The New Unicomp Model M SSK - Mini M Keyboard

[@loughkb]

Ah that sound. A week ago, I was talking to an engineer at System76 on the phone. As he was typing, I could hear the sound. "Are you using a Model M keyboard?" I asked. he paused, chuckled and said yes, he was. It was an original that he'd adapted to plug into his modern PC. I remember offices full of them and the cacophony of clicking that filled the space.

[@LGRBlerbs]

Truly an unmistakable sound.

[@manuell3505]

I had that question a few times while doing ebay/game "business" while managing the title lists on a PS/2 with MSDOS edit. Somehow I still have the best chars/sec rate on these old machines.

[@IdiotRace]

I've got a Model M from the late 90's but I can't really use it because it doesn't have a windows key or a cmd key. It's amazing how much I use both of those keys. Edit: Just realised it's probably easier than I thought as MacOS allows you to remap the key to something like capslock

[@MediocreTCG]

@Ndrs Expand yuuuuuup

[@Scorpious187]

@Ndrs Expand Really? Wow, I remember when Ctrl+Esc was used to bring up Task Manager.

[@alistairblaire6001]

I'm waiting for a classic beige color. It would be nice if they could start using green LEDs, but I wouldn't mind modding it myself.

[@TheMilford]

Same and same. I want a Mac one in beige/pebble. And I will swap for less bright red or green LEDs

[@nednettapp]

Yep, plus optional PS/2 connector.

[@nickwallette6201]

@PIZZA Lucky for me, I never studied law. Off they go!

[@root42]

Beige/beige or black/black would be perfect. Sadly they don’t make black keycaps...

[@Jewsh]

Same

[@giedmich]

1:29 somehow my brain was tricked into thinking "hey i what the heck my mouse is doing, i didn't press that"

[@MrDowntemp0]

Did ... did Clint dislike his own video at 1:39?!! I went back and checked and it's back to 71 dislikes lol. Did it just for the gag but then re-liked it afterwards. I'm on to you Clint!

[@LGRBlerbs]

I question anyone that _likes_ their old work.

[@Code7Unltd]

Accidental likes or dislikes aren't as common as you think....

[@thescreamingfish]

You could maybe put a colored cellophane over the blue LEDs under the shell

[@redaffix7320]

I like this knowledge. It makes it seem like the dislikes were tricked and one of them is a double agent.

[@MrDowntemp0]

@@Code7Unltd Sure, but that's not really relevant here.

[@ComputerClubShow]

It seems bizarre that they wouldn’t make a beige one. They’re close but juuust off of what both the retro and keyboard subcultures want.

[@McOuroborosBurger]

According to Unicomp theyll have it eventually. They have so much demand for these that they're limited in the variety they can produce, so they're only doing a couple keycap variations at the moment and don't even offer ISO layout for them yet. So they'll make a beige one soon™️

[@12me91]

@@McOuroborosBurger baige board with white keycaps would be awesome! Granted as time goes on i find myself liking black cases more, outside of mice

[@ryanjay6241]

Yep I get that one fully. The retro space probably would like a more "accurate" board (in the original colors, with the original size, and probably without the status indicators as the original boards didn't have them), and I personally wouldn't mind a sleeker, more premium casing - and maybe white backlighting for the keys :) However, I can't see anybody wanting blue status LEDs.

[@HudsonGTV]

They stated that their beige keyboards don't sell as well.

[@calebm9000]

I went down the Model M rabbit hole (again) after watching one of your IBM videos and was thrilled find the Unicomp site and see they were at the other end of town! Need to go knock on their doors tomorrow morning to see if they have any there in person....

[@ellliottt]

Perhaps for the LEDs’ colour, within the case, you could add a strip of yellow acetate (or some such plastic diffuser) over the top of the blue LEDs in order to give you a bit of green without any invasive modifications. Love your videos immensely, Clint!

[@St0rmcrash]

The difference in look/feel of the housing plastic is because Unicomp had to switch to using ABS for the case plastic instead of the PVC IBM used. And IBM/Lexmark boards also had those slight injection mold blemishes on the bottom side of the case, but the black plastic makes them more noticable. Really hoping they introduce a beige option and switch the color of the LEDs back to green, but otherwise the Mini M and New M look to be excellent keyboards, they even seem to sound a bit pingier again like the old IBMs compared to the more recent Unicomp Classic models

[@b_wellyn]

They should still be PVC cases. The keycaps are also still PBT caps

[@St0rmcrash]

@@b_wellyn They keycaps are still dye sublimated PBT for sure but I'm failry certain the case is now made of ABS. Not sure 100% why they switched but I think it was regulations about certain types of PVC getting phased out

[@atomicskull6405]

It's a polycarbonate / ABS blend. They should have switched to a nylon shell imo. Nylon has a nice heavy substantial feel and is also incredibly durable and is resistant to most common solvents and dyes (i.e you won't be staining it)

[@1BitFeverDreams]

I got a New Model M around January and it is absolutely FANTASTIC. I was around various IBM keyboards in classrooms growing up in the 80's and it's up there.

