Dell AT101W insanity

[aegrotatio]

I'm seeing lots of AT101W boards, some are $10 BIN, some are $20 free shipping BIN, and others are $80.

How do I know which of these has clicky ALPS switches?
All of the descriptions say they're clicky, but I'm not so sure every AT101W board was clicky (tactile click, clicks on the way down).

[microsoft windows]

I think they all are clicky. All the AT101W's are the same in the inside. But you'll have to refer to somebody who's actually got one for a good opinion.

[bitflipper]

Stoopid eBay sellers. Any key rattle to them is "clicky" or sometimes "semi-clicky". Don't trust the description, do your homework. Check the wiki.

Most AT101Ws have black Alps. I seem to remember seeing one with pink Alps a while back. Some can be rubber dome.

[aegrotatio]

Bitflipper, I know this, and don't tell me to check the wiki, I am not an idiot, and I am posting a question here.  Most of the auctions do not have identifiable details to make the determination if they are really clicky or not.

Then again, I used to pass over these keyboards when buying up good keyboards from the used computer store, so I'll probably not like them again.  You see the problem is that I still don't have a clicky ALPS.

[TexasFlood]

I'm seeing lots of AT101W boards, some are $10 BIN, some are $20 free shipping BIN, and others are $80.

How do I know which of these has clicky ALPS switches?
All of the descriptions say they're clicky, but I'm not so sure every AT101W board was clicky (tactile click, clicks on the way down).

My understanding from what I've read, and consistent with the wiki here, is that the newer ones are black, some old logo are pink, all tactile non-clicky.  If anyone knows better, I'm always open to learning.

[bitflipper]

Bitflipper, I know this, and don't tell me to check the wiki, I am not an idiot, .......

I was simply trying to be helpful, not insinuate you're an idiot. Nevertheless, since my posts are not deemed helpful, there's no point in posting in the GeekHack forum anymore.

Bye, folks.

[Tr0j4nM4x1mus]

to answer your question none of them should have "clicky" alps switches...they will be tactile...my advice buy the cheapest one & it'll most likely be the same as the expensive one...only one that will be any different is the old logo ....still not clicky but may have different color switches...on the other hand it may have blacks too

[aegrotatio]

Very interesting.  In that case I'm typing on a clicky Alps right now, the ABS M1.

I was kind of hoping there were clicky Alps where there is a click, like a Cherry Blue.  I have two Monterey keyboards that are very much like what I thought a clicky Alps would be.

[TexasFlood]

Very interesting.  In that case I'm typing on a clicky Alps right now, the ABS M1.

I was kind of hoping there were clicky Alps where there is a click, like a Cherry Blue.  I have two Monterey keyboards that are very much like what I thought a clicky Alps would be.

Again, from what I've read, in forums, and the wiki here, there are clicky alps, white and yellow, but not found in the Dell AT-101W from what I have read.  Perhaps try an SGI keyboards 9500900 although they are rubber dampened. Or if you're adventurous try the "poor man's black alps -> white alps conversion.

[1839cc]

Very interesting.  In that case I'm typing on a clicky Alps right now, the ABS M1.

I was kind of hoping there were clicky Alps where there is a click, like a Cherry Blue.  I have two Monterey keyboards that are very much like what I thought a clicky Alps would be.

There's clicky and there's just loud.

The Dells, as far as I have seen, have non clicky switches. Those can still be loud when they bottom out.

The Focus 2001 should have clicky white ALPS or copies. These are usually not  too expensive. For example, mine has white XM switches and cost me $5.00.

[aegrotatio]

Very interesting.  I hated my SGI Granite keyboard like death, as I said elsewhere, it's why I bought those three new-old-stock Model M Space Saving keyboards.

Still I will probably get the DSI ASK-6600 just to finish my clicky keyboard obsession for good.

[TexasFlood]

Very interesting.  I hated my SGI Granite keyboard like death, as I said elsewhere, it's why I bought those three new-old-stock Model M Space Saving keyboards.

