Matias Tactile Pro 4 vs original Tactile Pro from 2003 vs QuietPro?

[macguy80]

Hi,

I am currently on my QuietPro, which I love. Back in the day, I bought the original Tactile Pro. After several months, I donated it because the "Chorus of Springs" really annoyed me.

I skipped the TP2 and TP3.

I understand that this has finally been eliminated in the TP4, but I'd like to know...are there other differences?

Specifically:

1. Does the TP4 feel any different than the TP1? More or less tactile?
2. Does the TP4 feel VERY different in terms of tactility than the QP (I know the dampening reduces tactility somewhat.) I see the weighting of the two switches is supposedly the same.

Thanks!

[False_Dmitry_II]

The original used the best available Alps at the time, which many didn't like alot. Especially if the person had used complicated Alps before.

The current one uses switches that are Matais' own design and they are much better, and also more consistent. To me they're better than complicated white alps, but I have only used worn examples of them.

[jacobolus]

2. Does the TP4 feel VERY different in terms of tactility than the QP (I know the dampening reduces tactility somewhat.) I see the weighting of the two switches is supposedly the same.

They feel pretty similar. Both the clicky and quiet Matias switches feel roughly comparable to clicky complicated white Alps switches. Possibly even a bit more sharply tactile. The click/tactile leaves in both are very nice, and quite consistent for all the switches across a keyboard.

[macguy80]

Does anyone know if any Apple keyboard ever actually used complicated white Alps specifically? (And I don't mean the dampened cream found in the AEK II)

I have an AEK with Salmon Alps, as well as an Apple Standard Keyboard (M0116) that has either Orange or Salmon (I've never removed an Apple keycap for fear it might not want to go back on (and stay there!)...neither of them sound anything like the Matias switch, in that their sounds are both "deeper" if that makes sense? I guess different plastics and various internals *could* influence it a bit, but I am curious.

The Matias Click switches DO sound nice, IMO, and I am glad the TP4 exists (it's on my list), but they aren't the sound I get from any Apple keyboard I've used. Does anyone have a different experience?

[jacobolus]

Does anyone know if any Apple keyboard ever actually used complicated white Alps specifically? (And I don't mean the dampened cream found in the AEK II)

No. Apple keyboards used mostly tactile (orange, then salmon) Alps switches, except the AEK II which used the cream ones. A particular model of Apple //c used clicky amber Alps switches, which are a bit too stiff for my taste (I’d reserve them for spacebar switches). Then there were some Apple keyboards which used SMK or Mitsumi tactile switches.

There were some AEK-layout keyboards made by other vendors which used white Alps switches.

You can get a somewhat similar switch to the orange or salmon Alps switches by swapping the tactile leaf from the Matias quiet switch into the clicky switch. If you just trade the metal leaves, you’ll end up with a “dampened clicky” switch and a tactile switch. The sound won’t be quite the same as complicated Alps though.