Alps Appreciation Thread

[alienman82]

removed.

[alienman82]

removed.

[alienman82]

removed.

[klennkellon]

sobs with envy

Beautiful board. Nice job
Where did you get the PCB?

[alienman82]

removed.

[Mattr567]

So much SKCM Brown You must also have so many 5140 keycap sets. Any for sale?

[Mattr567]

Can anyone identify? Caps look Tai Haoish to me.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/clt/5611418321.html

[alienman82]

removed.

[Blaise170]

That Packard Bell is made by NEC so most likely rubber dome. Doesn't hurt to ask though.

I didn't realize how crazy I'd gotten with Alps... Most of these are Alps boards.

[Mattr567]

Does anyone know a way to buy a V60 MTS PCB? Need to replace my current one to finish my SKCL Green led swap.

[klennkellon]

Does anyone know a way to buy a V60 MTS PCB? Need to replace my current one to finish my SKCL Green led swap.

I don't think there is a way to directly, you could try contacting them http://www.kbp.com.tw/ but no guarantees.

[Mattr567]

Does anyone know a way to buy a V60 MTS PCB? Need to replace my current one to finish my SKCL Green led swap.

I don't think there is a way to directly, you could try contacting them http://www.kbp.com.tw/ but no guarantees.

Way ahead of you on that. The most promising email was that I would be added to the next production list, since they didn't have any on hand. They never responded after. I might just have to buy another V60, disassemble it and sell the switches caps and plate etc. Sucks but thats the only way I see it right now. the board works actually expect for the win keys, but the thing is a sea of wires anyway. Dont have the resistors in for the LED's.

The other option is to say fu to win keys, and add them anyway. However I think there might be some more damage, like a pulled resistor pad or led leg pad so I don't trust it. Rather start from scratch and have a clean build. At least I learned a hell of a lot about soldering, when I swapped my SGI w/ SKCM Orange it was perfect.

[klennkellon]

That's kind of what I've done. I recently purchased a V80 so I could try Matias Quiet Clicks but also so I have a nice TKL ALPS PCB/Plate I can use in the future.

I

[mike52787]

That's kind of what I've done. I recently purchased a V80 so I could try Matias Quiet Clicks but also so I have a nice TKL ALPS PCB/Plate I can use in the future.

I

How did you like the quiet clicks? personally I didnt like the ones I had at all. My alps64 kit came with them and I alreadyy traded them away.

[Mattr567]

Did this today SGI Granite finally got what it deserved. A proper retr0bright!

[alienman82]

removed.

[Mattr567]

Did this today SGI Granite finally got what it deserved. A proper retr0bright!

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nice work matt!

Thanks. Now have to do my Focus FK-3001. Much bigger pain. All the caps and having to take apart the calculator a bit to get all the trim bits. Will look great when finished.

[klennkellon]

That's kind of what I've done. I recently purchased a V80 so I could try Matias Quiet Clicks but also so I have a nice TKL ALPS PCB/Plate I can use in the future.

I

How did you like the quiet clicks? personally I didnt like the ones I had at all. My alps64 kit came with them and I alreadyy traded them away.

They haven't arrived yet, they should hopefully come tomorrow, if not, probably Tuesday. I have heard them be compared to ergo modded MX Clears with O-Rings.

[mike52787]

Did this today SGI Granite finally got what it deserved. A proper retr0bright!

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Absolutely beautiful.

[chyros]

Very nice the SGI AT101 is one of the few board I would retrobright if yellowed. Cool shizzle!

[need]

The granite doesn't look too bad.

[klennkellon]

I received my V80 today with the Matias Quiet Clicks!

Here's a moneyshot:



I replaced some keys with an incomplete set of thin ABS doubleshots I have from a butchered FK-2001. The stock keycaps are even thinner than the ones on the Focus's though they actually feel somewhat denser. I'm fond of the colored shift and escape key myself.

The build quality of the rest of the board is excellent though, it has a good amount of weight to it and doesn't flex at all. Furthermore the keyboard's finish is very slick matte black.

I really like these Matias, the tactility is stronger than I was expecting.  I don't really care for the dampening though and I'll probably pop out the bumpers on the slider. The keycaps from the Focus give it a kind of neat sound I can't describe. They are really smooth and when I opened up a switch it felt like there was a very small amount of lubricant on the slider. Has Matias always done this?

The spacebar is also lovely, not rattly and doesn't sound much different than normal keys. The other stabilized keys are kind of rattly though.

Here's a close up of the keycaps, the Focus ones need a light wash and you can see some nicks too, scars of the past!



Overall I'm happy with this board and would gladly recommend it and it's switches to anyone.

