Dell AT101 Old Logo (GYUM97SK) (Alps SKCM Black/Early)

[chyros]

I've had this board for a long time actually, I bought it quite a while ago for 50 pence from a recycling centre, but I kept postponing it, reviewing other boards instead. Hope you like this video!

[Altis]

A very nice and detailed review of the AT101, which is actually quite popular and easily available. I like the feel of the black alps when they're in good shape, but the sound of mine (newer mid-90s) sounds really plasticky and that puts me off a bit. I, too, tried switching keycaps with some doubleshots and it didn't help at all.

Your video shows the difference in sound between the old and new black alps. The old ones sound so much cleaner and more solid to me. I didn't know that the older ones felt better as well.

Thanks for sharing!

[chyros]

Cheers, glad you like it!

Yeah, I was a bit surprised that this difference wasn't really known - the wiki doesn't state anything about it at all and it wasn't until I posted about this a while ago that someone else showed me his GYUM97SK had the same thing. Although they're both genuine complicated Alps, side by side the late ones now feel and sound like cheap knockoffs to me. I really don't know why they are so different but it goes way beyond the caps and the case.

[terrpn]

want you to know how much i thoroughly enjoy your reviews..............some of the "best" hands down.

i have actually purchased some boards based on your reviews and have downloaded most as well

of course i love that you are hitting the older, vintage boards that seem to miss the boat today- some are very under rated and still cheap to pick up for those wanting a mechanical keyboard

the apple and dell boards i agree should be one of the first places to go for those wanting an inexpensive keyboard starting out- still can be gotten very reasonable

keep up the great work and thank you

[chyros]

want you to know how much i thoroughly enjoy your reviews..............some of the "best" hands down.

i have actually purchased some boards based on your reviews and have downloaded most as well

of course i love that you are hitting the older, vintage boards that seem to miss the boat today- some are very under rated and still cheap to pick up for those wanting a mechanical keyboard

the apple and dell boards i agree should be one of the first places to go for those wanting an inexpensive keyboard starting out- still can be gotten very reasonable

keep up the great work and thank you

Thanks mate, it's really nice to hear people enjoying the videos so much . They take a fair amount of time to make in all, but it's a fun hobby .

Cool to hear you even bought some based on the reviews! Any ones in particular that stood out?

[terrpn]

want you to know how much i thoroughly enjoy your reviews..............some of the "best" hands down.

i have actually purchased some boards based on your reviews and have downloaded most as well

of course i love that you are hitting the older, vintage boards that seem to miss the boat today- some are very under rated and still cheap to pick up for those wanting a mechanical keyboard

the apple and dell boards i agree should be one of the first places to go for those wanting an inexpensive keyboard starting out- still can be gotten very reasonable

keep up the great work and thank you

Thanks mate, it's really nice to hear people enjoying the videos so much . They take a fair amount of time to make in all, but it's a fun hobby .

Cool to hear you even bought some based on the reviews! Any ones in particular that stood out?

yes..............i actually  bought a Focus FK8000 from hwood here on the forum

it has the clicky futabas (vs white alps) which i particularly like and the calculator works great as well!

i have some of the other boards in your review. i never noticed the difference in the old logo dell alps vs the new logo alps, but you are right as there is a difference.

i enjoyed all of your reviews though as a whole as they are very informative

[chyros]

yes..............i actually  bought a Focus FK8000 from hwood here on the forum

it has the clicky futabas (vs white alps) which i particularly like and the calculator works great as well!

Haha, yeah, that one is quite fun xD . It's shame built-in calculators never caught on, I find it very useful.

i enjoyed all of your reviews though as a whole as they are very informative

Cheers . Sometimes I worry whether I'm going too in-depth into the subject, for instance this one has a lot of extra info in it, but it's nice to see people enjoy this .

[Altis]

....Cheers . Sometimes I worry whether I'm going too in-depth into the subject, for instance this one has a lot of extra info in it, but it's nice to see people enjoy this .

That's one of the things I really like about your videos. They go into the finer details that a lot of people (especially around here!) like to know.

Wish I could grab one of these older AT101s for a reasonable price.

I noticed that the mid-90s model I have is an "AT101" (not W), FCC ID: GYUM95SK. It has the Windows keys on it and is ANSI layout.

[chyros]

I noticed that the mid-90s model I have is an "AT101" (not W), FCC ID: GYUM95SK. It has the Windows keys on it and is ANSI layout.

