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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 04:14:18

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 04:14:18

I have two of them with white alps. One takes a bit to return though and I don't know how to fix it. I also broke about 15 switches while prying them off. It says 2001 on the top left corner of them. I'm pretty sure it's older than that though. I also have an Acer that has black Alps, but clicks like a light white Alps. Anyone wanna give me some advice on what to do with these? Do you think I could trade it for a keyboard with Cherry MX Browns? I ordered a Scorpius M10, but I think I may like the browns better and want to try them.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: lowpoly on Thu, 30 July 2009, 05:18:26

Welcome to Geekhack.

I guess it would help if you'd provide information found on the labels on the bottom. Pics are good too.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: xyzzy on Thu, 30 July 2009, 05:48:56

The first board you have could be a Focus FK-2001. If it doesn't have windows keys then the switches are likely Alps original/complicated. Here's some info from Sandy's page: http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/focus2001.html

The second one probably doesn't have Alps switches, but Acer switches. Externally, they look identical, the differences are inside: Acer's are hammer on membrane.
See some reviews of Acer boards here: http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4411 and here: http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6576

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 06:04:47

Yep, they are indeed Focus FK-2001's. Do you think I could trade all 3 of these for something?

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: lowpoly on Thu, 30 July 2009, 06:31:59

You broke the 15 switches (the stems?) on one Focus or combined on both?

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 06:36:53

On one Focus. I broke a switch on the other Focus which has good return time while tearing off the keys to clean. Then I tried to pull a switch from the other one. I didn't know to do it so I just kept on tearing it off, but the metal part kept breaking.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 06:40:54

I'll take pictures in a bit after I charge my camera.. There is also one more keyboard which I don't know what the switch is but it seems like black cherries.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: lowpoly on Thu, 30 July 2009, 07:16:40

You need a good keycap puller if you want to remove all keycaps. The switches cannot be pulled off. You have to either open or de-solder them. There is plenty of info on this here, try a search.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 09:46:05

Alright, I've got the pictures guys.
FK-2001's
(http://i31.tinypic.com/s6u6bp.jpg)
(http://i30.tinypic.com/157nnft.jpg)

(http://i26.tinypic.com/21ab7kj.jpg)
(http://i27.tinypic.com/28uqu4g.jpg)

Acer
(http://i29.tinypic.com/2uyp3lj.jpg)
(http://i26.tinypic.com/jp7spf.jpg)

No idea what this is
(http://i30.tinypic.com/ayln4m.jpg)
(http://i30.tinypic.com/neud6h.jpg)
(http://i32.tinypic.com/2rng2ag.jpg)

The back to a Focus membrane one
(http://i32.tinypic.com/2vx28b8.jpg)

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: lowpoly on Thu, 30 July 2009, 10:01:35

Thanks for the pics.

The mystery board looks like a Chicony KB-2001 (http://bbs.cool3c.com/article/6180). Conductive rubber dome.

Creative de-soldering approach with the Alps switches! Not perfect yet though. Next time try to open the case. You'll see the switch pcb and the soldered switch contacts.

On the Acer your approach would have worked (a rare exception though).

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 10:07:36

Nice, thanks for the identification. Do you suppose I could trade a combination of these for a Cherry MX Brown?

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 10:21:10

One of them is pretty consistent all throughout and has good return time. (The one with all switches but one intact) The other one is not so good. There are a few good keys on it. They haven't been used heavily. I think it just got dirty when we stored it. Only one person used computers when we got those and it was my dad and there is no way he wore off all of those.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: o2dazone on Thu, 30 July 2009, 11:49:48

Your feet look almost as dirty as the keyboard

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 12:42:39

they're not dirty, it's just the shadow.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: o2dazone on Thu, 30 July 2009, 13:02:53

my custom stylish skin hides that

(http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/16/stylish.gif)

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: Shyfe on Thu, 30 July 2009, 13:23:41

post count of 10 rule? i can't tell what you mean by that.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 30 July 2009, 13:28:37

Ripster has a rule that you can't insult new members until they have 10 posts.  Me, on the other hand, if you even step foot in this place, I'll insult you.

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: o2dazone on Thu, 30 July 2009, 15:10:59

I love your feet

Title: I have some original White Alps in my basement. Are they worth anything?
Post by: lowpoly on Thu, 30 July 2009, 15:55:29

Quote from: webwit;105660

What are those switches in the Acer? US layout. This might be a valuable keyboard.

Acer hammer on membrane (clicky) (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4411&highlight=6312).