Author Topic: What are alps/topre like? (Read 3340 times)

xSpartanCx · « **on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 13:53:23 »

I will have at least one switch of each Cherry MX switch soon, and I have a Model M, but I've never been able to feel a topre/any type of alps switch. Is there anywhere where I can buy a single key? Can someone explain what they feel like in comparison to MX switches? I'm interested in a keyboard but don't want to spend a lot on topre and I've never felt an alps, so I don't know what I would be looking for, let alone if I would want one.

jabar · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 13:56:58 »

The only current production ALPS are Matias: clicky and silent tactile. All other ALPS and their dozens of varieties and knockoffs can only be found on boards, most of them used ones.

Dgsbllx · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 13:58:36 »

Yup there are many different versions of Alps like mx. Topre keychains are available but they are rare/expensive so really you need to buy a board. Cheapest topre board is going to be an f600c probably, unless you get a deal second hand. And even then there are different topre weights!

oTurtlez · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 13:59:48 »

Topre can only be compared to MX browns due to the tactile bump. That being said, they're completely different. It's a nice, crisp, smooth switch that makes a wonderful sound and just feels amazing. It's got a tactile bump at the very top and beginning of the keypress which then becomes nice and smooth all the way down to the bottom. The different boards that are out there are also completely different. A variable will feel worlds apart from a uniform board, and then a uniform 45g will feel worlds apart from a uniform 55g. In that way, Topre's are unique along themselves just as the Cherry switches are. For alps, I've only tried complicated oldschool blues and they were surprisingly nice. Had a high actuation point with a nice plastic-y click to them that just felt nice.

Quote from: Dgsbllx on Sun, 21 July 2013, 13:58:36

Yup there are many different versions of Alps like mx. Topre keychains are available but they are rare/expensive so really you need to buy a board. Cheapest topre board is going to be an f600c probably, unless you get a deal second hand. And even then there are different topre weights!

Also, the Topre Type Heaven is the cheapest at 170 which is a nice price for a topre board. Uniform 45g, though it only comes with lasered ABS caps.

smknjoe · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:01:32 »

Topres are very refined rubber domes. Smoother, and lighter. Very nice, but not tactile unless you bottom out. ALPS are like a cheaper MX to me. Not bad, not mind blowing.

Flamingo · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:07:54 »

There is also the Topre Type Heaven!

http://www.amazon.com/Topre-Type-Heaven-104-key-Keyboard/dp/B00DGJALYW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374433550&sr=8-1&keywords=type+heaven

And since its amazon you can easily try it out and if you really don't like it you can return it

fohat.digs · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:14:33 »

Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:01:32

ALPS are like a cheaper MX to me.

Alps are like an improved MX to me.

Provided that they are good ones. Deteriorated and/or dirty Alps are not nice. But old or used does not mean deteriorated by any means.

smknjoe · « **Reply #7 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:16:57 »

The fake white ones I have are very "scratchy". Like there is a grain of sand in the switch. They are heavier though which I like.

fohat.digs · « **Reply #8 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:27:23 »

Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:16:57

The fake white ones I have are very "scratchy". Like there is a grain of sand in the switch. They are heavier though which I like.

The white ones can be all over the board. I have an actual Alps brand board that is nice but a bit too heavy to make me feel good.

A lot of people really like the dampened cream Alps in the Apple Extended Keyboard II which is plentiful and cheap (but requires an adapter).

Photoelectric · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:28:44 »

How would you compare Matias's "quiet" Alps in terms of reliability and quality? I know people have different favorites among Cherry MX switches, but at least they are all consistently good and reliable--just different in feel. But I have no good feel for how Matias' Alps versions stack up against other [overwhelmingly numerous] Alps competition.

do_Og@n · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:38:15 »

I have a BNIB FK-2001 with simplified ALPS and it types like a dream. I like to use it more because it is firmer than MX Blues but not as much as greens and the click is like cocking a shotgun with each key press.

I've tried Topre and they aren't for me. Everything for them is expensive and to me they feel like an expensive Dell QuietKey.