Still I will probably get the DSI ASK-6600 just to finish my clicky keyboard obsession for good.

Some SGI Granites are crappy rubber dome (not that all rubber dome are crappy but there were).  I don't know what you had.  I used the rubber dampened alps version back in the day me and the whole development team where I worked and everyone like them.  I found the SGI mice kinda blah, ok but not great, but liked the keyboards.

[Tr0j4nM4x1mus]

Very interesting.  In that case I'm typing on a clicky Alps right now, the ABS M1.

not clicky...just loud

[Rajagra]

I have two of these, both with black Alps. The one bought used is not clicky. The NIB one has a definite click, but it is subtle. It could even be remnants of the moulding process that haven't worn away yet, but for now they click.

[ch_123]

Some SGI Granites are crappy rubber dome (not that all rubber dome are crappy but there were).  I don't know what you had.  I used the rubber dampened alps version back in the day me and the whole development team where I worked and everyone like them.  I found the SGI mice kinda blah, ok but not great, but liked the keyboards.

The rubber dome SGI keyboards are easy to spot.



They look almost like a Unicomp Endurapro. The Alps ones look like your run-of-the-mill AT-101, except in the granite colour.



SGI AT-101s, like old-label Dell AT-101s, and other OEM-branded ones like HP, Toshiba and others, were made by Alps themselves as opposed to the later Dell AT-101Ws who were made by Silitek. The original Alps keyboards were better made.

[nowsharing]

Bitflipper, I know this, and don't tell me to check the wiki, I am not an idiot, and I am posting a question here.

Where is Webwit when we need him?

[sandy55]

SGI AT-101s, like old-label Dell AT-101s, and other OEM-branded ones like HP, Toshiba and others, were made by Alps themselves as opposed to the later Dell AT-101Ws who were made by Silitek.

FYI, regarding old-logo DELL AT-101s, there's ( at least ) one exception.
Dell p/n 25109 made by Silitek has old DELL logo like ALPS made AT101.
Black complicated ALPS, silk printed caps, coiled cable with ps/2 plug.
Except logo, it's almost same with new logo version like 29858.

[kishy]

Where is Webwit when we need him?

Inspiring more members to leave, apparently.

[spolia optima]

Black ALPS are nice when NIB, but they get worn out over the years. If you're gonna buy one, find a NIB AT101.

[ch_123]

FYI, regarding old-logo DELL AT-101s, there's ( at least ) one exception.
Dell p/n 25109 made by Silitek has old DELL logo like ALPS made AT101.
Black complicated ALPS, silk printed caps, coiled cable with ps/2 plug.
Except logo, it's almost same with new logo version like 29858.

Interesting. I thought it was only the new label AT-101s and AT-101Ws that Silitek made.

[microsoft windows]

What happened to Webwit?

[TexasFlood]

What happened to Webwit?

He left apparently, too bad.

[kishy]

He left apparently, too bad.

Yeah, too bad indeed. We could benefit from his presence.

[ch_123]

He left apparently, too bad.

I wonder why...

^o)

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Ha! I get it...

[Mental Hobbit]

I wonder why...

^o)

At this time of the year, vacation is a trivial but likely reason.

[Voixdelion]

Ha! I get it...

I don't...


BUT OMG,

Are we STILL talking about him?

I think we need to hold a memorial service to help us all let go...

For you, Webwit, Where'er ye may be:

From Raymond Carver's  A New Path to the Waterfall:

 Epilogue


And did you get what

You wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

To call myself beloved, to feel myself

Beloved on this earth.

Now if we can all observe a moment of silence....

Adieu mon ami, Duckie....Until we meet again.

[lexicon]

The DSI ASK-6600 is very similar to the ABS M-1, but the ABS has less of the annoying "ring" and smoother key action. And no giant Enter key or tiny backspace key.  The M-1's short cord is, however, a major pain.

[aegrotatio]

The ABS M1 doesn't have a click, it only makes sound bottoming out.

