geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ocdonkb on Sat, 14 November 2009, 18:45:34
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So I'm in the process of retrofitting this Dell AT101W:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5700&stc=1&d=1258244701)
I've opened up one of the ALPS switches, and removed the "tactile leaf". But I can't yet decide if this is what I want.... This is an old board, and leaving it in there makes key downstrokes sound very "sandy", almost like it's rubbing against sand paper. Removing the tactile leaf and it's a very smooth linear downstroke that feels "clean", almost reminds of my cherry brown.
Another interesting thing, on a whim, I bought this $5 rubber-dome PC Concepts board.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5701&stc=1&d=1258244717)
Once taken apart, its keys sits nicely on these "trays". The keys push down on the rubber dome via a white "stem" (the little white pieces on the floor in picture above). This stem is very similar to the plunger on the ALPS, so much so that the keys are identical!!
Here's a comparison. Top is a shift key from the PC Concepts rubber-dome, bottom is from the DELLA AT101W.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5702&stc=1&d=1258244728)
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5703&stc=1&d=1258244741)
Not only do the these keys fit right on the Dell ALPS, even the metal stablizers are the same. So now I can replace the Dell's old keys with these relatively newer keys.
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so what, did you just get ULTRA lucky when it came to compatible keys?
from all these stories, im probably going to take apart my NIB AT101W (but the warranty!)
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yeah, all the key caps i've tried so far work just fine. Of course some can't be used due to their shape(the PC Concept board is ergonamic, with a center split).
So has anyone here tried ALPS Black, but without the tactile leaf? Any issues/concerns before I start opening all these switches? I thought I read about this on one of the ALPS threads, but search is failing me.
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That was me (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:7369). No problems to speak of. They were to light for me, but silky smooth! Reduced the actuation force from 60g to 40g, that was on an M1 mind you so it may be different for the originals.
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They're light and linear. I'd actually consider them superior over the regular Black Alps, but they're still not my cup of tea.
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wow, I just went to took out all the tactile leaves... I think I may just have trashed this board. Oh well, it was cheap, and there're plenty more on ebay.
It became linear, very light, and w/o the tactile leaf there slowing the down stroke, the only feel I get now is the feel of the ALPS stem rubbing "dryly" against the switch casing. It's a very unpleasant feeling, imho.
At least I learned tonight that I'm not a linear-switch fan. :)
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wow, I just went to took out all the tactile leaves... I think I may just have trashed this board. Oh well, it was cheap, and there're plenty more on ebay.
It became linear, very light, and w/o the tactile leaf there slowing the down stroke, the only feel I get now is the feel of the ALPS stem rubbing "dryly" against the switch casing. It's a very unpleasant feeling, imho.
At least I learned tonight that I'm not a linear-switch fan. :)
Yeah I can't stand linear's either. You found a rubber dome board with alps keys? Any more details about it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Beige-Keyboard-w-107-keys-to-help-you-work-smarter_W0QQitemZ170098466628QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item279aa89f44 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Beige-Keyboard-w-107-keys-to-help-you-work-smarter_W0QQitemZ170098466628QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item279aa89f44)
Is that one? What model number?
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You found a rubber dome board with alps keys? Any more details about it?
It's this one:
PC Concepts SK 6000
http://www.recycledgoods.com/zoom.aspx?productID=28203 (http://www.recycledgoods.com/zoom.aspx?productID=28203)
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Oh well, Sorry, I'll stop recommending THAT mod then. (But I did say just do the WASD cluster to start!).
And Chloe did like it. Maybe she was more of an ALPS fan in general though.
hehe, no worries. It was cool to try. In fact, I just got another AT101w off ebay just now. These things are like cheap candy :)