New models of IBM Model F keyboard Mark II incoming
(2023/04/03)
- Reference: 1680548590
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/04/03/new_model_f_keyboards/
- Source link:
What's even harder-core than the IBM Model M? The Model F, the keyboard that launched alongside the IBM PC in 1981. After a 2017 relaunch, new models with the original layout are here.
The [1]project , which back in 2017 relaunched a modern keyboard inspired by a compact space-saver version of IBM's classic Model F, is launching its second generation of brand-new premium input devices, and this time, various layouts will be available.
If you care about keyboards, then you know about the IBM [2]Model M . Several Reg hacks [3]have them and treasure the things , this particular vulture included: this article is being typed on a Model M which turned 32 exactly two weeks ago. The Model M first appeared with the IBM [4]3161 terminal in 1985.
[5]
The thing is, though, that 1985 was some four years after the [6]launch of the IBM PC , and a year after the PC/AT. They didn't come with Model M keyboards, because the Model M hadn't been invented yet. The PC launched with with [7]Model F keyboard. The PC had the first [8]version , with strange single-key-sized keycaps even on double or triple-width keys. The 80286-based IBM PC/AT came with a [9]revised version, with extra-large keycaps for Ctrl, Shift, Enter and so on.
[10]
[11]
The IBM Model M is now highly collectible – this vulture knows well, because he has collected several, mostly by saving them when they were being thrown away in the 1990s. There are specialist vendors supplying refurbished IBM [12]originals , as well as modern [13]reproductions , made to the original design with original tooling, but modernized with USB interfaces, extra Windows keys and so on. If you want a [14]New Model M, you can have one for $104. A restored [15]original will set you back $195.
Even so, the sought-after Model M was the cut-down, economy version, made for the rapidly expanding PC market, and most people first saw them attached to the [16]shiny new IBM PS/2 range in 1987 . The OG of IBM clicky keyboards is the Model F, but as they are now [17]over 40 years old , they're even more scarce. And there's worse news. If you can find one, the PC/AT keyboard uses a 5-pin DIN connector, which only requires a passive adaptor to convert to PS/2 format. (And who doesn't have a couple of those in their spares box?) The original PC and PC/XT keyboard uses the same connector, but a different protocol. If you can find an early 1980s keyboard from around the time that the '286 was becoming widespread, if you're even luckier, it will have a slider switch underneath allowing you to choose PC or AT mode. Even the Reg FOSS desk doesn't have one of those adaptors.
[18]
Enter the [19]New Model F Keyboards project. "Ellipse" [20]launched it in 2017 and attracted over $300,000 worth of orders, even at $399 each.
Aside from the not-inconsiderable price, what put the author off was the layout. Space-saving and reduced-footprint keyboards are very popular among serious keyboard collectors, and the project chose two space-saver layouts from IBM's [21]4704 terminal , dubbed the Kishysaver after the collector who described it. The [22]F77 layout has a numeric keypad, but no function keys; the even smaller [23]F62 layout omits the keypad, or as the cool kids call it, it's a TKL layout, which we are informed stands for [24]tenkeyless , presumably because it has 15 fewer keys.
[25]And you thought that $999 Mac stand was dear: Steve Wozniak's Apple II doodles fetch $630,272 at auction
[26]Cop a load of this DIY e-ink calendar to help plan those projects you'll never finish
[27]Bringing the IBM Thinkpad 'Butterfly' back to life
[28]Logitech Pop: Stylish, portable, but far from the best typing experience
Which is why the FOSS desk's bank account would tremble in fear if it were not an inanimate table in a database somewhere, because the Model F project has [29]announced a new range, including full-size and compact 104-key layouts… and most appealing to this large and heavy-handed vulture, a replica of the 122-key IBM [30]Battleship , one of which we've been hunting for over a decade. The project occasionally has [31]refurbished original IBM units. Now, though, a brand-new one is a $420 [32]option .
