deskthority

I am on the lookout for purchasing a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Does not have to be top-notch, but I need them to be manufactured in Europe, Japan or US. Turns out to be a real challenge! All I am now aware of are the HHKbs, do you know of any others?

Do you have any suggestions?

Regards,
Cristian

Wireless but not Made in China? That’s a tough combo!

There’s the whole wide world of great vintage boards to choose from: made in Germany, Japan and USA. And there’s still American made Unicomp, too. But wireless? Nope. That alone kills it. Forces you to modern, and as we all know the modern world has its knickers around its ankles while The Brutalised Peoples Republic of China gets all the action.

Give vintage a chance!

As far as actual origin for components, PCB, etc. you're pretty much out of luck. If you just count place of final assembly as origin then you could always put together a kit in your preferred country.

ZMK boards are the hip new thing as far as wireless go. Ploopy mice are a good option if you can forgo wireless.

Thank you for the suggestions. Well, HHKB is both wireless and made in Japan. As I am not an expert and still came across it, I imagine a specialized forum would be able to pop up more like this.

I know about kits, but I am really looking at buying ready-made. And wireless.

Cristian

There is specialised and then there is alternate history! You are facing a true paradox: In modern times China is everywhere, wireless keyboards only exist in modern times. Well, unless you want to really be extreme and go PCjr! Infrared is wireless too!

Forget the HHKB if you also wish to avoid Chinese components. As much as I love Topre, no one avoids Chinese parts now. Essentially, you just can’t. We are all part of the problem.

I know I cannot completely avoid some Chinese parts inside a product. But I want a keyboard on which it is written ''Made in...'' ... somewhere else than China. And I thought Topre switches are made in Japan, similar to MX switches being made in Germany. Is that not the case?

Cristian

Topre’s aren’t switches.

Muirium wrote: 19 May 2022, 09:23 Topre’s aren’t switches.

You said it

This is where I have first heard about "Topre switch":

wiki/Topre_switch

Or were you just sarcastic about them?

Cristian

brumbarchris wrote: 19 May 2022, 06:48 I know I cannot completely avoid some Chinese parts inside a product. But I want a keyboard on which it is written ''Made in...'' ... somewhere else than China. And I thought Topre switches are made in Japan, similar to MX switches being made in Germany. Is that not the case?

Cristian

At least with some Topre models, they manufactured parts in China. The Type Heaven, first gen FC660C, and Novatouch if I'm not mistaken.

jsheradin wrote: 18 May 2022, 15:02 As far as actual origin for components, PCB, etc. you're pretty much out of luck. If you just count place of final assembly as origin then you could always put together a kit in your preferred country.

ZMK boards are the hip new thing as far as wireless go. Ploopy mice are a good option if you can forgo wireless.

The Ploopy is Canadian. Shouldn't ZMK be called, at most, an instruction set? In any event, lots of different controllers can use ZMK and they're not necessarily US-made.

I think that all MX-compatible switches are not of US origin. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You always could by an old IBM Model M (although some were made in Ireland) and get a Bluetooth mod. I don't know if there are any Bluetooth mods for the Model F. The Unicomps are only assembled in the US.

spent too much time seeing if there are any wireless mice made in the US. Looks like your answer is "no."

derp

davkol wrote: 21 May 2022, 01:03

brumbarchris wrote: 19 May 2022, 06:48 But I want a keyboard on which it is written ''Made in...'' ... somewhere else than China.

Why? Chauvinism aside.

Seen what’s happening in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong? Xi’s China is a brutal, totalitarian police state with as much contempt for its neighbours as Putin’s Russia. Every Chinese product you buy is supporting him in that enterprise, just like every Russian made product you purchase supports Putin’s massacres in Ukraine. Every little, sadly, helps.

We’re not talking about boycotting Belgium or Canada here. Avoiding all that blood on your hands is perfectly fair choice to make, whenever you can.

Why? Chauvinism aside.

I want to help reduce dependency on China, whereas still pursuing my goal of having a wireless keyboard.

But yeah, it seems this is the way to go: get a wired keyboard and then add a Bluetooth mod. I will investigate.

Cristian

derp

Yeah, I know where you’re coming from. I did answer the question though. Boycotting China is hardly a “chauvinist” thing. China’s pretty fucking chauvinist now itself!

Taiwan, meanwhile is not China. That whole thing was pure Kuomintang, who you also addressed. Their claim on all China is self evidently nonsense.

derp

Feel free to start a new thread about boycotting USA made products, Should be a lot easier actually!

Taiwan isn’t China. Seriously.

derp

Are there even any modern switches that AREN'T made in China? It seems like all of the mx clones come from there...Gateron, Oetemu, etc. At one time I thought that Kaihl was from Tawain and then I found it it was from China.

Well, by now I think the safe thing to do is to buy one of these wired Cherry boards labeled as ''Made in Europe'' (I guess that would be the Czech republic, as a country) and then go for a custom Bluetooth solution, maybe based on some of these nRF ICs from NordicSemiconductors.

But od course, this means a lot of time invested, not just money.

Cristian

Well, tilting at windmills is one way to invest your energy, I suppose.

brumbarchris wrote: 19 May 2022, 11:51

Muirium wrote: 19 May 2022, 09:23 Topre’s aren’t switches.

Or were you just sarcastic about them?

My two favourite varieties of all keyboards are Topre and IBM Model F. They are by far and away my most used and enjoyed. But here’s the thing: neither Model F nor Topre are switches! They aren’t discrete modules you install separately, they don’t have pins or diodes. They’re both semi-modular, all held together by plates. Open up the plates and you’re inside all the “switches”:



So technically, I was pedantically correct. Just my style!

I’ve nothing against the concept of discrete switch modularity. I’ve just never found any such switches that reach the same dizzying heights of oneness as Topre and Model F. The ends justify the means.

"Technically correct" is the best kind of correct.