Review the of IBM 101-key

In Short

Highly tactile and noisy keyboard. Standard layout 101 keyboard, lacking windows95 keys.

In Depth

The best keyboard in the entire world has to be the IBM 101-key keyboard (which was actually manufactured by Lexmark for IBM). I am not saying this because "it's IBM" or "It's the original!" or anything lame like that-- it truly is a fantastic keyboard. The keys have excellent tactile and audible feedback -- when I switched to it (I specifically purchased mine from Best Buy when they still had them for $89), my typing speed sped up by about 10 wpm because I heard/felt when the key had registered instead of having to watch the screen constantly (now I watch my copy instead of the screen). It registers so nicely that my hands no longer cramp up during long hours of typing.

When most people think of "clicky" keyboards, they think of the original IBM 87- and 101- key keyboards, because yes, they do make a louder noise than most keyboards. But most people make the mistake of dismissing keys that click as *cheap* -- when, if there's a great tactile response from the key, the click is incidental and just adds to it registering in your head. The faster it registers, the faster you can process the information -- and the faster you type. With my old keyboards, I was pressing too hard on the keys because they didn't make a click (and their "give" was too soft). As a result, my hands started to cramp about 10-15 minutes into a long session and I had to rest for a while. I NEVER have to rest with an IBM keyboard.

They are HEAVY, too! This is greatly appreciated when you want to sit at a distance from the screen with the keyboard in your lap. The heavier it is, the less it slips around in your lap while you type. Its weight also contributes to its durability -- I've never had an IBM keyboard go bad on me. This is evidenced by the fact that my brother is still using our IBM 87-key keyboard from 1985.

I really don't get it when people talk about "that old, clunky, heavy, 'clicky' IBM keyboard" because if they would just sit down with it, they'd see they're missing the point completely. The click on cheap keyboards comes from a little peizo speaker that chirps when the key hits completes the circuit. The click on a IBM keyboard is 100% mechanical. The keycaps even come off nicely for quick and easy cleaning!

Just so we've got this nailed down, the keyboard I'm using right now is the most recent one I bought from Best Buy (they no longer have them, sadly) called simply "IBM" (in the top left corner). It's got a long ENTER key, and an even longer left and right shift key. There are no "Windows 95" keys to get in the way. On the back, it says:

Manufactured for IBM by Lexmark Copyright Lexmark, 1984 (odd, I bought it in 1995) Part No. 92G7483 ID # 0001299 Date: 5/26/95

BTW, I just ordered one of these from Tiger Direct-- Part number D55-1014, for only $29!!