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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: notnay on Fri, 17 February 2012, 22:01:11

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: notnay on Fri, 17 February 2012, 22:01:11

So, recently I purchased a dell at101w off ebay. Got it a couple days ago and for the most part, black alps feel...kinda weird. I'm not disappointed with it, but they are just kind of strange feeling, like, I dipped my hands into cake batter and began typing with cake hands. Kinda like this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]40961[/ATTACH]
For the most part however, I'm happy with my purchase, since cake hands are a nice change of pace from the blues i've been using.

So my question, I've been thinking about swapping out my blues from my blackwidow with browns or reds to see whether they are worthwhile. Are black ALPS close enough to browns that the change wouldn't be too noticeable; should i swap in reds instead??

Owls:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40962[/ATTACH]

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 18 February 2012, 09:46:28

I personally find black alps to be closer to clears but much stiffer.

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Sat, 18 February 2012, 11:00:36

Keeping in mind that I have not tried every Alps nor every Cherry switch out there, I don't think Alps can be compared to Cherry. They are so different from one another. In fact, I don't think any switch from one manufacturer can be compared to another switch from another manufacturer.

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 18 February 2012, 11:05:13

Have you tried Cherry MX Clears?

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Sat, 18 February 2012, 11:09:16

Quote from: keyboardlover;517793

Have you tried Cherry MX Clears?

Yes I have. How I got to try a Cherry was pur luck. I was in my uncle's office which contains a lot of electronic junk. As every keyboard enthusiast, we can easily spot a keyboard. The look was what intrigue me. I then pulled it out of the pile of junk and pressed a few keys. I knew right away that it was not a rubber dome keyboard. It felt quite similar to Cherry MX black that I tried in a library in France. I pulled a keycap to see a clear Cherry stem.

The reason why I don't think the Cherry MX clear is close to an Alps key is that I feels as if the Alps has a cripier tactile bump.

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 18 February 2012, 11:12:18

Anyway, the closest Cherry MX switch to black alps IMO is Clears. The force is similar and the Clears are not as stiff.

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Sat, 18 February 2012, 11:12:31

Sorry. I was thinking about orange complicated Alps more when I was commenting. It's been a while since I last use a Black complicated Alps.

It's true that the Cherry Clear and the Black complicated Alps are the closest you can get.

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 18 February 2012, 11:13:32

No problem...it did seem like kind of a strange response from you ;)

Title: Black ALPS vs Browns
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Sat, 18 February 2012, 11:15:18

Quote from: keyboardlover;517803

No problem...it did seem like kind of a strange response from you ;)

LOL. I kind of forgot what Black Alps feel like after I tried other Alps. The fact that don't have the board anymore does not help.