Weird Unicomp Model M?

[neko2k]

I went to OfficeMax today and took this picture of their checkout terminal keyboard. The case looks identical to a Unicomp Model M and the key switch type is rubber dome. But as you can see, the layout is strange - it has Windows keys, a large L-shaped Enter key and the small Backspace key. All the keys are also the same colour as the case and even the font used on the keys is different.

It's strange and a few people I've asked aren't quite sure what it is, if it's a real Unicomp Model M or if the Chinese stole the moulds. Ideas?

[JBert]

Most likely a knockoff Chinese buckling spring?

We have seen a few before, though those came with a calculator above the numpad:
http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... t2043.html
http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... s-t82.html

EDIT: Oh durr, you stated it was a "rubber dome".

[Daniel Beardsmore]

You should persuade them to let you snap the rear label :)

[webwit]

It has the Lexmark style placeholder for the logo, which Unicomp left blank.
http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cf ... /id/239398

EDIT: Looking carefully, there seems to be more room above the logo placeholder rectangle compared to Lexmark. Hmm...

[neko2k]

I also noticed the sides on this OfficeMax keyboard are much slimmer than they are on real IBM or Unicomp Model Ms (highlighted in red so you know which bit I'm talking about)

EDIT: Looking carefully, there seems to be more room above the logo placeholder rectangle compared to Lexmark. Hmm...

Yeah, now that you mention that there is more space. My Unicomp SmarTrex M has that placeholder bit centered up where this OfficeMax keyboard has it closer to the keys.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Putting a curved backplane on a rubber dome board is trivial, and various RD boards are indeed made that way. Making an RD clone of the Model M is just a case of making similar moulds. That bigass enter key is a big clue, as I am not aware any Model M has ever had that? (The F did, in some cases, but not any M that I'm aware of.)

[clickykeyboards]

I'm pretty sure that this is NOT a Model M keyboard. It looks more like a generic Keytronic keyboard.

Probably this $20 rubber dome (Keytronic E03601U1)



http://www.staples.com/Keytronic-E03601 ... _IM1N68823

[Compgeke]

At first glance I thought Keytronic, as I've seen Keytronic ones with the same logo spot blank in the same location, although I believe the ones I saw where mechanical of some sort, they were clicky, but it was about 2 years before I cared about keyboards.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Funny, if they'd only put the correct enter key on that thing (ISO or ANSI, but never bigass) they'd actually fool people (so long as you can't see the terrible legends, anyway). That enter key is a huge clue that something is really wrong.