Chicony even wrote "SMK SW" (http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/chicony_kb-5181.html) on their KB-5181/2 PCB! I've confirmed with both Monterey and Chicony that the "Monterey" switches came from SMK.
Besides, they're just too perfect to be a clone — I have never seen a genuine clone of any Alps switch, while many companies cloned Cherry MX switches (even to the point that all the parts are interchangeable with real Cherry MX switches.) That said, they wouldn't be hard to clone as they're so badly made.
I don't have the IIGS keyboard, but I've got a Tulip SMK keyboard with tactile switches and it's close to being exceptional — the switches are far smoother than Matias clones or black Alps. It's the perfect smoothness of blue Alps, but tactile. They have a normal-looking click leaf, and a chamfered slider to cause the click leaf to slide at the last moment without clicking. (I'll post some photos of this one day to the DT wiki.) So far as I can tell, this approach is unique; Taiwan Tai-Hao went for a less angled leaf, and it doesn't work anywhere near as well (worse than MX brown).
The only down side to SMK is that they partially bind, making the smaller, non-stabilised modifier keys stiff. Not surprising, as SMK switches are known for their superb feel but terrible construction.
Me again, just bought an Apple M0118 on eBay. Anyone got any info about this board? Switches, differences to M0115-117? There was also an old Apple Desktop Bus Mouse in that auction, I'm really looking forward to trying these out on my PC.
//Pic:Show Image(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Apple-Tastatur-Keyboard-aus-den-1990zigern-Model-No-MO118-und-Desktop-Bus-Maus-/00/s/NTk0WDEwMDQ=/z/RygAAMXQE31RmSM7/$T2eC16JHJFsFFSQJ7RohBRmSM68Lew~~60_12.JPG)
Me again, just bought an Apple M0118 on eBay. Anyone got any info about this board? Switches, differences to M0115-117? There was also an old Apple Desktop Bus Mouse in that auction, I'm really looking forward to trying these out on my PC.
//Pic:Show Image(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Apple-Tastatur-Keyboard-aus-den-1990zigern-Model-No-MO118-und-Desktop-Bus-Maus-/00/s/NTk0WDEwMDQ=/z/RygAAMXQE31RmSM7/$T2eC16JHJFsFFSQJ7RohBRmSM68Lew~~60_12.JPG)
You need an adapter, of course. The switches are probably orange Alps which are highly regarded. Otherwise, they may be "salmon" Alps which are also very nice. Some people think that the boards of that style made in Japan are better, I would not know.
Forget the mouse.
Hey that sounds nice, thank you :) I got it very cheap on eBay. Im gonna try it with my ADB-USB adapter first, I don't have a native ADB port to test it on unfortunately.The firmware fix involves adding a "teensy" microcontroller and a resistor, you're basically making a programmable ADB-USB adaptor. If your ADB-USB adaptor works well enough, you probably won't need it.
How do I even modify a firmware on a keyboard? Man, I already miss the times when I just plugged my Qpad in and everything was fine : D Btw, I type rather quickly (125WPM if I have to), my Fake Model F also has problems with this, I have to treat it like a typewriter :>
Well thanks for your offer of assistance, I'm pretty sure Ima need it ;)
Have heard of the teensy thing, thuoght about building one for an old terminal keyboard I found in the basement. Ima tried it with the adapter first though. Works well with my AEK2 despite left and right modifiers give the same signal... I will get the keyboard around 3th-4th of June, I will report how things go.ISTR that the left and right mods always give the same signal on the ADB boards. Can't remember where I picked that little tidbit up from, it's a firmware "issue", I think.
Actually, where do I get a teensy, or do I have to solder one myself (would be no problem either, maybe I'm even gonna do it if it's so much cheaper).http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/
So, I just got my M0118, and apparently it has orange ALPS (it's a very light orange though, but I guess that's just blighted a bit).
Unfortunately, at the transport, the Escape Key broke off. I only know the color of the switches because of that, it's nearly impossible to remove a keycap. I didn't make it till now.I assume you have the keycap. Taking the caps off is kinda hard (the Alps sliders hang onto their keycaps), but once you get the hang of it, it's not too hard. You need to come at the key from both sides with a flathead screwdriver. Start with a corner, and work your way in from there.
I compared the color again to this wiki (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_CM) and it's not a deep orange, it rather matches the Salmon color, so, I guess I got myself some Salmon ALPS. And they feel so perfectly^^
Hi, me again, found a pic of this Umax keyboard thing where a key (F6) is without a keycap:Show Image(http://abload.de/img/kgrhqzhjcoehgr4352bqwi6u90.jpg)
(http://abload.de/image.php?img=kgrhqzhjcoehgr4352bqwi6u90.jpg)
Looks like some kind of ALPS, but which kind ó.Ň
Edit: Or could it be a regular AEK2 ALPS without case (key ripped off)?
So, I just got my M0118, and apparently it has orange ALPS (it's a very light orange though, but I guess that's just blighted a bit).I would say that those are "salmon". You can compare to these images (http://www.sweclockers.com/galleri/11150-apple-keyboard-m0118) (page in Swedish, but we just want to see the images) where the sliders are clearly more deeply orange.