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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Magna224 on Sun, 25 September 2011, 18:20:52

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: Magna224 on Sun, 25 September 2011, 18:20:52

My favorite switches so far are the clicky ALPS switches and I was wondering what are the best quality keyboards with ALPS switches? I know the Omnikey is well known for its quality but what others are better or can at least compare?

On a related note hows the filco zero? Are there any significant problems with it?

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: N8N on Sun, 25 September 2011, 18:59:03

I believe that if you can find a SGI "Granite" board w/ PS/2 and the cream Alps those are supposed to be pretty much the equivalent of a Model M in the Alps world.  They use the same dampened sliders as the Apple Extended Keyboard II.  Be careful though, not all PS/2 Granite boards are Alps, some are RD.

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: Magna224 on Sun, 25 September 2011, 20:44:03

Hmm mabey I could solder some Blue ALPS onto one. Would like to try the dampeneds anyways.

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: N8N on Sun, 25 September 2011, 20:49:53

well, if you're going to go to the trouble of changing switches, there's some new keyboard out w/ Alps clone switches...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Classic-104-Keys-Mechanical-Gaming-USB-2-0-Keyboard-/290613340250

the sliders are blue, but I doubt they are the same as the old blue Alps.

I know it's been discussed here before, but I don't know if anyone has actually tested one yet... but I'm thinking that being new and being marketed toward gamers it might have more KRO than a "classic" Alps board.  And if you're going to mod something, might as well mod something new and cheap rather than old and collectible.  I just mentioned the Granite because I think that if I had to use an Alps board that is pretty much exactly what I would want in unmodded form.  (although I have not tried all the Alps flavors by far, because they're harder to find than are the various flavors of Cherry MX.  I haven't put much effort into it though because I personally like the lower actuation point and higher force after actuation of the Cherry switches.)

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: Magna224 on Sun, 25 September 2011, 22:12:17

Well the Blues would be coming off of my old '88 focus 2001 which I love but cant use. I would prefer it if I didn't have to use it but I will if need be.

Also I saw those new ones but do you think the quality of the board will be good? I'm looking for a daily driver that I am going to use until the switches are worn and it dies and I want something sturdy. The first thing that came to my mind was the Filco Zero but thats just because I have never owned one of the legendary filcos (and I heard fukkas are supposed to be pretty nice for simplifieds +tenkeyless).

*Ripster your massive database of knowledge is too much for me to take in at once. It is infinite information, I can never find things in it.

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: Clickey on Mon, 26 September 2011, 08:44:29

Earlier focus keyboards are great IMO. Are you including similar to ALPS mechanisms? Because I prefer NEC's to ALPS, and SMK's to everything. Dunno why so little info on SMK's they feel amazing.

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 26 September 2011, 11:26:24

So, you say "high-quality" ALPS...

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: Magna224 on Mon, 26 September 2011, 11:34:41

Quote from: ripster;421537

Actually I consider the Ripster subforum to be quite manageable.

Should I create subforums?

Its good, I just missed the ALPS section. I just did Ctrl+F to find it.

The quality of the keyboard is most important to me at this point, as I can always swap the switches. I have been wanting to try some of the SMK switches and I saw that NEC board on the forums and seriously considered it, is the quality of the board good?

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: Wibox on Mon, 26 September 2011, 16:49:22

I personally find the dampened cream ALPS in the Apple Keyboard II feel terribly ****ty. They are not fun to type on.

I have a Filco Zero and it is very nice. I've desoldered the simplified fukka switches (Which are actually great to type on!!) and replaced them with oranges.

The Filzo has good build quality as usual but the plate pings, I plan on replacing the plate with another ALPS board's plate. Originally I was going to replace it with the keyboard the orange ALPS originally came from (which did not ping) but they have the function keys rotated so I have to find a different board that I don't mind throwing away. Maybe my Dell 101W.

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: Magna224 on Tue, 27 September 2011, 23:06:59

I don't mind ping noises, i'm not picky, as long as it feels sturdy and the switches are to my liking.

Btw I was referring to this Ripster http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22054-White-complicated-ALPS-Acers-and-NEC-blue-Keyboards

Title: High Quality ALPS
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Tue, 27 September 2011, 23:36:16

Speaking of doing stuff to the actual plates, how hard would it be to cut one up and rearrange it and somehow reattach it?

I think alps are more moddable than cherry switches are. You can change out sliders springs and tactile/click leaves (or go without).