In the context of the current switch environment, which has improved designs like BOXes and Zealios etc., what do Alps switches bring to the table? I've tried almost every switch out there of the MX or Topre varieties, and the chemistry analyzers at work have Model M's, so what am I missing out on? There seems to be a bit of a cult following for Alps.

There is really nothing in the MX world like either clicky or tactile Alps.  Generally speaking they are much more tactile, but without being super heavy like Box navies or unbalanced (big bump but light spring that makes you bottom out hard) like Box Jade or Royals.

I wish there was something in the MX world that couple compare but there just isn't...

So what is the way to get alps boards? They haven't been made in a while. A lot of the ones on ebay are like for old macs that probably wouldn't even work on a new PC? People seem to like orange and salmon alps.

I think that Alps tend to activate high up, or at least it seems that way, which is excellent for touch typists who don't need to bottom out.

I've only tried alps a handful of times. Blue alps definitely blew me away though. I just found them really enjoyable to type on (and listen to!). They definitely feel different than Cherry MX, and I doubt a switch based on the same principle as MX could properly mimic the feel of Alps, in the same way that it can't really mimic a buckling spring.

Like with all switches though, it really comes down to preference. Lots of people like Topre too, which I'm not as big a fan of. You may try some alps and find you love them, or you may try them out and find that you're rather ambivalent. This hobby has a lot of personal preference in it -- caps and cases have a huge aesthetic component, switch types undoubtedly feel different but there's no switch that's the uncontested best, even different layouts are better for different applications and workflows. At the end of the day, you're going to get a lot of different answers here about why people like alps, or don't like alps. But none of that can tell you for sure whether you'll like alps or not, or if you'll like some varieties and not others.

Quote from: Findecanor on Sat, 16 June 2018, 08:36:14

They bind on off-centre key presses too much for my liking. Many Alps keyboards have stabilisers on 1.75u wide keys. Even 1.25u wide keys with Alps switches need stabilisers IMHO. Meanwhile, Cherry MX has stabilisers first on 2u wide keys.

clean alps should not bind on unstabilized keys up to 2.75u, that's my personal test for alps condition. dirty and worn out alps are awful.

Agreed. If you find your Alps bind, they aren't in great condition.