Is this the model you referred to have sounding plasticky? If so, it will most definitely have SKCM Black/Late. Strange that it is non-W, but with Windows keys. Possibly this was assembled at a different plant, which handled different terminologies?

[Altis]

Is this the model you referred to have sounding plasticky? If so, it will most definitely have SKCM Black/Late. Strange that it is non-W, but with Windows keys. Possibly this was assembled at a different plant, which handled different terminologies?

Yes, it's the one. I wonder if North America maybe has a slightly different lineup than the UK. The one I have is new logo, Windows key, dyesub keycaps, has the newer SKCM switches, and makes the same sound as your newer AT101W.

I tried swapping the keycaps with some doubleshots from a KPT-102 and the stock caps of Chicony KB-5181 and the hollow plasticky sound persisted.

I was under the impression that the "W" designation meant that it was white rather than black, which I believe only came out later, but I could be mistaken.

I actually quite like the long, smooth tactile hump of the switches in the AT101.

[chyros]

Is this the model you referred to have sounding plasticky? If so, it will most definitely have SKCM Black/Late. Strange that it is non-W, but with Windows keys. Possibly this was assembled at a different plant, which handled different terminologies?

Yes, it's the one. I wonder if North America maybe has a slightly different lineup than the UK. The one I have is new logo, Windows key, dyesub keycaps, has the newer SKCM switches, and makes the same sound as your newer AT101W.

Ah so it does still have the dyesub keycaps? The thin ones I'm assuming? It's possible this is an interbellum or pre-production model before they figured they should use the W designation then. That would explain why it's so much rarer than the GYUM90SK.

I was under the impression that the "W" designation meant that it was white rather than black, which I believe only came out later, but I could be mistaken.

The original keyboard was white. In fact, there were no black ones until the GYUM90SK that I've ever heard of or seen. So it's probably not that.

I actually quite like the long, smooth tactile hump of the switches in the AT101.

Yeah the switches are pretty friendly on the fingers and because they're more or less in between linears and tactile switches I find them incredibly versatile. I think they get way more complaints than they deserve - I'd still take them over many types of Cherry switches.

[fohat.digs]

I am almost certain that the "W" means Windows keys. My black case is still an AT101W.

My guess is that someone has swapped case parts and internals.

The dye-subs are rare and found on the early ones, some people say the ones with Alps boards rather than Silitek. Personally, I have bought even old-logo AT101s that had ABS, and new-logos that had PBT dye-sub (only one, unfortunately). It is really a crap-shoot.

The good old cases have a metal bar in the back, which surely has no purpose other than to add weight (a few hundred grams at most) and you can install the bar in a newer case with a little Dremel work on the mounting post.

My "primo" AT101W has orange Alps from an AEK transplanted into an AT101W PCB mounted in a black case (with the post shaved and the weight bar added, along with waffle drawer liner padding), and the PBT dye-sub caps in pearl/pebble.

It is a Frankenstein to be sure, but it looks, sounds, and feels great. Too bad that the entire bottom row has to be ABS, but as far as I know the modifiers all changed to squeeze in the Windows keys (and whatever that other weird one that I never use is).
 

[Altis]

Windows key would make sense then if my white AT101 doesn't have a Winkey and your black AT101W does.

Yes, the dye-subs on mine are thin ABS.

I'm tempted to just give the board away at some point since I never use it anymore. It's really just the sound that I dislike, and the fact that I have around 12 keyboards now.

[chyros]

I The dye-subs are rare and found on the early ones, some people say the ones with Alps boards rather than Silitek.

Yes, my Alps-made GYIAT101-102 had thick PBT dyesubs, pretty nice caps actually.

The good old cases have a metal bar in the back, which surely has no purpose other than to add weight (a few hundred grams at most)

Yeah, 160 grams, I weighed it in this video. I think my even older Alps-made one didn't have that though, seems to be one for the early Silitek one.

My "primo" AT101W has orange Alps from an AEK transplanted into an AT101W PCB mounted in a black case (with the post shaved and the weight bar added, along with waffle drawer liner padding), and the PBT dye-sub caps in pearl/pebble.

It is a Frankenstein to be sure, but it looks, sounds, and feels great. Too bad that the entire bottom row has to be ABS, but as far as I know the modifiers all changed to squeeze in the Windows keys (and whatever that other weird one that I never use is).

Wooo, sounds pretty fun actually, you should post a picture . If you're using the ones from a AT101W it's got that weird convex bottom row which I forget to mention every video xD .