[Mattr567]

I cannot believe I was completely ****ed out of a keyboard. I had convinced a ebay seller to sell me a Magnavox Videowriter keyboard (SKCM Brown) separate from the rest of the system for $14. He changed the listing to just the board and as we were getting the shipping and final details worked out some **** bought it right from under me in that very short timespan between changing the listing and correcting the final details of it. The final price wasn't worked out so it was bought for $25.

After all the work to get him to sell it separately and for that price it gets stolen right from under me. ****ing ****. What are the chances of that happening?! Now I have messaged the seller back after he told me this saying that this wasn't fair since I had made the whole thing even possible in the first place and that it is just rather unfortunate timing. Also said that I would match his price if need be.

I would of totally undestood if the whole pc got bought during that time since he would of gotten his full price, but just what I had done? ****kkk that! Hope that buyer enjoys his stinking keyboard if he gets it.

rant over

[klennkellon]

What you don't know is that the seller lied and it's a rare rubber dome variant.

[alienman82]

removed.

[klennkellon]

I just confirmed that SKCM springs WILL work with Matias despite the size difference.

Keyfeel is much lighter.

[Mattr567]

What you don't know is that the seller lied and it's a rare rubber dome variant.

Lol. It looks like this btw

I cannot believe I was completely ****ed out of a keyboard. I had convinced a ebay seller to sell me a Magnavox Videowriter keyboard (SKCM Brown) separate from the rest of the system for $14. He changed the listing to just the board and as we were getting the shipping and final details worked out some **** bought it right from under me in that very short timespan between changing the listing and correcting the final details of it. The final price wasn't worked out so it was bought for $25.

After all the work to get him to sell it separately and for that price it gets stolen right from under me. ****ing ****. What are the chances of that happening?! Now I have messaged the seller back after he told me this saying that this wasn't fair since I had made the whole thing even possible in the first place and that it is just rather unfortunate timing. Also said that I would match his price if need be.

I would of totally undestood if the whole pc got bought during that time since he would of gotten his full price, but just what I had done? ****kkk that! Hope that buyer enjoys his stinking keyboard if he gets it.

rant over

I usually just pay in full then ask for a shipping refund.  I suppose that wasn't the case here.  Sorry to hear this.

Yea. Maybe the seller has morals and will give it to me. We'll see. Otherwise someone takes the prize that all my hard work went into.

[fohat.digs]

He changed the listing to just the board and as we were getting the shipping and final details worked out some **** bought it right from under me in that very short timespan between changing the listing and correcting the final details of it.

I get very nervous whenever I am involved in a private side deal like this, especially when the back-and-forth is not happening in near real time. But - a deal is a deal. I would raise holy hell with ebay if the seller tried to give it to somebody else after I paid my money.

The better way to do it is to change the original listing to say "no longer available" and have the seller invoice the buyer. Ebay may have a mechanism to make that difficult, I have never done it as a seller on ebay.

[Mattr567]

He changed the listing to just the board and as we were getting the shipping and final details worked out some **** bought it right from under me in that very short timespan between changing the listing and correcting the final details of it.

I get very nervous whenever I am involved in a private side deal like this, especially when the back-and-forth is not happening in near real time. But - a deal is a deal. I would raise holy hell with ebay if the seller tried to give it to somebody else after I paid my money.

The better way to do it is to change the original listing to say "no longer available" and have the seller invoice the buyer. Ebay may have a mechanism to make that difficult, I have never done it as a seller on ebay.

Yea, I was nervous as hell. Why would he change the listing before the shipping was worked out? Its still pretty amazing that someone searched and bought one in that 5-10min however. If you were the seller in this situation, what would you do?

[fohat.digs]

If you were the seller in this situation, what would you do?

I would honor the sale, of course. You were just unlucky.

People scour ebay looking for bargains, you never know whether it will sit there for 8 seconds or 8 weeks.

[emdude]

Amber switches are quite a bit stiffer than blue switches, stiffness similar to early clicky white Alps or even slightly stiffer, with a much snappier and louder click. Blue switches are elegant and understated, amber switches get up in your face.

People who like white Alps, Matias clicky, Model F, amber Omrons, or Cherry MX green would probably like amber Alps. People who like blue Alps might or might not.

Ambers are indeed "up in your face". They have a bold click that's pretty noticeable. I've never had a keyboard with Alps Blue switches. I have keyboards with other Alps (Other Apple keyboards), but those are not clicky switches. What I did do, was make a comparison video between my Danger Zone custom 75% + 1 keyboard project with Gateron Blue switches, and my Apple //c keyboard with the Alps Amber switches. The Alps Amber definitely take more force to press passed the click. I personally like it. I used some Shapeways C64 to MX stem adapters and threw some Commodore 64 keys on my Danger Zone keyboard (since the Danger Zone key caps won't show up till next month).

