[IC] ALPS ansi key cap set (07-25 update)

[Matt3o]

here you have it... lovely!

[alaricljs]

Needs more space bar.

[phetto]

But still, these would have those off size long key right?

Haven't been around much but would the GON mx mini case work with the alps pcb?

If it does, I don't think that the off size keycaps matter much, since the case is open. 

Anyway, I would like to get in on this if keycaps for the mx mini layout will be provided, and doesn't have to use weird caps on the right side, like people have been using the numpad keycaps and whatnot.

Why not make these keycaps, to the right say something else, as a addon for mx minis.

Would appreciate if you would look in to it, Calavera.


Edit: didn't see that it was DCS profile, thought it was SPH for some reason.

[bupsthename]

Always interested in alps.

[Techno Trousers]

Yeah I'd go BDH/GC, looks sweet.

+1 for me in this color combo, too. Darn it, just when I thought I'd slow down on kbd-related spending,  temptation strikes again.

[alaricljs]

Cherry MX plates do not work with alps switches.

[Techno Trousers]

I'm new to multicolored sets GBs. Would the function keys be all one color like the Mock-up, or would it go blue-gray-blue in groups, or would it come with both colors? I'm partial to the traditional alternating F key colors myself.

[UniClown]

BDH/GC mock up.

Show Image

Gonna work on a dolch theme now.

I would like grey alphas and blue mods better.

http://lab.cubiq.org/kbcc/#GC,WA,BDH,WA

[calavera]

Man I'm having too much fun with this. Here are two more.






Anyways, we are moving forward with combo stabs. As it turns out, SP cannot do alps stab mounts.

[Matt3o]

OMG! OMG!

I take 100 of GTF+GC!!!!!!

C'mon guys there's no game that combo kicks serious asses

[Sai]

OMG! OMG!

I take 100 of GTF+GC!!!!!!

C'mon guys there's no game that combo kicks serious asses

+1

[calavera]

reverse dolch with yellow fonts



Alright I'm gonna stop here. I think we have some very good choices already lol

[Sai]

i would like to see orange on charcoal set.  )

[Matt3o]

Stop prototyping, we already picked GTF+GC

[calavera]

While I was messing around in illustrator I realized I was just using the capslock and backspace logo from the raindrop set. Not sure if people want just the logos (which would mean eliminating the word 'shift' on the shift keys) or actual wording?

[calavera]

Stop prototyping, we already picked GTF+GC

lol by 'we' you mean you and Sai.

[Matt3o]

Stop prototyping, we already picked GTF+GC

lol by 'we' you mean you and Sai.

we, of course

[calavera]

But still, these would have those off size long key right?

Haven't been around much but would the GON mx mini case work with the alps pcb?

If it does, I don't think that the off size keycaps matter much, since the case is open. 

Anyway, I would like to get in on this if keycaps for the mx mini layout will be provided, and doesn't have to use weird caps on the right side, like people have been using the numpad keycaps and whatnot.

Why not make these keycaps, to the right say something else, as a addon for mx minis.

Would appreciate if you would look in to it, Calavera.


Edit: didn't see that it was DCS profile, thought it was SPH for some reason.

I'm planning on including 4 keys for the MX mini layout and will probably be included in the tsangan kit.

[SpAmRaY]

reverse dolch with yellow fonts

Show Image

Alright I'm gonna stop here. I think we have some very good choices already lol

As someone who doesn't even own and alps board, I want these so bad!! ;)

[bueller]

Man I'm having too much fun with this. Here are two more.

Show Image

Show Image

Anyways, we are moving forward with combo stabs. As it turns out, SP cannot do alps stab mounts.

Only thing that worries me about these designs is that the text may be a little bit too low contrast to stand out. Don't want to have it be a repeat of Round 4 Retro, there's a heated discussion going on over at DT about it now.

