Are you old enough to remember the 80's? As a matter of fact, I am not. But what if you long to experience the heyday of mechanical keyboards? UniComp's new M model may change that perception. It offers a classic typing experience while providing the usual comforts such as Rocklight and Windows keys.

Now, things are not as simple as they seem. Unicomp is not some hasty startup that makes revised versions of old keyboards. That's right. They are made up of old IBM and Lexmark employees who, over the past 15 years, have been building modernized IBM Model M boards in Lexington, Kentucky, using molds nearly identical to the originals.

In other words, this is not just a modernized keyboard, but a faithful sequel to the original IBM Model M, which was the PC's companion from the mid-80s to the late 90s. In other words, it has a buckling spring inside. For those unfamiliar, a buckling spring switch is exactly what it sounds like: when the user pushes down on the spring, the spring buckles and the input is sent through the wires to the computer. This takes the meaning of mechanical to a whole other level.

What this brings, however, is pure typing heaven. The keypress has an incredible weight to it that can only be a sign of a well-made product, and the clicks that come with it are like a dream. Yes, the keypress is heavy, and your fingers may get tired after prolonged use, but it is worth the pain of the initial adjustment because you get the best typing experience money can buy.

The NewM is made of an incredibly tough black plastic frame, and the sublimated PBT keycaps are the best currently offered; the IBM Pureist is not a two-piece cap like some original models, so this One might argue that the Unicomp model is dishonest, but in the grand scheme of things, that is not my concern.

Inside, there is a huge mass of riveted steel supporting the New M, giving it a frightening weight that won't go anywhere when placed on a desk.

On the back side, there are convenient flip-out feet that help lift the board to a more comfortable typing angle. Unicomp has taken care to make this as thick as the keyboard itself, but note that if you want to move the New M, you will need to hold the feet as they do not snap into place easily.

The only problem I have with the New M's design is the Unicomp logo in the upper right corner, which looks a bit cheap, especially compared to the old square-label Ms, which placed the logo in the upper left corner to look business class. After all, IBM stands for "International Business Machines."

Truth be told, however, the whole package seems worth the asking price of about $104 (£130). The original Model Ms and its predecessor, the Model F, were renowned for having some of the best construction of their time, and this has been constantly re-evaluated during this period. These keyboards appeared at a time when owning a PC was not simply a matter of going to the store and buying the cheapest one. They belonged to a time when manufacturers paid attention to every element of the manufacturing process, even to the peripherals that came with it.

Of course, this is first and foremost a board for typists. While it is possible to play games on this American behemoth, it is not recommended. Key presses are a bit too heavy for the snappy response times required by fast-paced games. It is also not suited for customization enthusiasts. The Unicomp store sells different keycaps custom-made for the Geekhack forums, but otherwise it will be a head scratcher.

As a hardware reviewer, when you find a great product, there's nothing like it being instantly unplugged, boxed up, and forgotten in the cupboard the moment you finish typing. Unicomp's new Model M is a board that has been sitting on my desk for nearly a month and will be on my desk for the foreseeable future.