Hate CONUS, grrrr.
Little do you know that after the last tour, AkimbrO made AT F's hard to find. MWAHAHAHA. Akimbo is actually trying to sink the Buckling Spring and Alps market, one tour at a time!
Also, congrats on 2K posts calavera :D
No, no. The Blue Alps. I'm wondering if they're difficult to find. I don't want to enter a tour for switches that I might find amazing, then won't be able to ever find...
I'd like to be included in the tour and I've started writing my review already. :p
****... Okay. Well put me down on the list, please. If they're this amazing, then I must.
We pay shipping ourselves or can we freeload 2 the max?
My real question is now much shipping the board costs. I'd be down provided we can skip it under $15.
We pay shipping ourselves or can we freeload 2 the max?
My real question is now much shipping the board costs. I'd be down provided we can skip it under $15.
Any method with tracking (you pay shipping). The board can fit in a USPS flate rate priority game board box....which is roughly $16 to ship & includes tracking.
We pay shipping ourselves or can we freeload 2 the max?
My real question is now much shipping the board costs. I'd be down provided we can skip it under $15.
Any method with tracking (you pay shipping). The board can fit in a USPS flate rate priority game board box....which is roughly $16 to ship & includes tracking.
I'm in, if I can send it out in the package it came in (to cut shipping cost).
Is there anyway at all for me to get in on this? I'm willing to pay shipping to and from me?
Is APO/FPO considered CONUS? It kinda is, I think you should let me try it :D
I'll sign up if allowed :-X
I'll sign up if allowed :-X
I need to know the state you live in.
Is APO/FPO considered CONUS? It kinda is, I think you should let me try it :D
Sorry tipo!
Can I be notified on when the person before me in the queue is being shipped to? I may have to adjust my position in the queue so that I'm not holding things up, being that I travel so much.
Why did you let him on this tour again? You know he's not going to review it! :P I'm excited to get my hands on this board :D!
Why did you let him on this tour again? You know he's not going to review it! :P I'm excited to get my hands on this board :D!
Who is it going to next?
AKIMbO -- I see in the OP photo what I believe to be the simplified whites, but which keys are the Matias quiet click?
Bingie, you in love with that thing or what? :P :))
I'm still after moose correct? So digi is going to send the board to moose then it's my turn?
Please move me ahead of moose...then stop the tour after that :P
Board is on it's way to CPT.
Okay. Back to the grind, and a bit of time to write a review.
So first off, after typing on a HHKB for so long, the fatigue of typing on these Blue Alps was noticeable right away. They're not even that heavy, but my fingers have become adjusted to such a light switch.
I've been trying to figure out a way to describe them by comparison to other switches more common such that people who read it can try to have an idea, but that's very hard to do because these switches are very much in a class of their own.
First, they feel GREAT. I love clicky switches. MX Blues were my first, and what really absorbed me into keyboards was that clicking sound. These switches click, but they're very far from MX Blues. The click sounds more metallic, not plasticy like MX Blues, but not as pingy as Buckling Springs. It's a very nice sound. Much, much nicer than White Alps (XMs?). The feeling is also superior. I've also tried Matias Clickys as individual switches (not in a keyboard), and the clicking is superior to those as well. Unfortunately, that's pretty much the extent of my Alps experience, so not much else to compare them to. The weight, once I adjusted was actually nice. They seem to be heavier than MX Blues to me, which is a very nice plus. I've always thought that MX Blues with a slightly heavier spring would be superior (though in my year+ here, I've still never tried them... :/ ).
The negative, unfortunately, is that they're still Alps. I know a lot of people love these switches, and they do seem to have very many different types of switches with different feels from what I hear, but they've always just felt off to me. The fact that you have to be considerate of how you press them because pressing them at an angle causes the press to feel off puts me off of them.
But, as much as Alps aren't for me, I still keep one Alps board for my own historical reasons, and with everything being said, where I was planning on swapping in Matias Clicky switches to it, I'm actually considering trying to acquire a board with these switches to put into it instead. If you're a person who enjoys clicky switches with a little weight on them as much as me, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with these.
