2 ALPS keyboards on sale

[watduzhkstand4]

Just a heads up, the ABS M1 is on sale at newegg for $44.99

Here it is!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823224001&Tpk=abs%20m1

There is also this keyboard from DSI. I don't know what color switch it uses but it is ALPS.
http://www.notestation.com/fullsizealpsmechanicalswitchkeyboardask-6600.htm

[IBI]

There is also this keyboard from DSI. I don't know what color switch it uses but it is ALPS.
http://www.notestation.com/fullsizealpsmechanicalswitchkeyboardask-6600.htm

As it's got the same model number as the Solidtek I'd imagine it's the same keyboard.

Newegg aparently regularly discounts the M1 to $45

[watduzhkstand4]

As it's got the same model number as the Solidtek I'd imagine it's the same keyboard.

Newegg aparently regulaly discounts the M1 to $45

Oh really? sorry about it. I didn't know =P False alarm!

[MANISH7]

edit: sorry for the mix up. thanks rdjack. that makes a big difference to me. i'm not interested in black cherries as i am for blue alps. in this case, if i wanted to try black alps, i'd rather wait for a NIB dell at101.

we don't have strike through feature so i had to wipe out the original post.

[rdjack21]

thank you for posting this. it is a great deal. if i wasn't broke, i would buy this even though i don't need it.

key switch is by far the most important aspect of a keyboard. build, looks, etc. are nice but come second. this has the blue cherries where other keyboards with the same switch cost $100+.

anyone wanting to try blue cherries - this is the deal to go for. if you don't like you can always sell back and you won't lose much.

The ABS M1 is Black Alps not blue cherry switches. You must be thinking of the iOne Scorpius M10 which does have blue cherry switches but has quality issues.

[itlnstln]

I don't think I would call lack of an NKRO feature an "issue." It's only an issue if you can't type correctly due other RO issues or the issues the Das III has.
 
Edit: One of the best keyboards I own (Dell) was only $10 NIB. Also, I wouldn't think Model Ms have issues.

[Special K]

As it's got the same model number as the Solidtek I'd imagine it's the same keyboard.

Newegg aparently regularly discounts the M1 to $45

Is there a difference between ASK-6600 and ASK-6600U?  I remember the Solidtek model ASK-6600U.

Also they use white alps, IIRC (or at least the ASK-6600U does).

[o2dazone]

http://www.costar.com.tw/products01/info.php?p_id=45&p_sid=32

??

[Special K]

http://www.costar.com.tw/products01/info.php?p_id=45&p_sid=32

??

Isn't Costar the OEM for ABS?  That looks like the M1.

[o2dazone]

Yuep

[itlnstln]

Isn't Costar the OEM for ABS? That looks like the M1.

And Filco and Phaethon and Das...

[o2dazone]

I also believe that's the OEM board for the fullsize Majestouch too. Don't quote me on that


edit: itlnstln beat me

[itlnstln]

I also believe that's the OEM board for the fullsize Majestouch too. Don't quote me on that
 
 
edit: itlnstln beat me

The tenkeyless Filco 'boards are Costar, too.

[Special K]

I also believe that's the OEM board for the fullsize Majestouch too. Don't quote me on that


edit: itlnstln beat me

So the fullsize majestouch keyboards and the M1 use the same identical outer shell?

[o2dazone]

the audacity...

[itlnstln]

so the fullsize majestouch keyboards and the m1 use the same identical outer shell?

10-4

[Special K]

10-4

So then why do the Majestouch keyboards cost 2x what the ABS M1 costs?  Does Costar design the internals of the keyboard as well?  The switches are obviously not made by Costar, so what is the source of the price difference?

[itlnstln]

Their prices are in line for XM switches (ABS: $70 vs. Filco: $80). Part of it is name brand. Also, Newegg proabably has a lot of overstock or gets a better cost due to large bulk ordering allowing them to put them on sale for $50 occasionally. The big price difference between ABS and Filco is between ABS and the Cherry Filcos due to the cost of the Cherry switches.  That, and Filco has better logic in their 'boards than ABS; Costar does all the logic work for their 'boards.

