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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: themadreason on Sat, 12 November 2011, 22:41:12

Title: I saw bigfoot
Post by: themadreason on Sat, 12 November 2011, 22:41:12

Does anyone have a Dell AT101W?  Are these worth owning?  

I also wonder if there is any source of new keyswitches if I need to replace some.  I never know what I will get from Ebay.  I know that ALPs abandoned their manufacturing in the 1990s.  Do the simple alps copies swap onto the old AT101w switch plate?

Title: I saw bigfoot
Post by: Retox on Sat, 12 November 2011, 23:00:35

Actually a lot of people on these forums own one. They use black alps switches which most consider to be very stiff. IIRC they are comparable to cherry clears in terms of tactility and actuation force. I would look up information about them in the ALPS switch wiki.

But if you already know about the switches, then yes. They are a very well built board if you're into vintage beige battleships.

Title: I saw bigfoot
Post by: themadreason on Sat, 12 November 2011, 23:07:00

I already own a 122 key M that is being modded.  If I could just get the damn thing to work with my computer.  lol  Sounds pretty nice.

Title: I saw bigfoot
Post by: czarek on Sun, 13 November 2011, 02:22:05

I've got couple of AT101W - picked them up NIB for dirt cheap (I paid around $20 for a box of 10) and I gave them to family and friends. Some are happily using them to this day, some say it's too loud for them but all of them agree the feel is much better than any rubber dome. I didn't like it at first but after spending couple of hours on my father in law's computer with this keyboard attached I started to like it. It has very distinctive feel, 2 tactile bumps, very mechanical feel - like the very sophisticated machinery was under each key, it even makes very little click/clack when you listen to it, and it takes a while to learn not to bottom out, but typing on it can be very satisfying.
I say it's not the keyboard for everyone and I will never like it more than Model M but it's definitely worth trying.

Title: I saw bigfoot
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 13 November 2011, 10:50:01

Good build quality, might even be heavier than a model M.  Highly mod-able.

I have a few if interested.  Some are the old Dell logo pink ALPS variation, 1 is old logo cream ALPS and others are later logo Black ALPS.  I think I have 2 that are black cases/keys with black ALPS.

Title: I saw bigfoot
Post by: themadreason on Mon, 14 November 2011, 00:39:04

I am quite interested.  How much would you want for me to take one off of your hands?  

I never heard of pink alps.  What are they like?