IBM Model M / Unicomp Customizer Keyboard update: Mac edition
My Product Review of the Unicomp Customizer keyboard has proven one of the most enduringly popular posts on this blog (see in particular the numerous comments, most of them about positive experiences with the Customizer). The last few days have seen an especially large amount of traffic thanks to an NPR story on how an Old-School Keyboard Makes [a] Comeback Of Sorts, which talks about Unicomp. The saddest part: the company is laying off workers because the Customizers and similar keyboards last too long and cost too much. The latter, of course, has a great deal to do with the former, but economic conditions mean that the initial investment apparently isn’t available to many people.
Aside from the durability of its products, Unicomp also has unusually good customer service. I use a Mac and the Customizer ships with Windows keys by default, which one can see in my original post. For $10, however, Unicomp sent me custom keys with “option” and “command” instead of Windows buttons (pardon the fuzzy pictures: I only have a lousy cell phone camera at the moment):
Perfect: the Windows buttons aren’t staring at me and other people who use my computer aren’t confused (“Hit command-w to close the window.” “Where’s command?” “The one with the Windows logo to the left of the spacebar.” “Huh?”) Mac users who care about typing, take note: go this route rather than buy a lousy Matias Tactile Pro 2. You can find Unicomp’s website here.
Hey, I’ve been all over their website, but I can’t find those keycaps for sale. I left a message via voicemail, but have got no response.
Can you help me locate those keycaps?
thanks,
- Ray
Ray
March 20, 2009 at 10:15 am
Ray—
Unicomp hasn’t actually listed the keycaps on their website, but if you call their customer support line they’ll take your order.
Hope that helps.
Jake Seliger
March 20, 2009 at 10:54 am
Do they have a Linux customization that replaces the windows icon keycap with Tux?
FYI, my current keyboard is a Fujitsu FKB4700, nice beastie… my ESC keycap is a red one with PANIC written on it; and I do own an original IBM Model M as well.
Matt
March 26, 2009 at 5:49 pm
How easy is it to replace the key caps? I’m thinking about ordering the Mac ones but am frankly, a bit nervous about damaging something when replacing them.
phototristan
May 30, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I’m also curious about the replacement of the key caps for Mac. My original Matias is on its last legs and I’m not getting another one (it’s not well built enough). Trying to decide between this and Das Keyboard. Appreciate the detailed reviews! I’m a writer and I’m using the keyboard all day long.
Jeff
July 2, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Everything I’ve read and seen has said pretty clearly that not only is the Unicomp Customizer better in build quality than the Matias Tactile Pro, but that is also of a quite substantially better build than the Das Keyboard. The Das, while being a nice modern board, suffers from poorly printed key labels that wear off in just a few months & a finish that is an absolute magnet for dust & fingerprints. I’ve also heard the plastic they use isn’t as durable as it should be, especially for the price. The real Model M can be had for around $30 these days, and beats all of them in quality. Just remap the keys in Sys. Prefs.
Justin
August 15, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Hi Justin,
I’m Andy, the Community Manager for Das Keyboard. I wanted to thank you for mentioning Das Keyboard; I also wanted to address you concerns. We have had issues in the past with the lettering wearing off of Das Keyboard Professionals when people use them heavily; we’ve taken the feedback to heart and the new Das Keyboard Model S Professional has lasered-on lettering, so they won’t fade. You’re right that the glossy frame shows fingerprints, which is why we include a cloth with each keyboard to help keep it shiny. For dust, there’s no property in the keyboard that attracts dust, but just like any keyboard or item on your desk, it’s always a good idea to keep it clean.
I asked around about your durability concern; I would be interested in where you heard that Das Keyboard isn’t as durable as it should be; a keyboard has never been returned because the frame failed or it wasn’t durable. In fact, we often get comments about how it’s so sturdy and heavy that it could be used as a shield or weapon (which we obviously don’t condone.) That being said, we take all customer feedback very seriously; if you or someone had or is having any issues with his/her Das Keyboard, I would love the chance to make it right.
Additionally, all Das Keyboards come with the full warranty, so even if Das Keyboard doesn’t fulfill your expectations, you’ve got 30 days to change your mind for any reason, and a year make sure it will last.
We love to hear comments, questions, and feedback, so please feel free to contact me at community [at] daskeyboard [dot] com
thanks!
Andy
October 13, 2009 at 8:55 am
I had problems with the Das Keyboard that I tried; the lettering wore off after only a few months and the USB was utterly flakey. Das said I need to use 2 USB ports on my computer directly with the keyboard-lame.
I was able to get warranty service on it for the key wearing issue but had to pay $20. to ship it back. Once I received the new one back, I sold it on eBay and went to a Unicomp buckling spring model which I am much happier with. It feels so much more durable.
Hank
October 13, 2009 at 9:06 am
Hi Hank, I’m so sorry to hear that your Das Keyboard experience was so poor! Please contact me at the email above and I’ll do whatever I can to help. Thanks!
Andy
October 14, 2009 at 12:06 pm
@ Justin: “The real Model M can be had for around $30 these days, and beats all of them in quality. Just remap the keys in Sys. Prefs.”
The problem is that Macs like three meta keys: command, option, and control. You can remap caps lock to one, but it’s still not as easy to learn or, in my view, to use as a keyboard with three meta keys available. In addition, modern Macs (and most modern laptops, as far as I can tell) only have USB ports, which means you have to find a USB converter that can handle the voltage expected by the old-school Model Ms. Not all can. That’s why the real Model M probably isn’t as good an option as the Customizer.
Jake Seliger
August 15, 2009 at 5:41 pm
This is very cool. I’m a Mac and PC user, and love the Model M. Having some Mac specific keys would be a nice touch.
Scott W. Vincent
September 15, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Hey, after ordering 2 ’space saver’ (strongly recommended over the customizer), and a set of keycaps, I can tell you that all you really need to do is:
1) order the keyboard off the ubicomp store (Yahoo!)
2) write in the ‘notes’ area of the order that you want the Mac keys.
They’ll increase the charges on your credit card by $10, and ship the keyboard and keycaps to you.
I’m considering ordering 50 (25 white, 25 ‘black’) from them with the keycaps already installed, and putting up an Amazon store. Pricing would be the same as off the Ubicomp website, only Mac-specific (would include a sheet of paper explaining how to set System Preferences to recognize the new Command and Option keys.
Question: what to do with the now ‘blank’ key that had the menu on it?
Jim Thompson
October 16, 2009 at 5:31 pm