Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped

[ander]

This seems like a good deal on a clean, tested Dell AT-101W (Alps black switches).

[chyros]

Could be a great starter board for someone .

[ander]

Compared to something that costs a lot more than $30, you mean. Well, yuh.

[fohat.digs]

These are great-feeling, solid keyboards.

The thing to do is to get a set of fresh new Matias switches and transplant them into the Dell chassis.

[chyros]

Compared to something that costs a lot more than $30, you mean. Well, yuh.

Well tbh I think if people started off on Alps rather than automatically going to Cherries like virtually everyone, very few people would END with Cherry switches xD .

[False_Dmitry_II]

I agree with that. People buy them because they are popular, and they are popular and everywhere on the market because people buy them.

[Tyrosh22]

But where did it start?

[Touch_It]

These are great-feeling, solid keyboards.

The thing to do is to get a set of fresh new Matias switches and transplant them into the Dell chassis.

I did this.  Feels really good.  My end key decided not to work though .  Also Dell in their infinite wisdom bent all the contacts on teh switches before soldering.  Makes it 1.5 *****es to unsolder.  Especially if you are unskilled (ME)

[fohat.digs]

Also Dell in their infinite wisdom bent all the contacts on the switches before soldering.

This is not "Dell".

I have done several of these and it varies greatly. The tech building the board bends a few legs down to hold everything in place to get started.

4 near the corners and a couple in the middle would be plenty, and they do not have to be bent over hard. Sometimes they got very zealous about it, but who ever thought that anybody would want to remove them?

[Touch_It]

Also Dell in their infinite wisdom bent all the contacts on the switches before soldering.

This is not "Dell".

I have done several of these and it varies greatly. The tech building the board bends a few legs down to hold everything in place to get started.

4 near the corners and a couple in the middle would be plenty, and they do not have to be bent over hard. Sometimes they got very zealous about it, but who ever thought that anybody would want to remove them?

Fair enough.  Someone got quite zealous with my keyboard.  It was probably manufactured on a Monday . 

[False_Dmitry_II]

But where did it start?

Basically because after rubber domes were 99% of keyboards, then Cherry was basically the only (easily changeable for keyboard configuration) manufacturer left standing. Once mechanical keyboards took off again, that's what was used.

It was never because of anything particular about them.