I stumbled across this one as a suggested item under another keyboard.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/OAEVwvq.jpg)
It's a Unitek K-258, manufactured by NTC. I actually already own one from an e-cycler GB right here on Geekhack a few months ago. The one I already own has White Alps, and that's what I'm expecting this one to have as well, since both boards have the same FCC IDs. The K-258 was also produced with Cherry MX Blues by a different OEM.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/kNaalT2.jpg)
When I found the Ebay listing, it had zero bids, but just to play it safe I set up a snipe to get it, and I got it for the starting bid of $19.99 plus shipping! Not too bad, especially for a set of interesting Alps caps, many of which will work on an Infinity layout.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/eCx5lqc.jpg)Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/JthPVOF.jpg)
I saw this thing and wanted to buy it but didn't know if it'd have MX compatible caps.
Very cool looking board. Do you know the printing method/material? From the time period I would think PBT dye-sub, but the logo'd keycaps look like ABS.
Very cool looking board. Do you know the printing method/material? From the time period I would think PBT dye-sub, but the logo'd keycaps look like ABS.
The caps on my existing K-258 are laser-etched ABS, so I have to assume the same for this one. I'll have to check the colored caps once it arrives, but my guess is pad-printed ABS.
Generally i agree but with Alps, I'll take what I can get.Very cool looking board. Do you know the printing method/material? From the time period I would think PBT dye-sub, but the logo'd keycaps look like ABS.
The caps on my existing K-258 are laser-etched ABS, so I have to assume the same for this one. I'll have to check the colored caps once it arrives, but my guess is pad-printed ABS.
Ahh, it does have white print on some keys so it certainly can't be dye-sub or lasered. That's a shame, always love to see some top quality keycaps on old boards.
Generally i agree but with Alps, I'll take what I can get.Very cool looking board. Do you know the printing method/material? From the time period I would think PBT dye-sub, but the logo'd keycaps look like ABS.
The caps on my existing K-258 are laser-etched ABS, so I have to assume the same for this one. I'll have to check the colored caps once it arrives, but my guess is pad-printed ABS.
Ahh, it does have white print on some keys so it certainly can't be dye-sub or lasered. That's a shame, always love to see some top quality keycaps on old boards.
Well....Old Cherry caps vary in quality too. Lasered PBT isn't very sought after. Dyesubbed or doubleshot Cherrys are nice. Alps caps aren't as thick but they also range in quality from bad (Pad Printed) to great (relatively thick dyesubbed PBT).The big difference is that up until recently, old Alps caps were the only ones you could get. OTOH, Cherry MX caps are constantly being made, and really nice ones at that (GMK, JT Keycaps, etc.), so you have other options besides old caps.
Just because it's old Cherry doesn't automatically make it desirable and high quality.
Well....Old Cherry caps vary in quality too. Lasered PBT isn't very sought after. Dyesubbed or doubleshot Cherrys are nice. Alps caps aren't as thick but they also range in quality from bad (Pad Printed) to great (relatively thick dyesubbed PBT).
Just because it's old Cherry doesn't automatically make it desirable and high quality.
Hard to say. AEKII keycaps are pretty nice dye subbed PBT, although people don't necessarily love the legend font. I think Dell AT101 caps are regarded as pretty good. The Northgate OmniKey's caps are doubleshot and supposedly made by Tai Hao, and although I have not tried an OmniKey, if the caps are anything like the Tai Hao Alps doubleshot caps that Massdrop sells, they're pretty decent.Well....Old Cherry caps vary in quality too. Lasered PBT isn't very sought after. Dyesubbed or doubleshot Cherrys are nice. Alps caps aren't as thick but they also range in quality from bad (Pad Printed) to great (relatively thick dyesubbed PBT).
Just because it's old Cherry doesn't automatically make it desirable and high quality.
Well yeah, that's true, it just seems that the amount of great ALPS caps (thick double ****, thick dye-sub) is few and pad-printed many, while most Cherry boards are at least lasered. Of course there is a range for both, but on average would you say that vintage Cherry boards have better keycaps? I could just be delusional ofc.