I'd like to finish off by thanking AKIMbO for making this happen. It's always nice for a community member to be willing to help out the community to grow and gain new experiences. I truly appreciate it.
AKIMbrO was kind enough to let me get in at the end of this tour… can't wait :D.
AKIMbrO take me out of the tour. I can't afford to ship the keyboard anywhere :(
I can't afford to ship the keyboard anywhere
I sent the board to prdlm2009 today. I had tears in my eyes. If I wrote the review (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54201.0) on paper, it would've been smudged. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
hehe, hang in there Cpt! If I ever get my hands on an Alps TKL custom, it will have blues.
So I overheard this beauty on skype and want to feel the majesty. Any way I can join at the end?
Well, these came with Complicated Blues. It's more like a QFR-style TK than a TKL though.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/iCuvw9Q.jpg)
It seems to be very rare as I can't find any info on it on the net.
Show Image(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BLPc3-pjQhY/Uu3BYpdaVvI/AAAAAAAACcQ/jgRZKtuYkng/w1177-h883-no/IMG_20140201_135333.jpg)
This picture is from damieng's collection.
What keyboard is this?
That board is fantastic. Any more info on it? Labels, FCC ID, etc?
That board is fantastic. Any more info on it? Labels, FCC ID, etc?
It's a Focus FK-767 (FSQ4VYFK-767) from 1988. It came from a bank, so it might have been a teller keyboard.
That board is fantastic. Any more info on it? Labels, FCC ID, etc?
It's a Focus FK-767 (FSQ4VYFK-767) from 1988. It came from a bank, so it might have been a teller keyboard.
According to the pictures in this thread (http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/philips-pm-3655-logic-analyzer-keyboard-t4927.html), the FK-767 has Cyan Omron (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Omron_keyswitch) switches. DT Wiki says they should feel like Orange Omrons. I'm not sure how they feel; don't know what Omrons feel like.
That board is fantastic. Any more info on it? Labels, FCC ID, etc?
It's a Focus FK-767 (FSQ4VYFK-767) from 1988. It came from a bank, so it might have been a teller keyboard.
According to the pictures in this thread (http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/philips-pm-3655-logic-analyzer-keyboard-t4927.html), the FK-767 has Cyan Omron (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Omron_keyswitch) switches. DT Wiki says they should feel like Orange Omrons. I'm not sure how they feel; don't know what Omrons feel like.
Well, these came with Complicated Blues. It's more like a QFR-style TK than a TKL though.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/iCuvw9Q.jpg)
It seems to be very rare as I can't find any info on it on the net.
It's a Focus FK-767 (FSQ4VYFK-767) from 1988. It came from a bank, so it might have been a teller keyboard.
So I overheard this beauty on skype and want to feel the majesty. Any way I can join at the end?
Ditto.
Is it too late to join this tour? Hadn't heard of it until now.
Not sure how I missed this until now. I'd like to get in if possible.
Well, these came with Complicated Blues. It's more like a QFR-style TK than a TKL though.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/iCuvw9Q.jpg)
It seems to be very rare as I can't find any info on it on the net.
It's a Focus FK-767 (FSQ4VYFK-767) from 1988. It came from a bank, so it might have been a teller keyboard.
That model is interesting, since my focus is a FK-747A and it looks like this:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I've not heard a single bad word about these switches yet, and every review makes me more and more excited to try them out :thumb:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I've not heard a single bad word about these switches yet, and every review makes me more and more excited to try them out :thumb:
I do have one bad word. I like buckling springs more.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I've not heard a single bad word about these switches yet, and every review makes me more and more excited to try them out :thumb:
I do have one bad word. I like buckling springs more.Show Image(http://markb4.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/star-wars-darth-vader-no.gif)
Just capacitive. The jury is still out on membrane buckling springs.
Just capacitive. The jury is still out on membrane buckling springs.
I just did a successful bolt-mod on a 1390131 that is about as good as it gets with a Model M.
It was interesting and different, and I certainly appreciate that the Model M is "the one true keyboard" that brings together all the elements that make the modern keyboard what we know it as today.
