I'd never heard of Acer "ALPS-alikes" before. I was setting up a new PC for someone and his old keyboard was a MESH (a UK brand) PS/2 with clicky ALPS switches, that elusive British 105-key ALPS keyboard. It seemed an amazing find, except when we popped off a keycap ... black clicky ALPS? With "Acer" written on them? What the..?
It turned out to be a rebadged Acer.
Cursory inspection suggests that the sound and feel to me are indistinguishable from my 102-key complicated blue ALPS, but further testing would be necessary. Also, I do wonder what the disadvantage is of having a membrane switch under the key, since after all, the renowned buckling spring keyboard only uses the springs for its sound and feel, not for the switch contacts.
I couldn't give either 100%, as I prefer stiffer switches, hence holding out for a Fukka to see whether that gives me my desired resistance. I'm too heavy handed, although even Cherry browns are wonderful when I'm temporarily tuned into them. After a week off for Christmas, using only my Cherry blue keyboard at home, I was really amazed to find that after I went back to work, my Cherry brown keyboard in the office felt so much better than the Cherry blue at home.
My feelings are, with suitably random figures, all for typing experience:
Cherry MX blue (FILCO 2010 plate): 80% — pretty nice, but the plastic rattle of the clicker is a real letdown compared to the deep resonance of BS and the solid metallic sound of ALPS
Cherry MX brown (FILCO 2010 plate): 90% — the scraping sound and feel that some keys have, never wears off, and it requires an exceptionally light touch, but it's a deliciously smooth and tactile switch if you can adjust to it, which I can if I'm typing a lot of text at once
Unicomp BS (Spacesaver 2010): 90% — the sound can remind me of a child's toy (not sure why, but it sucks) and the tactile point is too low and too erratic to be worth anything, but it sounds and feels really good; a little stiff (leas to mssed lettrs) and tiring, but great fun, and would probably be my first choice if I could make a ton of noise at work
Simplified ALPS Type II (XM): 50% — Ugh. Once I have my Fukka board and I've been able to compare them fully, I'll have a spare Zero for someone to strip down. The XM switches can die on a fire (or be refitted, if there's anything good left in them). To be fair, XM would be fine if you have strong hands, e.g. someone more accustomed to manual labour would probably not be fazed by them, and they do have a really good solid click.
Complicated blue ALPS: 80% — a bit light (may be wear, it's an 80s keyboard that's seen a lot of use), a little noisy (but my Fukka should prove worse!), and a touch jarring, but pretty pleasant. I doubt that a Fukka would have the smoothness of BS, but the ALPS sound is much sharper and cleaner than the muffled clatter of BS. For a light feel, I prefer browns, and for a heavy feel, definitely BS, but in terms of sound, ALPS is best.
BBC Micro linear (Cherry? 1982–1985): 50% — very quality feel, decent sound, indestructible switches on a sturdy plate mounted keyboard, but linear is just not for me. Note that the BBC Master keyboard (1985–?) had the same look, sound and feel, but the switches wore out easily.
