Cherry MX White Switches

[divito]

Not sure how many people have seen this, for the so-called elusive white switches, but was perusing eBay like many of you probably do and saw this:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/111094898458?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

On my watch list, it lists quantity available as 196. Thought I'd let people know in case someone is interested in them.

[CPTBadAss]

That's a clear switch and $3.50 a switch? ? ? You can get clears for $.60-$.80. I think Mouser's price is like $.86.

[esoomenona]

This is a horrible price... And that picture is a Clear.

[divito]

Hmm, so perhaps a misinformed seller, or intentional subterfuge? I didn't pay much mind to the photo, though I don't think I've ever seen a white/clear comparison photo. At $3.50 a switch, I was surmising it based on the white switch and its non-common nature.

Edit - And given the information, if a mod wants to delete the thread, that's fine.

[ComradeSniper]

I don't think I've ever seen a white/clear comparison photo.

Give me 5 minutes

[CPTBadAss]

Even *if* it was a White, it wouldn't warrant a $3.50 price. I bought mine for about $.72/switch.

From the DT Wiki (Clear and White Articles):

White

Clear

They're literally white and clear/opaque.

[divito]

Hmmmmmmm, after some searching, seems I'm still confused.



From: http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/white-vs-clear-vs-clicky-clear-2-0-t2017.html

Seems it's far more likely to be a current clear rather than an old-style clear/white as listed on the DT thread. I apologize for my green-ness.

[esoomenona]

As far as "rarity" of switches go, I don't think it affects price all too much. Perhaps $0.10-0.20, but not dollars. Thus, even if Whites aren't all too prevalent, and are truly desired, they would likely never go for that much a switch.

Also, you can tell the difference between the Clear and White by the fact that the Clear is a bit translucent, whereas the White is very bright white.

[TheFlyingRaccoon]

Left is clear, right is white. See?

[ComradeSniper]

You've probably got the point by now, but for the sake of further clarity, here is a clear between two whites:

[esoomenona]

Did I mention that one of these is Clear and the other might be White?

[esoomenona]

Or is this one the White?

[esoomenona]

And here's a Vintage Clear:

[esoomenona]

And don't forget these old Whites:

[divito]

You've probably got the point by now, but for the sake of further clarity, here is a clear between two whites:

Show Image

Yes, but can do without the condescension over my apparent daftness. Still no comment on the DT picture I posted though.

[esoomenona]

You've probably got the point by now, but for the sake of further clarity, here is a clear between two whites:

Show Image

Yes, but can do without the condescension over my apparent daftness. Still no comment on the DT picture I posted though.

Back in the olden years, they called those "White". They say clicky there, but there were also "White" linear switches. As it stands, the convention these days is the Clear is semi-translucent, whereas the White is the solid white. There is a possibility that they could be old switches, but it's unlikely.

[jonathanyu]

Hmmmmmmm, after some searching, seems I'm still confused.

Show Image

From: http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/white-vs-clear-vs-clicky-clear-2-0-t2017.html

Seems it's far more likely to be a current clear rather than an old-style clear/white as listed on the DT thread. I apologize for my green-ness.

after this picture, i am more confuse

[Larken]

From the deskthority wiki:

Vintage Type A: 80 cN, translucent white stem, black click-slider — 1987–?
Vintage Type B: 50 cN, translucent white stem, translucent white click-slider — 1989–?
Modern: 80 cN, white stem, black-slider — 2007–2012+?
The Type B has been reported to feel identical to modern Cherry MX Blue. Because of the harder types' similarity to Cherry MX Green, it has sometimes been nicknamed "albino green".

The sliders in the newer switches are proper white, while the older ones are translucent. The slider construction is a bit different. The spring is identical to the one in the vintage Type-A clicky switch and feels identical.

The switch is not to be confused with the Cherry MX Clear which also has translucent white sliders. Modern switches can be told apart more easily because their sliders are opaque, but vintage switches are visually almost indistinguishable to Clears.

[BlueBär]

Clicky switches should all have a little nub on the top of the slider, the switch on the ebay listing doesn't seem to have one. I'm not sure if they always had that nub though, can somebody who has old clicky switches confirm?

[CalmB4tehPwn]

All of the clears posted in this thread (aside from the vintage White/Clear) has no nub. Curious, that.

[BlueBär]

All of the non-clickies posted in this thread has no nub. Curious, that.

FTFY

With clicky I mean white, grey, blue and green, so this should be a good indicator if it is a white/clicky or a clear/non-clicky.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Oh! You said clicky, for some reason I read Tactile. Disregard.

[esoomenona]

Clicky switches should all have a little nub on the top of the slider, the switch on the ebay listing doesn't seem to have one. I'm not sure if they always had that nub though, can somebody who has old clicky switches confirm?

I think you're right. You can see it in the picture of the Whites, the Blue, and if you look closely enough of that old White, you can see it as well.

[Photekq]

Yeah. Whites, blues and greens all have the nubs. Pretty sure the ebay listing is a regular clear.

[ComradeSniper]

Clicky switches should all have a little nub on the top of the slider, the switch on the ebay listing doesn't seem to have one. I'm not sure if they always had that nub though, can somebody who has old clicky switches confirm?

Oh cool, I never noticed that only clicky switches had that.