But the Model F is still a very large cut above as far as awesomeness and feel are concerned.
Just capacitive. The jury is still out on membrane buckling springs.
I just did a successful bolt-mod on a 1390131 that is about as good as it gets with a Model M.
It was interesting and different, and I certainly appreciate that the Model M is "the one true keyboard" that brings together all the elements that make the modern keyboard what we know it as today.
But the Model F is still a very large cut above as far as awesomeness and feel are concerned.
There seems to be consensus about this. I won't be hesitating the next time I have the money and an AT is available…
I know we are getting a bit off topic with this thread, but even among the Model F, the feel is different between the various models. You have to try a few of them to really understand.
I know we are getting a bit off topic with this thread, but even among the Model F, the feel is different between the various models. You have to try a few of them to really understand.
Off topic is good. Please continue throwing people off the trail of Blue Alps so I can get a keyboard for cheap XD.
[size=78%]Did I mention Blue Alps is garbage. Don't get it. Stick to Alps clones. They are the best.[/size]
monterey blue alps. On the DT wiki all I see is a single page about blue alps.
Can anyone speak to the differences between Monterey blue and blue alps types?
Ah, I see! Thank you much kind sir! ^_^
Ah, I see! Thank you much kind sir! ^_^
No worries :D. FWIW, I liked both switches a lot. I have a Siig Minitouch with Monterey Blues and I really like it. And I also loved Blue Alps switches. I posted a review a little earlier in this thread if you wanted to get more of my thoughts on Complicated Blue Alps.
Please Matias, please come through with your 60% board so I'm not forced to do battle with tjcaustin and snipe a Mini V2 from him.
***** I know where you live. We can still do battle. :P
***** I know where you live. We can still do battle. :P
Man, these headphones sure don't fit well in my ear, I guess I'll take a hammer to them.
Time to crow about a project that has been simmering in my mind for 2 years, and is finally complete.
Although I was not a part of this tour, I have built pretty much the same keyboard, with help and advice from Akimbo along the way.
For me, the hardest part was getting the switches, and it took about a year and a half of ebay-ing before I got my hands on some, initially thanks to Akimbo (you can never thank this great guy enough).
Then I had to procure a recipient for my donor. First I put some into a Dell AT101, a very well-built, straight-ANSI board that I have used and loved, off and on, for many years. But although it felt great, it just did not ring my bell on every level (cough* aesthetics *cough).
Eventually, I found a Northgate Omnikey 101 and that did the trick. This magnificent keyboard is constructed on a par with my beloved IBM Model Fs, which cannot be said for any other conventional keyboard, in my experience.
So I cleaned it up thoroughly, sanded away the rust spots, painted the steel plate green (my trademark, since my name is Moss what else can I do?), transplanted the blue Alps (and used the less desirable whites for a dozen of my rarely-used keys to conserve "the good stuff"), lubed them very lightly with Krytox, and put it all back together.
This magnificent keyboard is everything I wanted it to be. It cost 2 years of waiting, nearly $300 in parts (I bought several second-tier pieces), and several hours at the work bench.
Sweet. Just sweet!
PS - Bob Tibbetts is wrong, there is a difference between blue and white, although it is subtle. However, if you don't want to break out the soldering iron, get a Northgate with white Alps and lube them, that is doggone close for a lot less time and money.
what's your impressions on switch (capacitive BS versus blue ALPs) and chasis (IBM F vs. early model M vs Omnikey) differences?
I'm also considering simply stealing a bunch of click leaves from a white alps I never use and creating an abomination identical to blues in every way (unless the click leaf design had changed as well).I need to inspect the click leaves of blue & white switches more closely, but note that the switch plate is definitely different between blue and white Alps, and there are some suggestions online that the blue switches had some dry lubricant added as well?
How is the shine on the omnikey caps?
I have a few Alps-compatible sets of keys, but they will not be a perfect match and will lack various longer keys. I have not tried a set from an old Apple, but that might work pretty well.Keycaps from an Extended Keyboard or Extended Keyboard II will work, except that the function row are all rotated 90°.
