geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: neonenergy on Thu, 20 May 2010, 18:48:49

Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: neonenergy on Thu, 20 May 2010, 18:48:49
I tried out a SIIG/Solidtek 6600 which to me had a weird layout/sound, but I'm convinced it's due to this board's construction and I'm not losing faith in the Alps switches just yet.

Any tenkeyless versions out there?
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 20 May 2010, 18:50:31
There was the Filco Zero being sold on elitekeyboards for a while... was discontinued due to lack of interest.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 20 May 2010, 19:25:13
I think Diatec should sell an empty Filco Zero and some keycaps... You proceed to 'roll your own' by soldering in whichever Alps switches you want.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: erricrice on Thu, 20 May 2010, 22:10:22
Quote from: ripster;185032
Grrr....  And unfortunately the good Orteks and MiniTouch's are very difficult to find these days.


(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4139&stc=1&d=1251507054)


Tee hee hee and you can't have it!!!

Seriously thought those things are great!  I wish there were more around, and the feel is great even for being the XM style switches.

And wow, I didn't notice until just now that elitekeyboards stopped selling the zero...
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: neonenergy on Thu, 20 May 2010, 22:42:23
I like the weight of these keys actually and would've been sweet on that frame. Maybe it's still on sale overseas..

Just wondering, is it the switch that determines the wobble of the keys, or the keycaps?
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: erricrice on Thu, 20 May 2010, 23:09:04
Quote from: neonenergy;185138
I like the weight of these keys actually and would've been sweet on that frame. Maybe it's still on sale overseas..

Just wondering, is it the switch that determines the wobble of the keys, or the keycaps?


Would be the keycaps, but the keycaps are determined by the type of switch, so you could really say it either way...
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: neonenergy on Sat, 22 May 2010, 00:02:48
Hmmm it turns out keyboardco.com still stocks the Filco ZERO at about the same price shipped.

Cherry blues vs Fukka whites I can't choose :dance:
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: neonenergy on Sat, 22 May 2010, 02:28:10
Oh, I didn't know there was a difference (same model number), is there some sort of Alps knockoff chart out there? haha
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: majestouch on Sat, 22 May 2010, 02:35:26
The Zero Tenkeyless was available in two models:

FKBN87Z/EB: ALPS Type 1 Simplified AKA "Fukkas"
FKBN87Z/EB-Y: ALPS knockoffs "XMs" (these boards were sold as B-stock or blemished stock)

You want the Fukkas if you can get them. Sorry, I don't have any plans to bring this board back.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: aegrotatio on Mon, 24 May 2010, 15:39:45
Those clicky SIIG Minitouch boards were *everywhere* a few years ago.  While I was trying to find the non-clicky Minitouch Plus (because it has a more normal layout) I always got pissed when I saw that what they had was, instead, the clicky one.

The only reason I regret not buying any is because you guys would buy them all up in a second.  Seriously the keyboard layout would have driven me insane.

SIIG should have used a different name than "Minitouch" when they started selling the rubber dome ones.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: aegrotatio on Mon, 07 June 2010, 13:35:19
Well, well, I found one for $15 in all its awkward layout, clicky ALPS goodness.  In my amateur observation these keys were designed to be as close to the IBM buckling-spring feel in a much lower profile and quieter mechanism.  My Cherry boards click much sooner than these do (also explains why I passed up boxes of them, too, at the computer recycler stores).
The layout is precisely why I preferred the Minitouch Plus instead of the original Minitouch where I also passed up crates of new ones...
 
Can someone explain to me what the RJ-45 port is for on the Minitouch?  Just wondering, thanks.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: Morning Song on Mon, 07 June 2010, 14:17:45
I would venture to guess that it's for plugging in an external numpad. (The IBM M4/Unicomp Mightymouse has a similar port)
I don't know if there's an alps external numpad floating around there, but Unicomp has a buckling rubber sleeve one for $35 that might fit.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: chimera15 on Mon, 07 June 2010, 14:19:09
Quote from: aegrotatio;190549
Well, well, I found one for $15 in all its awkward layout, clicky ALPS goodness.  In my amateur observation these keys were designed to be as close to the IBM buckling-spring feel in a much lower profile and quieter mechanism.  My Cherry boards click much sooner than these do (also explains why I passed up boxes of them, too, at the computer recycler stores).
The layout is precisely why I preferred the Minitouch Plus instead of the original Minitouch where I also passed up crates of new ones...
 
Can someone explain to me what the RJ-45 port is for on the Minitouch?  Just wondering, thanks.


Ahh, that's the monterey one probably.  interesting.  Lucky you.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: aegrotatio on Mon, 07 June 2010, 14:53:24
Quote from: chimera15;190561
Ahh, that's the monterey one probably.  interesting.  Lucky you.

It's in rather poor shape.  I will probably clean it up.  The F10 needs a new switch but I suspect its spring has been compressed for too long and needs a tug (appears to be due to the packing method).

One vendor wanted $140 for this same keyboard.  I don't understand why or how that is possible or justifiable.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: aegrotatio on Mon, 07 June 2010, 14:54:06
Quote from: Morning Song;190560
I would venture to guess that it's for plugging in an external numpad. (The IBM M4/Unicomp Mightymouse has a similar port)
I don't know if there's an alps external numpad floating around there, but Unicomp has a buckling rubber sleeve one for $35 that might fit.


Doesn't Ripster have an ALPSulator?  Heheh.
Title: There any tenkeyless Alps simplified white boards out there?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 07 June 2010, 14:58:35
Quote from: Morning Song;190560
I would venture to guess that it's for plugging in an external numpad. (The IBM M4/Unicomp Mightymouse has a similar port)
I don't know if there's an alps external numpad floating around there, but Unicomp has a buckling rubber sleeve one for $35 that might fit.


Wouldn't count on it... Seems pretty proprietary.