[aaronbrethorst]

    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?

[papercrane]

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]

Lite-on also builds the power supply for the 4th gen AppleTV...

https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JZCBHisKVpM6G1eN.h...

[dclowd9901]

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]

Mitsumi still manufactures a large portion of Nintendo's product.

[theandrewbailey]

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]

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).

[corin_]

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]

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