Opinions on future availability of mechanical keyboards

[Clickey]

As you can see in my post number I am a newb to mechs so I just have speculation, but would like to know if collecting NOW is a good way to save money LATER when the only options in mech keyboards are the $150+ ones, because the older cherry/BS keyboards will be rarer and rarer as time goes on.

Are modern mech keyboards as good quality, as the old ones, that they will last for decades?

[keyboardlover]

Lol...nice sig quote.

Depends what keyboard you're talking about. Many of the modern ones (just not the Chinese clones) are as good or better quality than older boards.

Filco and Leopold are high quality and they are modern boards. Personally, I think the answer to your question is "no".

[jpc]

Unicomp makes Model Ms cheaper now than IBM did in the 80's. Even though Unicomp probably produces fewer new Model Ms than the world throws out each day... it still doesn't sound like a typical Model M is an investment.

I have the same question about quality. Do topres last, and retain their feel? Google will find anecdotes about people who have used the same Model M for 18 years but no long term stories from topre owners, what's the deal there? Are topres just rare, or have they not been around as long?

[keyb_gr]

Things that aren't made any more won't be available and plentiful forever, just like Model Ms are largely gone from thrift stores nowadays. If you're after certain things that only old boards offer (let's say you want two-tone beige doubleshots, complicated ALPS, NMB Space Invaders oder Montereys), it's probably not a bad idea to stock up while you can. There is no reason for prices to go down.

It's probably not a smart idea to stock up on Model Ms unless you're a collector, since Unicomps make a good functional equivalent that can be bought new at a reasonable price.