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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: patrickgeekhack on Sat, 19 February 2011, 20:01:06

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Sat, 19 February 2011, 20:01:06

Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches for keyboards? Was it because Cherry was getting more and more market share?

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: theferenc on Sat, 19 February 2011, 22:46:05

Cloning might have had something to do with it, maybe?

Though, Alpine got out of a lot of the CE market in the late 90s, if I remember correctly, which if I believe is the company actually producing the ALPS switch, wasn't it?

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Mon, 21 February 2011, 12:28:51

That's too bad for some of the Alps keyboards sure seem like fun ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVztC6jU14s
http://www.youtube.com/user/mimizuGK#p/u/11/bWhF1BNMBLE

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: manfaux on Mon, 21 February 2011, 13:01:11

I think ALPS moved their focus to making scissor keyboards for laptops, and probably making good profit doing that.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: Pylon on Mon, 21 February 2011, 17:01:23

Well, Alps switches are a lot less common nowadays. You've got mainly the Tactile Pro and the Solidtek KB-6600 and the related SIIG Minitouch, with a few Filcos here and there. Meanwhile, there's a ton of boards with Cherry MX. Back in the 80s and 90s, Cherries were a lot less common, while Alps dominated the mechanical front. Dell's AT101Ws, Apple's keyboards, Northgate, all sorts of third party boards, SMK, etc. all used Alps.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 21 February 2011, 17:08:15

Quote from: theferenc;298081

Though, Alpine got out of a lot of the CE market in the late 90s, if I remember correctly, which if I believe is the company actually producing the ALPS switch, wasn't it?

Alps switches were made by a company called Alps, surprisingly enough.

I think they probably ran out of contracts with companies building keyboards that used their switches, and moved on to more profitable tasks. They're still churning touchpads that don't work under Linux...

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: theferenc on Mon, 21 February 2011, 18:32:13

Ah, apparently I have it backwards. Alpine is a subsidiary of Alps. I thought it was the other way around. My mistake.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 22 February 2011, 10:47:38

According to the website they are. See http://www.alps.com/e/company/profile/pro_group.html.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: spolia optima on Tue, 22 February 2011, 11:45:37

Ripster is just being modest. He's close and personal friends with ALPS president and CFO, Sandy55.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 22 February 2011, 11:51:36

Of course you didn't.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: aremizu on Mon, 28 February 2011, 11:20:13

Hello.
This video is a thing that I uploaded.

This keyboard is a keyboard sold only in Japan in old times.

This switch is used only for the keyboard such as 5576-001 and 5576-002 of IBM.

ALPS has ended the production of high-quality switches that had been produced in the past including this switch now.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: aremizu on Mon, 28 February 2011, 11:30:02

Photo.
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11030824/5576002.jpg)

Please refer to the following sites for detailed information.

Qwerters Clinic (http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_alps_5576001.htm)

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: kps on Mon, 28 February 2011, 12:20:36

Quote from: aremizu;302243

Please refer to the following sites for detailed information.

Qwerters Clinic (http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_alps_5576001.htm)

Do want.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: sixty on Mon, 28 February 2011, 12:26:10

Webwit has one with these switches in US ANSI layout, very nice:

http://webwit.nl/input/ibm_beam_spring/p70/

Dunno whether it works with modern hardware or not. I guess not.

Also, to answer the original question: ALPS stopped making switches because they ran out of colors!

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 28 February 2011, 12:44:06

Those Alps Plate Spring switches supposedly have long-term wear issues. Better condition ones command a hefty premium over well used ones on Yahoo Japan Auctions.

The later 5576 keyboards had the Brother buckling spring, more than likely for cost reasons.

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 28 February 2011, 12:49:11

Quote from: sixty;302285

Also, to answer the original question: ALPS stopped making switches because they ran out of colors!

Winnar!

Title: Why did ALPS stop making keyswitches?
Post by: Pylon on Mon, 28 February 2011, 15:28:04

They never made red switches, did they?

Or clears. Or neon colors.