[@LMacNeill]

Good Lord! $400 for an original SSK?!! I had HUNDREDS of those at an office I used to work at -- when we upgraded the machines to newer computers, we'd literally send the old computers and those SSK keyboards off to an electronics recycler, who literally paid us by the pound for the old equipment he refurbished/recycled. Wish I'd known how valuable they were going to be - I'd have kept a few dozen of them. LOL.

[@boredandagitated]

I got mine (not an SSK but it had an IBM badge on it not lexmark) from my university! Just asked the lab guy if I could have the old dusty keyboard in the corner of the storage room

[@alextirrellRI]

Clint, I have two possible solutions for the LED colors! I have an Asus router in my bedroom with very bright blue LED's and I covered them with a few layers of Kapton tape to dim them down to a more pleasing green. (Edit: I read below this doesn't necessarily work for all blue LEDs?) You could also look into getting some theatrical lighting gels and cutting them down to size to put just under the case -- plus you could try out different colors. They will all mix with the blue of course but you might be able to get some interesting colors out of it. They are easily available in variety/sample packs.

[@MrPeteykins]

I like how we've come so far that we can now complain and be exasperated by blue LEDs.

[@manoflego123]

You don't happen to watch Technology Connections, do you? I love his hatred of blue LEDs lol

[@mitko_dsv1999]

And here I am with blue power and HDD LEDs on my PC case, blue power LED on my monitor... I'd be happy to have a keyboard with blue LEDs, can't afford to buy one of these now, but if I could, I would (the new Model M though, since I use the numpad).

[@frankowalker4662]

I was tinkering around with a LASER diode project of mine the other day, When I noticed one of the dots was slightly oval. So I just grabbed a new diode and trew the old one in a spares bin. When did that become a household thing ? :)

[@tomyyoung2624]

oh yes... yes again!

[@aetvrna]

i like blue leds

[@donbrowne343]

Apparently the tooling for the SSK was lost when Lexmark transferred their tooling to Unicomp. They used to sell SSKs, but they were based on leftover parts from IBM/Lexmark, and they discontinued it when the parts ran out.

[@SergeantExtreme]

I've been wanting you to do a video about Unicomp for a while now, and my dreams have finally been fulfilled.

[@FinderX]

With the blue LEDs, maybe you can put some yellow semitransparent plastic below the cover where the blue light go out, and if I correct then the result will be a green light, no ?

[@Muzer0]

Probably not; I assume those blue LEDs put out just a single wavelength of light (don't think they're phosphor coated like white LEDs but I could be wrong), so with one wavelength you won't be able to change the colour with filters - you could block it or make it dimmer but not change it.

[@Tadesan]

No

[@alextirrellRI]

@@voltare2amstereo Absolutely worked on the bright blue LED's on my Asus router.

[@RiotSugarCoatedSour]

​@@Muzer0 This would only happen if the filter was also single wavelength. A yellow transparent sheet of plastic would shift the blue light to green.

[@JamesPotts]

I'm so glad I bought my "classic style" one (black and silver with windows keys, but original M case) early, before their molds wore so much.

[@attack0nmem0ry]

I don"t know how inadvertant it was for you, LGR, to show both sides of your IBM Coffee mug's design, but I admire the message & wish I had one. Lol.

[@DavidWonn]

This looks much better than the keyboard you had in another video that was missing too many important keys, like the 12 function keys, backtick/tilde, etc.

[@rivalmindss]

As a Kentuckian, this is very cool to see. I didn't even know about this company. I'm gonna check them out!

[@alexron42]

Small building looks like a warehouse or garage from the front. They aren't setup for tours unfortunately.

[@Nukle0n]

They were spawned from Lexmark (named after the city of Lexington), which in itself was spun off from IBM in the 90s, taking their printers, keyboards and other such manufacturing of computer peripherals with them.

[@alhuno1]

I'm getting one. RIGHT NOW. My coworkers are gonna love me.

[@Agurri]

The only weird thing is that USB type A to USB type A cable .... that's a cable that could do some damage if not used properly. :/

[@StereoTyp0]

@@TechGorilla1987 It is not a valid set up according the USB standards. The standard is to prevent plugging into two power sources.

[@Agurri]

@@TechGorilla1987 I could be mistaken but pre-USB-C time, this is against the standard of the USB. A type A USB "gives" power to the device not the other way around. It's like having an extension cord with 2 male end ....

[@kiefac]

@@Agurri So that's why Arduinos/old hardware/etc use that stupid type B connector... I was always confused why they didn't just use 2 type As instead (but clearly not confused enough to look it up)

[@Agurri]

@@kiefac Correct. I've seen usb-a to usb-a on some weird obscure gadget but not from something legit like this keyboard. I thought as first from the back of the keyboard it was a USB passthru for the mouse. IIRC, you can see a micro B USB under the type A.

[@silverdragonslair]

@@mesham4623 yeah, this going against USB standards is kinda poor show honestly..

