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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Defect on Sun, 08 June 2014, 17:43:33

Title: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Defect on Sun, 08 June 2014, 17:43:33
I want a 60% Alps board.  What are my options?

Anyone know where I can get a pcb?  Fujll board?
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: ideus on Sun, 08 June 2014, 17:47:07
The Sprit kit may include a PCB for ALPS. Check with him, the second round is open now.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: intelli78 on Sun, 08 June 2014, 17:58:36
The V60 MTS should be out soon, plus Matias himself has been talking about a 60% for some time. I think in a few months to a year, there will be more options. For now, Sprit might have something, or you can get a Duck Mini V2.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sun, 08 June 2014, 17:59:47
Matias and QWER keys are coming out with some 60% alps boards.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Defect on Sun, 08 June 2014, 18:01:58
Alright.  I guess I have to wait for the Matias.  They've been doing pretty well lately.  Please please please don't force a bad arrow cluster!  Poker II had a great idea but I hate the PN/FN locations.

Asked but haven't heard from Sprit on his 60% alps.

I was looking at Duck Mini V2 but I just want the pcb...
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: SonOfSonOfSpock on Mon, 09 June 2014, 00:23:45
The Matias mini boards are 75%. If you're just looking for something that isn't as wide, they are a good option.

Here is a recent thread about a 60% Alps announcement: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58200.0;topicseen (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58200.0;topicseen)
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 09 June 2014, 03:54:50
Alright.  I guess I have to wait for the Matias.  They've been doing pretty well lately.  Please please please don't force a bad arrow cluster!  Poker II had a great idea but I hate the PN/FN locations.

Asked but haven't heard from Sprit on his 60% alps.

I was looking at Duck Mini V2 but I just want the pcb...

There's a chance the arrows and edit key will be like they are on the Ergo Pro, but don't quote me on that.

I'm still happiest with the Pure Fn layout for 60%. I'd love if I had an option to map the `~ key to Esc Fn layer and use a full size right shift, but that's my only issue with it (keycap compatibility). HHKB layout is nice, but the arrow cluster turns me off. I'm too used to inverted T.

If you want one badly enough, you can make your own by having a plate cut and hand wiring the switches to a Teensy. You could probably fit it into a Poker case with long screws and spacers to mount the plate directly to the case. That way you also get the benefit of complete programmability  ;)
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Defect on Mon, 09 June 2014, 06:13:01
The Matias mini boards are 75%. If you're just looking for something that isn't as wide, they are a good option.

Here is a recent thread about a 60% Alps announcement: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58200.0;topicseen (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58200.0;topicseen)

We're talking about 60% Matias.


There's a chance the arrows and edit key will be like they are on the Ergo Pro, but don't quote me on that.

I'm still happiest with the Pure Fn layout for 60%. I'd love if I had an option to map the `~ key to Esc Fn layer and use a full size right shift, but that's my only issue with it (keycap compatibility). HHKB layout is nice, but the arrow cluster turns me off. I'm too used to inverted T.

If you want one badly enough, you can make your own by having a plate cut and hand wiring the switches to a Teensy. You could probably fit it into a Poker case with long screws and spacers to mount the plate directly to the case. That way you also get the benefit of complete programmability  ;)

Yeah I thought about hand wiring a board but getting a 60 alps plate was my concern.  I'm not too good with metals.

I love the Pures FN arrow options.  What I want most though is FN on right of space bar, then bottom 3 mods + shift = arrow cluster.  Pure has the space+FN that toggles this but I'd rather have it set to where you hold down FN rather than toggle a mode.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: ideus on Mon, 09 June 2014, 07:57:34
I wonder you want ALPS if Cherry are also good switches and they have many mods and caps to try, while ALPS do not. I had two ALPS boards a couple of years ago, I liked them but I had a very hard time trying to get caps for them.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Defect on Mon, 09 June 2014, 08:15:23
I wonder you want ALPS if Cherry are also good switches and they have many mods and caps to try, while ALPS do not. I had two ALPS boards a couple of years ago, I liked them but I had a very hard time trying to get caps for them.

Pretty much summed up why I want an Alps.  My sig doesn't include all the MX boards I have.  I'm getting bored of MX
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: ideus on Mon, 09 June 2014, 08:17:29
I wonder you want ALPS if Cherry are also good switches and they have many mods and caps to try, while ALPS do not. I had two ALPS boards a couple of years ago, I liked them but I had a very hard time trying to get caps for them.

Pretty much summed up why I want an Alps.  My sig doesn't include all the MX boards I have.  I'm getting bored of MX

Well, that is an un-debatable argument.  ;)
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: vivalarevolución on Mon, 09 June 2014, 08:39:01
If Matias made a 60% similar to their 75% boards, minus the F keys but maintaining the arrow cluster, I would be completely fine with that.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: ZSYStriker on Mon, 09 June 2014, 08:54:50
Try going retro.  Take a look at Unitek K258 -- it's a 75% though.  There's a thread for it at GH.  I've got one and the feel is pretty damn nice.  Only thing I don't like about is that its backspace is 1x.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 11:51:24
The Siig Minitouch is nice as well.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: mashby on Mon, 09 June 2014, 12:29:01
Duck Mini v2 supports ALPS or Cherry MX.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Sniping on Mon, 09 June 2014, 12:50:05
The Siig Minitouch is nice as well.

This, you can get a white alps 60% for around $25. Nice budget option if you don't mind the vintage beige casing and color scheme.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 12:53:06
I'd call it a 75% layout but if you buy the White Alps version, you could swap the internals to an Alps switch of your choice. It's a bit light but overall, I like the keyboard.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Defect on Mon, 09 June 2014, 13:01:43
The Siig Minitouch is nice as well.

The Siig Minitouch is nice as well.

This, you can get a white alps 60% for around $25. Nice budget option if you don't mind the vintage beige casing and color scheme.

I live vintage beige but it's not a 60%

Duck Mini v2 supports ALPS or Cherry MX.

Can't find a place to buy just the pcb.  Any ideas?  Not a fan of the case or the price of the case.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 13:02:54
They're hard to find even with the case. I suspect you'll be searching for a while.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Defect on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:45:57
They're hard to find even with the case. I suspect you'll be searching for a while.

I guess that's the fun in it?  But seriously give me your Kingsaver.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:49:07
LOL. Kingsaver isn't going anywhere :D. Besides, it's not even 60%!
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: Dubsgalore on Mon, 09 June 2014, 19:37:16
QWERTim is ya boy
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: barihunk on Tue, 10 June 2014, 02:13:54
If Matias made a 60% similar to their 75% boards, minus the F keys but maintaining the arrow cluster, I would be completely fine with that.

A-Men to that.
Title: Re: I want a 60% Alps Board. What are my options?
Post by: vivalarevolución on Tue, 10 June 2014, 14:54:06
I really am interested to see what Matias pumps out, if they do end up releasing a 60%.  They always put a lot of thought into a product before they release it, and do not seem like a company that rushes things to the market for a quick buck.  That process was evident in how they have designed their split ergo board, and the explanations that they have provided in the forums.