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.
I got the “unicomp model M” from KeyboardCo circa 2019 and it was a huge piece of shit, least reliable thing I ever used, apart from the buckling spring switches which felt great it was just the cheapest piece of junk and it worked for like 2 months before breaking. Avoid them.
My longest lasting mechanical keyboard was the Vortex Cypher 65% with Cherry MX Clear switches. Lasted several years, not even an old school Ducky usually did.
Right now I’m using a Ducky One 3 Daybreak SF 65% with Cherry MX Blue switches and it’s holding along fine. I also bought a random keyboard on AliExpress for like $50 and was really shocked with the good quality. It was a Yunzii X71 68% with some mystery “Crystal switch”, I only got it because it looked neat, I didn’t even know it was mechanical, shame about the ugly ANSI layout though, I can’t stand not having tilde next to CR when using Linux.
I’m told Unicomp has finally rebuilt all the tooling and the keyboards are good again. When you got in 2019 was from a worn out assembly line and would have problems. If you like the keyboard a new one is apparently good again.
Thanks for letting me know. Shame it’s only in black which kinda kills the point