If you get one of the Alps-made versions of the Apple Design Keyboard, the caps should work.
All of the Apple Design Keyboards, M2980, have fixed cables as far as I know. The Alps ones can be distinguished by the shape of the case bottom as that Deskthority page explains, or by looking for ones made in the Czech Republic, the US, or Mexico. (The ones made in China or Thailand are various non-Alps rubber domes.)If you get one of the Alps-made versions of the Apple Design Keyboard, the caps should work.My experience is that the ones with detachable cables are Alps-compatible, and the ones with fixed cables are not.
I'm going to interject to say that I received this wonderful board today! Many thanks to AKIMbO for letting us preview this beauty, and thanks riot for packaging it well. :)Show Image(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/13135004345_94aa12a7ab_o.jpg)
OmniKey Blue Alps (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99522542@N03/13135004345/) by HoffmanMyster (http://www.flickr.com/people/99522542@N03/), on Flickr
Is this tour still open? I'm an alps virgin and would absolutely love to try out some blue alps goodness! I live in MA.
Is this tour still open? I'm an alps virgin and would absolutely love to try out some blue alps goodness! I live in MA.
Please, akimbo?
A bit delayed but whatever:
A bit delayed but whatever:
Where are all the reviews?
Where are all the reviews?
Where are all the reviews?
We're waiting for mashby to go first. :P
Where are all the reviews?
We're waiting for mashby to go first. :P
That cheeky bugger...never posting his reviews...:P
How's the board, Hoffman? ;)
How's the board, Hoffman? ;)
:eek: It needs a slight cleaning. Many apologies for the delay, I just need to find a few hours of daylight to go outside and clean the board. :confused: Sorry guys. I should be able to clean it tomorrow.
man, this is such a cool initiative :D good on you, akimbo!
:cool:man, this is such a cool initiative :D good on you, akimbo!I'm thinking about doing an HHKB tour too.
I'm going to interject to say that I received this wonderful board today! Many thanks to AKIMbO for letting us preview this beauty, and thanks riot for packaging it well. :)Show Image(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/13135004345_94aa12a7ab_o.jpg)
OmniKey Blue Alps (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99522542@N03/13135004345/) by HoffmanMyster (http://www.flickr.com/people/99522542@N03/), on Flickr
Can I join again? :cool:
Just kidding, I'm glad we got the glass out of the board this going again. More GHers need to know about Blue Alps!
Whoa. I didn't get to have a surprise when I tried the board earlier in the tour. I have one sad.
Wait a second, are we just waiting for mashby to post his review before we continue the tour Akimbro? :p
Holy crap!
Were you going 150 mph or was that an Andes Condor?
The only good bird is a dead bird, grilled and smothered in bbq sauce (this includes turkey...bbq turkey is delicious).
The only good bird is a dead bird, grilled and smothered in bbq sauce (this includes turkey...bbq turkey is delicious).
The only good bird is a dead bird, grilled and smothered in bbq sauce (this includes turkey...bbq turkey is delicious).
Let's hope Binge doesn't like Blue Alps…
You all are missing the point. The Omnikey has now been tested to be bird and glass proof. If *that isn't* a sign of how amazing this keyboard is, I don't know what else is. We pretty much had Hoffman shoot a turkey and glass at it like it was an aircraft engine and it survived. Now *that's* keyboard science.
Hooray! The board is back in motion!! Now for more reviews!
Got the board today! I'll post a review soon. This thing is awesome, though—the blue alps are wonderful and the omnikey is built like a tank.
Um, what? I thought hashbizzle was next in line...
Can I still get in on this? I'd really love to give blue alps a whirl. One of the only variants I haven't tried yet.
Can I still get in on this? I'd really love to give blue alps a whirl. One of the only variants I haven't tried yet.
I'll add you to the list tomorrow.
Can I still get in on this? I'd really love to give blue alps a whirl. One of the only variants I haven't tried yet.
I'll add you to the list tomorrow.
Awesome! Thanks dude! Much appreciated.
Could I also be a part of this?
Toying with my emotions :confused: :confused:Could I also be a part of this?
No, yes, no yes, no yes....added!
