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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: chimera15 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 01:15:18

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: chimera15 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 01:15:18

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290319263773&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:Watchlink:middle:us

Brown alps sliders??? Not sure I've ever seen those before....really getting the bidders and price out up on it.  The price is pretty amazing considering it might be an xt keyboard and need a rare expensive adapter, or be worthless on a modern system.

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: lowpoly on Wed, 27 May 2009, 03:11:36

You can always build an adapter yourself (http://www.kbdbabel.org) for cheap.

Edit: Looks like kbdbabel is currently broken.

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: chimera15 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 04:12:31

I looked at schematics when I was looking to do this with an f type xt I had, it looked nearly impossible to me.  Once you build the converter you have to program the chip, if you can even find it.  Pretty difficult.
Clicky keyboards occasionally has them for $150+ or something insane.

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: sandy55 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 08:44:31

Most likely the board might be made by Gold Star ALPS Korea.  I know two variations .  One was branded  as  BIOS Express and the other was Silent Partner BIOS, both models have ALPS Blues.  Probably Gold Star made same board but with  browns for EPSON America.
Dunno if those browns are exactly same with these rare old tactile browns (http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/yamahak.htm) or they are  just usual  ALPS tactile switches with uncommon brown colored stem.

For BIOS EXP board, see here (http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/bios_exp.html).
Silent Partner board is not available at on-line web pages unfortunately.

Both BIOS EXP and Silent Partner boards are AT compatible but dislike some mother boards. Can't be used via AT/USB adapters. this does not mean said EPSON board is also  AT compatible. .....but, the key layout is AT84  style.

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 11:06:00

You could always take the Brown alps out and put them into an AT101 or the like.

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 27 May 2009, 11:10:50

Quote from: ch_123;92929

You could always take the Brown alps out and put them into an AT101 or the like.

Looking at the pics Sandy linked to, I don't think you'll get much benefit/change from putting those browns in a Dell. To me, the browns look like they would be similar in feel to the blacks (basically, tactile with no click). The browns look a little different in construction to later Alps (no need for an extended simplified/complicated/real/fake discussion... please?), but the general concept looks similar to the blacks (short of looking at force curves and such).
 
Thanks, again, Sandy for your input.  We miss you and Chloe. :)

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: chimera15 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 11:30:11

The seller contacted me, he said the keys weren't clicky, which is interesting.  He also said that collectors are really going insane over them, and they've been selling for over $300.  Pretty amazing, he confirmed that it's a a non clicky, xt, that can't even be used on a modern system without an adapter.  Do these people know siig minitouch's exist? lol

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: lowpoly on Wed, 27 May 2009, 12:30:28

Are these collectors located in Asia? Otherwise, why are they not here?

Title: epson f style compact, brown alps?
Post by: chimera15 on Wed, 27 May 2009, 12:30:32

Quote from: ripster;92938

He's got a key macro that types that out.

Scarry Garcia has one that says "it's a hacker keyboard"

lol