I want to buy a Model M, and the New Model M comes with everything I’m looking for, such as:

  • USB support out of the box
  • Meta keys
  • No hunt for the correct model

But the price is steep:

  • $125.00 New Model M
  • $24.00 2x Customization fee: RP2040 controller for New Model M outside of the USA1
  • $101.56 Fedex International
  • Subtotal: $250.56
  • $50.11 Import sales tax 20 %
  • $0 Customs fee (Goods code 8471606000 and 8473302000)
  • Total: $300.67

Keyboardco appears to be a former(?) European supplier since they don’t ship the New Model M to Europe, so the shipping costs are here to stay. I could probably get an IBM Model M for cheaper, albeit with more work and additional equipment for modding, but I dunno. What do you think?

1Unicomp is not allowed to ship the RP2040 controller built into the New Model M outside of the USA according to support.

UPDATE: I’m now the proud owner of an IBM Model M keyboard :)

  • Fox@pawb.social
    5·
    1 year ago

    If you can find an original Model M locally and confirm it's functional (and not too many plastic rivets are broken), it's a fine keyboard. That's as long as you can live without Windows keys. I mapped capslock to winkey and was happy with that.

    A compatible USB controller is easy enough to find.