[@patrickallen2998]

When it comes to RGB lighting, I have noticed that most people seem to think that blue is the best color and red the worst. I do not have any explanation why, but I find that a lot of gaming PC builds I've seen and mechanical RGB keyboards, etc... Are VERY blue heavy. I find that blue light irs rather irritating to my eyes at night time and I wouldn't necessarily want an entire gaming PC shooting blue light at me in the evenings, but hey, that's what people seem to prefer. It's like... Tons of blue with accents of green and some small amounts of red interspersed. I am literally in agreement with you that greed or red or amber would be better on the indicator lights. It's a small thing for me, but I am the reverse of most people. My favorite color for RGB is red with bright blue WAY down at the bottom. I have a Dell XPS laptop and I will NEVER have the backlights on for the keyboard because they are this weird, bright blue that just assaults my eyes (in my opinion) and ugh!

[@devjock]

At first I had a very averse reaction to seeing USB type A as the keyboard side connector. That's highly non-compliant. But when I thought about it for a bit, it's super easy to find usb extention cords in all kinds of styles, so that would save a lot on connector wear and tear. 121 dollars is a steal!

[@ssokolow]

I can understand skipping the Mini/Micro/C connectors to get something more solid and robust, but why couldn't they just have gone for USB A-to-B "Printer cable" connectors? Those are easier to find than noncompliant A-A cables while still being properly robust and solidly mating.

[@ssokolow]

(i.e. A-A cabling is what I expect from cheap Chinese AVR programmers and the like, not a mechanical keyboard costing $120 US before tax and shipping.)

[@boy2424]

Using a USB A connection on the keyboard would actually give a use to the USB C plug on my pc lol

[@robinwindsrygg9568]

Ordered a New Model M about a week ago, so this is really reassuring. I was afraid it would have a lot of the downsides the old ones had, but it seems their investment in new tooling has paid off!

[@1BitFeverDreams]

it's pretty good, got one in January

[@chevron-vw5rn]

Can we have a video that showcases ALL the keyboards you have?

[@LGRBlerbs]

If I ever somehow have them all out at once, sure! But that's never happened so far, heh

[@chevron-vw5rn]

@@LGRBlerbs ok how about video of your top ten fav ones if that be easier lol

[@Fatrick_Star]

I really dont know how I ended up subscribed to you. But I love your reviews and like to see more.

[@scruffythejanitor1969]

I wonder if you covered the Blue LEDs with yellow tape if it would look green.

[@Armadurapersonal]

I tried with a thru hole led and some kapton tape and even with 5 layers of tape it still glows blue, just a little more green, more like aquamarine. The light from blue leds is just too intense.

[@BrucesWorldofStuff]

What i was thinking. That yellow tape they use to wrap Lipo batteries with that is clearish yellow... :-) LLAP

[@TDax]

Or red tape and get a nice purple led

[@JereHakala]

Kapton tape might be good

[@TDax]

@@JereHakala to be honest I have always used nail polish to colour leds....a better solution is probably one of the clear/ transparent paints people like Tamiya make. One word of caution.....leds tend to be mono wavelength.....sometimes if you apply a filter you will get very little or no light come out the other side

[@TheDarkestPhoenix]

Blue LEDs are cheap, and there are a lot of them out in the wild, which is why you see blue LEDs in practically everything. You could try to tape over them with yellow clear tape which should make the LED color green (and might cut the brightness by a bit).

[@73rmin8r]

That's funny to think about. Blue LEDs used to be the new hotness and were way more expensive than red, yellow, or green.

[@aetvrna]

i like blue leds :

[@stridermt2k]

Wow I haven't heard that sound in person in a very long time. Really interesting! You have some of the best toys sir and show your love of them, and for this you get insta-like status. Rock and roll!

[@whoshotdk]

As a web developer and self-confessed nerd, the fact that I prefer low-profile keyboards is a shame I carry every day.

[@jwd0503]

We need to start a support group. I tried (even built) so many mechanicals before admitting that I loved everything about the enthusiast keyboards…except for typing on them. I’m just way faster and more accurate on my chiclet keyboard.

[@nrdesign1991]

It really does look like the LEDs are the four outer connections on the ribbon cable. Modding it with other LEDs breaks down to connecting them to the connector by soldering wires to it, or building some kind of adapter to shove in the connector, which then goes off to a separate LED board.

[@ikayama]

The leds could probably be modded with a low temp heat gun and low temp solder. But an easier mod would just be to put some tinted tape or 3m wrap film. Because they're blue, you can always put a thin fluorescent translucent plastic that will fluoresce with blue light.

[@anon_y_mousse]

I still remember using those old model M keyboards at school. We had computers that ran DOS back then, and some of the keyboards had a trackball and mouse click buttons. Those were the days, crashing the menu program they used so I could exit to DOS and pull up Qbasic and run gorilla and nibbles.

[@projectartichoke]

You could probably use phosphors between two thin sheets of plastic to convert single wavelength blue light to other colors or, by mixing phosphors, even white light.

[@eDoc2020]

Indeed, I was going to say this. But it still would've been better if they just used sensible LEDs in the first place.

[@FGOjeda-wl3pu]

Hey Clint, love your videos. About those leds: You can get some lighting gel and filter those leds inside the case, just tape a piece of gel to the leds and it will change it's color and dim the brightness. Easy as that.

