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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: kelvinhall05 on Sat, 21 September 2019, 13:35:09

Title: Is my AT101 special?
Post by: kelvinhall05 on Sat, 21 September 2019, 13:35:09
I have a Dell AT101 but it seems to be an odd mish-mash of stuff. I have pine alps, not bamboo alps, and I have a new logo, not the old logo. I don't have Windows keys, but I have a dark grey sticker surrounding the lock lights. I've never seen an AT101 with this exact combination of stuff...is it uncommon or has anyone else seen one? Thanks!
Title: Re: Is my AT101 special?
Post by: E3E on Sat, 21 September 2019, 13:39:47
Does it have PBT caps as well?

Where does the rear sticker indicate it was made?

There have been AT101 and 102s with a new logo but with pine Alps and PBT caps, but they are indeed very rare. I've seen a Dell AT102 in the UK that had the same combination you mention: New Logo, blockers, pine Alps, and (likely) PBT caps.

What exact switches does it have?
Title: Re: Is my AT101 special?
Post by: kelvinhall05 on Sat, 21 September 2019, 13:45:56
Does it have PBT caps as well?

Where does the rear sticker indicate it was made?

There have been AT101 and 102s with a new logo but with pine Alps and PBT caps, but they are indeed very rare. I've seen a Dell AT102 in the UK that had the same combination you mention: New Logo, blockers, pine Alps, and (likely) PBT caps.

What exact switches does it have?

I'm not sure by "what exact switches" you mean. It has black pine Alps. Is that it or is there more ways to differentiate them? I did a linear mode on them...hopefully I didn't ruin something uncommon :/

How can I figure out if the caps are ABS or PBT? They feel like ABS but they don't look as smooth as ABS...I'm fairly certain they're PBT caps but is there a way I can confirm?

The back sticker says it's made in Taiwan and the FCC ID is GYUM97SK.
Title: Re: Is my AT101 special?
Post by: rxc92 on Sat, 21 September 2019, 14:08:34
It would help if you posted some pictures, but a quick way to test the keycaps is to put them in water; ABS floats, PBT sinks.
Title: Re: Is my AT101 special?
Post by: kelvinhall05 on Sat, 21 September 2019, 14:17:10
It would help if you posted some pictures, but a quick way to test the keycaps is to put them in water; ABS floats, PBT sinks.


The cap sank. Safe to assume it's PBT? I can't get any good pictures of the texture on the caps; do ABS ones have different font colours or something?
Title: Re: Is my AT101 special?
Post by: Sintpinty on Sat, 21 September 2019, 14:29:51
I have a Dell AT101 but it seems to be an odd mish-mash of stuff. I have pine alps, not bamboo alps, and I have a new logo, not the old logo. I don't have Windows keys, but I have a dark grey sticker surrounding the lock lights. I've never seen an AT101 with this exact combination of stuff...is it uncommon or has anyone else seen one? Thanks!

Every keyboard is special... except membrane.
Title: Re: Is my AT101 special?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 21 September 2019, 16:45:19
Is there any yellowing? PBT does not yellow, but ABS does with exposure to sunlight. I don't think Dell AT101 space bars in PBT exist: they should be ABS either way. If the space bar has yellowed but the other keys have not then those other keys are probably PBT. Also, PBT don't tend to get shiny with wear.

Another test for PBT is the acetone test: lightly wet a q-tip with acetone and rub it on the inside wall of a keycap where it does not matter. If the plastic smears, it is ABS; if it just evaporates, it is PBT. Be careful not to spill any acetone.

Please do post FCC ID and which country it was made in, if it is not already in  this wiki (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Dell_AT101).

Every keyboard is special... except membrane.
Rubber dome Dell AT101R exist. (proof (https://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Dell_AT103R_QuietKey_--_top.jpg))