ALPS Backlit Keyboard

[Magna224]

Are there any that have ever been created, even modded ones?

[BlackWidowMan777]

Necro no. 99

When are alps and topre going to lighten up a bit? Full board lighting is preferable than the odd scroll lock led.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

The Alps switch design prevented tactile and clicky switches from having an LED. The LED in SKCL (complicated linear¹) green/brown/yellow/grey consumes the space where the click leaf or tactile leaf would go. The switch is a cube and is pretty packed inside.

Someone has, however, made a fully backlit 60%-ish aluminium keyboard with Matias switches, whose transparent shells allow the switches to be lit from below the PCB.

Tactile and clicky Alps-style backlit keyboards are now possible, but only with Matias switches. If you're a linear fan, you can use genuine linear Alps switches.

¹ (note that it's just a coincidence that the family part code has "CL" in it — nobody knows what CM and CL actually stand for. SK means "single key" apparently)

[BlackWidowMan777]

If you'll pardon the pun, much thanks for illuminating me on this as I have come to love the Alps switch and am eager for more. I prefer backlit (because of how my keyboard sits in its tray, blocked from the overhead light), clicky and tenkeyless keyboards now, so I guess I'll be waiting for a backlit Matias clicky mini for PC... Since it is lit from below, do you think soft-landing pads would work in this scenario to dampen the sound? Ideally it would be backlit, dampened and clicky. Or could they just sell it dampened and clicky? Thanks!

Any aspiring alps lover will benefit from your wellspring of knowledge .

[abdulmuhsee]

...I guess I'll be waiting for a backlit Matias clicky backlit mini for PC... Since it is lit from below, do you think soft-landing pads would work in this scenario to dampen the sound? Ideally it would be backlit, dampened and clicky. Or could they just sell it dampened and clicky?

If you're an aspiring ALPS-lover, then you may have to get used to using vintage keyboards, since ALPS Electric no longer makes them.  Matias is the only one currently making an ALPS-type switch, and while I hear it's an excellent keyboard, it's already a somewhat niche market and the single remaining manufacturer for a rare switch type isn't likely to start rolling out LED boards.  I could be pleasantly wrong though :-).

The other option is to learn how to solder and mod your own boards, because then the skys the limit.

[BlackWidowMan777]

...I guess I'll be waiting for a backlit Matias clicky backlit mini for PC... Since it is lit from below, do you think soft-landing pads would work in this scenario to dampen the sound? Ideally it would be backlit, dampened and clicky. Or could they just sell it dampened and clicky?

If you're an aspiring ALPS-lover, then you may have to get used to using vintage keyboards, since ALPS Electric no longer makes them.  Matias is the only one currently making an ALPS-type switch, and while I hear it's an excellent keyboard, it's already a somewhat niche market and the single remaining manufacturer for a rare switch type isn't likely to start rolling out LED boards.  I could be pleasantly wrong though :-).

The other option is to learn how to solder and mod your own boards, because then the skys the limit.

Well, I've already started down that road of acquiring vintage alps keyboards; so far, I've gotten an SGI Granite and a Siig Minitouch and love them both, but especially the former. I also have a Matias MQP which apparently is a clone of the simplified white Alps CM switch, with the damped slider from the cream Alps CM switch (as used in the SGI Granite). I also couldn't resist buying 2 x Aron 106 (tactile & linear) alps-clone keyboards - mostly to try out taobao, and have discovered that the linear version is a beauty!

Right now I am merely a budding collector and admirer but I hope that this will become a hobby and that I can acquire some of the skills you mentioned.

I have high hopes that Matias will see the potential market and give us a backlit keyboard .

Cheers 

[Daniel Beardsmore]

If you're an aspiring ALPS-lover, then you may have to get used to using vintage keyboards, since ALPS Electric no longer makes them.  Matias is the only one currently making an ALPS-type switch, and while I hear it's an excellent keyboard, it's already a somewhat niche market and the single remaining manufacturer for a rare switch type isn't likely to start rolling out LED boards.

The community-made backlit Alps keyboard:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46060.0

Matias stated, "The holes [in the PCB] are to allow backlight mods, once we have the keycaps available."

