay at all of the worst times.

[@njsynthesis]

The TeraDrive seems like a neat concept, but I wonder what would become of it if it only used the Genesis hardware, instead running its own PC-like operating system on the 68K. Perhaps a budget Amiga/Atari ST competitor?

[@sir0herrbatka]

Hmmm. Pretty interesting switch design. I think that the principle of the design is solid, simple, and cheap. The details can be improved with a different spring metal. I wish they would be in production now.

[@lucidmoses]

If I remember correctly, you don't have any way of measuring the force curve on switches. Unfortunate as it would have been cool to know. I too think it's pretty cool looking but I could do without the extra printing. Ir's not 'hideous' but likely better without. Nice find.

[@blueebon03blue]

Great video, thanks for sharing. I have the same keyboard but the 3 leds don’t turn on unless I move them slightly once opened. Can only assume that there are some dry joints, however how do I get to re-solder them as the back plate does not come apart??

[@Vesiputous]

Interesting that the Sega and the IBM at 8:19 would output different scan codes on different languages in such a way that both of the keyboards act similar on one language but differ on another. I guess the keyboards just use different scancode sets from each other, which the computers interpret like so. If one really wanted, one could redefine the "dead" keys to work as something else. There is the caveat that the changes affect all the keyboards, so the changes should be reset when switching from one board to another. There's also a slight possibility of bricking a computer if you tamper with keys that you need to access the settings.

[@dhoffnun]

Now I'm curious what those switches would sound like (and if they would still work properly) if the springs were coated in some grease. I'm sure it would be different, but I bet that mighty ping would ring right through typical keyboard lubes.

[@233kosta]

"... not that they care about selling things, of course" I'm dying 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nitroraptor5316]

Long have I awaited this day!

[@ItsReaxxion]

0:52 xD i see a man of culture

[@nathanlamaire]

10 minutes of man roasting console gamers, 10/10 would recommend.

[@Boyetto-san]

Black Unicomps don't look all that different, but because they retain the PBT dye sub caps, they can't make the black caps with white lettering aesthetic. I've heard of dye sub caps where the printing works as a negative: the PBT plastic is the color of the legends, and the black is dye subbed all around the outside of the cap to leave the lighter colored legend. If Unicomp could do that, they could very much make their Model M's look like the TeraDrive keyboard. Funnily enough with that quip about them not caring about selling things, it seems they actually are trying to appeal to a broader market (ie, gamers) with their upcoming "Mini M" SSK remake.

[@Chyrosran22]

"Upcoming" :p

[@Boyetto-san]

@@Chyrosran22 Yeah, the delay doesn't help their case lol. I'm not too caught up on what exactly's going on there, admittedly.

[@jesuszamora6949]

They need to resolve their limited rollover and that thing where you sometimes need to pull the USB plug out and put it back in.

[@LanceMcGrew]

I bought the Unicomp Classic 101 March 2021 and now September 2023. Used a few times and was put into storage. Recently rediscovered and noticed "P" key was acting erratic requiring two or three taps to make contact. Contacted Unicomp and was given RMA but would cost $48.00 plus $16 shipping. After doing my own disassembly I found all but 6 plastic rivet heads were broken off. Unicomp claims this issue was resolved before I purchased in 2021. I would not advise purchasing from Unicomp based on my experience.

[@joshbritton3268]

What happened to the mechanical keyboard market ? How did we go from all these different switch types too cherry MX being dominant and big names like IBM not producing new boards.

[@vlenkov38]

Mech keyboard MARKET was not existing before Cherry MX. Yes, the world has great mech keyboards, but they was just ordinary keyboards at the time. Then companies start reducing the costs, and we have only rubber domes. Then someone thinks about selling "premium" keyboards, and he take chery MX as role model. That's how.

[@Sitzkrieg]

unicomp does make a keyboard that is all blacked out like this one. you just need to specify a custom order to them to make all of your keycaps black. they can even remove text on the keycaps too if you want extra swag.

[@jesuszamora6949]

IIRC I think the black caps are without legends.

[@Foxinaround242]

Can you review the Logitech G 815 or 915 they use kaihl choc switches and personally i love them and i want to hear your opinion.

[@censoredterminalautism4073]

The TeraDrive is awesome. Sega does what Nintendon't.

[@leocomerford]

1:09 There was the later Amstrad Mega PC segaretro.org/Mega_PC en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_Mega_PC but that was apparently an unrelated design which had very little integration between its MegaDrive and PC halves, and sported an Amstrad PS/2 keyboard.

[@sharktastica]

Unicomp does care about selling things, just to other companies like Affirmative and General Electric, which by their very admission bring in far more business than the average consumer.

[@apb.]

the convex bottom row is really interesting as well

[@TheGrenvil]

About the japanese space bar, in japanese there's no space between words, every word comes with a particles after it to tell what function it's performing on the sentence, these particles are written using a different character set, hiragana, while most words are mainly written using kanji , so it's pretty easy to tell where a word ends and the other begins by looking at the particles, removing the need for spaces between them, so the space bar is rather useless for most of the time.

[@KayvonJavid]

The sound is like the baby of alps switches and both buckling spring designs

[@IOSam]

It's a ping fest, but it is definitely a looker! Would loooove to know how much one of these fetch these days...