[bigpook]

Or we are all being swindled. The filcos, topres etc actually cost very little to produce allowing the vendor to sell with high margins.

[Special K]

Their prices are in line for XM switches (ABS: $70 vs. Filco: $80). Part of it is name brand.

Did you mean to say MX switches (not XM)?  What exactly are you referring to with the $70 vs. $80?  Also I thought the M1 used black alps copies.  

That, and Filco has better logic in their 'boards than ABS; Costar does all the logic work for their 'boards.

By "logic", do you just mean the NKRO feature that some Filco boards have?  Is there any other logic inside a keyboard that would affect its performance?

[itlnstln]

Did you mean to say MX switches (not XM)? What exactly are you referring to with the $70 vs. $80? Also I thought the M1 used black alps copies.

No, XM switches.  They are the brand name of the Alps-compatible switches.
 
 
 

By "logic", do you just mean the NKRO feature that some Filco boards have? Is there any other logic inside a keyboard that would affect its performance?

I am loosely using the word "logic" to refer to the non-switch elements of the 'board; therefore, anything having to do with sending a keystroke to the PC (including things like NKRO).

[MANISH7]

The ABS M1 is Black Alps not blue cherry switches. You must be thinking of the iOne Scorpius M10 which does have blue cherry switches but has quality issues.

thanks for the correction. yeah i got mixed up. i edited my post. i wouldn't recommend black alps for 45.

[Special K]

i wouldn't recommend black alps for 45.

Why not?  Is it just because you think you could get a NIB Dell AT101W for less?

[MANISH7]

I think the short answer is all keyboards under $100 have some kind of issue, especially if 6-Key matters to you.  

not my $20 NIB compaq 11800. o sure it won't meet everyone's particular idea of the ideal keyboard but it is a solid keyboard with 8 key roll over (according to forum reports).

[Special K]

not my $20 NIB compaq 11800. o sure it won't meet everyone's particular idea of the ideal keyboard but it is a solid keyboard with 8 key roll over (according to forum reports).

Where did you get a NIB MX-11800?

[MANISH7]

Why not?

i'd rather wait for a NIB dell at101 for $20 on ebay. they come around from time to time.

furthermore, i wouldn't mind waiting because i don't hold black alps in the same esteem as my current cherry browns. this is just my opinion of course.

[MANISH7]

Where did you get a NIB MX-11800?

i told you in your "noob" thread

ebay. they come every now and then. just check this section for alerts.

[Special K]

i told you in your "noob" thread

ebay. they come every now and then. just check this section for alerts.

Haha, that thread got so long I don't even remember everything that was posted in it.

In any case, I've been typing on a used MX-11800 for the past few weeks and I think it's great.  Personally I have my eye on the Filco with cherry browns, but that's quite a bit more expensive than the MX-11800.

[D-EJ915]

Or we are all being swindled. The filcos, topres etc actually cost very little to produce allowing the vendor to sell with high margins.

they do cost very little relatively speaking, almost all products are like that

[IBI]

Is there a difference between ASK-6600 and ASK-6600U?  I remember the Solidtek model ASK-6600U.

Also they use white alps, IIRC (or at least the ASK-6600U does).

I would assume the U just signifies USB and if you got your hands on the DSI it's actually have the U on the end of the model.

Isn't Costar the OEM for ABS?  That looks like the M1.

Their prices are in line for XM switches (ABS: $70 vs. Filco: $80). Part of it is name brand. Also, Newegg proabably has a lot of overstock or gets a better cost due to large bulk ordering allowing them to put them on sale for $50 occasionally. The big price difference between ABS and Filco is between ABS and the Cherry Filcos due to the cost of the Cherry switches.  That, and Filco has better logic in their 'boards than ABS; Costar does all the logic work for their 'boards.

