Cherry Switch Shortage

[ShakeR]

MX Switches currently available (without any lead time) direct from Cherry Corp: MX Blacks

All others are currently unavailable. (lead times range from 4 - 12 months depending on the switch)

Yes, some producers still have switches from old stock so they can still make keyboards.

This may / will extended release dates of many up-and-coming models.

I won't state too much more on the topic so as not to upset any of our partners, but I did want to give everyone one the heads up in order to cut down on the 'When's XXX coming out?' questions we're getting. Quite frankly, we really don't know.

[Roguemaster8]

Is there a direct reason for the shortage?

[jdcarpe]

Is there a direct reason for the shortage?

Geekhack, Deskthority, KBDmania, OTD.kr

Or maybe...

Sixty, Litster, Megnin, me ...

[The_Beast]

I hope Costar has some reserves, WASD is putting out a TKL board and I NEED IT

[ShakeR]

Is there a direct reason for the shortage?

I would primarily chalk it up to Cherry underestimating demand.

[Roguemaster8]

I can buy that.

I mean after all, who knew noisy keyboards could be so enticing?

[The_Beast]

I've personally seen on other tech forums, just a few members (3-4) talking about how much better mechanical boards are verses rubber domes. I would say 20 more forum members bought mech boards based on what those 3-4 members were talking about

[Roguemaster8]

You'll know when mechanical boards become mainstream when Logitech starts stocking their own.

[hashbaz]

Mechanical keyboards are increasing in popularity.  Cherry has probably seen a spike in demand over the last couple of years.

Maybe they'll pull their heads out and start making doubleshots again... :madgrin:

[OrangeJewce]

I don't know, if you look at the second 7Bit mx switch GB, it's pretty clear There is no stock of pretty much anything for switches right now (Especially PCB mounted). Not Unsurprisingly (and maybe why there is some IC for MX Green boards), the more rare switches (Green and White) have stock available directly from Cherry. Anyways if you want to check out how bad the shortage is, just check out the ETA dates in 7bit's Round 2 switch buy.

Cheers,

[mkawa]

this is ultimately very good. we're making it clear that it's time for manufs to get serious about mech boards again

[hashbaz]

this is ultimately very good. we're making it clear that it's time for manufs to get serious about mech boards again

Yes, I hope Cherry comes to this conclusion.  Imagine a modern plate-mounted keyboard from Cherry that shipped with doubleshots!

[7bit]

Is there a direct reason for the shortage?

Just more demand. There are a lot of new keyboards comming out.

I recommend to pre-order in my switch group buy, because the delivery dates are only valid if ordered now. In early 2013 you might have to wait even longer to get what you want!

-----> Cherry MX <-----

[7bit]

Yes, I hope Cherry comes to this conclusion.  Imagine a modern plate-mounted keyboard from Cherry that shipped with doubleshots!

Why should they? Looking at the G80-3800 it is clear that they don't have real good designers anymore.

We can be glad they still make MX switches. Since they trashed the doubleshot tools, there is no reason to buy a new Cherry keyboard. NIB ones are still available and there are a lot of other manufacturers offering keyboards.

[wupi]

You'll know when mechanical boards become mainstream when Logitech starts stocking their own.

lol exactly.

[mkawa]

logitech would probably roll their own switch. cherry couldn't handle the kinds of volumes they deal in

[OrangeJewce]

logitech would probably roll their own switch. cherry couldn't handle the kinds of volumes they deal in

I bet logitech would be more likely to pair up with Cherry to just massively increase production capacity. I doubt they would start a "standards" war over mechanical keyboards. TBH, I don't think demand has remotely reached that point yet. Membranes are still by far an away the majority of keyboards sold, including ergonomic. Most corporate entities especially don't see any value in supplying workers with loud, clicky, keyboards for over 10x the price. If a corporate PC manufacturer wants to promote mechanical keyboards as a feature of their products, then I could see a new standard emerging. For consumer products, it's unlikely imo.

Cheers,

[mkawa]

interesting pov. i guess we'll have to see what happens.

i definitely see logitech entering the fray soon though. and don't forget microsoft..

[ShakeR]

logitech would probably roll their own switch. cherry couldn't handle the kinds of volumes they deal in

Or if they attempted to handle that kind of volume they might run out of switches...

[Zehkul]

Interesting thought.

and don't forget microsoft..

Microsoft is too focused on doing their own things usually. They want to invent new stuff, not get another mechanical board made by yet again one of the few manufacturers we see so often. I can see Microsoft offering a board with their own switch though.

[mkawa]

Or if they attempted to handle that kind of volume they might run out of switches...

I SEE

sorry shaker, but imma make that explicit for those who didn't catch it. some BIG COMPANY put in a HUGE ORDER with cherry and is eating up the entire factory's capacity for like 6-12 months.

[Roguemaster8]

Hmph, I noticed in those pictures on their Facebook page there were quite a few models being shown off at Computex 2012. Especially Ducky and Cherry.