The Northgate OmniKey's caps are doubleshot and supposedly made by Tai Hao, and although I have not tried an OmniKey, if the caps are anything like the Tai Hao Alps doubleshot caps that Massdrop sells, they're pretty decent.Nah man, there's more Alps doubleshots out there than you think ;) . Most notably, almost all Focuses have what appears to be the same Tai-Hao doubleshots, so if you want some Alps doubleshots, Focus is a good source for them :) .
Then there are a ton of obscure Alps boards made by various OEMs. You don't find many doubleshot sets out there, that's for sure.
Nah, it's easier just to run my own GB.The Northgate OmniKey's caps are doubleshot and supposedly made by Tai Hao, and although I have not tried an OmniKey, if the caps are anything like the Tai Hao Alps doubleshot caps that Massdrop sells, they're pretty decent.Nah man, there's more Alps doubleshots out there than you think ;) . Most notably, almost all Focuses have what appears to be the same Tai-Hao doubleshots, so if you want some Alps doubleshots, Focus is a good source for them :) .
Then there are a ton of obscure Alps boards made by various OEMs. You don't find many doubleshot sets out there, that's for sure.
you get them in group buys? How much do you pay per set?Nah, it's easier just to run my own GB.The Northgate OmniKey's caps are doubleshot and supposedly made by Tai Hao, and although I have not tried an OmniKey, if the caps are anything like the Tai Hao Alps doubleshot caps that Massdrop sells, they're pretty decent.Nah man, there's more Alps doubleshots out there than you think ;) . Most notably, almost all Focuses have what appears to be the same Tai-Hao doubleshots, so if you want some Alps doubleshots, Focus is a good source for them :) .
Then there are a ton of obscure Alps boards made by various OEMs. You don't find many doubleshot sets out there, that's for sure.
you get them in group buys? How much do you pay per set?Nah, it's easier just to run my own GB.The Northgate OmniKey's caps are doubleshot and supposedly made by Tai Hao, and although I have not tried an OmniKey, if the caps are anything like the Tai Hao Alps doubleshot caps that Massdrop sells, they're pretty decent.Nah man, there's more Alps doubleshots out there than you think ;) . Most notably, almost all Focuses have what appears to be the same Tai-Hao doubleshots, so if you want some Alps doubleshots, Focus is a good source for them :) .
Then there are a ton of obscure Alps boards made by various OEMs. You don't find many doubleshot sets out there, that's for sure.
Well yeah, that's true, it just seems that the amount of great ALPS caps (thick double shot, thick dye-sub) is few and pad-printed many, while most Cherry boards are at least lasered. Of course there is a range for both, but on average would you say that vintage Cherry boards have better keycaps? I could just be delusional ofc.
you get them in group buys? How much do you pay per set?
There's just less information and popularity on Alps stuff and a lot more manufactures that used Alps-mount that we on Geekhack know little about. It is true that Cherry is easier to understand and more popular so there's more information, but I'm not really sure where your Cherry angle is coming from.I see. That's either quite a lot or very little money for a set Oo . Looks like it'd be way cheaper to buy an old 2001 tbh Oo .you get them in group buys? How much do you pay per set?
He's referring to the Alpine Winter GB (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=75515.0) he's running.
I see. That's either quite a lot or very little money for a set Oo . Looks like it'd be way cheaper to buy an old 2001 tbh Oo .
As, so do they use other keycaps then? You can tell I'm not used to small keyboards xD . Well it's definitely a nice initiative you have there :) .I see. That's either quite a lot or very little money for a set Oo . Looks like it'd be way cheaper to buy an old 2001 tbh Oo .
But no options for 60% layouts. Alpine Winter supports them all!
Yep. Lots of strange layout differences and different spacebar sizes among 60% boards.As, so do they use other keycaps then? You can tell I'm not used to small keyboards xD . Well it's definitely a nice initiative you have there :) .I see. That's either quite a lot or very little money for a set Oo . Looks like it'd be way cheaper to buy an old 2001 tbh Oo .
But no options for 60% layouts. Alpine Winter supports them all!