[@PrinsessePeach]

Could you possibly put a yellow filter over the LEDs so you get green light instead? 💚

[@tetsujin_144]

Well a filter can only block certain wavelengths of light, it can't change one wavelength of light to a different wavelength. So what I think could work is fluorescent paint on top of the LED (fluorescent paint actually does change the wavelength of the light it absorbs and re-emits - so it can change blue light to red or green light.) This is, in fact, how white LEDs work, though the fluorescent material is of higher quality than you'd get from paint...

[@xaingo76]

1:38 Nice touch disliking your own video.

[@anew742]

It's the Phantom Dislike!

[@Dukefazon]

You make me get into keyboards more and more. I got an old PC case and part by part I'm building a 486 DX2 machine and I bought an old AT keyboard for it. Now I'll keep my eyes open for old keyboards anywhere I go. I'm not a fan of extremely loud key click but I appreciate a nice clicky keyboard.

[@simontay4851]

I have an old AT keyboard under my bed that is not used. The plastic is a bit yellowed but it works.

[@_Bozs_]

saw the title and woodgrain and expected chyrosran's voice lol. well played sir.

[@nedimlisica4439]

"I like SSKs, I got a couple of them.", good to be you. :)

[@caffeinatedlinux]

I put my order in as soon as they announced shipping dates back in February and received mine last week. I've been waiting for Unicomp to do a TKL for years and I am not disappointed. I ordered the one with the white and grey keys and I am glad I did, the contrast between the keys looks amazing. I do agree about the blue LEDs, wish they had gone for something like green. Having the Super keys is also extremely useful, as I tend to disable Caps Lock and assign PTT functionality to that.

[@Nukle0n]

USB to PS/2 usually relies on the keyboard itself being capable of PS/2 switching when it detects a dongle. Newer keyboards tend not to do this, in exchange they typically have much better polling rates tho.

[@Shikadi297]

Supporting PS/2 mode doesn't affect polling rate. The keyboard detects whether or not it's in PS/2 mode and can run a faster polling rate in USB mode. Newer keyboards don't have it because they chose not to (likely cost), nothing more

[@nickwallette6201]

The adapter is actually a USB host device. It’s not adapting between USB and PS/2. It’s interpreting and doing active protocol conversion.

[@eDoc2020]

PS/2 polling rate is only a thing for mice. PS/2 keyboards 'push' scancodes instantly without needing to wait for the next polling interval.

[@axeliasalaria8905]

I just want them to release a version with black keys, like that awesome one covered a while back. It would fit my IBM sleeper build so well (currently using a Shine7 in black).

[@73rmin8r]

Apparently the way they print the labels on the keys doesn't work with white dye, and they don't want to get a new setup to do white print stickers. The black case white/gray keys looks in a bad way very mid 2000s to me, so I just went full beige.

[@KITPUNK]

Was just looking at this keyboard last night. Would love to see more companies tackle buckle spring keyboards as I was a little weary of the build quality of this Mini M. This at least is a step, but would love to have the ability to design the keyboard more on the site (more key colours, LED options, frame materials / colours, etc), especially for the price. Hopefully the next version will take your inputs into consideration. Maybe try some kapton tape over the LED's to make them green?

[@carolinehusky]

I have one of these PS2+USB KVM between my old IBM PC and my modern one, and it correctly converts it both. Means that I can use my Model 30 with a modern gaming mouse, or, like my current setup, use my old Model M on a modern PC with ease.. Also, I'm jealous of your coffee cup!

[@jazzbumsmike]

i love mine -- i opted for the gray and white key caps -- serial number 55.

[@Chyrosran22]

Ha, so you didn't like the blue LEDs either xD . It really is quite hideous, isn't it? xD

[@alexhood9438]

couldint agree more needs to come in white and two tone keys and windowless please i dont know why but i think windows keys on a model m is ehh i like my chunky alt and ctrl keys oh and the huge spacebar

[@PietroNardelli]

It is disappointing as it would be so easy for them to put a RGB one, a simple circuit would allow the user to choose from basic presets from the board without the need to add software.

[@jimbo-dev]

I really do like it with the blue leds, it fits well with the black case ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but maybe I have a weird taste

[@PietroNardelli]

@@jimbo-dev I bought the new model M and the blue LED look really nice, but I still think it would be cool to be able to choose or to change. The Gray/White keys looks perfect for me.

[@lettuce7378]

HHHHIIIIIDDEEEOOOUUSSS

[@suitandtieguy]

holy shit. i had no idea how rare those original SSK Ms are. i've had one for 20 years i bought at a yard sale that i just used for typing patch names on the Akai S5000, and apparently it's worth more than the sampler is! i liked that form factor enough i bought a mechanical USB keyboard with the same layout for typing patch names into my Akai Force! not sure if i'll go so far as to upgrade it with this but thanks for the content!

[@onepcwhiz]

Oh that click sound is the best!

[@JTThumpington]

Why with the blue LEDs, man, seriously. I bought a reading lamp for the bedroom and the damn controller has a blue LED to indicate standby. On a bedroom reading lamp! Who thought that was a good idea?!

[@LGRBlerbs]

Blue LEDs are a plague.

[@JTThumpington]

@@LGRBlerbs Yeah, it was "cool" in 2001 but it's just glaring and lame now. All we need is indication, not illumination.

