| Vintage IBM "Clicky" keyboards have a major | | | | The feel and sound of the mechanical keyboard |
| following both among vintage computer | | | | result from the contact that occurs between the |
| enthusiasts and office professionals. What is the | | | | conductive materials on the actual plunger : the |
| secret for this proclivity with these older | | | | conductors are often made of gold , gold alloy or |
| keyboard models ? | | | | Mylar with silver- carbon alloy. |
| The secret to the click of a keyboard is the key | | | | One drawback of these mechanical switches is |
| switch technology it uses. The four key switch | | | | the greater number of parts they require , which |
| technologies commonly found inside PC keyboards | | | | of course was increased the cost and complexity |
| are mechanical, capacitive, conductive, conductive | | | | of manufacture . Believe it or not a mechanical |
| rubber dome and membrane switches. All but the | | | | switch keyboard may used as many as three |
| last are hidden under key caps, but you cannot | | | | times the parts of a similar function membrane |
| tell much about a keyboard's switch technology | | | | switch model , It is now wonder that only older |
| just by popping off the cap. Note: If you try to | | | | vintage computer models who in their time were |
| dissemble a keyboard to inspect it you may | | | | very used these keyboards. Today with our |
| damage or destroy the keyboard and of course | | | | throw away computers that are only meant to |
| any warranty you may have on the product will | | | | get us into the doors of big box stores in order |
| be voided. | | | | to buy those extended warranties computer |
| Although you might expect a keyboard's touch to | | | | manufactures cannot justify the costs of these |
| be directly related to its switch technology, this is | | | | types of keyboards for in addition to the cost the |
| not always the case. Keyboards with mechanical | | | | time span of a keyboard needed is not great |
| switches tend to have the positive "clicky" feel | | | | since the life span of a computer is relatively very |
| and touch that you would expect, but keyboards | | | | short . |
| that use the newer capacitive and capacitive | | | | This mechanical switch is what gives these older |
| rubber dome or membrane technology are not | | | | keyboards such as the venerable IBM "Clicky |
| always mushy as you might expect. | | | | Keyboard" both its distinctive sound and its ultra |
| Mechanical switches were the most popular | | | | reliability and long life expectancy .. Many are |
| technologies in the older higher quality vintage | | | | these vintage keyboards are still in service today |
| keyboards such as the IBM M class " Clicky" | | | | even though the IBM Clicky keyboards have not |
| keyboards . Keyboards that use mechanical | | | | been manufactured by IBM since the mid 1990's . |
| switches tended to have a positive tactile touch , | | | | Even though the Clicks are much more expensive |
| which is produced by the spring tension used to | | | | to ship due to their wight and heavy metal |
| return the key . These keyboards thus generated | | | | content , the Clicks command a premium price on |
| an audible click as opposed to now more common | | | | eBay sales. Professionals who depend on their |
| silent electronic capacitive keyboards that we | | | | keyboards such as executive secretaries and |
| take for granted today in our " silent effective | | | | court reporters still use these models as a |
| offices". Hence the IBM M Class keyboard has the | | | | preference. |
| nickname "Clicky Keyboard." | | | | |