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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Special K on Fri, 03 April 2015, 09:56:27

Title: Does this keyboard exist? Will it ever? Can it be built from existing parts?
Post by: Special K on Fri, 03 April 2015, 09:56:27
I think my ideal board would be the following:

- white alps switches (or Matias tactile, or some other clone)
- Filco style case
- OEM profile keycaps
- full size (104 key)

Does this keyboard currently exist?  If not, does any manufacturer have any plans to make it?  If not, can it be built by transplanting existing components?
Title: Re: Does this keyboard exist? Will it ever? Can it be built from existing parts?
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 03 April 2015, 16:14:09
Focus White Alps:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Magitronic-Clicky-Keyboard-Mechanical-Alps-Switches-FK-2000PLUS-/171741899001?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27fc9d68f9
That's about as close as I could find....
Is that what you have in mind?
Title: Re: Does this keyboard exist? Will it ever? Can it be built from existing parts?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 03 April 2015, 23:06:38
They don't make them anymore, but you might find one in used market, or ebay or something if you look. ABS M1
(https://techreport.com/r.x/abs_m1/front_right.jpg)
Title: Re: Does this keyboard exist? Will it ever? Can it be built from existing parts?
Post by: Special K on Fri, 03 April 2015, 23:20:57
Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 03 April 2015, 23:06:38
They don't make them anymore, but you might find one in used market, or ebay or something if you look. ABS M1
Show Image
(https://techreport.com/r.x/abs_m1/front_right.jpg)


Yeah, I forgot about the M1.  That might work as a case.  Assuming the Matias tactile click switches have the same footprint as the alps switches used in the M1, I could just put the Matias switches into the ABS M1 body.
Title: Re: Does this keyboard exist? Will it ever? Can it be built from existing parts?
Post by: Special K on Fri, 03 April 2015, 23:23:43
Quote from: Snowdog993 on Fri, 03 April 2015, 16:14:09
Focus White Alps:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Magitronic-Clicky-Keyboard-Mechanical-Alps-Switches-FK-2000PLUS-/171741899001?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27fc9d68f9
That's about as close as I could find....
Is that what you have in mind?


Yeah I know about the Omnikey, although I still have yet to try one.  When I said "Filco style case" I meant something with a standard 104 key layout and black case.

I may just have to make due with the Omnikey, however.
Title: Re: Does this keyboard exist? Will it ever? Can it be built from existing parts?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 04 April 2015, 14:36:22
There are also the XM models that Ducky made, though I have heard a lot about how poor quality they are in general. Leopold also made an Alps alike switch variant once upon a time, but I have a feeling it would be almost impossible to get hands on one.