[@seligman99]

No kidding. I had to get some little neutral density filters sticker things to cover up a bunch of blue LEDs, including on my modern keyboard that decided to light up my room in blue when I press numlock.

[@Aleph-Noll]

@@JTThumpington i bought this new microwave with the brightest blue leds ever, it literally lights up the whole kitchen in the middle of the night its insane

[@Ackbar96]

I keep waiting for Technology Connections to show up in these comments to join in the anti-blue LED chorus.

[@coltonmandell4829]

Typing on a Unicomp New Model M now. It's too damn nice for the price, I am in love.

[@HattmannenNilsson]

I counted two deadly sins: Using a USB-A to USB-A cable and blue LEDs.

[@cee128d]

I don't consider USB-A to USB-A a sin. Like Clint I think it's a Plus. Much more solid and secure than USB-C.

[@HattmannenNilsson]

@@cee128d What about USB-B? It was made to be the connector on the peripheral.

[@cee128d]

@@HattmannenNilsson Nothing wrong with that, but USB-A is a 1,000 times better than C, Mini, or Micro which is pretty much the only other connectors they've put on Keyboards. Given the choice between A and B I would choose B, but either is a huge step up from C, Micro, or Mini.

[@wearwolf2500]

I noticed that too. A-A is just weird. Like a snake eating it's own tail or something.

[@ncot_tech]

USB B is the exact connector for this application, it’s literally its sole purpose for existing - you want a chunky connector that can withstand strain and size isn’t an issue. A-A is very much not supposed to exist. The general idea of USB is you can plug anything into anything if the plug fits. So that A port on the keyboard should accept USB sticks, another keyboard, your iPhone, whatever; it signifies “the keyboard is a host”. If you find an A socket on a device, it just says “the designers were lazy and couldn’t be bothered”.

[@humanbeing_]

So I've been debating purchasing one of these for quite some time. I do have a genuine IBM Model M 1991 version, And I LOVE IT; I do however miss not having the super ('Windows') key. EDIT: I use a cheap USB to PS2 adapter I got from Amazon for $6.99 and I've had no issues on any of my systems. My main rig is a RYZEN 9 3900x on an ASUS X590 Strix-E motherboard Running Arcolinux Plasma. But it works on my 2013 MacBook Pro, 2008 Mac Pro 3,1, PowerMac G5, and airgapped Windows PCs, etc as well. 😬 Great video. Thanks LGR!!!

[@LGRBlerbs]

Which adapter is that? Neither of mine work with this board, at least when connected to a vintage system.

[@awd42]

@@LGRBlerbs He's going the other direction, using a PS/2 Model M on modern USB systems. Most of those adaptors "just work", but some don't supply enough power for the model M. Before you showed one in the video, I didn't know "USB device on a PS/2 port" adaptors were even a thing, except for the passive teal-colored ones that came with some mice back in the day (and only work with mice that speak both protocols). I use a 1987 Model M on an iMac with a Tripp-Lite USB to PS/2 adaptor, and mapped left Alt to Command and right Alt to Option. Works great, although I do occasionally miss having the volume/brightness/etc. keys.

[@lunakittyyy]

Hm, I got a New Model M in about November 2022 and the LEDs were green from factory - a dim green at that. Not too dim to see, but dim enough to not be distracting. I don't know if they're different on the Mini M, but for me its perfectly fine. Hoping to see more improvements from Unicomp, as they have done over their Ultra Classics. The late generation Ultra Classics were built like garbage because of how worn the Lexmark machinery was. It's good to see them offering a more robust feeling keyboard, both in a fullsize and SSK configuration!

[@bghoody5665]

11:10 "I'VE HAD NO REAL COMPLAINTS. I like it a lot. Something that I do have a complaint about ..." and proceeds to complain for remaining 6 mins. of video. For someone who had no complaints, you sure complained. A lot.

[@VK2FVAX]

The speaker was used amusingly on the RS/6000 UNIX systems, during the BIST test before it does the IPL to load AIX, it'd get stuck with the front panel code 262 .. as the last command that worked and it'd be checking for the 50ohm impedance from the speaker to detect if the keyboard was there. So if you see a Model-M of any type with a speaker, it came from a RS/6000.

[@Sanctimoniously]

I've got a Unicomp Ultra Classic (one of the "new Ms"), got it as a stimulus-check gift for myself last year, I love it, such a satisfying sensory experience. I did get the "beige" version because of course (and USB), but I don't really mind the blue LEDs. Mine has "beige" and grey keys. I also had the unexpected pleasure of having to use their repair service, which apart from the necessity, was an overall positive experience. 10/10, would recommend.

[@ronstar7027]

I have two IBM Space Saver Model M's NEW IN BOX - Using two other Space Savers on my two systems as well. Also have several full size Model M's. Best keyboards ever. I am glad that I can still get new motherboards with PS2 connectors.....Won't be building any new systems since the GPU prices are insane now.

[@davidromeroblaya7920]

Keyboards and coffee: a dangerous combination.

[@philstephes]

Yeah, your keyboard might fall on your coffee.

[@chongtak]

@@philstephes "into" my coffee in my case.

[@davidromeroblaya7920]

@@chongtak Tea, in my case.