But Datacomp apparently make the Bluetooth Filcos and Solid Year (Solidtek) apparently make the Steelseries 7G (which also uses the same casing). I've noticed a couple of other models where the same design comes out of several factories. Have we got freelance designers selling a design multiple times, or are they branches of the same company or what is the situation?

not my $20 NIB compaq 11800. o sure it won't meet everyone's particular idea of the ideal keyboard but it is a solid keyboard with 8 key roll over (according to forum reports).

I thought that was a confused report and it turned out to be the MX-8100 and not the MX-11800 that have the n-key rollover?

[MANISH7]

I thought that was a confused report and it turned out to be the MX-8100 and not the MX-11800 that have the n-key rollover?

i'll take your word as it is more reliable than my recollection of glancing around the forums. thanks.

[itlnstln]

But Datacomp apparently make the Bluetooth Filcos and Solid Year (Solidtek) apparently make the Steelseries 7G (which also uses the same casing). I've noticed a couple of other models where the same design comes out of several factories. Have we got freelance designers selling a design multiple times, or are they branches of the same company or what is the situation?

I didn't think the Steelseries used the same case. They do not look like a Filco clone to me; I could be wrong, though. It could still be that Costar manufactures the base keyboard, and another OEM/ODM makes other pieces (like Bluetooth interfaces) and re-brands them. I still think Costar is the primary OEM/ODM, but client companies like Diatec and Metadot use a third party company to provide the parts/functionality that Costar may not be able to provide.

[cchan]

I didn't think the Steelseries used the same case. They do not look like a Filco clone to me; I could be wrong, though. It could still be that Costar manufactures the base keyboard, and another OEM/ODM makes other pieces (like Bluetooth interfaces) and re-brands them. I still think Costar is the primary OEM/ODM, but client companies like Diatec and Metadot use a third party company to provide the parts/functionality that Costar may not be able to provide.

Steelseries 7G and Filco FKB104/xx don't use the same casing. Look closely and you will see that there is more space between the alpha and paging block on the Steelseries.

[Special K]

I didn't think the Steelseries used the same case. They do not look like a Filco clone to me; I could be wrong, though. It could still be that Costar manufactures the base keyboard, and another OEM/ODM makes other pieces (like Bluetooth interfaces) and re-brands them. I still think Costar is the primary OEM/ODM, but client companies like Diatec and Metadot use a third party company to provide the parts/functionality that Costar may not be able to provide.

The steelseries 7g and the solidtek ask-6600u seem to use the same case though.

[ch_123]

Call me a cynic, but maybe they aren't selling enough to make it worth my time and they're cuting the price to get rid of stock, so they can discontinue it after they run out of stock?

Of course, maybe they're just doing it out of the generosity of their hearts

[kyamei]

Just ordered parts for a relative's new computer.  I just couldn't help myself and ended up adding one of these to the order.  I don't even like Alps switches....  Oh well, should be interesting comparing this to my AT101W.

[Hak Foo]

I get the impression ABS makes some wild missteps with product choices.   They also try to push a $600 case.  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811215012

[itlnstln]

I get the impression ABS makes some wild missteps with product choices. They also try to push a $600 case. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811215012

That is a beast of a case.  I am not too sure what exactly is $600 about it, though, but it's pretty.  It looks like it has great cooling, too.  That, and I'm not too sure I like the "side-firing" drives.  At least it helps keep the front looking clean.

[kyamei]

I get the impression ABS makes some wild missteps with product choices.   They also try to push a $600 case.  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811215012

That case is actually a Lian-Li PC-X2000, hence the price tag.

[ch_123]

Is a Lian-Li brand one as expensive? I thought I remembed them being in the €250 region... but I could have been thinking of a different case.

[IBI]

Is a Lian-Li brand one as expensive? I thought I remembed them being in the €250 region... but I could have been thinking of a different case.

They start at around £80, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of their cases went that high.

[ch_123]

When I said "A Lian-Li one" I meant the Lian-Li branded version of that case (I think it's called the Tyr). Some of their high end cases are quite expensive, but not $600 expensive...

I have a Lian-Li case myself. One of these.