Unicomp Ultra Classic 104 impression, round 2

Yup, it’s old school all right.  The key caps feel like it, sounds like it and certainly the typing action is just like it.  Some will argue that a real IBM model M is the only real game in town, but I think this one can lay claim to the vacated throne room for the classic keyboard feel.  However, I am not evaluating based on nostalgia alone, as that will only get the keyboard so far in the tryout.  So, against a more modern design such as Cherry MX, Matias or Topre, how does it stack up?

The key action is crisp, clean.  I really do know when I activated the switch.  There’s both a bright, clear auditory and tactile cue, similar to the Cherry MX blue.  In fact, the MX blue is likely trying to leverage this memory to its advantage.  No doubt that it worked on me.  So, now the real McCoy is in town, what’s the difference?  For one thing, the buckling spring has a very steep force-distance drop off curve when it is activated after a fairly linear start.  Once the switch is activated, the force drop off like a cliff as the spring has just buckled and releasing its energy as sound and spring moment.  Like the blue switch, it has a long hysteresis (or reset distance) section where the switch can’t be activated again till it returns to rest position.  The blue switch’s curve is a lot gentler when compare to the buckling spring sudden drop.  So, that accounts for the super clean, snappy key action.  It also takes a lot of force to activate the switch, around 75g or so.  So, it’s more deliberate and methodological than the speedier MX blue.  Of course, there’s nothing like the MX blue shriek, but the buckling spring has its own choir too.  The sound is a bit like snap or slap and then ringing till it fades and it’s quite loud too.

So, this is definitely not a keyboard for touch typists.  This is a keyboard that demands deliberate, forceful action to function properly.  It does so with loud confirmation in a very drill sergeant like manner and not shy about it every step of the way.  Against the MX blue, the buckling spring is what MX blue aspire to be when it grows up.  Right now, MX blue is still got that squeaky voice…..