Why do I use the 20-year-old keyboard IBM Model M. Old men have not served their age

We came across an interesting article Network consultant and visionary Ilyich van BeinumIn which he presents an original perspective on the changing keyboards. Below is the translation of this post.

A few days ago, I posted this photo to show off his multi-screen MacBook Pro. I'm not particularly bothered beauty guidance on the desktop, and I fell down comments on the keyboard. They made me wonder why, in fact, I use quite old, "Claudia," Why breathe "the dust of ages"?

About ten years ago, on any computer exhibition at the new "hardware", you would not have caught even a hint that something might kill is the most common and traditional text input solution. Once I saw these huge seller, "Moldova keypad" and decided that it would be great to have some kind of keyboard from IBM.

And that's really a long time, three cheap keyboard, on three different PC gathering dust at me. So what's so special about the keyboard IBM Model M?

We begin with the sound. It's really loud clicks that make me feel that I am, really, doing serious work when typing. Of course, not the same as if I was working in the office, or participated in any conference, but still.

The reason that the Model M loud "knocking" in that it uses a spring return mechanism. By clicking on each key triggers a spring curved, which gives an amazing sense: the keys quite noticeably resist to a certain point and then fall through to the bottom. This occurs precisely at the moment when the key is activated by the function, so that typing on the touch, you know that there was a mark set, without the need for visual inspection.

Remarkably and what Model M is incredibly strong, and the keys can be easily removed for a quick and trouble-free cleaning.

It is also possible to rearrange the keys as needed. For example, I changed the keyboard attachment for keys Alt and Control, and then set up your Mac to use the keys Caps Lock as the Control, the original Control (Now Alt), as the Alt / Option, and the original Alt (currently Control) as the Command. This is the most appropriate way to approach the keyboard from Apple.

It should be borne in mind that in the early 80s, the PC-ki from IBM published only one or two squeaking sounds. Therefore, the M model, developed at the same time, does not have the keys of mediaupravleniyu. However, this is easily solved with the help of sizzling Keys. This is a small application that will make your keyboard alternative point of iTunes media player control. (And it remains a mystery to me why the mechanism of Apple's standard keyboard, so limited).

Model M from 1992 year to date and relevant others, because it has a PS / 2 connector, and an even older models present AT connector. Adapter PS / 2-to-USB makes it possible to connect the keyboard to the modern M connectors.

Amazingly, this brick, with a weight of two kilos and called keyboard requires only 100 mA power supply from the USB port.

Naturally, I have two Bluetooth keyboard from Apple. initial whiteAnd then aluminum. White - quite soft, sensitivity even softer than the keyboard of the cheapest PC. Aluminum - a very good, besides it takes up very little space on your desktop. But if I use a keyboard like a laptop, I can just pick up and use the laptop keyboard.

Model M, the most enjoyable and accurate of all that I've tried. So I have a table at home, where it is not necessary to observe the optimum balance between size, weight and noise, this model takes center stage. I admit that in the new millennium at some point my fingers have to touch something new. And I'll get one of the new-fangled keyboards UnicompWith its multimedia keys and USB-connector. But even hundreds of thousands of words written on his faithful models M, it still serve a lot of years, if not decades.

But in fact, I love the beige!

And what are your thoughts on the keyboard, size, connectivity options? I am inclined to think that the Bluetooth device more convenient on the desktop, and if wired "Claudia" - the backlit keys. Knowingly or not try to Apple, developing a unique keyboard and mouse?