[removed]
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Falkenroth
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: 1987 IBM Model M 1390131
- Main mouse: Standard Issue Lenovo
- Favorite switch: Catastrophic Buckling Spring
I love my F122 and it's my best typing board but that being said I still only daily a Model M. I'm just so use to a Model M form factor I prefer it over anything else.
My F122 viewtopic.php?p=524225#p524225
My F122 viewtopic.php?p=524225#p524225
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Green Maned Lion
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Unicomp New Model M
- Main mouse: X-keys L-Track
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
Ok, here's my take:
1) I like the battleship layout. I don't mean I think its the most adaptable to a modern layout: I prefer it to a standard 100% in every way people complain about it as inferior: I prefer the cross nav, I prefer placing my escape key at the top left of the left function cluster, I prefer my upper function cluster in a single group of two rows of 12, etc.
2) I've always thought IBM built the best non-Apple computer products for ordinary people, in general.
3) I own 6 type I IBM Model M battleships (granted one is non-functional), 5 Unicomp M122 'Battlecruisers' (none of which are fully functional, but I'm working on it), 2 Unicomp New Model M Macs, 3 1391401s, and an M5-2. I love the way they feel. I love the build quality of the non-unicomp models, and honestly, for a modern product, the Unicomps ain't bad. (I don't believe making a case out of metal for the sheer hell of it is a mark of quality, so all the 'modern mechanical gamer' companies that are building retina searing light shows masquerading as keyboards can emote a tree!). If somebody told me it was the greatest keyboard in the world after playing with an F, I'd think they were entitled to that opinion and that it is entirely reasonable.
4) I have 1 F122, and it is my favourite keyboard to type on... but I am happy that I have two office spaces one with an F and one with an M.
5) I have an Apple AEK2 (and a number of assorted other Apple boards of various vintages) and the mechanical boards are great tactile boards that I don't use, but do enjoy randomly plinking on. But its a great keyboard, and if somebody said that to them its the greatest board in the world, I would think they are perfectly entitled to that opinion.
6) I have a Focus FK-9000 with genuine White Alps, and I think it feels great, and if somebody said they felt a white Alps or Blue Alps board actually built with some attempt at quality and durability was the greatest keyboard of all time, I would respect that and think they are entitled to that opinion. (If somebody were to say that Focus white Alps boards are the greatest keyboards of all time, I'd look at them like they had two heads, though- they are cool, but they are Chinesium before Chinesium was a thing- a product built to a feature list intended to impress somebody looking at it in a store that isn't actually a good product, a category China perfected, but Chinesium can come from anywhere, and not all Chinese products qualify)
7) I have several Cherry MX boards by Keychron and... honestly I'm not impressed with them, but if somebody were to say that cherry, etc.
I think the enjoyment I get from the hobby is 1) collecting IBM oddities, and 2) being able to experience a wide variety of keyboard types and feels. The key point, really, though, is the greatest vintage keyboard ever is whatever a given informed person thinks it is. My wife is happy I love my F122, but she sure wishes it were quieter, and she refuses to try to type on my custom layout and custom tri-language keycaps- I have both the F122 and the M5-2 plugged into that setup so she can use a keyboard if she needs to use the computer.
Some people want silence, or small size, or low weight, or low profile, thats what they like. If that's what you want, brother, you're gonna HATE the F122!
1) I like the battleship layout. I don't mean I think its the most adaptable to a modern layout: I prefer it to a standard 100% in every way people complain about it as inferior: I prefer the cross nav, I prefer placing my escape key at the top left of the left function cluster, I prefer my upper function cluster in a single group of two rows of 12, etc.
2) I've always thought IBM built the best non-Apple computer products for ordinary people, in general.
3) I own 6 type I IBM Model M battleships (granted one is non-functional), 5 Unicomp M122 'Battlecruisers' (none of which are fully functional, but I'm working on it), 2 Unicomp New Model M Macs, 3 1391401s, and an M5-2. I love the way they feel. I love the build quality of the non-unicomp models, and honestly, for a modern product, the Unicomps ain't bad. (I don't believe making a case out of metal for the sheer hell of it is a mark of quality, so all the 'modern mechanical gamer' companies that are building retina searing light shows masquerading as keyboards can emote a tree!). If somebody told me it was the greatest keyboard in the world after playing with an F, I'd think they were entitled to that opinion and that it is entirely reasonable.
4) I have 1 F122, and it is my favourite keyboard to type on... but I am happy that I have two office spaces one with an F and one with an M.
5) I have an Apple AEK2 (and a number of assorted other Apple boards of various vintages) and the mechanical boards are great tactile boards that I don't use, but do enjoy randomly plinking on. But its a great keyboard, and if somebody said that to them its the greatest board in the world, I would think they are perfectly entitled to that opinion.
6) I have a Focus FK-9000 with genuine White Alps, and I think it feels great, and if somebody said they felt a white Alps or Blue Alps board actually built with some attempt at quality and durability was the greatest keyboard of all time, I would respect that and think they are entitled to that opinion. (If somebody were to say that Focus white Alps boards are the greatest keyboards of all time, I'd look at them like they had two heads, though- they are cool, but they are Chinesium before Chinesium was a thing- a product built to a feature list intended to impress somebody looking at it in a store that isn't actually a good product, a category China perfected, but Chinesium can come from anywhere, and not all Chinese products qualify)
7) I have several Cherry MX boards by Keychron and... honestly I'm not impressed with them, but if somebody were to say that cherry, etc.
I think the enjoyment I get from the hobby is 1) collecting IBM oddities, and 2) being able to experience a wide variety of keyboard types and feels. The key point, really, though, is the greatest vintage keyboard ever is whatever a given informed person thinks it is. My wife is happy I love my F122, but she sure wishes it were quieter, and she refuses to try to type on my custom layout and custom tri-language keycaps- I have both the F122 and the M5-2 plugged into that setup so she can use a keyboard if she needs to use the computer.
Some people want silence, or small size, or low weight, or low profile, thats what they like. If that's what you want, brother, you're gonna HATE the F122!