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Offline spremino

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 362
  • Location: Italy
Dell 101W: european version?
« on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 12:48:57 »
Hello everyone,

and thanks to everyone who has posted detailed descriptions of keyboards, which have been very helpful.

I'm an happy owner of two Model M, and what could I say... I think I've catched KAD - Keyboard Acquisition Disorder ;-) - therefore I'd like to try some other clicky models.

Currently, I'd like to try out the Dell AT101W, but I live in Europe and I'm looking for a version with the European layout (7 shaped Enter key + shorter left Shift). I thought I found it to be the Dell AT102W, but on another thread I discovered it does not use the same clicky switches. Here comes my question: does Dell AT101W have an european version?

Thanks.
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 13:01:51 »
Quote from: spremino;112334
Hello everyone,
 
and thanks to everyone who has posted detailed descriptions of keyboards, which have been very helpful.
 
I'm an happy owner of two Model M, and what could I say... I think I've catched KAD - Keyboard Acquisition Disorder ;-) - therefore I'd like to try some other clicky models.
 
Currently, I'd like to try out the Dell AT101W, but I live in Europe and I'm looking for a version with the European layout (7 shaped Enter key + shorter left Shift). I thought I found it to be the Dell AT102W, but on another thread I discovered it does not use the same clicky switches. Here comes my question: does Dell AT101W have an european version?
 
Thanks.

The 101 and the 102 use the same switches.  Neither are clicky; they both use Alps blacks.  If you want clicky (Alps/Alps compatible), you will need to look at a Northgate, SIIG Minitouch or Filco Zero.  There are plenty others, but those are the ones off the top of my head that have clicky Alps/Alps-compatible switches.
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Offline xyzzy

  • Posts: 155
  • Location: EU
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 13:09:47 »
Yep the AT102W is the european version (105 keys, ISO layout). I've seen them in British, German and Swedish (I think) layout. The beige version is the most common, the black is more difficult to find.

Here's a NIB AT102W UK layout for 10 pounds BIN: http://search.ebay.co.uk/250462011995
« Last Edit: Thu, 27 August 2009, 13:12:46 by xyzzy »
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IBM Model F62 (Ellipse's) • PFU HHKB Pro Type S Hybrid • PFU HHKB Pro • Leopold FC660C • IBM Model M SSK 1391472 • IBM Model M SSK UNI04C6 • IBM Model M 1391405 (x4) • Cherry MX 1800 Compact (blue Cherry) • Cherry MX 11900 Touchboard (brown Cherry) • Dell AT102W (black Alps) • Apple Extended Keyboard II (cream Alps) • Acer 6312-TA (black Acer) • Unikey KWD-601 (white Cherry)

Offline spremino

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  • Posts: 362
  • Location: Italy
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 13:10:38 »
Quote from: itlnstln;112339
The 101 and the 102 use the same switches.  Neither are clicky; they both use Alps blacks.


Well, Clickykeyboards says AT101W is clicky:

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/20188/subcatid/0/id/256905

Well, clicky or not, if both have the same switches, I'll try the 102 since the 101 has got nice reviews.

Thanks for your other suggestions.
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 13:13:54 »
Quote from: spremino;112344
Well, Clickykeyboards says AT101W is clicky:
 
http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/20188/subcatid/0/id/256905
 

It's not.  You'll find, in the world of mechanical keyboards, that some people will label any mechanical keyboard as "clicky."
 
That said, the folks at clickykeyboards are quite knowledgable and are not trying deceive anybody.  They are probably trying to be noob-friendly.
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Offline ch_123

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Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 13:35:21 »
Quote from: spremino;112344
Well, Clickykeyboards says AT101W is clicky:

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/20188/subcatid/0/id/256905

Well, clicky or not, if both have the same switches, I'll try the 102 since the 101 has got nice reviews.

Thanks for your other suggestions.