[Batmann]

GTF/GC is really nice

As for BDH/GC I find BDH too dark, almost as strong as GC which kills the contrast between the 2 tones and makes for a rather "heavy set".
A lighter blue like BFP would be neat.

Well at least judging by the mockups, real keyset might look different

[calavera]

The mock up pictures will never be accurate. I'm doing color pick from the calibrated scanned samples but that's the best I can do.
Here are the colors I used. They look better this way than the mock up pics.

[DamnDan]

OMG! These look awesome! Will they fit AT101W? If yes then depending on price i might be interested O,o Wow...just Wow. Finally!

[Batmann]

Krogenar did an awesome job with these HD scans

[terrpn]

gtf/gc............where do i sign?

let's do this

finally some love for us alps folks

[terrpn]

While I was messing around in illustrator I realized I was just using the capslock and backspace logo from the raindrop set. Not sure if people want just the logos (which would mean eliminating the word 'shift' on the shift keys) or actual wording?

yes...............to the "capslock" and "backspace" logo

[Matt3o]

In case you still need it, this should be the list of ABS colors after calibration:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45743.msg963937#msg963937

[Tarzan]

While I was messing around in illustrator I realized I was just using the capslock and backspace logo from the raindrop set. Not sure if people want just the logos (which would mean eliminating the word 'shift' on the shift keys) or actual wording?

yes...............to the "capslock" and "backspace" logo

My vote is for logos.

[Batmann]

I like text better
I guess I like it classic!

[calavera]

In case you still need it, this should be the list of ABS colors after calibration:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45743.msg963937#msg963937

Thanks, hopefully we can get the mock up pics as close as possible to the real thing...

[terrpn]

just curious..............a lot of us have many of the old alps boards with the big honking enter key, short back space

whats the chance of maybe getting something like that made...............even blank if nothing else?

[calavera]

1x back space and 1x \| key shouldn't be a problem, but I doubt a big ass enter key is possible. I don't think I've ever seen SP make them.

[terrpn]

1x back space and 1x \| key shouldn't be a problem, but I doubt a big ass enter key is possible. I don't think I've ever seen SP make them.

that's cool............just those would be great if nothing else

[Matt3o]

I don't think I've ever seen SP make them.

they should have them available in DCS with cherry mounts, don't know about ALPS.

[Nick Lee]

interested

[calavera]

Are all big ass enter stems standardized with alps? Don't they have a total of 6 stems and two stabilizers?

[pasph]

standardized? Alps? )

[terrpn]

so what are your thoughts in trying to get this moving forward?

are you or most people considering this buy for newer tkl alps boards "and/or" the older 101/104 boards like dell 101's and then i am guessing the majority, the rest with the big honking enter key, 1x backspace, etc.?

we have kicked around an alps GB quite a few times, so am hopeful..........

kudo's for grabbing the bull by the horns and trying to gather interest and hopefully a GB.

[calavera]

Currently waiting for SP to get back to me regarding the big ass Enter key. But I'm kind of leaning towards just a standard ANSI set as proposed originally. Once it is determined exactly what key caps are offered in the three sets, we will move to GB/ordering stage.

Meanwhile I'm just trying different color combinations to find the right balance for best readability.

I think people who are interested in this GB will get in on it no matter what color is chosen.

[Krogenar]

I would go for higher contrast (and better retro fidelity)

Recently Krogenar scanned the color ring and we finally have some decently calibrated pictures.

I think BFP is a great choice

(Attachment Link)

Do you have a link to the calibrated scans?

I don't think links are available to the calibrated scans (those are Matt's) but the raw scans (TIFF files) and JPEGs can be found here:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45743.msg958898#msg958898

Looks like a great potential GB -- ALPS deserved some attention.

[terrpn]

Currently waiting for SP to get back to me regarding the big ass Enter key. But I'm kind of leaning towards just a standard ANSI set as proposed originally. Once it is determined exactly what key caps are offered in the three sets, we will move to GB/ordering stage.

Meanwhile I'm just trying different color combinations to find the right balance for best readability.

