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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: awong on Thu, 07 August 2014, 21:12:12

Title: What switches Keypad has?
Post by: awong on Thu, 07 August 2014, 21:12:12
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALPS-Glidepoint-Keypad-10-Key-Touchpad-for-Vintage-ADB-Macintosh-NEW-SEALED-/181307884942?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a36cac58e
Title: Re: What switches Keypad has?
Post by: katushkin on Thu, 07 August 2014, 21:31:02
Well it says ALPS on the listing, but I don't know it without asking one of the real experts
Title: Re: What switches Keypad has?
Post by: jacobolus on Fri, 08 August 2014, 13:31:37
It’s surely some kind of Alps switch. My guess is either complicated white Alps, simplified white Alps, or “low profile” Alps switches (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_SKFR/SKFS). It’s possible they’re Alps rubber domes, but that seems less likely.

On the upside, it’s pretty cheap to find out for sure at $14 shipped.
Title: Re: What switches Keypad has?
Post by: saturnotaku on Fri, 08 August 2014, 14:06:45
Would that keypad work on a modern Mac with a Serial to USB adapter?
Title: Re: What switches Keypad has?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 08 August 2014, 15:38:30
They have some variety of white Alps. I don't know enough about the differences to tell more specifically. Touchpad is really poor like 100dpi. Yes they would work on modern computer with ADB to USB adapter like an iMate.
Title: Re: What switches Keypad has?
Post by: dorkvader on Fri, 08 August 2014, 19:11:59
They have some variety of white Alps. I don't know enough about the differences to tell more specifically. Touchpad is really poor like 100dpi. Yes they would work on modern computer with ADB to USB adapter like an iMate.

ALPS / Cirque "glidepoint" brand of touchpads are all really old, so DPI is possibly more than 100, but less than what would be considered useful at higher than about 800*600 resolution.
Title: Re: What switches Keypad has?
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Sun, 10 August 2014, 06:08:58
It is indeed SKFR/SKFS; you can see the PCB and switches here, 2/3 of the way down:

http://archive.today/45sFi

The yellow switch is shorter front-to-back to leave room for an external LED.

That's ricercar's. I have his whole photo set but they have horrible date stamps all over them from the camera. I'm still waiting for him to either send fresh photos or just give me a price so that I can buy the stupid thing and take my own pics for the wiki. Maybe within my own lifetime, but not within the lifetime of human society.