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Author Topic: epson f style compact, brown alps?  (Read 2503 times)

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Offline chimera15

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  • Posts: 1441
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 01:15:18 »
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290319263773&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:Watchlink:middle:us

Brown alps sliders??? Not sure I've ever seen those before....really getting the bidders and price out up on it.  The price is pretty amazing considering it might be an xt keyboard and need a rare expensive adapter, or be worthless on a modern system.
« Last Edit: Wed, 27 May 2009, 01:19:06 by chimera15 »
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 03:11:36 »
You can always build an adapter yourself for cheap.

Edit: Looks like kbdbabel is currently broken.
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Offline chimera15

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  • Posts: 1441
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 04:12:31 »
I looked at schematics when I was looking to do this with an f type xt I had, it looked nearly impossible to me.  Once you build the converter you have to program the chip, if you can even find it.  Pretty difficult.
Clicky keyboards occasionally has them for $150+ or something insane.
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

Offline sandy55

  • Posts: 201
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 08:44:31 »
Most likely the board might be made by Gold Star ALPS Korea.  I know two variations .  One was branded  as  BIOS Express and the other was Silent Partner BIOS, both models have ALPS Blues.  Probably Gold Star made same board but with  browns for EPSON America.
Dunno if those browns are exactly same with these rare old tactile browns or they are  just usual  ALPS tactile switches with uncommon brown colored stem.

For BIOS EXP board, see here.
Silent Partner board is not available at on-line web pages unfortunately.

Both BIOS EXP and Silent Partner boards are AT compatible but dislike some mother boards. Can't be used via AT/USB adapters. this does not mean said EPSON board is also  AT compatible. .....but, the key layout is AT84  style.
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Offline ch_123

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epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 11:06:00 »
You could always take the Brown alps out and put them into an AT101 or the like.
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 11:10:50 »
Quote from: ch_123;92929
You could always take the Brown alps out and put them into an AT101 or the like.

Looking at the pics Sandy linked to, I don't think you'll get much benefit/change from putting those browns in a Dell. To me, the browns look like they would be similar in feel to the blacks (basically, tactile with no click). The browns look a little different in construction to later Alps (no need for an extended simplified/complicated/real/fake discussion... please?), but the general concept looks similar to the blacks (short of looking at force curves and such).
 
Thanks, again, Sandy for your input.  We miss you and Chloe. :)
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Offline chimera15

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  • Posts: 1441
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 11:30:11 »
The seller contacted me, he said the keys weren't clicky, which is interesting.  He also said that collectors are really going insane over them, and they've been selling for over $300.  Pretty amazing, he confirmed that it's a a non clicky, xt, that can't even be used on a modern system without an adapter.  Do these people know siig minitouch's exist? lol
« Last Edit: Wed, 27 May 2009, 11:33:16 by chimera15 »
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 12:30:28 »
Are these collectors located in Asia? Otherwise, why are they not here?
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Offline chimera15

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 1441
epson f style compact, brown alps?
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 27 May 2009, 12:30:32 »
Quote from: ripster;92938
He's got a key macro that types that out.

Scarry Garcia has one that says "it's a hacker keyboard"


lol
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Alps boards:
white real complicated: 1x modified siiig minitouch kb1903,  hhkb light2 english steampunk hack, wireless siig minitouch hack
white with rubber damper(cream)+clicky springs: 2x modified siig minitouch kb1903 1x modified siig minitouch kb1948
white fake simplified:   1x white smk-85, 1x Steampunk compact board hack
white real simplified: 1x unitek k-258
low profile: 1x mint m1242 in box
black: ultra mini wrist keyboard hack
blue: Japanese hhk2 lite hack, 1x siig minitouch pcb/doubleshot dc-2014 caps. kb1903, 1x modified kb1948 Siig minitouch
rainbow test boards:  mck-84sx

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