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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:02:07

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:02:07

I am wondering if there are multiple types of white alps, because I own 3 white alps keyboards, and 2 of them are completely different from my newest one.  One of my keyboards is an IBM terminal type with more smooth, linear white alps.  The other smooth white alps board I have is a Keytronic.  My newest one, which is completely unlike the other two, is a Micro Connectors brand with a couple of 4-pin DIN sockets on either side and no other sockets or connectors to interface with the computer.  The alps switches on this one feel shallower and very clicky.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: clickclack on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:08:40

Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;218032

I am wondering if there are multiple types of white alps, because...

Ya kinda answered that one by yourself doncha think? =)
Indeed there are different types, and to make matters even less clear, the color of the slider can be a poor indicator of the type! Lawls =P

Edit: Lolz I came in third! haahaa

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: chimera15 on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:12:55

yes

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:23:13

So, what is the four pin DIN connector called, and is there an adapter that would make it compatible with ps/2 or usb?

Or, alternatively, is there any demand for keyboards of this type/souldIsellit?

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: erricrice on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:28:28

The world of ALPS has taken yet another mind's sanity!!

(http://www.burnsomedust.com/images/psychedelia.jpg)

But anyways, it sounds like the 4 pin could be ADB possibly, or something like S-video, lolz

Post a picture, that would be the easiest way to identify it.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:30:12

Sorry, forgot to mention they were mini.  Apple would make sense, since it does have some of the old apple keyboard symbols.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:31:11

Ya... when I saw it I wuz, liek, S-video Whuut?

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:35:01

Hmm, so complicated-white alps is clicky and Simplified-white alps is more linear, or are there more than 2 types?  Wiki is abit confusing, and I'm not easily confused.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: chimera15 on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:37:28

Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;218055

Hmm, so complicated-white alps is clicky and Simplified-white alps is more linear, or are there more than 2 types?  Wiki is abit confusing, and I'm not easily confused.

Read my signature, and the wiki.  There are primarily 4 types of white alps, although fake simplified can be broken down as well to other types.

Fakes are usually more clicky than complicated, they're usually much heavier and take more pressure to press than complicated as well.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: erricrice on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:38:20

Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;218055

Hmm, so complicated-white alps is clicky and Simplified-white alps is more linear, or are there more than 2 types?  Wiki is abit confusing, and I'm not easily confused.

There can be both of both.

In most cases, white(simplified and complicated) are clicky.  But they can be linear, or tactile(non-clicky) or clicky.

Thus the picture above.  No one understands ALPS fully but sandy55.

EDIT: Wow, everyone is all over this thread.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: chimera15 on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:53:13

Quote from: erricrice;218058

There can be both of both.

In most cases, white(simplified and complicated) are clicky.  But they can be linear, or tactile(non-clicky) or clicky.

Thus the picture above.  No one understands ALPS fully but sandy55.

EDIT: Wow, everyone is all over this thread.

I think Ripster and I get it pretty well. The only part I don't understand is the fake alps, like fukka type 1 and type 2 and stuff, but don't really care either, cause I know enough that I pretty well dislike those switches.  Ripster understands those.  Sandy55 taught us a lot, and you can learn tons from what he's written here.

The only whites that aren't clicky are the cream type, with rubber dampers.  Those have tactile leaf springs in them.  There aren't any whites that I've ever seen that have been linear, at least not that haven't been modded that way.  Linear alps are green, yellow, or possibly brown? There are complicated that have lost most of their click, but that's a wear issue, and they can be revitalized.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Sun, 29 August 2010, 20:55:52

Ok, now I have to pull them all out and re-examine them.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: clickclack on Sun, 29 August 2010, 21:00:04

Careful, you are going down a dangerous road...

=)

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: erricrice on Sun, 29 August 2010, 22:30:07

Quote from: chimera15;218060

I think Ripster and I get it pretty well. The only part I don't understand is the fake alps, like fukka type 1 and type 2 and stuff, but don't really care either, cause I know enough that I pretty well dislike those switches.  Ripster understands those.  Sandy55 taught us a lot, and you can learn tons from what he's written here.

