Considering strange use cases for vintage Model Ms

[Green Maned Lion]

Long story short: I was a dedicated IBM model M user on my few PCs (long standing Mac user) until I graduated college, because we had them at school, at which point I stopped buying PCs because I got an Intel mac and it could run Windows, and while I didn't install Windows on my next computer, by that point Apple was enough of a force that I didn't really need it anymore.

Fast forward to 8 months ago, I was on a Sprinter forum lamenting my opinion of an Cherry MX Blue keychron not feeling great compared to the old IBMs I used to use, and one of the members informed me that Unicomp was a thing and did Mac configurations. I bought one for my office at home, telling myself that my other office (which is mobile and the reason I own a Sprinter) would keep using the Keychron I had installed in it. Got the Unicomp, typed on it for two days, and ordered a second for the van. (New Model Ms)

I read all the negatives about Unicomp, and I could feel, as I like to put it, the realities that exist because in 1985 an IBM Model M cost more money without adjusting for inflation than a Unicomp New Model M costs now, 40 years later. But then I made a mistake; I decided to pull my pair of actual Model Ms out of my attic, and play with them; bought a PS/2 to USB, and... now the Unicomps feel awful in comparison, in a variety of ways. I'm not throwing shade on Unicomp on this; the reality of that real-world price difference is what it is.

I ended up playing with Ukelele and managed to do a few other things I wanted; I swapped keys from the Model Ms to my Unicomp, which improved things a little (both units are 1391401s, one from 87 and the other 89), I reconfigured the numpad so that it has a PC layout (double-unit + key, /, *, - on top row), and then I realized the wonder of reconfiguring keys so that I could get shift-[+,-,*,/] to output an "=", and shift-[any numpad number] to output a ":" because I use a spreadsheet a lot and do a lot of time entries, so that I can do everything with my left hand on modifiers and my right hand on the numpad.

I also ended up putting my home unicomp in the heretofore unused keyboard draw in the desk, and one of the 1391401s on the desktop, both hooked up to the computer. I prefer typing on the IBM by such a long stretch. Then I went insane, and bought a 1392149 M122 on ebay for $150, a converter from Tinkerboy, and intend to put that into service as my single home keyboard (the big issue with the 1391401 is setting up a convienent "control" key is hard, given that I reprogram "Alt" to "Command" and "Ctrl" to "Option".

[TLDR] So now that you know my lifestory, or skipped past it, here's my dilemma. I want to have a 122-key buckling spring in my van that I can program a bunch of keys to simplify my life. But this is a hard riding, 9050lb GVWR, leaf sprung van. It bounces and rides hard back there. When I am under way, the Unicomp sits in a frame made out of 8020 aluminum extrusions on my desk top, the frame has some soft velcro for mild padding, which is then clamped down by the monitor being lowered onto the frame and is tightened in place using a monitor mount.

What I would prefer to do is buy another example of (I think it is) Generation I M122 from a similar late 80s vintage, preferably with a DIN 240 (since I already have a DIN 240 converter on the way) because I prefer the feel of the older board. What I am worried about is that the bouncing and jouncing will result in the board quickly breaking, possibly even if I do bolt mod it. Thus an alternatite rational idea is to order a custom unit from Unicomp and just accept that the thing will be... well, it will be what it is.

That being said, I've had the Unicomp for 6 months, and my X-Keys L-Trac for almost as long as I've had the van (almost 17 months) bouncing around back there and they work just fine. Am I over thinking? I mean I'm considering a nearly 40 year old keyboard for this job.

[Falkenroth]

I own several Unicomps (6) and I feel the same way as you. I normally daily a modern Unicomp at work seeing I'm in a dirty environment at my trailer repair shop. Hard on keyboards. At the moment I've been using a 1994 model M with a speaker in it here at work (51G8572). Gave my Unicomp a break. I would defiantly recommend bolt modding an older keyboard if its going to be in a vehicle. Even if its in good shape to begin with I don't think I will stay that way. Clicky Keyboards has some M122 from time to time that will be all ready to go for daily use. I purchased a late 1985 Model M from him and its solid as a rock. I've done a screw mod on a M122 and went well so you could always just do one yourself.

[Green Maned Lion]

Thanks; is there a reason to premptively bolt mod?

[Falkenroth]

Thanks; is there a reason to premptively bolt mod?

I think so with the environment you're planning on using it in.