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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: lal on Fri, 04 September 2009, 11:57:18

Title: White XM ALPS style switches in FKBN87Z/EB
Post by: lal on Fri, 04 September 2009, 11:57:18
I just got the FKBN87Z/EB (shopping experience here (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=7027)) and I can clearly see why these "white XM" switches aren't very liked by some geekhackers.  My English is poor when it comes to eidetic (just looked that word up) descriptions, but they really feel a bit "balky" as someone else described them.  Not as smooth as the complicated Alps I have.  I guess they can only be recommended to quite heavy typists.  I tend to pound on the keys and don't type all day long so I'm okay with them.  I plan to use it for the occasional typing in front of the TV in the living room.

More interestingly the innards of the switches don't look exactly like any of the simplified I-IV ALPS style switches on Sandy's page (http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/alps_sw2.html).  Closest match seems to be simplified-II but that metal lever in the lower part of the white XM does not have these equal width "arms" that form the lever, but instead they get narrower towards the bottom.  Here's some pics:

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4276&stc=1&d=1252083159)

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4277&stc=1&d=1252083159)
Title: White XM ALPS style switches in FKBN87Z/EB
Post by: timw4mail on Fri, 04 September 2009, 13:45:18
That's like a weird hybrid of ALPS and Cherry leaf springs...
Title: White XM ALPS style switches in FKBN87Z/EB
Post by: wellington1869 on Fri, 04 September 2009, 14:53:09
Quote

English is poor when it comes to eidetic (just looked that word up) descriptions----------


dude, dont say your english is poor if you then follow that with "eidetic". You just sent all of us scurrying for our dictionaries.  ;)

oh, and i hate the xm's.  xm's should be lined up and shot. They gave the alps family such a bad name. (altho xm boards make great modding boards).
Title: White XM ALPS style switches in FKBN87Z/EB
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 04 September 2009, 14:59:30
Quote from: wellington1869;114842
You just sent all of us scurrying for our dictionaries. ;)
 

Or right-click -> "Define with Google."
Title: White XM ALPS style switches in FKBN87Z/EB
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 04 September 2009, 15:00:50
Quote
dude, dont say your english is poor if you then follow that with "eidetic".

Truth be told, non-native English speakers tend to speak better English (both in grammar and wordpower) than native speakers.
Title: White XM ALPS style switches in FKBN87Z/EB
Post by: lal on Sat, 05 September 2009, 05:29:25
To say it in simple words: the white XMs, whatever they be, suck big time.  They're crap.  Be sure to get the new revision of the FKBN87Z/EB with simplified-I ALPS switches, a.k.a. Fukkas!
Title: White XM ALPS style switches in FKBN87Z/EB
Post by: urlwolf on Sat, 05 September 2009, 14:48:56
great, just when I ordered one (!).