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new keyboards

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2024 4:13 pm
by T410
are the Chinese keyboards flooding ebay any good?

Re: new keyboards

Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 10:13 pm
by luckyholiday
Some Chinese keyboards on eBay are good, especially brands like Keychron, Akko, or Redragon. Cheaper options may lack durability or consistent quality. Check reviews, build materials, and switch type before buying. 😊

Re: new keyboards

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 2:12 am
by RealBlackStuff
OP actually meant: Chinese keyboards for Thinkpad laptops, not mechanical keyboards.

Re: new keyboards

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 4:56 pm
by T410
RealBlackStuff wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2025 2:12 am
OP actually meant: Chinese keyboards for Thinkpad laptops, not mechanical keyboards.
Yes, that's correct. And I'm still looking, but now I think I will put it on my T430 because I feel like my life as a T410 user must finally come to an end, and I have a 430 that's been sitting around for years. But I still want the 410 keyboard. Looking at these, seem to have pretty decent reviews. https://www.amazon.com/SUNMALL-Keyboard ... B01K79VI5E?

Anyone here used them?

Re: new keyboards

Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2025 12:37 pm
by TitoLabieno
Thinkpad keyboards are a lottery in stores like Amazon. I have been lucky using eBay and Aliexpress. You need to make sure the keyboard layout is the one which corresponds to the FRU number, so it is quite important to ask the seller for photos.
Common issue: Some stores "refurbish" keyboards. They buy keyboards no one buys (weird distributions) and repaint or replace keys so that they fit a more common distribution (some that people will actually buy). So if you find a keyboard with a FRU that doesn't match the layout, you are getting one of those "refurbished" keyboards. Avoid that.

Re: new keyboards

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 11:26 am
by T410
TitoLabieno wrote:
Tue Aug 05, 2025 12:37 pm
Thinkpad keyboards are a lottery in stores like Amazon. I have been lucky using eBay and Aliexpress. You need to make sure the keyboard layout is the one which corresponds to the FRU number, so it is quite important to ask the seller for photos.
Common issue: Some stores "refurbish" keyboards. They buy keyboards no one buys (weird distributions) and repaint or replace keys so that they fit a more common distribution (some that people will actually buy). So if you find a keyboard with a FRU that doesn't match the layout, you are getting one of those "refurbished" keyboards. Avoid that.
What if its going on a T430? My T410 MOB just died...RIP... not sure I will get another or just succumb to reality that it may be time to move on to my 430, whose keyboard sucks