I’m less interested in Unicomp/IBM’s novel buckling spring technology (as cool as it is) and more that they’re built well, are corded and not wireless, offer replacement parts on their website, and have a mail-in repair service.
Unicomp’s Model M keyboard was my first choice for a long-lasting keyboard, but now I want to lessen my dependence on American-made companies (especially since Unicomp is based in Kentucky) and wanted to see if any alternatives existed. I’ve heard good things about Cherry, but I don’t fully understand their business model or how to order their products.
FYI, the Matias boards that use the Alps style switch are fantastic to type on, but unfortunately during my research when buying a good mechanical keyboard, I found that Matias switches do not have the durability of the older real Alps switches, with many developing hysteresis in some switches pretty frequently.
Those switches can be replaced with a soldering iron, but overall they don’t appear to be as reliable as MX style switches, nor do they offer the same ease of switch replacement as hot-swappable MX switch boards do.
Yeah, I’ve never used one myself — please don’t take it as an endorsement on that front. I was just trying to think of a Western keyboard company.
I also subscribe to [email protected], and OP could try them.
Somehow I missed the EU/Canadian requirement in OP’s title 🤦♂️
From a Chyrosran22 video on the Matias TactilePro, I was able to spy from the label on the back that they are now made in China, unfortunately.
Ah, good investigation. I looked on their website and couldn’t find anything (though that might have said something…companies that do domestic manufacturing tend to trumpet the fact).