IBM Model M keyboard

Long-term owners

How many other 40+ year old keyboard models do people still regularly use today? The Model-M reputation earned more than a click.

Jul 2026 · comment

all of my 30+ year old IBM Model M's continue to work flawlessly

Jun 2026 · comment

has been going strong as a daily driver for at least 18 years

Jun 2026 · comment

What hackers pick instead

• Magic Keyboard mechanical keyboardPraised for its slim, low-profile mechanical design and polished website. Critics find the large number keys and the missing numpad and navigation keys off-putting.55recommend
• Keychron keyboardPeople recommend Keychron for good build quality and low prices for the features, often on sale, and as a home desk starter. Critics report poor support and some keys failing early.29recommend
• Filco Majestouch TKLOwners recommend these keyboards as durable workhorses that last for years. Critics say prices rose and the company stayed stagnant, and some find the clicky sound loud.15recommend
• Truly Modular KeyboardModular keyboard with magnetic snapping sections that detach and rearrange; people like its polished look. Caveat: grid layouts only, no staggered rows.10recommend
• Altar II mechanical keyboardFans praise its materials, components and volume knob, and one buyer calls the $249 price good value. Critics say it costs too much next to a Keychron K3.8recommend

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 51 comments. Each links to the original.

1. How many other 40+ year old keyboard models do people still regularly use today? The Model-M reputation earned more than a click.

   Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”

2. This works especially well on an IBM Model M because there's nothing in the vicinity of either the left or right ctrl

   Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Emacs 31 Is Around the Corner: The Changes I'm Daily Driving”

3. you used to be able to beat people to death with IBM hardware, including Thinkpad laptops and model M keyboards

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Apple Introduces MacBook Neo”

4. once you start using a keyboard with high tactile feedback and positive keyclick you won't want to go back

   Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”

5. the Model M layout is what I consider the "default" and there is very little reason to deviate from it

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “I Hate (Most) Keyboard 'Fn' Keys”

6. Some would call buckling spring style (which inm keyboard use) surperiour to all the mx style switches

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice”

7. beat people to death with IBM hardware, including Thinkpad laptops and model M keyboards

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Apple Introduces MacBook Neo”

8. the full-size keyboard has a slightly nicer feel to it than the 10-key-less version

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

9. had none of those problems, it works as well now as the day I bought it

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

10. stiff mechanical boards with long travel and my fingers get a workout

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

11. rock solid, reliable, and sensibly priced considering their quality

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

12. The plastic chassis is sturdy and doesn't need any sort of filing.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

13. all of my 30+ year old IBM Model M's continue to work flawlessly

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

14. the keyboards are absolutely spectacular and last for many years

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “Learn Dvorak Quickly”

15. has been going strong as a daily driver for at least 18 years

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

16. I've had an original Model M and two different OG Model Fs.

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

17. The controller on the keyboard died after about a year.

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

18. The IBM Type M was and still is my stand-in.

    Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “IBM Beam Spring: The Ultimate Retro Keyboard”

19. which I loved the feel of

    Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”

20. a chunky Buckling Spring mechanism is a very unique and "fun" feel, but that doesn't mean it's actually good to do a lot of typing on

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”

21. A model M requires so much force a cockatiel can walk on it and not press a key

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice”

22. the buckling spring switches in Model M are quite stiff as far as keyboards go

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice”

23. Unicomp was outright broken, a single file mapped to every key

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Mechanical Keyboard Sounds”

24. Problems with quality, problems with output.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

25. the keypad got to be a bit too much

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”

26. I love that keyboard, but I wish they'd increase the TrackPoint cut out for the GHB keys more.

    Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “Keychron's Nape Pro turns your keyboard into a laptop‑style trackball rig”

27. Unicomp makes keycaps with APL symbols for their (excellent) Model M mechanical keyboards.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Learning to read Arthur Whitney's C to become smart (2024)”

28. Glad to have an original IBM Unsaver so I don't have to rely on sussy reproductions

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

29. Then the Model F cost-reduced (and thickness-reduced) it, and the Model M further.

    Mixed · May 2026 · in “IBM didn't want Microsoft to use the Tab key to move between dialog fields”

30. I like their clicky keys, but now their Model M costs US $189, a bit high.

    Mixed · Nov 2025 · in “Cherry gives up German production and wants to sell core division”

31. IBM made a version of the Model M with Trackpoint but those are rare.

    Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “Keychron's Nape Pro turns your keyboard into a laptop‑style trackball rig”

32. you can take my buckling springs from my cold dead hands

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Talkie: a 13B vintage language model from 1930”

33. before it was moved to the bottom left in the Model M

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “I Hate (Most) Keyboard 'Fn' Keys”

34. the Unicomp New Model M does not have N-key rollover

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

35. the Model M from Unisys is probably a better bet

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

36. Guess I spin around and go back to Unicomp...

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “New Beam Spring Keyboards”

37. these are not properly ergonomic in 2026

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”

38. the beige one is still a daily driver

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”

39. the awesome IBM Model M keyboard

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Serving a Website on a Raspberry Pi Zero Running in RAM”

40. I've got both, and like both.

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice”