So I got my first keyboard delivered and I though I d contribute to the forum, since those cheap keyboards got a lot of people interested, and no1s really showcased his new black alps 1008. Let me just make this clear: This is my first mech keyboard, I have no other point of reference other than the occasional black widow display at my local store.
I will start the presentation just by saying this: if you consider buying the black alps edition because of the loud greens, like I did, well, don't. If you think you will enjoy the satisfying clicking of a green alps/blue cherry switch, absolutely go for it. People here already stress that alps switches are LOUD, and they are totally right. Unless you hate the clicking, absolutely go for it. I wouldnt mind a satisfying clicking sound in all this loud mess my desk has become! And that says some1 who likes to get physical with the keyboard a lot( that didnt sound right at all...). Current sound Im hearing, is like a really loud rubber keyboard with "hollow" keycaps, if thats of any indication to you. Videos posted below.
Unfortunately im too much of a noob to disassemble the black switches for you to see- I dont have the needed tool. However I can feel how light the keyboard is, compared to my cheap rubber dome, its like writing on air. I dont find myself generally misstyping a lot, althought it really is delicate and light. I used to actually REST my hands on my previous cheap keyb, which I hadnt NOTICED till i plugged this one in(I actually typed like 100 "a" in google search and thought my keyb was defective, only to realise I was resting my finger on my keyboard, something a cheap rubber couldnt feel). Compared to the gifted keychain which is clicky and tactile, this keyboard must be tactile(apart from caps lock and scroll lock-linear) but not clicky, im not sure whether the keychain is alps switch or cherry though.
The bigger keycaps, like enter shift and spacebar, sound differentely than the smaller ones. Not sure if thats normal, but left shift sounds a lot more "metally springly" than the other one, it does look like its working fine nevertheless.
To end the review, I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying typing on my new "toy", and cant w8 to play starcraft with it. My words per minute test jumped by 10 words- on my first try! It came shipped for 45€ and I had to pay another 4€ for customs I think, I live in Greece, so customs aside, for 45€ it should be worth it.
I hope this post is of any help to any1 in need, like I did when I was searching for my first mech
[video=youtube;sCc8SSQjT8c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCc8SSQjT8c[/video]