One of the side projects that’s been consuming my little remaining free time is the new PC I built for myself. That’s another post for another day, but when you build a machine with brand-new, not-yet-supported hardware and you plan to run a relatively obscure open-source operating system on it, you can expect to spend some time tossing patches back and forth with developers, compiling custom kernels, filing and following up on bug reports, etc. It’s been time-consuming but fun, and other people will benefit from the work as this hardware gets more common.

All I really wanted to do today is show off my fancy new keyboard, a custom Unicomp Endurapro. What the hell is that? Well, it’s basically an updated IBM Model M keyboard, equipped with a ThinkPad-syle Trackpoint and a USB connector. If you don’t know what makes Model Ms special, go read Marko’s ode to the One True Keyboard.

Mine’s a little different; see if you can figure out why:

Yeah, the nice folks at Unicomp were kind enough to build me a custom keyboard with blank black keys. Not only were they willing and able to indulge my eccentricity, they did it FAST. I called them on the 22nd, they built and shipped my keyboard the very next day:

And yes, it’s the One True Keyboard. Big, heavy, solid, clicky, and really, really easy to type on. As a longtime ThinkPad user I love having the TrackPoint on there. I’ll still probably keep a mouse on my desk for the occasional game, but 95% of the time a TrackPoint is faster and more convenient since there’s no need to move your hand from keyboard to mouse and back.

Unicomps aren’t cheap, but they’re high-quality, made in America, and backed by excellent customer service. Recommended.