If that isn't exclusive enough, your correspondent also working on a model with [33]beam springs , the mechanism from 1970s IBM business products. The first [34]model of the brand new beam spring units is a mere $579.
[35]Youtube Video
[36]
These are exciting but expensive times to be a keyboard connoisseur. ®
Get our [37]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/
[2] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_M
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2010/09/06/sysadmin_doomsday_part_1/
[4] https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/IBM_3161
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2011/08/12/ibm_pc_30_anniversary/
[7] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_F
[8] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer_keyboard
[9] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_F#IBM_Personal_Computer_AT_keyboard
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.clickykeyboards.com/
[13] https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/SFNT
[14] https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/NEW_M
[15] https://www.clickykeyboards.com/product-category/1992-1996-ibm-model-m-1391401-blue-label/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2017/04/04/30_years_ago_ibms_final_battle_with_reality/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/12/ibm_pc_40_anniversary/
[18] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[19] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/about/
[20] https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/64q5fg/buying_brand_new_model_f_keyboards_project_major/
[21] http://kishy.ca/?cat=68
[22] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/f77-model-f-keyboard/
[23] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/f62-model-f-keyboard-kishsaver/
[24] https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/what-is-tkl-keyboard/
[25] https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/21/steve_wozniak_notes_auction/
[26] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/11/timeframe_diy_eink_calendar/
[27] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/01/ibm_butterfly_repair_upgrade/
[28] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/19/logitech_pop/
[29] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/brand-new-model-f-major-launch-full-size-and-other-models-march-april-2023-update/
[30] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_122-key_terminal_keyboards
[31] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/original-ibm-model-f-122-key-keyboard/
[32] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/classic-style-f122-model-f-keyboard/
[33] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Beam_Spring_Keyboards
[34] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/beam-spring-round-1-keyboard/
[35] https://www.youtube.com/embed/T0s6iRr7YqM
[36] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[37] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The [1]project , which back in 2017 relaunched a modern keyboard inspired by a compact space-saver version of IBM's classic Model F, is launching its second generation of brand-new premium input devices, and this time, various layouts will be available.
If you care about keyboards, then you know about the IBM [2]Model M . Several Reg hacks [3]have them and treasure the things , this particular vulture included: this article is being typed on a Model M which turned 32 exactly two weeks ago. The Model M first appeared with the IBM [4]3161 terminal in 1985.
[5]
The thing is, though, that 1985 was some four years after the [6]launch of the IBM PC , and a year after the PC/AT. They didn't come with Model M keyboards, because the Model M hadn't been invented yet. The PC launched with with [7]Model F keyboard. The PC had the first [8]version , with strange single-key-sized keycaps even on double or triple-width keys. The 80286-based IBM PC/AT came with a [9]revised version, with extra-large keycaps for Ctrl, Shift, Enter and so on.
[10]
[11]
The IBM Model M is now highly collectible – this vulture knows well, because he has collected several, mostly by saving them when they were being thrown away in the 1990s. There are specialist vendors supplying refurbished IBM [12]originals , as well as modern [13]reproductions , made to the original design with original tooling, but modernized with USB interfaces, extra Windows keys and so on. If you want a [14]New Model M, you can have one for $104. A restored [15]original will set you back $195.
Even so, the sought-after Model M was the cut-down, economy version, made for the rapidly expanding PC market, and most people first saw them attached to the [16]shiny new IBM PS/2 range in 1987 . The OG of IBM clicky keyboards is the Model F, but as they are now [17]over 40 years old , they're even more scarce. And there's worse news. If you can find one, the PC/AT keyboard uses a 5-pin DIN connector, which only requires a passive adaptor to convert to PS/2 format. (And who doesn't have a couple of those in their spares box?) The original PC and PC/XT keyboard uses the same connector, but a different protocol. If you can find an early 1980s keyboard from around the time that the '286 was becoming widespread, if you're even luckier, it will have a slider switch underneath allowing you to choose PC or AT mode. Even the Reg FOSS desk doesn't have one of those adaptors.
