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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Abacus1234 on Sun, 17 March 2013, 03:51:10
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I am kind of a noob when it comes to Alps switches. Is there like an Alps thread out there that has all the info? I have had trouble finding good info. Specifically, I'd like to know about durability (supposedly cherry are 50 million actuations), the amount of force required to activate the different ones, and a possible good board to try them out without spending too much money (I prefer cherry browns, so is there an alps switch that is tactile but non-clicky?). Any help would be appreciated.
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The most common Alps "starter" is the Dell AT101. It has black Alps, which are linear, and depending on who you are talking to, might be slightly tactile or might not.
These boards are common and relatively cheap, but beware, while a good one is very nice, a bad one is not pleasant. Do not judge all Alps by a bad AT101.
Apple Extended Keyboard and AEK2 are good boards, the AEK2 is also plentiful and cheap, but will require an ADB-to-USB adapter ($25 on ebay).
From there, they get much harder to find and more expensive.
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^Essentially what fohat said. I've found that Black alps tend to be the most commonly found, cheapest alps...but when they are in bad condition...they are in BAD condition.
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AFAIK the only ALPS switch that claims in the neighborhood of 50M keystrokes is Matias. Their two switch types are tactile-clicky and tactile-quiet. They are in current production but the boards start at $130 for a model without tenkey.
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Just to clarify, I think the reference to cheap may have been in relation to newer mechanical boards.
I've been looking at Apple Extended Keyboards - Model M0115 to try out the orange Alps variant, and been out-bid several times already. Going rates on Ebay seem to be $35.00 - $50.00, when shipping is included. These prices don't necessarily include cables or adapters to convert to PC connectivity.
On the other hand, I got a black Dell AT101 (black linear Alps) for $5.00 at a local computer scrapper, and an older Magitronic board (white clicky Alps) for $25.00 shipped. YMMV, of course.
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I got my hands on a Mr. Interface Switch Try Bag and wrote a review (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41117.0) on the switches. The bag has a lot of Alps switches and I documented my thoughts on each there.
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Well thanks to everyone who responded. You guys gave me some good places to start looking.
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Well thanks to everyone who responded. You guys gave me some good places to start looking.
If you like linears my Packard Bell with Greens feels fantastic.
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anyone compared linear alps to linear cherries?
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anyone compared linear alps to linear cherries?
For one thing, the actuation point is in a different place.
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higher on alps?
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To me, it feels like it's almost at the top. Very high up. The Cherry actuations all seem to be more centered.
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makes linear alps attractive in my eyes... now i have to try moar boards :(