The only whites that aren't clicky are the cream type, with rubber dampers.  Those have tactile leaf springs in them.  There aren't any whites that I've ever seen that have been linear, at least not that haven't been modded that way.  Linear alps are green, yellow, or possibly brown? There are complicated that have lost most of their click, but that's a wear issue, and they can be revitalized.

Oh yeah I pretty well understand ALPS(I only somewhat hesitate to say as well as you or Ripster) after my time with that northgate I found(I did quite a bit of research on that one), I just always make that joke to kind of drive home the point to new people that ALPS are hella confusing at times.

And yes, as Rip said, I know I have seen a post of at least one instance of linear white ALPS...or maybe they were just the cream ones, I can't remember.  But I'll find the post if I can.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 30 August 2010, 04:48:37

Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;218032

I am wondering if there are multiple types of white alps, because I own 3 white alps keyboards, and 2 of them are completely different from my newest one.  One of my keyboards is an IBM terminal type with more smooth, linear white alps.  The other smooth white alps board I have is a Keytronic.  My newest one, which is completely unlike the other two, is a Micro Connectors brand with a couple of 4-pin DIN sockets on either side and no other sockets or connectors to interface with the computer.  The alps switches on this one feel shallower and very clicky.

A Keytronic keyboard using Alps? Are you sure about this?

Title: ALPS Clarification?
Post by: shrumpkin on Mon, 30 August 2010, 13:16:30

Hey Everyone,

Does anybody know for sure which switches are in the Matias Tactile Pro 3.0?

I've heard the interview of the man himself, and he states that there are no clones in this keyboard, and that they are genuine ALPS switches, and that he promised them it would be worth their while to continue producing switches for his keyboard (he had to sell x amount of pieces).

Then I hear that there are NO real ALPS switches any longer, and that this keyboard in fact uses FUKKAS. They are white (aside from three switches that light up, these are green switches that do not click, but still look like ALPS.

Can someone clarify this for me?

Thank you.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 30 August 2010, 14:08:11

Quote from: ripster;218289

Really, what does it matter?  It's gonna be a simplified ALPS.  This forum used to spend endless pages on FAKE versus REAL with little clarification of what the switch would actually feel like.

No, I think it was pretty clear - crap.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 30 August 2010, 14:29:54

I Juan de Fukka.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: bigpook on Mon, 30 August 2010, 15:38:57

Why does every conversation that mentions ALPS switches get so bizarre?

Its something I noticed....

I still have my Fukka with white FAKE/Simplified ALPS. The phonies... Still a nice switch though.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: erricrice on Mon, 30 August 2010, 17:42:59

Quote from: ripster;218320

I just thought of something.  If they brought over Juan De Fukka from the Mexican operation they could open a Canadian factory.....

Show Image

(http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/judefuca.gif)

:biggrin:

You my friend are a gentleman and a scholar.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: shrumpkin on Mon, 30 August 2010, 18:39:42

Thanks, Ripster.
Yeah, it doesn't really matter. Just wanted a definitive i.d., but it seems that it's not worth the effort. I'll stick with fukkas. Thanks again.

Title: Multiple types of white alps?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Tue, 31 August 2010, 19:11:50

Quote from: ch_123;218162

A Keytronic keyboard using Alps? Are you sure about this?

That's what I get for storing things away for a long time and going by memory.  It's kind of weird, since I bought it at a thrift store a long time ago and someone had loosely slapped a large Keytronic sticker on it, and I never bothered to verify.  I haven't even seen the switches in 3 years(Before I knew what alps were).  Turns out, it uses some plastic sliders that look similar to alps with a buckling dome underneath.  According to the sticker on the bottom, it's an nmb rt-101, and it kinda looks like this one, but with different coloring.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-NMB-Clicky-Keyboard-Sheer-Typing-Nirvana-/290468637236?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item43a147aa34

Now that someone mentioned cream-colored alps, I think my IBM terminal keyboard has those.  They are more of a cream-white, and they are definitely linear.  It's a shame the cover was warped when I heated it up in my oven with those cherry keys I ended up melting.