I am quite curious, I saw your Apple IIc Bluetooth custom build in your signature and I was wondering how that was coming along for you? 

It looks really neat and it's super nice to see another SKCM Amber owner do something with their original board since it certainly is fun to use.  Right now I have my IIc keyboard sitting around and I do not want to harvest the switches and give up using the neat key caps and layout in doing so!

[klennkellon]

Does anyone else feel like the Matias Quiet Clicks have a kind of rubber dome feeling to them? Not in a bad way though. If the tactility was even closer to the top it would be even closer.

[emdude]

Aren't they essentially damped alps?  I have heard people say the same thing about SKCM Cream Damped and White Damped.  I've also tried White Damped and I'd say they sort of have that quality.

[klennkellon]

Yeah they're basically dampened simplified ALPS.

I think it has to do with the dampening. ALPS bump and tactility is already higher up in the keystroke and since they are dampened upwards as well this means the switch is slightly more depressed in its resting position (kind of like dental banded Topre) so this makes the bump feel even higher up.

[mike52787]

I didnt really like them, but I only tried an individual switch.  Maybe in a full board I would like them better. I just think skbm switches arent as good as skcm.

[Mattr567]

I'm starting to like SKCM Amber more and more...Need a IIC lol.

[emdude]

They're an interesting switch, but as E3E pointed out when he tried them a while back, the click is somewhat hollow-sounding and not quite as satisfying as SKCM Blues; I don't dislike them myself though.

You'll have a very fun time trying to get an Apple IIc with SKCM Ambers though..

[Mattr567]

They're an interesting switch, but as E3E pointed out when he tried them a while back, the click is somewhat hollow-sounding and not quite as satisfying as SKCM Blues; I don't dislike them myself though.

You'll have a very fun time trying to get an Apple IIc with SKCM Ambers though..

Like getting a 5140 board is any easier lol, so many ebay idiots thinking their 5140 is worth $100+. Actually a good amt of beat up IIC's come though for super cheap with broken caps, so I can tell if they have Ambers without even asking lol.

They feel kinda hollow in my switch tester, but the plate is cheap and thin so not very representative. With the switch flat on my desk w/ a cap they feel really nice.

[emdude]

That's true, if you keep searching you'll probably get a good deal on one, hopefully a complete one because the key caps are quite lovely.  I did not pay anything for mine.

[Blaise170]

Replaced the horrible Alps clones in my Acme KB-108 with Matias Linears and I quite like it now. I left the green linear Alps clones for the LED keys, but the cream clicky ones were way too hard to press.

[E3E]

Like getting a 5140 board is any easier lol, so many ebay idiots thinking their 5140 is worth $100+. Actually a good amt of beat up IIC's come though for super cheap with broken caps, so I can tell if they have Ambers without even asking lol.

They feel kinda hollow in my switch tester, but the plate is cheap and thin so not very representative. With the switch flat on my desk w/ a cap they feel really nice.

They are quite hollow in terms of sound and leave more to be desired, but I am eager to try them one more time with my IBM Multistation spherical hi pro caps and if they prove to be enjoyable, I'll likely make permanent build with them and those caps. If not, I'll sell them off again.

The 5140, IIc, P70, and most luggables or  computer systems like that are always so crazy in  their price ranges. They're rarely actually hard to find, but what is difficult is finding one for a reasonable price.  The Bondwell 8T PRO with its cream linears is probably the rarest of the Alps-based systems, I think. I've barely seen them.

I'm also curious of what other Bondwells might have Alps. I saw another widescreen model with caps that seemed just like the 8T PRO's.

[mike52787]

Like getting a 5140 board is any easier lol, so many ebay idiots thinking their 5140 is worth $100+. Actually a good amt of beat up IIC's come though for super cheap with broken caps, so I can tell if they have Ambers without even asking lol.

They feel kinda hollow in my switch tester, but the plate is cheap and thin so not very representative. With the switch flat on my desk w/ a cap they feel really nice.

They are quite hollow in terms of sound and leave more to be desired, but I am eager to try them one more time with my IBM Multistation spherical hi pro caps and if they prove to be enjoyable, I'll likely make permanent build with them and those caps. If not, I'll sell them off again.

The 5140, IIc, P70, and most luggables or  computer systems like that are always so crazy in  their price ranges. They're rarely actually hard to find, but what is difficult is finding one for a reasonable price.  The Bondwell 8T PRO with its cream linears is probably the rarest of the Alps-based systems, I think. I've barely seen them.

I'm also curious of what other Bondwells might have Alps. I saw another widescreen model with caps that seemed just like the 8T PRO's.

