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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: smknjoe on Sun, 01 May 2016, 18:53:36

Title: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: smknjoe on Sun, 01 May 2016, 18:53:36
I'd like to have an Alps board with no Num-Pad and I am considering a Matias. What do you Alps guys think of Matias switches? I don't know anything about Matias switches and very little about Alps.

The switch needs to have a pronounced tactile bump more than anything else. I don't care about noise.

I like BS (perfect), Greens (a little too heavy), and White Alps clones (pretty good) that I've tried in SIIG keyboards, if that helps.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: chyros on Sun, 01 May 2016, 19:02:19
I have yet to try out a whole board with Matias switches, so my views aren't necessarily accurate. I've only tried switches in a tester. I've got plenty experience with Alps though xD .

Matias' design is quite distinctly different from the complicated design; it's much closer to simplified Alps. Matias switches are significantly more tactile than complicated Alps. So if pure tactility is all you care for, you might very well like Matias switches.

That said, in my opinion, the overall feeling and especially sound is more satisfying in complicated Alps as far as I can tell. Of course, this is assuming you can find an Alps board in great condition, which isn't always easy. Because of Alps' vulnerability to dust, Matias' availability as brand-new is a major advantage.

One thing that's struck me is how Matias don't market tactile switches at the moment, or even a fairly normal linear switch. This shouldn't be too hard to achieve, and both tactile and linear Alps (at least the first-gen ones) are very highly rated and well-received. Considering Alps switches are a modular design and easily modified, I can't imagine this would be hard to do.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: gain on Sun, 01 May 2016, 19:08:26
Former V60 owner /w Quiet Click reporting in!

Honestly I liked them, the weight felt perfect for me although these days I'm very accustomed to 45g silenced topre and 45-50g linears, As far as ALPS go I've tried cream, greens, blues and orange, in comparison matias switches are definitely missing something (mid-post I noticed chryos' post, he sums it up well), but still a pretty enjoyable switch to type on.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: phoible on Sun, 01 May 2016, 19:24:34
One thing that's struck me is how Matias don't market tactile switches at the moment, or even a fairly normal linear switch. This shouldn't be too hard to achieve, and both tactile and linear Alps (at least the first-gen ones) are very highly rated and well-received. Considering Alps switches are a modular design and easily modified, I can't imagine this would be hard to do.

What do you mean? Matias offers both tactile (Matias Quiet Click) and linear (Matias Quiet Linear) switches. I have two keyboards with Matias tactile switches.

http://matias.ca/switches/linear/
http://matias.ca/switches/quiet/
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: phoible on Sun, 01 May 2016, 19:26:19
As for my feedback, I really like the Quiet Click switches. More tactile than Cherry MX, and pretty close to as quiet as silenced Topre. I like them better than the cream ALPS in the one old-school ALPS board I have.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: smknjoe on Sun, 01 May 2016, 19:31:06
One thing that's struck me is how Matias don't market tactile switches at the moment, or even a fairly normal linear switch. This shouldn't be too hard to achieve, and both tactile and linear Alps (at least the first-gen ones) are very highly rated and well-received. Considering Alps switches are a modular design and easily modified, I can't imagine this would be hard to do.

What do you mean? Matias offers both tactile (Matias Quiet Click) and linear (Matias Quiet Linear) switches. I have two keyboards with Matias tactile switches.

http://matias.ca/switches/linear/
http://matias.ca/switches/quiet/

And doesn't the Tactile Pro (Mini) come with the normal Tactile and Clicky switch?

Is the only difference between the Tactile and Quiet Click the sound? Are they identical in feel and actuation?
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sun, 01 May 2016, 19:42:26
I highly suggest the Quiet Click. I really like that switch.

The Matias Click feels kinda like a smoother SKCM White and not as heavy. The Quiet Click to me feels tactile, but the bottom out is cushion-y and almost plush because of the rubber used. The two switches do not feel the same.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: chyros on Sun, 01 May 2016, 19:54:34
One thing that's struck me is how Matias don't market tactile switches at the moment, or even a fairly normal linear switch. This shouldn't be too hard to achieve, and both tactile and linear Alps (at least the first-gen ones) are very highly rated and well-received. Considering Alps switches are a modular design and easily modified, I can't imagine this would be hard to do.

