Arm and leg... what switch?

[blueSmoke]

They are selling gold... 100$ per pound.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251388434342

It seems to me that these look like alps.

Anybody?

[blueSmoke]

Another arm and leg seller: 250$ for a used dell Alps. Maybe we 'yall' should start dumping our used ones like him.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261337474070

This guy has definitely gone nuts. 250 bucks for a used NEC APC-H412
described as "Unique Key Switch! ALPS-like but more like cherry blues"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151091666459

This is more reasonable; 115$ for a Original GREEN ALPS keyboard:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190872339094

Are generally available used keyboards that rare? I thought only SSKs commanded these prices.

[tuxsavvy]

They are selling gold... 100$ per pound.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251388434342

It seems to me that these look like alps.

Anybody?

That to me is very hard to tell exactly what sort of a switch it is. Aside from the fact that there are no photos of whatever slider it is using, no model numbers to go by and seems like the controller chip (only the socket remains) is removed it is very hard to tell if the said keyboard is actually worth that price tag or not:

Another arm and leg seller: 250$ for a used dell Alps. Maybe we 'yall' should start dumping our used ones like him.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261337474070

This guy has definitely gone nuts. 250 bucks for a used NEC APC-H412
described as "Unique Key Switch! ALPS-like but more like cherry blues"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151091666459

This is more reasonable; 115$ for a Original GREEN ALPS keyboard:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190872339094

Are generally available used keyboards that rare? I thought only SSKs commanded these prices.

The Dell keyboard looks like it has Alps sort of switch, is sold slightly cheaper than the listed price on ebay ($23 or so difference). I guess judging by the weight and the photo of the switch it looks like it has metal/steel backplate which maybe partly justifiable for it's cost.

NEC keyboard looks somewhat a little overpriced considering how yellow it is. Maybe ABS key caps? I thought Alps switches were meant to be more rectangular than oval shaped. The angle of the photo taken with the key cap off makes it a little harder for one to verify if it is truly Alps or not.

"Health computer systems" keyboard does sort of seem like it is a Alps switches based keyboard. The connector for the keyboard looks somewhat like a DIN connector. If that were the case, the next question comes to mind would be whether or not would the keyboard send out AT commands or would it send out XT commands?

I guess the best person to ask on these keyboards would be Daniel Beardsmore as he is very knowledgeable in Alps switches.

SSKs are compact keyboard. Also SSK uses a different sort of switch compared to Alps. The same goes with IBM M15 for instance which at one stage was sold for $1,500, another M15 that had some minor issues here and there was sold for $400. I think there was a listing for NIB vintage Cherry MX keyboard which was selling for around $600-$700. So it all can really vary.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

It seems to me that these look like alps.

Anybody?

Honeywell Hall Effect

In addition to the switch, look at the column of four legs per switch. That's a critical clue.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

NEC keyboard looks somewhat a little overpriced considering how yellow it is. Maybe ABS key caps? I thought Alps switches were meant to be more rectangular than oval shaped. The angle of the photo taken with the key cap off makes it a little harder for one to verify if it is truly Alps or not.

They're NEC switches. The contact mechanism is nothing like Alps SKCL/SKCM (common Alps switches) inside, but there are some similarities to other Alps switch types.

[rowdy]

NEC keyboard looks somewhat a little overpriced considering how yellow it is. Maybe ABS key caps? I thought Alps switches were meant to be more rectangular than oval shaped. The angle of the photo taken with the key cap off makes it a little harder for one to verify if it is truly Alps or not.

They're NEC switches. The contact mechanism is nothing like Alps SKCL/SKCM (common Alps switches) inside, but there are some similarities to other Alps switch types.

Oh cool link!

I have one of these that someone kicked off an NEC keyboard he was using as a footrest.  The switch was ripped off the PCB and one of the pins broken.  I have all the parts, but couldn't get it all to stay together, assuming it is supposed to clip together.

At least that page shows roughly how the bits are supposed to fit.

Thanks!

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Oh cool link!

I am integrating the best of alps.tw's photos into the Deskthority wiki, as he has given his permission for us to use them. I haven't come close to getting around to studying NEC yet, and they're fairly rare, but quite well regarded by those who know them, I think.

[rowdy]

Oh cool link!

I am integrating the best of alps.tw's photos into the Deskthority wiki, as he has given his permission for us to use them. I haven't come close to getting around to studying NEC yet, and they're fairly rare, but quite well regarded by those who know them, I think.

I learned much of my programming on an NEC APC-H4100E back in the day, and rescued one about a year ago from under someone's desk at work.

Having recently acquired a PS/2 to USB adaptor, I tried using the NEC on my Mac last weekend, but I think the flood of MX blues, greens, blacks and BS keyboards have spoiled me, as the NEC just didn't feel the same as I remember from all those years ago.