i have a Unicomp ps2 keyboard that I’ve been using for about 25 years that seems to be nearing the end of its service life. it gave me a scare a few years back so i bought a cherry mx board as a backup but the thing gave me doublestrikes all the time so that’s not a long-term solution for my next iteration. considering going for another unicomp since i like the chonkyness of it. i always think about a keyboard i encountered back in the 90s that had a special MACRO section onboard, and the old SIIG ALPS keyswitch keyboards. anyone used one of those new-fangled optical keyswitch boards?
it’s surprising to me that the usb unicomps have lag, thats disappointing because that was my first choice but that warns me off them.
The lag is unfortunate on the USB version. They’re already loud and fairly high activation force; when you add in the latency, the experience of them is pretty different than sitting down in front of a real IBM Model M and a DOS machine (with PS2); like they are far more dramatic than they really are.
It took me a year or so so using the USB version (and occasionally going back and trying them again and again because I like the key feel) before I decided the latency was too much for me.
My memory of the PS2 versions is they have no lag whatsoever. If you have a computer with PS2 you can try it; or you can try a PS2->USB converter, as well. I bet different converters have better latency than the stock electronics.