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Looking up the driver info in Linux, it appears to be manufactured by Lite-on, who do indeed still manufacture Thinkpad parts for Lenovo. [...]

Looking up the driver info in Linux, it appears to be manufactured by Lite-on, who do indeed still manufacture Thinkpad parts for Lenovo. [...] So perhaps that's it: IBM is still making Thinkpad-style keyboards for its rack- mounted servers, possibly only in China. I'm confused: how does Lite-on == IBM?

smackfu 11y ago
They have the IBM logo on the back. You would expect Thinkpad-style keyboards manufactured in 2014 to have only Lenovo logos.
theandrewbailey 11y ago
IBM might not have the equipment to produce simple low margin parts like keyboards, so it contracts out to a high volume peripheral manufacturer.
- throwaway7767 11y ago
  The ThinkPad keyboards were indeed made by different manufacturers. When I needed a replacement for my old ThinkPad, there were 3 different FRUs depending on the source manufacturer (ALPS, NMB and Chicony). They each had a different typing feel (one was too mushy for me, another one had about the right amount of tactile feedback and I never got to try the third one).
papercrane 11y ago
Manufactured by Lite-on for IBM, but the arrangement is quite common. For example, Foxconn manufactures all current generation consoles, but we still say "Microsoft makes the Xbox One."
- joezydeco 11y ago
  Lite-on also builds the power supply for the 4th gen AppleTV... https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JZCBHisKVpM6G1eN.huge https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JZCBHisKVpM6G1eN.h...
  - dclowd9901 11y ago
    They also used to build the shit out of CD-ROM drives; didn't seem to matter which company sold the drive -- it was almost invariable a Lite-On drive.
- kayfox 11y ago
  Mitsumi still manufactures a large portion of Nintendo's product.
corin_ 11y ago
Every time he says "makes" about IBM, read "commissions" or "sells", as in they are officially IBM branded. The same way that you'd say Lenovo sell ThinkPad keyboards even if they are made by Lite-on.

smackfu 11y ago

They have the IBM logo on the back. You would expect Thinkpad-style keyboards manufactured in 2014 to have only Lenovo logos.

theandrewbailey 11y ago

IBM might not have the equipment to produce simple low margin parts like keyboards, so it contracts out to a high volume peripheral manufacturer.

throwaway7767 11y ago
The ThinkPad keyboards were indeed made by different manufacturers. When I needed a replacement for my old ThinkPad, there were 3 different FRUs depending on the source manufacturer (ALPS, NMB and Chicony). They each had a different typing feel (one was too mushy for me, another one had about the right amount of tactile feedback and I never got to try the third one).

papercrane 11y ago

Manufactured by Lite-on for IBM, but the arrangement is quite common. For example, Foxconn manufactures all current generation consoles, but we still say "Microsoft makes the Xbox One."

joezydeco 11y ago
Lite-on also builds the power supply for the 4th gen AppleTV... https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JZCBHisKVpM6G1eN.huge https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JZCBHisKVpM6G1eN.h...
- dclowd9901 11y ago
  They also used to build the shit out of CD-ROM drives; didn't seem to matter which company sold the drive -- it was almost invariable a Lite-On drive.
kayfox 11y ago
Mitsumi still manufactures a large portion of Nintendo's product.

corin_ 11y ago

Every time he says "makes" about IBM, read "commissions" or "sells", as in they are officially IBM branded. The same way that you'd say Lenovo sell ThinkPad keyboards even if they are made by Lite-on.