The Black Alps switches used in the Dell AT-101/102 are quite loud, leading some to call them clicky. However, when we say 'clicky' around here, we mean that the keyboard is designed in such a way that when the switch actuates (ie. the point at which the keypress is registered), it intentionally produces some sort of noise. The 'clickyness' from the Black Alps is the sound of them bottoming out (most keyboards make a noise when you bottom out, it just happens that the Black Alps make a particularly loud one). It's possible to actuate the switch without making any sound. Therefore, they are classed as non-clicky tactile switches.
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Offline RamaBot

  • Posts: 57
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 18 September 2009, 16:49:05 »
Quote from: xyzzy;112343
Yep the AT102W is the european version (105 keys, ISO layout). I've seen them in British, German and Swedish (I think) layout. The beige version is the most common, the black is more difficult to find.

Here's a NIB AT102W UK layout for 10 pounds BIN: http://search.ebay.co.uk/250462011995


Hello guys. This is my first post! What a great forum.

I bought 2 of these from this guy last week and they are lovely.
The keys have a nice thud when they bottom out and then a light pop when they hit the top.
Even though they don't actually click on the way down they do feel positive.
Really nice to type on. Light and crisp.
They also have a nice old style curly cord.

I had to replace my Model M as old age is causing me to have aches in my hands after prolonged periods of typing. Buying this seems to have cured it (so far).

I will probably use this from now on unless they make a UK layout tenkeyless Filco.
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Offline ch_123

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Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 18 September 2009, 17:31:17 »
The Keyboard Co. (who are based in Britain) will be stocking UK layout Filcos sometime soon.
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Offline Hak Foo

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  • Make America Clicky Again!
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 18 September 2009, 21:37:46 »
You might want to mod the black ALPS switches to "clicky" by folding the metal leaves.  The switches open fairly easily, and you can have it all.
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Overton130, Box Pale Blues.

Offline RamaBot

  • Posts: 57
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 20 September 2009, 08:29:44 »
Quote
The Keyboard Co. (who are based in Britain) will be stocking UK layout Filcos sometime soon.


Hopefully by April 2010 then I can get the wife to buy me one for my birthday.

Quote
You might want to mod the black ALPS switches to "clicky" by folding the metal leaves. The switches open fairly easily, and you can have it all.


I would probably just break something. Sometimes you have to know your limits.
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Offline RamaBot

  • Posts: 57
I went for it anyway
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 07 October 2009, 13:49:06 »
Quote from: Hak Foo;119139
You might want to mod the black ALPS switches to "clicky" by folding the metal leaves.  The switches open fairly easily, and you can have it all.

I did the mods on all of the keys and I now have a nice light clicky keyboard.

Even though the clicks are not very loud they do add to the overall sound and you can feel the click through the fingertips.

Love it!

Oh, and as I had each key off anyway I lubed the stems with a little sewing machine oil to reduce any friction. It may be in my head but my keyboard now feels fantastic.
Not bad for a tenner and a couple of hours with the tweezers.
« Last Edit: Wed, 07 October 2009, 13:52:56 by RamaBot »
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Offline RamaBot

  • Posts: 57
Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 07 October 2009, 14:28:23 »
Quote from: ripster;123748
And if you ever get bored with that you can lighten the keys by 10g by removing the leaf and making it a semi-linear switch (there's a bump near the bottom but the switch fires near the top).  

Get Blue or Brown Cherries in one keyboard.


Very cool. This is turning out to be one of the most fun keyboards I have ever owned. I may do a nice custom spray paint job on it soon just to make it really mine sort of thing.

I love being a geek.
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Offline ch_123

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Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 14 October 2009, 16:40:36 »
Quote from: ripster;123748
And if you ever get bored with that you can lighten the keys by 10g by removing the leaf and making it a semi-linear switch (there's a bump near the bottom but the switch fires near the top).


Out of curiosity, how close in terms of feel to the Brown Cherrys does that mod make the Alps feel?
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Offline ch_123

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Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 14 October 2009, 17:13:36 »
Probably more like a Cherry white then...
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Offline itlnstln

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Dell 101W: european version?
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 15 October 2009, 07:40:37 »
Cherry whites were clicky, similar to blues, weren't they?  The clears are certainly tactile.
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