Pphhffff. It's all about Non-clicky Orange Alps these days.
There is a very yellowed chicony 5160at (might be a 5161at) with comp blue alps for $80 plus $11 shipping on Ebay right now I'll post a link when I get home.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/330877921006?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
^Ask and you shall receive.
I've been looking for some as well, but don't want to get into competition with other GHers to drive up price. :(
Pphhffff. It's all about Non-clicky Orange Alps these days.
I have like 6 orange ALPS boards, just to want to make one of them a blue ALPS board.
Anyone hear feel like pink/salmon alps are closely related to cherry MX browns? I only had one brown board, a noppoo choc mini, and I must say my Apple m0116 feels very similar. I love them both. I honestly think this m0116 w pink alps may be the most satisfying switch/keycap combo Ive ever tried though. If this is how good pink are, how do blues relate? And is it only complicated blues that are so good?
I really like my AEK, but the Monterey blue is truly my favorite switch in that genre.
Chicony 5181
Anyone hear feel like pink/salmon alps are closely related to cherry MX browns? I only had one brown board, a noppoo choc mini, and I must say my Apple m0116 feels very similar. I love them both. I honestly think this m0116 w pink alps may be the most satisfying switch/keycap combo Ive ever tried though. If this is how good pink are, how do blues relate? And is it only complicated blues that are so good?
Salmon alps aren't anything like mx browns imo. Salmon and orange alps are more like 55g topre switches, except the alps switches bottom out a little harder.I really like my AEK, but the Monterey blue is truly my favorite switch in that genre.
Chicony 5181
Yes, the monterey blues are awesome switches. It's a shame you can only find them in A) the horrible layout that is the minitouch or B) the horribly creaky case that is the 5181.
Anyone hear feel like pink/salmon alps are closely related to cherry MX browns? I only had one brown board, a noppoo choc mini, and I must say my Apple m0116 feels very similar. I love them both. I honestly think this m0116 w pink alps may be the most satisfying switch/keycap combo Ive ever tried though. If this is how good pink are, how do blues relate? And is it only complicated blues that are so good?
How do you guys compare between Blue ALPS and Monterey Blue?
How do you guys compare between Blue ALPS and Monterey Blue?
Ya know I've got a switch try bag at home with both of those switches. I'll let you know.
Anyone hear feel like pink/salmon alps are closely related to cherry MX browns? I only had one brown board, a noppoo choc mini, and I must say my Apple m0116 feels very similar. I love them both. I honestly think this m0116 w pink alps may be the most satisfying switch/keycap combo Ive ever tried though. If this is how good pink are, how do blues relate? And is it only complicated blues that are so good?
My M0116 has white, tactile SMK switches. But it's made in Taiwan, not USA.
I love the keycaps as well on the M0116. That's why I bought the board. The mechanical switches were a bonus.
Ok, I have them right now.
The Blue Alps seems to have a higher actuation point in the key travel, and then a fast fall to bottoming out. The Monterey Blue has a lower actuation point in the key travel, and then almost unavoidable bottoming out.
The Blue Alps seems to feel a little smoother. The Monterey switch has a slightly scratchy feel to it, something I also noticed in the other SMK switch.
I cannot say for sure, but the Blue Alps seems to require a tad more force to reach the actuation point.
The Monterey Blue has a higher-pitched click. If you care about that detail.
Ok that's about all I can do for comparison's sake. Personally, I'm a bigger fan of non-clicky switches because these mechanical boards are loud enough as it is and I can type just fine without the extra assurance from the click of the switches.
I have said it before and I will say it again, blue ALPS are just the perfect switch for me. For a tactile auditory response switch I have never found anything as smooth and enjoyable as the blue ALPS.
Pros:
High Actuation point
Actuation point very very close to tactile and auditory point
Light but not too light resistance (think cherry blue)
Smooth action
Cons:
Can be hard to come by, I paid something around 70 US for a bag of ~110 and I would do it again if I had the chance.
Monterery blues are not pin compatible with alps.
I am getting the switches off from a Leading Edge DC-2014 from ebay. Can't wait to try them.
Have you ever tried Matias? I have a TP4. Do you have any comment on their differences? The thing I don't like about TP4, not necessarily the matias switches themselves, is when you type fast, the click/bottom out/rattle/what-have-you sound of each key pressed becomes indistinguishable from one key to another. It sounds like everything is in resonance and is incredible loud and annoying.
Did you open up the switch and just replace the top housing and internals without de-soldering anything?
Awesome. I think that's what I'm gonna do as well. So how do you like them blue alps?
Just received my Leading Edge DC-2014, done swapping the switches! Now I have a Apple M0116 with Blue Alps! :cool:Show Image(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8536455496_5ee31cfc83_c.jpg)Show Image(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8535347035_75c3a063d5_c.jpg)
There is a jar of Orange sliders left with metal leafs and springs. Is anyone interested in them? $20 shipped.Show Image(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8535348231_8d08d3736c_c.jpg)
Couple questions:
How did you open the Alps switch? Easier than opening a plate-mounted Cherry switch?
You have an trouble removing the keycaps from your board? On my Apple Extended, I have a lot of trouble and I'm afraid of taking the switch off the plate rather than just the keycaps.
Also, I might be interested in those orange Alps. Not sure yet.
excuse me, i don't think you use your m0116 on a Macintosh SII, so may i ask if you have an adapter to PS/2 or some sort of modded controller ?
I spent the majority of today desoldering the white alps switches out of my Omnikey 101 and soldering in some blue alps. It was definitely worth it though.Show Image(http://i48.tinypic.com/29fpe1c.jpg)Show Image(http://i46.tinypic.com/34sf987.jpg)
I spent the majority of today desoldering the white alps switches out of my Omnikey 101 and soldering in some blue alps. It was definitely worth it though.
I spent the majority of today desoldering the white alps switches out of my Omnikey 101 and soldering in some blue alps. It was definitely worth it though.
Nicely done. May I inquire where you got those Blues and second, how did you remove each switch from the plate without breaking the latches around the corners?
Can anybody speak on a comparison between these vintage blue alps and the XM Green Alps found in the Ducky 1087? I absolutely love the Ducky Green Alps 1087 for its tactility / audible feedback / light actuation force / actuation point slightly above the click, and from the descriptions here, they sound like exactly the same switch as the complicated blue alps.
I spent the majority of today desoldering the white alps switches out of my Omnikey 101 and soldering in some blue alps. It was definitely worth it though.
Nicely done. May I inquire where you got those Blues and second, how did you remove each switch from the plate without breaking the latches around the corners?
I got the blues from a Chicony KB5161-AT. I desoldered the switches and then carefully pryed them out with a pair of needle nose pliers.Can anybody speak on a comparison between these vintage blue alps and the XM Green Alps found in the Ducky 1087? I absolutely love the Ducky Green Alps 1087 for its tactility / audible feedback / light actuation force / actuation point slightly above the click, and from the descriptions here, they sound like exactly the same switch as the complicated blue alps.
XM Green Alps are lighter than vintage blues and louder as well.
^If you are talking to me....then no, blue alps aren't my favorite. My number one switch is capacitive buckling spring, then monterey blues, followed by 45g topres. Blue alps are in my top 5 though....they just aren't number one, two, or three.
Indeed, thanks Akimbo. Alps Master!