What do you mean? Matias offers both tactile (Matias Quiet Click) and linear (Matias Quiet Linear) switches. I have two keyboards with Matias tactile switches.

http://matias.ca/switches/linear/
http://matias.ca/switches/quiet/
No, I mean tactile as in undamped tactile - i.e. analogous to salmon or orange Alps. Matias' linear switch is a damped, super-low weight switch that's far from what people would consider to be a "normal" linear switch, and certainly not comparable to green or yellow Alps. The feel of dampened Alps is VERY different from their undampened counterparts, so the distinction is quite significant.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: njbair on Sun, 01 May 2016, 20:20:37
Sounds like you want to try Matias Quiet Clicks. They have a really nice tactile bump. They are nothing like OG tactile Alps in any color. I suppose the closest OG Alps in terms of design is cream damped, but I hate those and I love Quiet Clicks so the comparison only works on paper.

Matias Clicks aren't bad switches, but they're just nothing to write home about. They would have been better off trying to emulate the feel of Blue Alps instead of White Alps. But if you liked the feel of the white Alps clones you've tried, you'd probably like Matias Clicks.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: Mattr567 on Sun, 01 May 2016, 20:36:00
They are by far the best modern Alps type switch/clone out there, but buying genuine is always better, and sometimes cheaper!
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: Magna224 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 03:07:05
They work but they're nothing amazing IMO. I have a V80 click I use pretty often. Gonna swap it to real ALPS someday I'm in the mood.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: mrbishop on Mon, 02 May 2016, 07:54:56
i have a bag of Matias in my workshop. (quiet click) going to be using them on a project as soon as i get my machine up and running. i'm a fan of MX browns (and blues but everyone around me hates me when i'm in blue mode)
hopefully once i get everything squared away i can make a board to try them with and get keycaps for them. if they are anything like browns i'm sure i'll love them. I guess my biggest question is: Are they more rigid than the MX switches, meaning do the caps wiggle like cherry ones do. i'm assuming they will be tighter as they have a large switch stem.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 02 May 2016, 13:34:27
I guess my biggest question is: Are they more rigid than the MX switches, meaning do the caps wiggle like cherry ones do.
i'm assuming they will be tighter as they have a large switch stem.

Alps are known for wobble and some people consider that their worst drawback.
Personally, I don't mind and think it may be advantageous in the event of off-center strikes.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: merlin64 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 13:38:26
I use Orange and Brown Alps but have also had experience with Blues

I tried out a V60 with Matias Quiet Clicks. While I liked the switches, the combination of the plastic case and the quiet clicks resulted in me feeling like I was typing on a cheap board.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: dante on Mon, 02 May 2016, 14:03:07
I decided Alps - whether Matias or not are not for me.  I love the feel and sound of vintage clicky Alps but after 10 minutes I want to pour a sugary drink into my keyboard.

Matias Clicky Alps are OK though I like the Simplified Fukka/Fuhua clones better; to me they sound closer to vintage Alps.

Matias Quiet Click/Quiet Linear are (to my ears) noisy ... yes they are dampened ... but the drunken sailor wobbly keycaps kill the dampening effect.

IMHO if you are considering a Quiet Click/Linear switch I'd hold out for a couple months until Zeal's Gateron silencing modules are ready.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: mrbishop on Mon, 02 May 2016, 14:07:18
im thinking about making aluminum key caps for them. flat with no real sides. almost like the datamancer ones.

that said would heavier key caps be better?

thoughts?
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: chyros on Mon, 02 May 2016, 17:35:40
I guess my biggest question is: Are they more rigid than the MX switches, meaning do the caps wiggle like cherry ones do.
i'm assuming they will be tighter as they have a large switch stem.

Alps are known for wobble and some people consider that their worst drawback.
Personally, I don't mind and think it may be advantageous in the event of off-center strikes.
Yeah, I think some people confuse wobble with binding, while it doesn't have to be that way at all.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: klennkellon on Mon, 02 May 2016, 19:13:53
I compared some clean complicated white ALPS to the Matias Clicks and I kind of prefered the Matias, but only slightly.
The ALPS sounded a lot nicer, a nice deep and full sound. But I liked the Matias because they were lighter and a bit more tactile.

KBParadise sells a board that uses clones called "Fukka", has anyone tried these out?


Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 02 May 2016, 20:59:59

KBParadise sells a board that uses clones called "Fukka", has anyone tried these out?


That's what comes in the Filco Zero. Pretty bad, the green ones. I traded them for complicated blue Alps and it was a huge improvement.
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: dante on Tue, 03 May 2016, 08:41:43

KBParadise sells a board that uses clones called "Fukka", has anyone tried these out?


That's what comes in the Filco Zero. Pretty bad, the green ones. I traded them for complicated blue Alps and it was a huge improvement.

Filco Zero never came with green alps only white Fukka and XM; are you thinking of the Ducky XM?
Title: Re: Alps Aficionados | What do you think of Matias?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 03 May 2016, 09:38:58
are you thinking of the Ducky XM?

Yep, thanks, I stand corrected. I put orange in the Ducky and blue in the Filco.