[@lelandclayton5462]

nah, Keyboard, trackball to the right and the coffee to the right of the trackball.

[@copperdog01-i2o]

I didn't know that Unicomp was here in Kentucky! Even better, in Lexington! I live in Louisville, which is an hour away. I wonder if I could get a tour of the factory? That would be sooo frickin cool!!!!!!!!!!

[@seligman99]

Given that the keyboard supports 10 key rollover, I'm guessing you need a USB->PS/2 adapter that speaks USB HID's report protocol .. which, yeah, that might be hard to find.

[@xtrevoreonx]

Do you know if the new model m has 10 key roll over? I need a number pad, but I want to use it for gaming and hate gaming keyboard aesthetics

[@seligman99]

@@xtrevoreonx They don't advertise that it has 10 key roll over, but to be fair, that doesn't mean it doesn't. I'd suggest emailing unicomp support and asking.

[@MaxthonFan]

@@xtrevoreonx I've read that it explicitly does not have the reworked membrane matrix of the Mini M. So I guess it's 2 key rollover just as the original. As a Model M user: The only time 2 key rollover limits me in gaming is when I want to make donuts in GTA.

[@xtrevoreonx]

Thanks for the help fellas. I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on it. It seems perfect for me. If it comes down to it I can always use an Xbox controller as needed.

[@xtrevoreonx]

For what it's worth I emailed them and they basically said that its particular key rollover is hard to pin down on the new model m. I'll follow this with their statement to me for anyone that finds this thread and has similar concerns/interests: "Our keyboards will support any one to four modifier key combination (Shift, Control, Alt and/or GUI keys) plus a fifth key as long as: 1) No Left+Right modifier keys (Left+Right Shift, Left+Right Control, etc.) are involved in the combination, and 2) Neither the Up Arrow, Pause key, nor the Caps Lock key are the fifth key. Our original intent was to support multi-key sequences required by any Microsoft OS or Application and to the best of my knowledge, that's still true. Of course our keyboards will support other key combinations larger than five key sequences without generating a phantom key situation and there are some 3 key sequences which will generate a phantom condition. Consequently, it's difficult to make a generic statement beyond the one above. As for rollover, the USB HID and boot protocol standards limit our USB keyboards to six key rollover. The buffer sizes and key processing in our PS/2 controller limit those keyboards to 7 or 8 key rollover"

[@N-MCMXCIX]

As far as the LEDs go, you could try changing the color by covering them with a transparent piece of colored plastic or film. Such as a candy wraper, or capton tape.

[@ryanjay6241]

I did that, it works "okay". They're too bright to begin with, but it really dims them a lot - the most you can get them is "turquoise" without blocking so much light you could no longer see them when the sun is out. However, it is enough of an improvement for me.

[@MrDowntemp0]

BTW the New Model M that is full sized has a PS/2 option

[@LGRBlerbs]

Yep, as does their Classic full sized! Which doubly makes me wonder why this one isn't offering that.

[@GuillermoTessi]

Hi Clint, one question: what's the purpose of having a Num Lock key if you don't have a numpad at all?.

[@seligman99]

It turns the UIO/JKL/M keys into number keys to act like a traditional 10 key numpad. Think of it as an early version of keyboard layers.

[@JackBandicootsBunker]

@@seligman99 This. It’s quite common to see this in older 13 and 14-inch notebooks too (I don’t know if newer ones have that as well)

[@GuillermoTessi]

@@seligman99 I thought that you need the Fn key for that, in order to not lose the ability of the letter keys.

[@seligman99]

@@GuillermoTessi Nope, not for the SSK, and this one as well. You need to hit a shift-scroll lock to turn on num lock, but once on, it changes how the UIO/JKL/M keys work. It's been too long since I used one, but I think could even use shift when in num lock to treat the number pad as arrow keys .. no idea if the Unicomp mimics that behavior. If you want to actually enter one of those letters, you need to disable numlock mode. It's a bit of a compromise, but back in the day I used one to enter a never ending stream of numbers for an accounting firm. All the real employees had a keyboard with a dedicated 10 key, they stuffed me on the computer with a SSK.

[@GuillermoTessi]

@@seligman99 Yes, I remember some generic keyboards that required you to press the Shift key in order to "access" its other functions.

[@chemergency]

Excited to give this to my buddy for his birthday!

[@zaprodk]

The SMD LED's are glued to the flex with conductive glue. Trace the LED connections on the flex cable to the PCB and solder 4 wires and place some new LED's behind the front panel and stick them in place with a drop of hot melt glue. I don't even think you need to disconnect the blue LED's, just push them down and to the side. The forward voltage on a older green or amber LED will be less, so the blue LED won't light up even being in parallel.

[@plateoshrimp9685]

Custom plastics in small runs (like less than 10000) are far more expensive than you might think. I imagine the housing plastic was the best they could do and still meet their price point.

[@pcblah]

The cost is in the tooling, not the plastic itself.

[@RubenvanKuik]

I use a new model M and... well this really is a smaller one. Pretty cool.

[@PavelUrusov]

You can put a strip of red film between the LEDs and the cutout on the case, this would mute the LEDs and make them nicely purple.