[18]
Enter the [19]New Model F Keyboards project. "Ellipse" [20]launched it in 2017 and attracted over $300,000 worth of orders, even at $399 each.
Aside from the not-inconsiderable price, what put the author off was the layout. Space-saving and reduced-footprint keyboards are very popular among serious keyboard collectors, and the project chose two space-saver layouts from IBM's [21]4704 terminal , dubbed the Kishysaver after the collector who described it. The [22]F77 layout has a numeric keypad, but no function keys; the even smaller [23]F62 layout omits the keypad, or as the cool kids call it, it's a TKL layout, which we are informed stands for [24]tenkeyless , presumably because it has 15 fewer keys.
[25]And you thought that $999 Mac stand was dear: Steve Wozniak's Apple II doodles fetch $630,272 at auction
[26]Cop a load of this DIY e-ink calendar to help plan those projects you'll never finish
[27]Bringing the IBM Thinkpad 'Butterfly' back to life
[28]Logitech Pop: Stylish, portable, but far from the best typing experience
Which is why the FOSS desk's bank account would tremble in fear if it were not an inanimate table in a database somewhere, because the Model F project has [29]announced a new range, including full-size and compact 104-key layouts… and most appealing to this large and heavy-handed vulture, a replica of the 122-key IBM [30]Battleship , one of which we've been hunting for over a decade. The project occasionally has [31]refurbished original IBM units. Now, though, a brand-new one is a $420 [32]option .
If that isn't exclusive enough, your correspondent also working on a model with [33]beam springs , the mechanism from 1970s IBM business products. The first [34]model of the brand new beam spring units is a mere $579.
[35]Youtube Video
[36]
These are exciting but expensive times to be a keyboard connoisseur. ®
Get our [37]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/
[2] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_M
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2010/09/06/sysadmin_doomsday_part_1/
[4] https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/IBM_3161
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2011/08/12/ibm_pc_30_anniversary/
[7] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_F
[8] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer_keyboard
[9] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Model_F#IBM_Personal_Computer_AT_keyboard
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.clickykeyboards.com/
[13] https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/SFNT
[14] https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/NEW_M
[15] https://www.clickykeyboards.com/product-category/1992-1996-ibm-model-m-1391401-blue-label/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2017/04/04/30_years_ago_ibms_final_battle_with_reality/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/12/ibm_pc_40_anniversary/
[18] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[19] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/about/
[20] https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/64q5fg/buying_brand_new_model_f_keyboards_project_major/
[21] http://kishy.ca/?cat=68
[22] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/f77-model-f-keyboard/
[23] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/f62-model-f-keyboard-kishsaver/
[24] https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/what-is-tkl-keyboard/
[25] https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/21/steve_wozniak_notes_auction/
[26] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/11/timeframe_diy_eink_calendar/
[27] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/01/ibm_butterfly_repair_upgrade/
[28] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/19/logitech_pop/
[29] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/brand-new-model-f-major-launch-full-size-and-other-models-march-april-2023-update/
[30] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_122-key_terminal_keyboards
[31] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/original-ibm-model-f-122-key-keyboard/
[32] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/classic-style-f122-model-f-keyboard/
[33] https://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Beam_Spring_Keyboards
[34] https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/beam-spring-round-1-keyboard/
[35] https://www.youtube.com/embed/T0s6iRr7YqM
[36] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZCtMge-VyW-hP7UfIwKF8gAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[37] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
I thought I was safe
BinkyTheMagicPaperclip
Using a Unicomp Endura Pro hard wired Dvorak layout for years, although it lacks NKRO that's not a problem as I used a separate keyboard for gaming (remapping is an issue with non QWERTY keyboards).
I've no interest in the original Model F - the arrow and function keys are too annoying for everyday usage. However, some of these new models are awfully tempting. I would need a PS/2 adapter to connect it to my KVM here though.
My old M13
cjcox
I still have an old all black IBM M13. It's in pretty ok shape.
mmm, want
obligatory text