Vintage-like Mechanical keyboard

psycho-cookie · 29 May 2025 at 16:58

Hi Everyone,

I need some help/ideas regarding mechanical keyboards.

I recently bought a Varmilo minilo98, which is nice.

I was also eyeing the Keychron Q6 Max to buy later.

But my dream keyboard is like those old, milky white IBM or Dell keyboards that were used in corporations/banks back in the day (90s, 2000s). I have found some on second hand websites but obviously they are just old keyboards.
E.g.:

So I was wondering if anyone knows any brand or specific model that can replicate those? (The slant is pretty nice)

Or is the Q series from keychron with shell white caps the closest there is?

Only hard requirement is that it should be ANSI layout.

Thank you.

randal · 29 May 2025 at 17:14

There are various companies they do modernisation boards for these older Model M style keebs.

Level1Techs for example do a USB conversion board.

CaptainCrash · 30 May 2025 at 09:03

If you want something that has the genuine look, feel and sound of an IBM Model M, your only real option is... errr, an IBM Model M. There's really nothing else quite like it.

There's a US company called Unicomp which produces "new" Model Ms which are very close to the original, complete with buckling spring switches, but I'm not sure if they do UK layouts or even if they ship to the UK. Failing that, you'll need to look at the second hand market - the good news is that even after thirty years or so they'll look and perform pretty much as new if they've been reasonably well cared for.

Assuming you'll want to connect it to a USB port, you'll need to swap out the controller board as suggested above or, if you don't feel up to that, get a PS/2 to USB adapter - this has to be an "active" type as a simple passive adapter won't work (plenty of further info on keyboard enthusiast forums, Reddit etc). You'll also be missing the dedicated Windows/special key(s), but you can work around that by remapping the function to something else (I use the otherwise redundant Caps Lock key).

For what it's worth, I use one on a daily basis, and they'll need to pry it from my cold, dead hands :cool:

psycho-cookie · 30 May 2025 at 15:47

CaptainCrash said:
If you want something that has the genuine look, feel and sound of an IBM Model M, your only real option is... errr, an IBM Model M. There's really nothing else quite like it.

There's a US company called Unicomp which produces "new" Model Ms which are very close to the original, complete with buckling spring switches, but I'm not sure if they do UK layouts or even if they ship to the UK. Failing that, you'll need to look at the second hand market - the good news is that even after thirty years or so they'll look and perform pretty much as new if they've been reasonably well cared for.

Assuming you'll want to connect it to a USB port, you'll need to swap out the controller board as suggested above or, if you don't feel up to that, get a PS/2 to USB adapter - this has to be an "active" type as a simple passive adapter won't work (plenty of further info on keyboard enthusiast forums, Reddit etc). You'll also be missing the dedicated Windows/special key(s), but you can work around that by remapping the function to something else (I use the otherwise redundant Caps Lock key).

For what it's worth, I use one on a daily basis, and they'll need to pry it from my cold, dead hands

Niceee, They look wonderful, no RGB **** or fancy crap, just crispy classic style.
I just had a look at their website and they seem to have the option of shipping to UK, though I need to figure out how much it will cost and hopefully there won't be customs.
I actually prefer ANSI (US) layout so it is a win there.

Two questions, these new versions are not hot swappable (switch wise) are they? (like keychrons for example) I doubt it but thought I'll ask in case I'm missing something.
And is it possible to remap any of the keys? My only issue is that they don't have a Fn key, which kind of limits the options.

CaptainCrash · 30 May 2025 at 18:31

psycho-cookie said:
Two questions, these new versions are not hot swappable (switch wise) are they? (like keychrons for example) I doubt it but thought I'll ask in case I'm missing something.
And is it possible to remap any of the keys? My only issue is that they don't have a Fn key, which kind of limits the options.

First question I honestly couldn't tell you, but I doubt it.

If you're on Windows you can remap any key using PowerToys Keyboard Manager or (my preferred option) SharpKeys.

Donnie Fisher · 31 May 2025 at 10:02

The Keyboard Company | Keyboards & Mice Sales Distribution

ooft they've gone up a lot ... I should have bought one years ago.

No, they aren't like modern keyboards with switchable keys ... they are what they are.

psycho-cookie · 2 Jun 2025 at 17:21

So, from Unicomp, it costs around £150 for the classic white keyboard to ship here. Their new model M does not come in white unfortunately, and they don't ship the keyboard with trackball internationally. (that trackball is really useful for uhh, single hand computing)

So, here is the final question, if someone has the IBM model M and a keychron (possibly Q max, with browns) can you say how they compare?

They are both available on the rain forest with an exuberant mark up of £225. I am a bit hesitant to buy both, try (compare) and then return. I'm afraid they won't take them back or something.

I really hate how we don't have any physical stores to go touch things in. (curry only had razer **** & logitech on display)

I would appreciate some advice.

CaptainCrash · 2 Jun 2025 at 18:03

I've never used a Keychron but in any case, keyboard preferences are so subjective that someone else's experience would probably be of limited use to you.

If I were you I'd order them both from Amazon and try them or yourself. You have a statutory right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations (formerly DSRs) to return goods bought at a distance as long as you notify the seller of your intent do so within 14 days of receiving them (you then have a further 14 days to actually return the goods). The whole point of the legislation is to give you the same opportunity to try goods bought at a distance as you would at a physical store and to reject them if they're not suitable.

The retailer would theoretically still be entitled to charge you the cost of returning the goods, but in practice they probably won't in most circumstances (check out Amazon's returns policy and/or that of the third-party vendor).

Donnie Fisher · 2 Jun 2025 at 21:21

Like you say, its really hard to describe a model M versus others. Sure, the sounds come across on youtube, but the feel doesn't. I'm no officionado on mechanical keyboards, particularly the modern styles, but I have had a fair amount of time on Model M's over the years ( used to work in IBM Manufacturing ).

To me ( and this is very much my personal take on it ):

Modern mechanical switches feel as though a little arm is running along a smooth surface and hits an indent and carries on, and its the indent you feel as the mechanical 'click'. Plus the click is a little detached from the cap itself as its happening in the switch below the cap.

In a model M, because the spring is attached directly to the underside of the keycap the way the spring buckles and the little foot slaps down, that slap transmits up through the spring directly to the cap under your finger. Its like the whole cap itself 'clicks' rather than the switch underneath the cap.