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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: ander on Mon, 22 June 2015, 21:49:33

Title: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: ander on Mon, 22 June 2015, 21:49:33
This seems like a good deal (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-VINTAGE-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-6780D-0006780D-Tested-and-Working-/251949575692) on a clean, tested Dell AT-101W (Alps black switches).
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: chyros on Tue, 23 June 2015, 02:42:28
Could be a great starter board for someone :) .
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: ander on Tue, 23 June 2015, 03:54:19
Compared to something that costs a lot more than $30, you mean. Well, yuh.
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 23 June 2015, 08:13:28
These are great-feeling, solid keyboards.

The thing to do is to get a set of fresh new Matias switches and transplant them into the Dell chassis.
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: chyros on Tue, 23 June 2015, 10:21:22
Compared to something that costs a lot more than $30, you mean. Well, yuh.
Well tbh I think if people started off on Alps rather than automatically going to Cherries like virtually everyone, very few people would END with Cherry switches xD .
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Tue, 23 June 2015, 16:36:21
I agree with that. People buy them because they are popular, and they are popular and everywhere on the market because people buy them.
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: Tyrosh22 on Wed, 24 June 2015, 06:49:21
But where did it start?
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: Touch_It on Wed, 24 June 2015, 15:03:53
These are great-feeling, solid keyboards.

The thing to do is to get a set of fresh new Matias switches and transplant them into the Dell chassis.


I did this.  Feels really good.  My end key decided not to work though :(.  Also Dell in their infinite wisdom bent all the contacts on teh switches before soldering.  Makes it 1.5 *****es to unsolder.  Especially if you are unskilled (ME)

Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 24 June 2015, 15:31:14
Also Dell in their infinite wisdom bent all the contacts on the switches before soldering.

This is not "Dell".

I have done several of these and it varies greatly. The tech building the board bends a few legs down to hold everything in place to get started.

4 near the corners and a couple in the middle would be plenty, and they do not have to be bent over hard. Sometimes they got very zealous about it, but who ever thought that anybody would want to remove them?
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: Touch_It on Wed, 24 June 2015, 15:52:36
Also Dell in their infinite wisdom bent all the contacts on the switches before soldering.

This is not "Dell".

I have done several of these and it varies greatly. The tech building the board bends a few legs down to hold everything in place to get started.

4 near the corners and a couple in the middle would be plenty, and they do not have to be bent over hard. Sometimes they got very zealous about it, but who ever thought that anybody would want to remove them?


Fair enough.  Someone got quite zealous with my keyboard.  It was probably manufactured on a Monday :D. 
Title: Re: Dell AT-101W (black Alps), clean & tested, $29.99 shipped
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Wed, 24 June 2015, 18:01:32
But where did it start?

Basically because after rubber domes were 99% of keyboards, then Cherry was basically the only (easily changeable for keyboard configuration) manufacturer left standing. Once mechanical keyboards took off again, that's what was used.

It was never because of anything particular about them.