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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ValerieV on Wed, 13 February 2013, 15:16:22
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I just bought a Siig minitouch keyboard on ebay (brand new in original box). I had one before but i thought the white alps were way too stiff to type on. What is the best Alp switch to use that is both clicky and light to type on? I heard the black is good but i don't know enough about alps. I only really know about the mx cherry keyswitches. Thanks.
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I heard the black is good but i don't know enough about alps.
Just a pointer: ALPS-style switches aren't color-consistent like Cherry MX; specifying a color of ALPS does not specify a particular switch. It's not very meaningful to talk about "white ALPS" or "black ALPS" without some additional information, since these colors are used by various switches with different characteristics.
The Ducky Green XMs are light and clicky. I didn't particularly like them (oversensitive and too wobbly), but they fit your description. I much preferred the tactile, non-clicky black-stemmed ALPS used in my D07-135TNG, though these wouldn't fit your requirement for a clicky switch. Others report good things about the new Matias switches (available in both clicky and non-clicky forms), though I believe they're somewhat heavier.
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Thank you so much. I didn't know that alps wasn't color consistent. Has anyone tried the black Ducky alps? Thanks again.
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The old black ALPS CM switches in my Dell are tactile but not clicky (though you hear plenty of 'clack' from bottoming and topping out). I would say they are good but not great... a bit firm but non-fatiguing.
I do believe the Matias switches are the best ALPS made today (and probably the best in many years). I also have a MiniTouch with 'white XM' switches, which I bought with the intention to convert it to Matias switches. Not sure about doing the conversion now that I have a mini MQP on order. OTOH putting the Matias clicky switches in there might be a lot of fun.
BTW, the Ducky ALPS boards are said to be of poor construction.
Looking at older ALPS switches, some of the best-loved of them are the blue CM, the salmon/orange, white CM, dampened cream and white fukkas. Matias used the fukkas in their own boards until they went out of production; their new switches are basically better versions of the dampened cream and white fukka switches.
Honorable mention goes to the Monterey 'blue' switches, which are only sort of Alps-like, but have a very nice clicky tactile quality. Some MiniTouches and I think Chicony's have them.
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Thank you so much for your response. I ordered the Matias tactile mini keyboard but i like the size of the mini touch a lot. I have never modified a keyboard myself but i want to learn. I had the Ducky green alps before and the construction (like you said) is poor but i am just going to take the alps out of it anyways so hopefully they will be okay. The one thing that bothers me is that the force of the Matias (according to their site) is 60g while the alps on both the Ducky's are 50. A lot lighter.
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Check out mrinterface's youtube videos for swapping Alps switches. He's got a few on transplanting Matias switches into other boards. Good place to start.
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Besides Ducky, the Filco Zero was another recently-made board with ALPS. But the latter was constructed better. I think you can find them used for around $90.