Those pictures of the Cherry keyboards, none of those were new were they? I also noticed one model being made by Gigabyte, of all companies...

[ShakeR]

Hmph, I noticed in those pictures on their Facebook page there were quite a few models being shown off at Computex 2012. Especially Ducky and Cherry.

Those pictures of the Cherry keyboards, none of those were new were they? I also noticed one model being made by Gigabyte, of all companies...

I don't believe any were new from Cherry.  To be honest, I don't know much about most Cherry models, but none of them stood out as being new other than the slim models using scissor switches.  I know the model with the wood top piece costs around $400 - not sure that's wholesale or retail.

[Djuzuh]

I SEE

sorry shaker, but imma make that explicit for those who didn't catch it. some BIG COMPANY put in a HUGE ORDER with cherry and is eating up the entire factory's capacity for like 6-12 months.

Cherry was talking about a huge order coming from france, as well as a global market demand increase.

Logitech doesn't come from france afaik.

[mkawa]

yah, i may have read more into shaker's post than he meant to impart. pretty cool that we have a cherry guy here now though

[Djuzuh]

Yes !

And he's also on Deskthority, where he sells some stuff too !

[Matias]

Or if they attempted to handle that kind of volume they might run out of switches...

I SEE

sorry shaker, but imma make that explicit for those who didn't catch it. some BIG COMPANY put in a HUGE ORDER with cherry and is eating up the entire factory's capacity for like 6-12 months.

When I was in China last month, word on the street was that Logitech wanted to do a mechanical keyboard and had approached some factories, but that the supply of Cherry switches was already allotted to existing customers, leaving them SOL.

[dorkvader]

When I was in China last month, word on the street was that Logitech wanted to do a mechanical keyboard and had approached some factories, but that the supply of Cherry switches was already allotted to existing customers, leaving them SOL.

Maybe they'll make their own mechanical keyswitches. I'm hoping for magnetic

Most likely, they'll cheap out somehow.

[mkawa]

i'm sure they have marketing people that can sell some slight modification of scissors as "mechanical" and "for gaming"

[Matias]

Maybe they'll make their own mechanical keyswitches. I'm hoping for magnetic

Most likely, they'll cheap out somehow.

Too risky IMO.

The gaming market has decided that Cherry is the standard.  If Logitech goes with something different and gamers don't like it, they may find themselves holding onto a lot of inventory.

They already got burned that way by GoogleTV.  I doubt they'd want to risk it happening again.

[mkawa]

i though that was just because of availability and the number of available designs? i definitely have a number if gamer friends who don't like any cherry switched

[Zehkul]

Still, own switch technology is more something that would suit to Microsoft. Logitech sells rather conservative stuff that they know will sell.

[ShakeR]

Too risky IMO.

The gaming market has decided that Cherry is the standard.  If Logitech goes with something different and gamers don't like it, they may find themselves holding onto a lot of inventory.

Agreed.

They already got burned that way by GoogleTV.  I doubt they'd want to risk it happening again.

Link?

i though that was just because of availability and the number of available designs? i definitely have a number if gamer friends who don't like any cherry switched

Your opinions on a viable Cherry alternative outside of Topre?

[WRXChris]

Link?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57322966-93/logitech-confesses-to-gigantic-mistake-with-google-tv/

[OrangeJewce]

Cnet? Really? :twitch:

Cheers,

[WRXChris]

Cnet? Really? :twitch:

Cheers,

you're welcome to link to a more worthy site.  I'm on my tablet; sometimes the first google search result is easiest.. Anyways, back on topic.

[ShakeR]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57322966-93/logitech-confesses-to-gigantic-mistake-with-google-tv/

Ouch. I cry when I send out a $360 order to a con artist in Vietnam.  Can't imagine a $100 million mistake...

I think you have very valid point in relating this to Logitech's hesitance to enter the Mechanical Keyboard market.  They've got cold feet. 2013 could be the foot warmer though

[Matias]

Ouch. I cry when I send out a $360 order to a con artist in Vietnam.  Can't imagine a $100 million mistake...

And you still have your job -- which is more than former Logitech CEO Guerrino De Luca can say, since he lost his over this mistake.

I think you have very valid point in relating this to Logitech's hesitance to enter the Mechanical Keyboard market.  They've got cold feet. 2013 could be the foot warmer though

2013 could be worse.  Germany is sinking the European economy, which is one of Logitech's major markets.  2013 could be very ugly indeed.

[TexasFlood]

And you still have your job -- which is more than former Logitech CEO Guerrino De Luca can say, since he lost his over this mistake.

Don't such executives who screw up and lose their jobs also typically take millions with them out the door?

Forgive me if I don't cry for them. Maybe I'm jealous of these golden parachutes but just seems wrong.

[Matias]

Don't know if that happened in this case.

The tides seem to be slowly turning on those sorts of deals.