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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: wellington1869 on Sat, 07 February 2009, 12:58:14
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based on ebay or other prices... just wondering... i'd like to try them out at some point to compare with the 'real-simplified' switches on the tp2.
No rush, just something to keep my eye out for. Wondering what model bigfoot boards tend to go for the least money.
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Specific color? I believe the dell at-101w has black bigfoot ALPS...
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I'm pretty sure this (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CHICONY-KB-5161-Keyboard-WHITE-SLIDERS-RARE_W0QQitemZ250182953004QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116)has bigfoot ALPS.
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I think he wants whites.
Of course, blues (IIRC, the predecessor of whites) might be interesting, too - it's been quite a while since I've typed on blues, though. I seem to recall it resembling a Cherry blue in feel, but with a better tactile curve, although I didn't have it plugged into a computer.
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This one (http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-Accessories-102-Key-Ergonomic-Keyboard-KB-7001_W0QQitemZ380101533679QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item380101533679&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50#ebayphotohosting) is NIB and is the same as my PC Accessories (Chicony) KB-7001. It has bigfoot ALPS.
Here's (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PC-ACCESSORIES-Split-KEYBOARD-clicky-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ260340180313QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116#ebayphotohosting) a used one for $53 buy it now. (Same seller as I bought from...)
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yea, whites. the clicky plus tactile ones...
thanks for the links zw, i'm checking them out...
I also checked out that northgate repair site. I guess I have to decide if I want something cheap to just try and dispose, or if I want to something to keep and use. If the latter, then I'm really limited to the dell quietkey or the siig minitouch (because I need the short spacebar because I use the alt/win keys with my thumbs as hotkeys with autohotkey). Hmmmmm.
I asked the northgate repair guy for prices on those two. I'd be surprised if they're less than $50 though.
Alternately I buy a cheap one for around 20 or 25 (hopefully) and solder them into the dell at101w at some point. :) I guess I have to think about it.
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your welcome. I'll try to look for some cheaper ones too.
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If you want something to keep and use, I'd reccomend the Omnikey Evolution. Ctechsys (http://www.c-techsys.com/products.html) has them for $79. That's the cheapest your gonna find them + they have Windows keys and bigfoot ALPS.
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I still have one up for grabs. Not sure why nobody wants it.
Postage I guess.
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Alternately I buy a cheap one for around 20 or 25 (hopefully) and solder them into the dell at101w at some point. :) I guess I have to think about it.
The Dells are bigfoot too, so using an ALPS switch tool from lam (I think you got one didn't you?) you should be able to swap just the tops without having to desolder.
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I still have one up for grabs. Not sure why nobody wants it.
Postage I guess.
I'd want it if it weren't for the fact that your poweruser is ADB and I'm to cheap to buy a kb and spend $35 on an iMate :p
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There is always buying a computer that can use it. (The sad part is, an ADB-equipped compact Mac or a IIGS or something probably would be cheaper than an iMate.)
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I still have one up for grabs. Not sure why nobody wants it.
Postage I guess.
lol, ya for me postage would kind of kill the deal since I'm attempting to go cheap-o here ;) Otherwise I would have grabbed it actually. Oh and I gave away my imate too.
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The Dells are bigfoot too, so using an ALPS switch tool from lam (I think you got one didn't you?) you should be able to swap just the tops without having to desolder.
no the at101w's we got all have black alps. are those bigfoots? I've forgotten, I'llhave to open one and check. I thought they were newer 'simplified' alps switches.
update holy crap, I think they're bigfoots?!
this is a pic of the dell black alps:
(http://www.gesticulations.com/public/gallery/Images/at101w/DSCN0224%20%28Medium%29.JPG)
which looks an awful lot like the first alps switch (bigfoot?) described here (sandy's page i think):
http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/alps_sw2.html
If so, holy crap, i already have bigfoots! In that case I guess I have to compare them myself :)
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There is always buying a computer that can use it. (The sad part is, an ADB-equipped compact Mac or a IIGS or something probably would be cheaper than an iMate.)
I have a blue-and-white g3 in the attic.(The b/w g3 is the last mac with an ADB port) I use my keyboards/computers mostly for web design and Coda/Dreamweaver run like molasses on that old g3 with panther...
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no the at101w's we got all have black alps. are those bigfoots? I've forgotten, I'llhave to open one and check. I thought they were newer 'simplified' alps switches.
I know they are. Switching mechanism doesn't change between switch color. Here's a pic of a bigfoot ALPS mechanism: (http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/fk2001/sw3_s.jpg)
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damn, so I guess I dont need to buy anything, lol. I'll do a comparison in next day or two then :)
my feeling is that for whatever reason I like the 'real-simplified' version of this switch over the others. (Figures, since its the one that is apparently the hardest to find :) And that means I might have to hold on to this tp2 so that at some distant future date I can maybe solder its switches into the dell (both because of the tp2's ghosting problems and because I want the shorter spacebar). SO one more project for the to-do list :)
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Keep in mind though it won't be a fair comparison compairing a white switch to a black "low tactile" switch.
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Keep in mind though it won't be a fair comparison compairing a white switch to a black "low tactile" switch.
no, i'm going to swap out the click leafs before comparing :)
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This one I believe has some sort of actual Alps switches:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alps-MCL-101-Multipurpose-Media-Keyboard-DIN-5-IBM-PC_W0QQitemZ270328759771QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
Only $3.99 plus reasonable shipping...
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This one I believe has some sort of actual Alps switches:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alps-MCL-101-Multipurpose-Media-Keyboard-DIN-5-IBM-PC_W0QQitemZ270328759771QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
Only $3.99 plus reasonable shipping...
I wonder what it has. Dirt cheap, too.
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I was tempted to buy it myself... but I already have enough Alps-based keyboards. :)