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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Bluemercury on Mon, 10 March 2008, 10:03:25
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I was thinking of getting a new keyboard but with different switches, i already have two ibm keyboards and a DAS keyboard with blue cherry switches, but i was thinking if the alps switches are even clickier than the blue cherry ones. Im interested in buying one with alps switches, which ones are the most clicky and audible :P
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The whites are the ones you want. Get a CVT Avant Prime.
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Does that use strongman switches or are really alps?
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Over the phone a few weeks ago, they still use real Alps.
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Too bad the old smk-85 is gone.
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And I just sold my SMK85. It wasn't clicky though.
I have the Macally which has whites but I'm not sure I want to sell that one - I need an Alps 'board for reference.
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Wasnt the smk-95 white alps? if so, why did you sold it?
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Various eBay UK auctions that might be what you're looking for:
ALPS-branded keyboard (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KEYBOARD_W0QQitemZ250223990003QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33964QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Does look rather cheap though so could be membrane if alps did them.
Silitek SK41000R-2B (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-AT-keyboard-boxed-Silitek-SK41000R-2B_W0QQitemZ360031687108QQihZ023QQcategoryZ96882QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Again, no indication of whether it's mechanical or not but silitek did make boards with alps (like the Dell AT102W).
"Model M"-style clicky keyboard (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Model-M-style-Clicky-keyboard_W0QQitemZ120232011887QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4706QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). I think IBM had the patent on buckling spring so this one could be alps.
"Mechanical Touch" labled board (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AT-computer-PC-keyboard_W0QQitemZ290212779363QQihZ019QQcategoryZ96882QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Says it all really.
I don't know if any of the sellers will ship to portugal or what the rates are but hopefully the links are helpful.
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The SMK85 had black switches, and I sold it to thin my collection out. The white switches are cleaner than the blacks, but still inferior to Cherry blues.
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The old Northgate keyboards use clicky white alps, but the sgi keyboards use non-clicky white alps.
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"Model M"-style clicky keyboard. I think IBM had the patent on buckling spring so this one could be alps.
I have a rather old keyboard from China that uses buckling springs as far as I can tell.
I'll get you a make/model/year when I can.
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The SMK85 had black switches, and I sold it to thin my collection out. The white switches are cleaner than the blacks, but still inferior to Cherry blues.
I have a keyboard with cherry blues(DAS KEYBOARD II) but i was wondering if alps would be more clicky.....that's why my interest.....
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Alps are more clicky and sound a lot more mechanical than the Cherry's, but the Cherry blues feel better to me. If you want to try an Alps 'board, you can get them anywhere used for cheep. I do like Alps a lot, I just pulled out my Macally MK95 the other day, so I recommend you try one out, maybe it'll be better for you than the Das II. I prefer the white plungers, but the old-school pinks and oranges (not clicky) feel really good. The white ones (as far as I know) are the only ones that click, but they're all pretty loud and clacky.
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Need to check one out.....but i wonder if i could get a more recent alps keyboard....
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The Macally MK95 is still on eBay:
Oops, it's the MK96, I confuse my own she-it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBTOX:IT&item=180129991159&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m238.lVI
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Just want to add that the Apple Extended Keyboard (m0115) types very slowly if used on a pc through an Griffin iMate ADB to USB converter...
I believe this might not be the case with Macs, so I might be buying a macbook pro in the future...
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The iMate works as well as USB with my MacBook.
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I have 2 Apple Extended I's with iMates. One is on my work Windows PC (a older P4 with XP), the other is with my MacBook (Leopard). Both combos work perfectly, no problems at all.
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Did you install a patch or have a firmware update for your imate?
I can type fine on my extended I, but I can't seem to do n-key rollover. If I type really fast, the keyboard seems to lag. If I type multiple keys randomly at a very fast pace (e.g.: owerijneprwiwperunweprguhnepsrinwepgin38h45nwpw45h45ehwes950qw3985tw40ew0eas5hs0aert9vhse0r-98hse-d0bvh-s09vbase98gvbhase09gvaze089ov), the computer seems to not respond or display the keys I typed in.)
I like it because it is a very fast response keyboard,but the thing is pretty light and has a nice tactile action. BTW, apparently the help key broke off its plunger, the plunger's stuck inside the alps key.... ... this is gonna hurt resale value .
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I have 2 iMates that I bought from different sources, and never had to mess with firmware updates or anything like that. I'm not sure if the firmware is actually upgradable. The 2 iMates are different colors, I know one of them is much older. Have you tried on more than 1 computer?
I think the Extended II has n-key down, not sure if that's what you mean-
Somehow, you failed to mention the one feature which made the Extended II desirable, especially when compared to the Apple Extended Keyboard and its less-loved successor, the Apple Design Keyboard: n-key down.
http://lowendmac.com/thomas/06/1113.html
What I have found with my Extended I's is that the computer has never lagged behind my typing (I can get up to at least 80 WPM and probably higher sometimes.)
I have a third Apple Extended with a couple of busted key caps. They had broken off during shipment, and the ends were also stuck in the Alps keys. I was able to get them off eventually, I think what worked best was using a tiny screw (eyeglass frame size). I used a screwdriver and basically screwed the little screw into the broken off piece, and then pulled the screw+plastic piece out. Doesn't sound like it would work, but it actually worked really well.
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I'd like to put together a mod for the Apple keyboards that points the ADB jack to the rear of the case instead of out either side. I've always thought that pointing it out the side was a little screwy.
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I'd like to put together a mod for the Apple keyboards that points the ADB jack to the rear of the case instead of out either side. I've always thought that pointing it out the side was a little screwy.
If you are going to go to all that trouble...might as well see about integrating the innards of the iMate as well.
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I read about some guy who did that. There's definitely plenty of empty space inside the keyboard.
You could probably hide 4 port powered USB hub inside too, and make it all USB (okay maybe just 1 more USB port for the mouse).
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nice idea, imav, but the imates are pretty salty for what they do. unless you find a deal on one, it's likely to cost more than the keyboard. I have 2 imates (one's just a backup) servicing 4 adb keyboards, of which i can only use one at a time anyway. =-/
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I have a Northgate Omnikey in very very good conditions that I will list on ebay. White apls.
Email me if interested.
nelsonricciardi at gmail dot com
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Anyone with a smk-95 with white alps who wants to sell ?:P