BUT!!! this is just my opinion and everybody is different. You will need to try them out yourself and see what you think.

oTurtlez · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:49:09 »

Another thing that many people (including myself) neglect to say about Topre's is that they are capacitive, meaning, you don't need to bottom out for the keypress to register like on normal rubber domes.

terrpn · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 15:09:09 »

Quote from: fohat.digs on Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:27:23

Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:16:57
The fake white ones I have are very "scratchy". Like there is a grain of sand in the switch. They are heavier though which I like.

The white ones can be all over the board. I have an actual Alps brand board that is nice but a bit too heavy to make me feel good.

A lot of people really like the dampened cream Alps in the Apple Extended Keyboard II which is plentiful and cheap (but requires an adapter).

fake alps scratchy-- exactly

example............acer so called alps (aka- acer switch)- very scratchy, but i have seen worse.

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 15:10:39 »

If you're interesting, I've written down my thoughts on Alps and Topre switches here.

vivalarevolución · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 16:20:15 »

One big difference about most Alps switches and Topre compared to Cherry is that the actuation point is much higher on the key press than with cherry switches. The actuation for Cherry tends to be more in the middle of the keypress.

fohat.digs · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 16:21:49 »

Quote from: prdlm2009 on Sun, 21 July 2013, 16:20:15

One big difference about most Alps switches and Topre compared to Cherry is that the actuation point is much higher on the key press than with cherry switches. The actuation for Cherry tends to be more in the middle of the keypress.

And this is a very good thing. I think that is the greatest appeal of the jailhouse blues.

AKIMbO · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 21 July 2013, 16:31:14 »

Topre feels like a softer ALPs switch. Both Topre and ALPs have a high actuation point and essentially force you to bottom out.

I'm a little partial, but ALPs got clicky switches right with the blue alps switch and linear switches right with the complicated green alps switch. Topre got the tactile switch right with plate mounted 55g or HHKB plastic plate mounted 45g.

Orange ALPs are most akin to Topre switches.

Findecanor · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 22 July 2013, 02:33:09 »

Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:01:32

Topres are very refined rubber domes. Smoother, and lighter. Very nice, but not tactile unless you bottom out.

I would classify the Topre as tactile. The 30g keys are not very tactile, but there is a bump there, which is more pronounced in heavier keys. They don't feel like linear mechanical switches at all.

Topre Realforce are high quality rubber dome keyboards throughout. You could say that they are the First Class of rubber dome keyboards.

Alps came in many varieties and revisions made by different companies. The original manufactured by Alps is called "complicated" because of the design of its innards. Some clones also have the Alps logo, so all are not that easy to identify. There are several types of linear, clicky and tactile.
Some do feel a bit like some rubber dome keyboards, because the tactile point is pretty high up.That is especially true of the "Cream" Alps, which is dampened. Alps are also a bit sensitive to dust, so used Alps boards can feel either great or awful depending on their history.

esoomenona · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 22 July 2013, 05:54:21 »

Read my profile, and find the truth about both.

tgujay · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 22 July 2013, 10:07:57 »

Quote from: terrpn on Sun, 21 July 2013, 15:09:09

Quote from: fohat.digs on Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:27:23
Quote from: smknjoe on Sun, 21 July 2013, 14:16:57
The fake white ones I have are very "scratchy". Like there is a grain of sand in the switch. They are heavier though which I like.

The white ones can be all over the board. I have an actual Alps brand board that is nice but a bit too heavy to make me feel good.

A lot of people really like the dampened cream Alps in the Apple Extended Keyboard II which is plentiful and cheap (but requires an adapter).

fake alps scratchy-- exactly

example............acer so called alps (aka- acer switch)- very scratchy, but i have seen worse.

Black Acers are one of my favorite switches.

knotra · « **Reply #20 on:** Mon, 22 July 2013, 21:04:10 »

I have a Realforce 87U 45g and i am absolutely in love with it. It's hard to describe the feeling. I asked the same question before I bought mine and I got answers that were way off what I ended up experiencing. If I were to describe the feeling of Topre, I would say it was very tactile and it bump is at the top but some people say the 45gs are 'mushy' so I dunno

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Author Topic: What are alps/topre like? (Read 3340 times)