I'm actually typing this from a PS/2 Model 30 286 :) It's quickly becoming
one of my favourite machines - more bearable than an XT and less bulky than
an AT. Plus VGA!

It doesn't have Microchannel; it was one of the few PS/2 machines to have 16-bit ISA slots onboard. As much as I like Microchannel, it's a pain and expensive to find suitable cards.

My machine has DOS 3.3, a network card and a (replica) Adlib card. Makes a very decent little DOS box.

I say dust it off and put it back in to use :)

Howard

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Hello Howard,

25 Apr 19 17:13 at you wrote to Forest Moore:

It doesn't have Microchannel; it was one of the few PS/2 machines to
have 16-bit ISA slots onboard. As much as I like Microchannel, it's a pain and expensive to find suitable cards.

You've got a rare machine indeed.

I say dust it off and put it back in to use :)

If you ever want to try OS/2, give me a shout. Ran OS/2 from 1996-2010 or thereabouts.

Later,
Sean

... WinErr 01C: Uncertainty error - Uncertainty may be inadequate.
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Howard Rose wrote to Forest Moore <=-

I'm actually typing this from a PS/2 Model 30 286 :) It's quickly becoming one of my favourite machines - more bearable than an XT and
less bulky than an AT. Plus VGA!

Nice!

It doesn't have Microchannel; it was one of the few PS/2 machines to
have 16-bit ISA slots onboard. As much as I like Microchannel, it's a pain and expensive to find suitable cards.

My machine has DOS 3.3, a network card and a (replica) Adlib card.
Makes a very decent little DOS box.

I worked in an IBM shop back in 1990-1993. We had System 38 and AS/400
midrange computers, and the IT department had all microchannel PS/2s
running OS/2. Microchannel was nice when you were multitasking or
running the box as a server, but for DOS, ISA is even better.

I say dust it off and put it back in to use :)

Best keyboard ever made - I still have a Model M from that company
that I use.

Howard

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Kurt Weiske wrote to Howard Rose <=-

Best keyboard ever made - I still have a Model M from that company
that I use.

You know that Model Ms are still being made though they're not called that anymore?

Check out https://www.pckeyboard.com/ -- they own the original IBM
technology. I learned to type on a Model M and once I start working again (I've been cleared to return to work now), I want to buy a USB version.

Later,
Sean

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Re: Re: IBM PS/2
By: Sean Dennis to Kurt Weiske on Sun Apr 28 2019 08:35 pm

You know that Model Ms are still being made though they're not called that anymore?

Check out https://www.pckeyboard.com/ -- they own the original IBM technology. I learned to type on a Model M and once I start working again (I've been cleared to return to work now), I want to buy a USB version.

I know Unicomp used to make them, when mine wears out in 2050 I'll look them up.
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Sean Dennis wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

Best keyboard ever made - I still have a Model M from that company
that I use.

You know that Model Ms are still being made though they're not called
that anymore?

Check out https://www.pckeyboard.com/ -- they own the original IBM technology. I learned to type on a Model M and once I start working
again (I've been cleared to return to work now), I want to buy a USB version.

A good substitute in feel and durability is Keytronics. I scored a PS2 model on eBay and plugged it into my PS2 to USB adapter. Looks sorta funky with the purple and green PS2 female ends hanging out there for all to see. But it works a treat.

AFAIK the Model M keyboard is still produced in Lexington, KY - more-
or-less just down the street from the (former?) IBM R&D facility.

... MS-DOS=suit & tie, Macintosh=cool shades, Amiga=high heels & leather

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-4
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Hello Kurt,

28 Apr 19 21:03 at you wrote to me:

I know Unicomp used to make them, when mine wears out in 2050 I'll
look them up.

It's the same company. :)

Later,
Sean

... Never have more children than you have car windows. - Erma Bombeck
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

Hello Dave,

29 Apr 19 07:05 at you wrote to me:

AFAIK the Model M keyboard is still produced in Lexington, KY - more- or-less just down the street from the (former?) IBM R&D facility.

It is. The company I mentioned is Unicomp at pckeyboard.com -- you can still buy brand new Model Ms in spirit.

Later,
Sean

... Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes. - Henry J. Kaiser
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

I know Unicomp used to make them, when mine wears out in 2050 I'll look them up.

It's the same company. :)

I have been toying with picking one of the Unicomp's up over the past year...But I keep seeing conflicting reviews and info about they arrive in pieces requiring reassembly (Which is not an issue, just concerning). Another
I keep coming across is the machining tools making the keys and such are old and creating keys that are wobbly, loose, not always the click effect like
the ones of 20+ years ago.

I know people have huge expectations and will post negative reviews way more than positive. So I am just wondering if anyone on here has picked up a recent Unicomp and what do you think?