[@233kosta]

It is decided. I MUST have one!

[@brettknoss486]

What is the difference between a ps/2 and a modern cable?

[@Electrify85]

When I first clicked this video, I thought the keyboard was for the Dreamcast, though the lock lights should have given away that it was something else. Still, it looks far more modern than something from the early 90s.

[@Ectta]

now this, is a *Mechanical* keyboard.

[@Lu-db1uf]

I can't wait till you make your own keycap.

[@samuelschwager]

In terms of looks I think this one's up there with the black M13 and the black Focus :)

[@knightrider585]

Pretty sure spacebars on most keyboards are ridiculously oversized for a button that is pushed by your thumb in the same position every time.

[@Chyrosran22]

10 u spacebar frowns upon your conclusion! :p

[@roykositzky2252]

hey i just a sun model 5c but looking for a converter do you know where to find them

[@pooter-zn2hm]

pog, just in time for my asmr

[@ugyuu]

Would love to type on this just to be able to hear those mechanical ALPS PINGS

[@tobi-mr4zb]

why is it that unicomp doesn´t care selling things? would know a bit more details.

[@Thirsty_Fox]

No idea, but you'd almost swear nobody actually works there half the time. They're sitting on potential but seem to lack any kind of motivation -- odd considering it was supposedly formed by enthusiasts of the Model M when they bought up all the manufacturing equipment.

[@Gabrocol]

Have you ever tried voice acting?

[@Donbros]

It has dolch and wob keycaps, i mean they really remind like a mix of those

[@jamiesutherland3874]

It sounds amazing

[@meteo3915]

Can you review i rocks k50e or k65mn？

[@hkszerlahdgshezraj5219]

typing on this would be like typing on a smartphone. I don't always want to hit space, but when I do, it's . or n or m

[@TheRealFremmed]

Are you not going to tell us how much you paid for it?

[@flamestoyershadowkill6400]

Might get one of these lube the switches and replace the keycaps

[@invictusdomini8624]

PC MASTERRACE! The SEGA console peasants couldn't handle the white hot glory of such a superior platform!

[@SeraphimKnight]

Honestly as someone who has a use for typing in japanese (unlike 99.98% of people who get keycaps with japanese sublegends) I would actually love a keyboard with the extra keys on it, it would make my life a lot easier. They are "useless" to non-japanese speakers but I wouldn't want them to actually be able to output a spacebar for my own uses.

[@hannibalkim]

I’ve seen this keyboard on display in japan. I really wanted one.

[@captainmggabeau397]

kinda sounds like that custom all metal keycap keyboard that LinusTechTips had on their channel

[@frosty_puffz1986]

Yeah Tom Kalinske of SEGA of America wasnt keen on it

[@LinuxGalore]

Sounds exactly like my old IBM Model F (XT variant)

[@darkholyPL]

It does sound pretty great tho.

[@NebulonRanger]

"SEGA Genesis in Imperial units" Dead. Also, we call it the Genesis in Canada too but we've always been a weird metric/imperial hybrid

[@BreadTeleporter002]

I get kinda so annoyed when I talk to Canadians with cm and kg, and they respond that they "know how to use the system but only for specific things", like man what's the fuckin' point 💀

[@lightingkid2010]

imagine writing a 500 word essay with this thing

[@TastesGoodYo]

Oh nice! I have the dreamcast keeb

[@gmp2474]

This keyboard sounds like the blinker from my 2008 Ford Ka

[@JohnormousR]

If only.. it didnt have that metal echoing sound.

[@SoI_Badguy]

I love it.

[@SirRobertDole2]

it sounds a lot like a model f

[@gyozakeynsianism]

I was thinking precisely that about Unicomp: If they sold one of their regular New Model M's with keycaps of this kind of striking color scheme, people would be all over it. (Also, they'd need to get rid of that HIIIIIDEEEEEOUS logo.) Then again, you could buy your own keycaps. That's what I would do if I didn't mind loud keyboards so much and was seriously considering Unicomp B/S..

[@43615]

>alps >buckling spring FULL MAST

[@XanthinZarda]

It should also be noted that the TeraDrive was also an integrated Mega Drive developer's kit.

[@jakedelmastro]

I take slight offense to the use of Genesis as imperial units :). here in Canada (where we use the metric system) we called it the Genesis!

[@ignatiocabron]

I've lived here all my life and never used the metric system. You must live in Quebec?

[@dmitrynikolaev5743]

Spirit of the Old School lives only in contactless switches. Model F buckling spring switch is capacitive, thus contactless, thus inherits Spirit of the Old School. Model F and Alps buckling spring don't.

[@bobweiram6321]

Sounds like you pissed too about the Unicomp Black Friday Fiasco.

[@Chyrosran22]

I didn't know there was one? XD

[@bobweiram6321]

@@Chyrosran22 Yeah, well their site said to check back on Black Friday for incredible deals, including Model M's and even Fs. Folks watched the site all night long, but the site never changed. Someone contacted them and told via email that Black Friday was canceled this year. It was a real bummer and scummy on their part. They should have informed shoppers beforehand.

[@Pete292323]

UNICOMP make it happen!