geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: overdriver on Thu, 07 January 2010, 18:46:17
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I always wonder about Apple Extended Keyboard II with white switch.
I was little bit disappointed by Dell AT101 so I wanted to get white slider or if AEK II is so good then I would buy adb-usb converter to use.
so, I read ALPS wiki trying not to get MITSUMI switch instead. and hit ebay for right keyboard..
I knew this keyboard would be non-clicky but tactile real complicated ALPS keyboard.
after few days I got M3501 with the serial number ending with M0312. I was so sure this is what I wanted.. and what do I have?
The keyboard has very little or no tactile bump at all- OMG :eek:
why..? I guess that this is because of the years and years of abuse. I think this particular keyboard is a school survivor :)
Lesson learned: Do not expect the average condition when you deal with a school item recycler.
only good thing about this keyboard is damped slider - very soft bottoming out. hmm.. next project would be apply this sliders to Dell AT101w.
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The AEKs are quite subtle feeling, I thought they were a rubber dome keyboard when I used them first.
I had actually modded an AT101W with the sliders from an AEK... One thing that makes a surprising amount of difference is putting the AEK keycaps on the Dell, as they are better made than the Dell ones and have a positive effect on how the keys feel.
Overall while the dampeners and keycaps improved the Dell, it was still pretty mediocre. I got a Blue Alps board and put the dampeners on them instead.
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k thx for input. This info saves me time to try out by myself :)
so.. I should just save it for later use.. Dell AT101 is no way to save it by swapping slider and keycap.. arg
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Bare in mind that the Cream switch is identical to the Black one, so the difference between them is quite subtle. The dampeners do make a difference, but they don't affect the strange force curve of the Black Alps that makes them unpleasant to type on.