I think people who are interested in this GB will get in on it no matter what color is chosen.

sounds like a plan.

thanks for checking on the big enter key..........

regardless i am excited to see this taking off and finally us alps people get some love!

thanks for doing this!

colors are looking

watch alps board start getting sucked up after this thing happens

[CPTBadAss]

There's at least 2 custom Alps projects going on right now. And I thought I knew of a third one. Calavera has his MX Mini layout Alps project and JD/Myself/Photekq/TheFlyingRaccoon are working on a TKL design. I believe Calavera started this buy for his project but I think this will be good for the TKL design. More info can be found in mine and Calavera's signature.

[terrpn]

There's at least 2 custom Alps projects going on right now. And I thought I knew of a third one. Calavera has his MX Mini layout Alps project and JD/Myself/Photekq/TheFlyingRaccoon are working on a TKL design. I believe Calavera started this buy for his project but I think this will be good for the TKL design. More info can be found in mine and Calavera's signature.

right and thanks for the heads-up........... maybe i discounted this buy somewhat as to be directly related with his new tkl board

on another note those of us that are fond of some of the old alps boards would sure like to hop along for the ride and maybe help punch this thing through. i would love to pimp my old dell at101 and based on those that i see that have one i would think should the opportunity present itself they would also.

larger audience too.......

is this a "first" for alps?

[alaricljs]

The biggest difficulty with "vintage" Alps boards is the wide range of variation in layout and stabilizer stem type.  It's part of why there has been no full Alps GB before.

[terrpn]

 

The biggest difficulty with "vintage" Alps boards is the wide range of variation in layout and stabilizer stem type.  It's part of why there has been no full Alps GB before.

i would agree............mine are all over the place

so sticking with the "ansi" layout will still enable say a vintage dell 101 owner to do a full spread- providing there will be a tsangan and num pad to be available?

not sure about the space bar though?

[Matt3o]

I think people who are interested in this GB will get in on it no matter what color is chosen.

not really .... oooh okay, you are right!

the Symbolics combo is still the best and pleeeease unbranded winkey

[calavera]

The biggest difficulty with "vintage" Alps boards is the wide range of variation in layout and stabilizer stem type.  It's part of why there has been no full Alps GB before.

Yup. What I've been doing in the meantime:




Comparing stem locations and compatibility.
(Dell 101 winkey, SGI Granite and some other alps sets) I wish I had more to compare but from what I have:

• Numpad: all stem locations are the same. No problems.
• Backspace, 2.25x shift: Alps stems are closer to side wall but overlap with MX stem locations. The stab wires will still fit.
• 2.75x shift: Alps stems are closer to side wall. (if SP can add extra stems then problem solved)
• 7x spacebar: Alps stems are closer to center stem. (if SP can add extra stems then problem solved)
• 6.25x spacebar: alps stems are one stem size closer to side wall. (there's not enough room for extra stem space)

Going to wait for SP to respond about the extra stems. We'll see what happens.

[___q]

I think people who are interested in this GB will get in on it no matter what color is chosen.

not really .... oooh okay, you are right!

the Symbolics combo is still the best and pleeeease unbranded winkey

Completely agreed, that color scheme is great.

[Binge]

I support this +1,000%

[Hak Foo]

I'd argue that we should target the Ducky XM boards, the Filco Zero, and possibly the Solidtek ASK-6600 and Matias boards

Why?  They're the "modern" boards.   They're most likely to be consistent and no surprises.  For example, I think the Focus 2001 comes in three layouts-- backslash in bottom row, backslash by right shift, and Winkey+backslash by right shift.

They're also the ones most likely available for people who want to pick up an ALPS board to play.  For them, a default board-- that the set is designed to work with-- is a desirable thing.

Also, do note that some of the newer ALPS boards-- the Ducky and the Solidtek-- use a different stabilization than older ALPS boards-- it's Costar-style stabilizers.