[@WebeloZappBrannigan]

I just wish Unicomp would do an off white / beige version of the New Model M. I really hope they update the New Model M to include the removable cable like the SSK too... oh, and green (or dare I say... RGB / customisable ) LEDs for the lock lights!

[@FelisSilvestrisBE]

RGB leds with presets Green - Amber - Red, and an interface switch 1) modern usb-B or C and 2) vintage what-have-you connector.

[@heckinmemes6430]

These videos are the only thing keeping the toaster out of my bathtub.

[@calrogman]

Remember to tamper with your RCDs for maximal effect but also do you wanna talk about it?

[@angieandretti]

I agree! Unicomp, if you see this, we want a beige option and I myself really want a beige PS/2 SSK!!

[@themroc8231]

You should be able to put a small piece of yellow color filter film on top of those LEDs to make it green, although you would lose a little luminosity too.

[@kiefac]

Somebody else made a similar comment. This won't actually work, blue LEDs are monochromatic (1 wavelength) so you would just make it darker, not turn it green. It would need to be a white LED for that to work.

[@themroc8231]

@@kiefac Oh that sucks.

[@kintozero3169]

Hey Clint! You got a link to buy those little rubber bumpers? I got problems with things sliding around

[@LGRBlerbs]

No link, you can grab them at practically any retailer. I always find them in the section right next to Command Strips and tape. Often called framing bumpons, rubber bumpers, something like that.

[@draggonhedd]

Put a layer of kapton tape over those blue leds on the film and it will make it a nice dim teal color. We do that at work all the time.

[@overdriver99]

I guess you don't like it or below than you expected.. I have this keyboard delivered a week ago(I ordered the first day of pre-order on Feb). I like it! I love very precise keystroke. I already have a original IBM M keyboard so I didn't expect that I like this much. I like black color(I would buy another beige color if they make one) with blue LED also. only thing I don't like it USB A port. I wish they made it with different port. comparing my original IBM M keyboard this is WAY better feel on typing. I think this keyboard also has 10-key roll-over, which is enough for me.

[@Juiceboxdan72]

Pretty sure Chyrosran22 had the same complaints about those indicator lights

[@mnotgninnep]

Clint, colour the LEDs with green sharpie!

[@auditocanarsie7355]

I love these new modern M keyboards. I like the LED indicators but I agree they feel like they should be over to the right. I also like the removable USB but I wish they didn't have the windows logo . I guess I could order an IBM logo or other keycap. I wish the size of the keys were closer to the original. I wouldn't mind if the rest of the keyboard was smaller though.

[@RussKnize]

Mine just arrived a few days ago. Haven't taken it out yet, but thanks for the reminder. :)

[@UpLateGeek]

Years ago I got Unicomp to make me a custom colemak keyboard, I believe it was an ultra classic. I was mostly happy with it, although it wasn't as good as the model M I had on my PS/2 when I was a kid. However, after using it for a couple of months I decided it was more annoying to use a fixed colemak board rather than a qwerty, and switching back and forth for games and stuff. Instead I picked up a Filco mechanical board that I was really happy with. But still I couldn't resist the call of the model M, so I sat on an eBay saved search and ended up picking up two faulty units for a "reasonable" price, and making one and a half working ones (got both working, but the second is missing keys and a cable). And that was awesome and my daily driver until I switched to a mac for my productivity machine. Now I'm using a disappointing bluetooth keyboard, and while I really like the fact that it's wireless, everything else about it is either disappointing or just bad. Like WTF why is there a function key where the control key is supposed to be? I just want to open a new tab without contorting my hand until my fingers snap off. So while this SSK does look nice, and is an improvement on their old model M (was yours a classic or new model M?), I feel like no matter what it'll just be a good keyboard trying to be an awesome model M, and I'll just feel it's disappointing compared to the real thing. The current contender to replace this crappy bluetooth keyboard is the Filco bluetooth board. It's an MX brown though, but I was never really sold on they clicky sound, just the feel, so we'll see if it's a reasonable compromise for the benefit of being wireless.

[@Kane615]

I can understand Unicomp not being able to deliver a case that is up to the same standards as the old IBM cases given that injection molding is a delicate and expensive process and since they don't manufacture out of SEA labor and materials are going to be more expensive but I do not understand why they haven't integrated aluminum components into their case construction given how much rigidity it could add to their cases and how it could free up part of their molding capacity.

[@St0rmcrash]

Injection molding is easy and cheap once the molds are made though, adding aluminum in place of plastic wouldn't save money it would just add more expensive material and more cost/complexity in integrating and assembling them. Also the backplate is steel already

[@Kane615]

@@St0rmcrash Fascinating. Have the cost of molds really fallen that much in the last 30 years? I recall reading the cost of molds was still in the thousands, possibly tens of thousands but that was from a document from the mid-90s.