Ill have to check out my 8088 compaq portable, Pretty sure it doesnt have alps though. I do agree that old portables are probably the best way to find these obscure alps switches. I can only hope to be as lucky as this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yndCXP0ZkOQ

[lootbag]

Sooo, I need an opinion.
It has been a little difficult to find a HHKB layout 60% ALPS plate in metal and as you can see I really like my HHKB layout.

Should I go ahead and build my TMK ALPS64 with this 1.5mm acrylic plate?
I wonder how it will feel with the acrylic plate... will I regret it?
Will be using green alps!

[mike52787]

Sooo, I need an opinion.
It has been a little difficult to find a HHKB layout 60% ALPS plate in metal and as you can see I really like my HHKB layout.

Should I go ahead and build my TMK ALPS64 with this 1.5mm acrylic plate?
I wonder how it will feel with the acrylic plate... will I regret it?
Will be using green alps!

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Bluenalgene ran a GB for aluminum plates for the alps64 awhile back. and I think there were hhkb layout plates available. Im sure there are some people that havent built their boards yet and will sell you their plate. I bought mine off of a member recently, but mine is the infinity hacker layout. Put a wanted ad in classifieds, maybe youll get lucky.


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[lootbag]

Bluenalgene ran a GB for aluminum plates for the alps64 awhile back. and I think there were hhkb layout plates available. Im sure there are some people that havent built their boards yet and will sell you their plate. I bought mine off of a member recently, but mine is the infinity hacker layout. Put a wanted ad in classifieds, maybe youll get lucky.

Yeah but I am not sure if he will run another GB anytime soon.
Guess I could post a WTB for a HHKB plate.
The infinity hacker plate uses the cherry stabilizers, 6x spacebar, etc. and makes it a little harder to source caps.
I am trying to stick to a more standard bottom row and want to use the spacebar stabilizer and bottom row caps from a AT101.

Maybe I will try Taobao and contact a sheet metal company in Shenzhen since I am in Hong Kong.

But back to the acrylic plate... I wonder how it'll feel haha.
I already know what to expect from using a steel plate with the green alps.

[Badwrench]

Bluenalgene ran a GB for aluminum plates for the alps64 awhile back. and I think there were hhkb layout plates available. Im sure there are some people that havent built their boards yet and will sell you their plate. I bought mine off of a member recently, but mine is the infinity hacker layout. Put a wanted ad in classifieds, maybe youll get lucky.

Yeah but I am not sure if he will run another GB anytime soon.
Guess I could post a WTB for a HHKB plate.
The infinity hacker plate uses the cherry stabilizers, 6x spacebar, etc. and makes it a little harder to source caps.
I am trying to stick to a more standard bottom row and want to use the spacebar stabilizer and bottom row caps from a AT101.

Maybe I will try Taobao and contact a sheet metal company in Shenzhen since I am in Hong Kong.

But back to the acrylic plate... I wonder how it'll feel haha.
I already know what to expect from using a steel plate with the green alps.

Just solder a few in and see how they feel.  If you like it, continue.  If not, pull them back out and see if someone will trade your acrylic for a steel one. 

[lootbag]

Just solder a few in and see how they feel.  If you like it, continue.  If not, pull them back out and see if someone will trade your acrylic for a steel one. 

Aha, good idea.
I just used scrap acrylic on the university's laser cutters to whip up the plate, so no loss for me.
But first, need to order that elcheapo $7 USD plastic case from Taobao so I can get the full effect of all the plastic thock/clack.
Maybe I will end up liking it over the traditional metal plate.

[mike52787]

Bluenalgene ran a GB for aluminum plates for the alps64 awhile back. and I think there were hhkb layout plates available. Im sure there are some people that havent built their boards yet and will sell you their plate. I bought mine off of a member recently, but mine is the infinity hacker layout. Put a wanted ad in classifieds, maybe youll get lucky.

Yeah but I am not sure if he will run another GB anytime soon.
Guess I could post a WTB for a HHKB plate.
The infinity hacker plate uses the cherry stabilizers, 6x spacebar, etc. and makes it a little harder to source caps.
I am trying to stick to a more standard bottom row and want to use the spacebar stabilizer and bottom row caps from a AT101.

Maybe I will try Taobao and contact a sheet metal company in Shenzhen since I am in Hong Kong.

But back to the acrylic plate... I wonder how it'll feel haha.
I already know what to expect from using a steel plate with the green alps.

no, the infinity uses alps stabs. I took most of the caps on mine from a avant prime omnikey 104. It has normal bottom row mods except for 1u windows keys and a 1u application key. Im working on cutting a custom 6u spacebar for mine. Ill post a pic when I get back home and on a computer.


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[mike52787]

As promised, heres a pic.

[lootbag]

As promised, heres a pic.

Looks good!
But I am still too lazy to work out the 6u spacebar.
Will post again once I have my build sorted out.