Wish I did not toss my 2 old M keyboards away years ago! Argh!!!

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Shane O'Neill wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

I know Unicomp used to make them, when mine wears out in 2050 I'll look them up.

It's the same company. :)

I have been toying with picking one of the Unicomp's up over the past year...But I keep seeing conflicting reviews and info about they arrive
in pieces requiring reassembly (Which is not an issue, just
concerning). Another I keep coming across is the machining tools making the keys and such are old and creating keys that are wobbly, loose, not always the click effect like the ones of 20+ years ago.

I know people have huge expectations and will post negative reviews way more than positive. So I am just wondering if anyone on here has picked
up a recent Unicomp and what do you think?

I've never understood people's desires to stop strangers in the street
and, unsolicited, brag about how badly they were screwed over by (fill
in the blank). Yet they won't tell anyone about a good deal they got.

Wish I did not toss my 2 old M keyboards away years ago! Argh!!!

The Keytronics knock offs work well .... for less money. I'm typing this
on one. My housemate says "It's a cheap Chineee copy". To which I reply
"Wasn't cheap, bub."

Still half or less the price of a Unicomp model M can be considered a
bargain in most places. And it should out live a dozen chicklet models.
... Had a job as a historian. But there was no future in it.
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Sean Dennis wrote to Dave Drum <=-

AFAIK the Model M keyboard is still produced in Lexington, KY - more- or-less just down the street from the (former?) IBM R&D facility.

It is. The company I mentioned is Unicomp at pckeyboard.com -- you can still buy brand new Model Ms in spirit.

IIRC Unicomp is the result of a group of Lexmark suits buying Itty Bitty Machine Co's licence, design and production facilities rather than see production end in favour of the cheaper (in every sense) cheesy Chinese rubber-dome (squishy) examples that the bean counters were dictating.

Back in the mid-1990s if memory serves.


... Had a job as a lumberjack. Couldn't hack it. Got the axe.
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Hello Shane,

30 Apr 19 15:25 at you wrote to me:

Wish I did not toss my 2 old M keyboards away years ago! Argh!!!

I have a model M from 1986 sitting on a shelf that needs a new PS/2 plug.

I've used one of the Unicomp keyboards before and I didn't have any issues with it but I can't vouch for anything else.

Later,
Sean

... You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

Hello Dave,

01 May 19 06:54 at you wrote to me:

IIRC Unicomp is the result of a group of Lexmark suits buying Itty
Bitty Machine Co's licence, design and production facilities rather
than see production end in favour of the cheaper (in every sense)
cheesy Chinese rubber-dome (squishy) examples that the bean counters
were dictating.

Back in the mid-1990s if memory serves.

That's what I've heard also but the suits quit Lexmark to run Unicomp. Either way, I'm glad they're still around making keyboards.

Later,
Sean

... All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence then success is sure.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Limestone, TN, USA (1:18/200)

IIRC Unicomp is the result of a group of Lexmark suits buying Itty Bitty Machine Co's licence, design and production facilities rather than see production end in favour of the cheaper (in every sense) cheesy Chinese rubber-dome (squishy) examples that the bean counters were dictating.

Back in the mid-1990s if memory serves.

IIRC, LexMark was formed in a similar fashion... IBM was ditching the
printer business and another group either took it over, or was spun-out of
IBM.

That was also around 1992-94.

Mike

---
* SLMR 2.1a * Tweety of Borg: I tawt I attimilated a Puddy Tat!
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Mike Powell wrote to DAVE DRUM <=-

IIRC, LexMark was formed in a similar fashion... IBM was ditching the printer business and another group either took it over, or was spun-out
of IBM.

That was also around 1992-94.

I was inventorying equipment at my most recent job, and found a room
with a PS/2 model 80 and an IBM (not Lexmark) 4019 laser printer -
exactly the same combo I started my IT career on in 1991.

Apparently they were keeping it around as a restore target for an old
backup tool they still had in production.

If they had a model M, those clunky IBM mice and an 8514 monitor, I
would have set it up on my desk.



... Am I any closer to finding what I'm looking for?
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Re: Re: IBM PS/2
By: Howard Rose to Forest Moore on Thu Apr 25 2019 05:13 pm

I'm actually typing this from a PS/2 Model 30 286 :) It's quickly becoming one of my favourite machines - more bearable than an XT and less bulky than an AT. Plus VGA!

I remember my first IBM PS/2, my father ran a mini-storage place, and when tenants couldn't pay, they tossed stuff out. Well, OUR luck, they had a box FULL of less than 2 year old PC equipment!! I ended up with one of those babies! I maxed the HDD's, RAM, (on TWO systems).. it was great!
Regards,
KrUpTiOn
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