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49920.0

Matias switches have been available for purchase for some time now — there is no requirement to buy Matias keyboards. Matias are going up against Cherry directly. I find it interesting that Cherry now have their own transparent switches — it will be interesting to see how they compete.

Matias have invested two years' research into their switches — it's a big project for them. My only concern is Matias's reticence to offer linear switches, as not only is linear very popular, but Alps green linear switches are renowned for their smoothness, so if Matias could replicate it, they would make a lot of people happy.

[Matias]

It's on the roadmap, but we have a few other priorities that come first -- namely a 60% board that will be revealed soon.

[Elrick]

It's on the roadmap, but we have a few other priorities that come first -- namely a 60% board that will be revealed soon.

Very interested in seeing how it will look.  Please tighten the case surrounding the keys as much as possible, so that we have a 60% layout that highlights the keys above all else.

Maybe look at dumping internal USB support.......?

[Matias]

It's on the roadmap, but we have a few other priorities that come first -- namely a 60% board that will be revealed soon.

Very interested in seeing how it will look.  Please tighten the case surrounding the keys as much as possible, so that we have a 60% layout that highlights the keys above all else.

Maybe look at dumping internal USB support.......?

Yes, it will have no bezel or internal USB support — just a 3mm thick side case — and it will have a lower profile than your typical tenkeyless.  A lot of those cases are bigger than they need to be.  It will be much different from anything you've seen from us before.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

After that, I can hope : ))) that the same design will be used for a full-size PC Tactile Pro 5 (skip the 4). I was never a fan of the bulbous cases even when Apple were making them — something like the WASD V2 (but slimmer) or Filco Minila would be nice, i.e. lean and angular. I have no problem with the gloss black, though. Other dreams include a PC Clack Pro 5 (i.e. undamped — I'm annoyed that there was never an ISO ABS M1, as that had a fearsome clack to it.)

[Matias]

After that, I can hope : ))) that the same design will be used for a full-size PC Tactile Pro 5 (skip the 4). I was never a fan of the bulbous cases even when Apple were making them — something like the WASD V2 (but slimmer) or Filco Minila would be nice, i.e. lean and angular. I have no problem with the gloss black, though.

If the 60% does well, I expect you'll see a number pad version that uses similar concepts.  We have a lot of stuff on the drawing board or prototyped.  It doesn't all make it into the wild.

Other dreams include a PC Clack Pro 5 (i.e. undamped — I'm annoyed that there was never an ISO ABS M1, as that had a fearsome clack to it.)

I'd like to see one of those too. 

[Pacifist]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

[Matias]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

40% ?

[rowdy]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

40% ?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47133.0

??

[Pacifist]

It would be the ultimate quiet portable keyboard

[Matias]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

40% ?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47133.0

If it were wireless, something like that would be good for a smartphone or tablet.

[Pacifist]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

40% ?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47133.0

If it were wireless, something like that would be good for a smartphone or tablet.

is it possible to make it wireless AND have a mini usb cable on the back?

[BlackWidowMan777]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

40% ?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47133.0

If it were wireless, something like that would be good for a smartphone or tablet.

is it possible to make it wireless AND have a mini usb cable on the back?

He's got a two day head start on the rest of 'em, which is more than he needs. Edgar's got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, he speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom, he'll even blend in with us Geekhackers. With any luck, he's got the grail already.

[Pacifist]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

40% ?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47133.0

If it were wireless, something like that would be good for a smartphone or tablet.

is it possible to make it wireless AND have a mini usb cable on the back?

He's got a two day head start on the rest of 'em, which is more than he needs. Edgar's got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, he speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom, he'll even blend in with us Geekhackers. With any luck, he's got the grail already.

what. 

[Matias]

If matias can make a 40% quiet pro keyboard with backlighting and low profile PBT blanks, I would buy it ASAP

40% ?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47133.0

If it were wireless, something like that would be good for a smartphone or tablet.

is it possible to make it wireless AND have a mini usb cable on the back?

He's got a two day head start on the rest of 'em, which is more than he needs. Edgar's got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, he speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom, he'll even blend in with us Geekhackers. With any luck, he's got the grail already.

Wish that were true... 

Anyway, it is possible to do USB and Bluetooth in the same keyboard, but it's more difficult.