[@St0rmcrash]

@@Kane615 I don't know/think the price on the tooling has changed much, it was why it took so long for Unicomp to get it after all. I meant that once you have the tooling the materials cost and manufacture time for each unit is much cheaper if it's just one or two molded pieces vs having to get metal parts fabricated and then either embed them or bolt/integrate them with the plastic, and you wouldn't gain much in strength with a Model M since it has a steel plate already

[@Kane615]

@@St0rmcrash Ah I see. I get the point about the steel backplate but even with them retaining it their boards have still gotten noticeably flimsier than the old IBM boards. I guess beefing up the thickness of the backplate might be a more "realistic" proposal. Out of curiosity, do you happen to know what the ballpark for getting aluminum stamping dies for something like a keyboard would be? I can understand them sticking to plastic cases for their older designs given that they already have the tooling for them but I'm curious if it would have been feasible to use a different process for the SSK given they had to design and order new tooling for it.

[@ian_b]

It's funny how blue LEDs used to scream futuristic and now they're like Oh God not blue LEDs. I have a friend who is a lighting nerd (they exist) and I remember meeting him in the pub one evening and he proudly produced the first blue LED I had seen and he'd ordered at considerable cost (he'd also brought a battery so he could light it). We both oohed and aahed over it and even a couple of other punters came to our table to marvel. That must be a long time ago now but I'm old enough that it feels like yesterday.

[@therealDannyVasquez]

For the LEDs, buy some colored lighting gels from ebay for a couple of bucks and cut a small piece to cover the leds to change the color. Or you could at least buy a neutral density gel to lower the brightness & glare. I have a large yellow plus two ND filters on my screen for watching tv at nighttime. Works good.

[@FrontSideBus]

I wonder what happened to all of the Model M tooling from the IBM factory in Greenock? I'm really digging those blue and green coloured legends on some of the keys!

[@nicholsliwilson]

@LGR Blerbs blue LEDs were impossible at the time of the original Mod. M & this is a modernised model M that is supposed to do things the original couldn’t.

[@joethompson11]

I hate blue lights too. If it were mine I'd probably put a bit of red plastic over the LEDs to at least change it a bit. Here in the UK we have these old sweets (candy?) called Quality Street and they have coloured clear plastic wrappers. A couple of them layered up would probably give you the amber you crave.

[@adamlabby]

So I've had some Unicomp and IBM Model Ms. IBMs used a very nicely made PVC enclosure, that can easily last 35+ years without any real degradation. The flip side is PVC is a bit of a pain to manufacture; it can be corrosive to dies and produces toxic Chlorine gas during molding. Unicomp uses ABS, and honestly what feels like worn out dies for their big boy older design Model M. The fit and finish of the case is bad and it squeaks and creaks, but the typing experience is decent. One problem of PVC vs. ABS, is that ABS has flame retardant in it and PVC does not. That flame retardant is what gives older light colored ABS that yellow tinge. One thing I will give Unicomp credit for is their dye sublimated PBT keycaps. They still feel pretty good to type on and have great wear longevity. Not really a point to all of this, I still am glad that Unicomp made this tenkeyless M and improved their production and design, but it'd be cool if they improved some of the other areas too.

[@marcgii]

Recently got the full size version of this. I wasn't expecting it to feel so different Cherry switches. It took a bit to get used to the more resistant keys. But now I think I prefer it to brown and blue switches.

[@ThirdSpectrum]

I would really like to see a video of keyboard models that you would personally recommend or enjoyed using or seeing which ones you have owned for a long time that have served you well. I'm still sitting on the fence whether or not to buy from Unicomp or not.

[@MrEcted]

I was super excited the first half of the video, then much less excited the second half! Not your fault of course, just seemed like it was going to be a true "back to form" Model M but then it appears that after you had a chance to use it for awhile it just wasn't quite up to standard. That's really too bad, I really want a modern M with USB (though they should provide a PS2 option for retro builds) but with the old build quality. It just doesn't seem like that's ever going to happen though. Ah well, fantastic video - thanks for taking the time to make it! I'm on the fence.

[@DarthCody700]

I think the lights are blue because of Unicomp's logo

[@c3pu333]

They do look darker grey to me too.

[@bobpowers9862]

Use a red filter over the blue LEDs to get purple or violet, not-as-bright keys. You could easily experiment with other filters too-- since the plastic housing is very dark grey, any color you pick, will just blend in. Yellow would be similar to neutral grey, whereas green would just let the blue through (if memory serves). It's kind of a shame, they did not just use white LEDs, and then create a filter holder slot... you slot in filter(s) to get whatever color you like from the basic white. *sigh*

[@Scufflegrit]

Which do you prefer for gaming/day-to-day stuff, Clint? Buckling springs or Cherry switches?

[@LGRBlerbs]

MX Blues, Gateron Blues, Kailh Blues... Yeah, gimme blue in everything except LEDs

[@Scufflegrit]

@@LGRBlerbs You’re a gentleman and a scholar, sir. Next time you’re in Atlanta, your drinks are on me.

[@almostliterally593]

The Unicomp Classic is the only keyboard i own and I’m glad

[@patrick6350]

For a second there I thought you were using a lemon as a stopper in your coffee pot.

[@__redacted__]

I saw a lemon too.

[@rphoenix5908]

I'm disappointed that they haven't made a PS/2 version either, but I'm also wondering why they can't just update the USB one to support PS/2 via those common passive USB-to-PS/2 adaptors? They'd win because they wouldn't even have to manufacture two different models then, and we'd win because we could have a keyboard that supports USB and PS/2.