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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: didjamatic on Sat, 21 August 2010, 21:57:04

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 21 August 2010, 21:57:04

A steal (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Leading-Edge-Keyboard-Blue-Sliders-/150479178970?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0#ht_2754wt_1137) on some Blue ALPS.  The board isn't usable on a PC, but they still usually go for $50-80 because of the switches.

If any of you want to swap some vintage blues into your Minitouch/GHSS like Chimera did, this would be a great source for them.

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: WhiteRice on Sat, 21 August 2010, 23:57:06

Why must you tempt me!

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: kriminal on Sun, 22 August 2010, 01:28:58

modified Siig here i come!!

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: WhiteRice on Sun, 22 August 2010, 11:29:03

Does it really make that big of a difference?

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 22 August 2010, 13:19:55

Blue and Pink ALPS are some of the most sought after.  If you get Blues it guarantees they were made at a time when the switches (supposedly) were made in Japan.  Not as sure about the era of Pinks.  Blues click, pinks are tactile without the click.

The Blue ALPS that I have range in feel.  Some are smooth, tactile and type like a dream while others feel like pushing a rusty nail into a wet phone book.  It comes down to how they've been treated - they are some of the oldest of the ALPS which I believe were all in the 80's, likely 1988 and before.  That's a lot of years they could have been abused or had grime built up in them if not cared for properly.  But if you get some good ones, they are an amazing switch.  Since these leading edge boards aren't PC compatible, I'd bet they got a lot less use on average than AT compatible boards that stayed in service longer.

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 22 August 2010, 13:20:42

Blue and Pink ALPS are some of the most sought after.  If you get Blues it guarantees they were made at a time when the switches (supposedly) were made in Japan.  Not as sure about the era of Pinks.  Blues click, pinks are tactile without the click.

The Blue ALPS that I have range in feel.  Some are smooth, tactile and type like a dream while others feel like pushing a rusty nail into a wet phone book.  It comes down to how they've been treated - they are some of the oldest of the ALPS which I believe were all in the 80's, likely 1988 and before.  That's a lot of years they could have been abused or had grime built up in them if not cared for properly.  But if you get some good ones, they are an amazing switch.  Since these leading edge boards aren't compatible with a modern PC, I'd bet they got a lot less use on average than AT compatible boards that stayed in service longer.

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 22 August 2010, 22:07:36

Based on that graph, I'd like to try some green springs in White or Blue switches.  I had a box of Zenith's with greens last year, too bad I didn't keep any.

Title: Cheap Blue ALPS
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Tue, 14 September 2010, 11:05:36

I used a Leading Edge for a while back in the mid-80s. I recall it being one of the best keyboards I've ever used...