the Dell AT-101W revisited

[fohat.digs]

I have owned several (probably a dozen, or close to it) AT101s over the past 15 years, one was my daily driver for about 5 years when it came with a Dell system I got in about 1998. I have generally liked them, although some have been considerably better than others. A really good one is a very nice keyboard.

There has been considerable discussion on this forum, pro and con, and I was always surprised at how certain people seriously trashed the AT101.

I have transplanted blue and orange switches into an AT101 chassis, and it makes a wonderful keyboard - solid and smooth. Since the case is a bit ugly (and I usually like beige, it is probably the shape and logo) I have been looking for a black case. Beige keys look good in a black case, in my opinion, and presumably I would have a spare set of black ones, too.

So today I received the black keyboard, $30 shipped from ebay, a good deal for the scarce black model, and I was appalled at how horrible it feels! I tested it for the board, I will do another orange transplant so it does not matter, but these are truly - BAD - switches.

Now I know why someone would think that the AT101 is a really bad keyboard, if they got one like this they would have used it for 2 minutes and never wanted to touch it again.

If you are one of those people, don't write the AT101 off entirely until you have tried a good one.

[rowdy]

Are these are prevalent as the Model M?

Although in Australia I don't see many of either around.

[fohat.digs]

In the US there are 2 cheap and commonly available Alps keyboards - the Dell AT101 and the Apple Extended Keyboard II.

There were thousands of these made, but probably millions of Model Ms. However, today, when someone has a huge old heavy keyboard with "IBM" on it, he probably recognizes that it is something special.

The Dell looks very ordinary, and the Apple has a goofy plug that nobody knows what to do with, so they sell cheap.

I have an AT101 (not that bad one) to sell and I will feel lucky to get $10-15 + shipping for it.

[Pacifist]

Oohh I want a dell board...dells are my fav brand

[terrpn]

guess i made out ok as my dell 101, old [dell] logo even though having the orig black switches are in pretty good shape, i actually like and use quite a bit when i rotate.

i would love to find a dell with salmon, have even put an ad in our classifieds- but nada......

i am with you- i think these old tanks get a bad rap, however i understand it is probably us older guys for the most part who are fond of i guess because of the aesthetics.

the orange in the old apple boards are probably my favorite and are totally under appreciated. i just picked up a m0115 cheap with the orange alps- a tad yellow though. the good part is since we are having some good weather on the east coast i have it soaking outside in a oxy bath, which should bring it back fairly nice

[daerid]

I feel you. I've owned probably about 5-6 over the last 14 years or so. All of them were amazing, except for the last one I got. It was horrendously mushy

[dante]

I feel you. I've owned probably about 5-6 over the last 14 years or so. All of them were amazing, except for the last one I got. It was horrendously mushy

I think Black Alps deteriorate faster than rubber domes.

[nubbinator]

Yeah, I had an AT101 that just felt like crap when I got it.  I cleaned it up and lubed the switches and it felt much better, but I still wasn't impressed.  I really think it has to do with me not liking Black Alps.  The keyboard itself is solid and awesome, so I'm sure that with a nice switch swap it would be awesome.

[Pacifist]

Yeah, I had an AT101 that just felt like crap when I got it.  I cleaned it up and lubed the switches and it felt much better, but I still wasn't impressed.  I really think it has to do with me not liking Black Alps.  The keyboard itself is solid and awesome, so I'm sure that with a nice switch swap it would be awesome.

Thats what I think too. I'm most likely going to swap out these blacks for matias switches. But the board itself is really hefty and solid.

[fohat.digs]

with a nice switch swap it would be awesome.

I filled one with orange Alps from a defunct AEK and it is pretty nice. I wish they were a bit more tactile.

[blackbox]

I have an AT102W that I am satisfied with. Seems like I have been lucky with mine.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

There's a reason my AT101W is on my server: so I don't have to use it every day.

Still, for $3 from Goodwill, I can't complain...

[Altis]

I recently cleaned up a Dell AT101 that was used for years in an industrial setting. It took quite a thorough restoration... I was pretty convinced that it wasn't going to turn out well considering how rough and nasty it felt when I got it.

However, now that it's all cleaned up and the switches are cleaned and lubricated, it actually feels pretty good. Like OP, I know that these things can vary so widely.

Only thing is that it was my first time greasing an Alp switch, and I may have overdone it in an attempt to get them as smooth as possible. It's slowly getting better, but I definitely won't make that mistake again.

[blackbox]

As my signature says I have swapped the blacks for some Maria's standard clicky. I really like the at102w now. This is a good keyboard to do a switch swap in. No I just need to contact signature plastics to make some keycaps for me and I feel that my board will be complete.