Just came in here to say BLUE ALPS MASTER RACE.
Okay, carry on. :)
Just came in here to say BLUE ALPS MASTER RACE.
Okay, carry on. :)
Sooner or later someone will receive that northgate board with the caps glued to the board and missing all the switches underneath, lulz.
Just came in here to say BLUE ALPS MASTER RACE.
Okay, carry on. :)
Sooner or later someone will receive that northgate board with the caps glued to the board and missing all the switches underneath, lulz.
Don't give Hashbaz any ideas before it gets to me! hwood, um...you may receive a non-functioning board, but that's normal. ;)
hashbaz might not be happy with me sharing this, but whatever. He's not even using it! It's sitting on his couch in his office. :P
Dastardly!Just came in here to say BLUE ALPS MASTER RACE.
Okay, carry on. :)
Sooner or later someone will receive that northgate board with the caps glued to the board and missing all the switches underneath, lulz.
Don't give Hashbaz any ideas before it gets to me! hwood, um...you may receive a non-functioning board, but that's normal. ;)
hashbaz might not be happy with me sharing this, but whatever. He's not even using it! It's sitting on his couch in his office. :P
Sorry hash. huehuehue xD
Just came in here to say BLUE ALPS MASTER RACE.
Okay, carry on. :)
Sooner or later someone will receive that northgate board with the caps glued to the board and missing all the switches underneath, lulz.
Don't give Hashbaz any ideas before it gets to me! hwood, um...you may receive a non-functioning board, but that's normal. ;)
hashbaz might not be happy with me sharing this, but whatever. He's not even using it! It's sitting on his couch in his office. :P
Sorry hash. huehuehue xD
Just came in here to say BLUE ALPS MASTER RACE.
Okay, carry on. :)
Sooner or later someone will receive that northgate board with the caps glued to the board and missing all the switches underneath, lulz.
Don't give Hashbaz any ideas before it gets to me! hwood, um...you may receive a non-functioning board, but that's normal. ;)
hashbaz might not be happy with me sharing this, but whatever. He's not even using it! It's sitting on his couch in his office. :P
Sorry hash. huehuehue xD
So cold Hoff. Not sure we can be kendama bros anymore. I actually have been using it, and I have a very obscure reason for why it was not plugged in when you guys came to my desk. I had to switch back to the KMAC when a coworker came over for a code review since the KRO on this thing is not high enough to handle my window manager properly (i3) and I had to move some windows around to places they are not normally at.
Nuclearsandwich and I actually discussed that at my desk if you had been paying attention
Dude it's cool ;D
I know. ;)
Wow double-trolling? What an *******.
I thought Omnikeys are NKRO though.
Would like to get in on this! I'm in NJ. :thumb:
Would like to get in on this! I'm in NJ. :thumb:
Added!
Would like to get in on this! I'm in NJ. :thumb:
Added!
I think AKIMbO secretly hates blue alps and so wants to keep this board out of his hands for as long as possible.
damnit hash quit hogging the board
Not quite sure what the best way to fix it is. Any thoughts?
So...
Akimbo has been kind of inactive lately. My mind is telling me no.
Akimbo has been kind of inactive lately. My mind is telling me no.
Are you kidding?
He took a road trip with mean-ass cats and moved to the country music capitol.
About to hit the road for a 16 hour drive with a backseat full of precariously packed, irreplaceable keyboards (lzgh, ssks, at fs, f122s, kingsavers, zkb2s, etc.) and 2 mean ass cats. It's the creme de la creme of my collection.
Wish me luck and hope the cats don't crap on my early 80s IBMs!
Did not know this.
Ok, so I'm on tapatalk on my phone so I didn't read the whole thread, but is it too late to sign up?.Pretty late yeah
Thanks
One of the few switches left I want to try that I could see myself using on a daily basis.
Tour's dead hwood34. The cable connection has been busted and I no longer have the time to repair or ship the board. Sorry!
Tour's dead hwood34. The cable connection has been busted and I no longer have the time to repair or ship the board. Sorry!
You should sell it. The fix is probably easy and the board is outstanding.