Does the ASK-6600 have a click or not?

[erricrice]

does the ask-6600 have a click or not?

check the wiki.

qft

[d4rkst4r]

OP, buy the damn $10 AT101W and report back if you think it's clicky. Buy the $50 ASK-6600 and report back. Pull some keycaps, disassemble some switches. Transplant some clicky leaf springs. Post pics to the forum.

If you don't like the boards, sell them, trade them, donate them, give them away, harvest parts, practice your soldering skills, hack them into a tenkeyless.

Do something.

[didjamatic]

To the OP, don't forget the Dell Old Logo AT101W's with Pink ALPS as far as value.  They are definitely the rarest and in May one sold for $300-400 on ebay and the other was $400-500 range.  I can't remember exact price.

Another geekhacker got one from me for $40 through the forum classifieds here.

[ch_123]

They're also worth nothing near that much. That said, if anyone wants to give me $300 for my Blue Alps SGI AT-101, we may be able to work something out...

[didjamatic]

Value is about what people will pay for it, even if it's only a handful that are willing to pay... it only takes 2 bidders to determine market value.  Most normal people would say the same of an M15, Topre or NIB Pre Lexmark Model M but we see the high price they command.  As long as there are collectors out there who want rare keyboards, things like the Dell with Pinks will be sought after because they're exactly that - rare.  Of course I may be biased since I have 2 of them  But we've regularly seen them break the $150 barrier and go into a few hundred dollars.  That's a pretty good indication of their value.

The 1978 Jawa with Vinyl cape isn't much different than one with a cloth cape for any practical playing purposes, but it's more rare so they've been bought for over $20k.

[aegrotatio]

I'm looking at the wiki again, and from that, I'm assuming that Type 1 simplified ALPS can be both clicky and non-clicky, I wonder who said for sure that ASK-6600 is clicky, so I'm asking here.

I got the DSI big-font keyboard which is non-clicky and linear simplified ALPS (the "Type" not specified in the Wiki, nor if it is clicky is in the wiki, so there, stop telling me to look at the wiki).

And to you smartasses, I'm still waiting for my AT101 to show up in the mail.

[d4rkst4r]

I'm looking at the wiki again, and from that, I'm assuming that Type 1 simplified ALPS can be both clicky and non-clicky, I wonder who said for sure that ASK-6600 is clicky, so I'm asking here.

I got the DSI big-font keyboard which is non-clicky and linear simplified ALPS (the "Type" not specified in the Wiki, nor if it is clicky is in the wiki, so there, stop telling me to look at the wiki).

And to you smartasses, I'm still waiting for my AT101 to show up in the mail.

Smartass? I've been summoned.

Alps clickiness is more related to stem color. Clickies are generally, white, blue, grey. Exception is dampened whites in AEKII which are not clicky. Black Alps are soft tactile (poorly implemented IMHO). Linears are green, yellow, maybe pink.

There are a couple of threads which discuss the DSI Big Font board and even pics of the switch innards. You didn't have to spend the money & find out the hard way.

Again, the AT101W has had plenty of discussion around here. It's in the "Alps switches" wiki section under "Complicated Alps - Tactile, NonClicky". There are pics of the AT101W black alps disassembled. Right below shows what a dampened slider looks like.

Maybe we do need a better organized wiki. Maybe a section for new members to the site.

Your continued arrogance towards helpful responses is duly noted. You post questions before doing the bare minimum of research. You continue to act clueless even when the information is spoon fed to you. Be careful, you may alienate the very members who are willing to provide you with answers.

I don't post much because I don't have an affinity for ancient yellowed, worn out keyboards. AEKII aside, I like modern keyboards and will stick with them. Brown Cherry's are great to type on and sufficient for gaming which satisfy my requirements for a keyboard. Now if I could find a decent mouse.....

Whatever you're looking for, I sincerely hope you find it.

[aegrotatio]

Your continued arrogance towards helpful responses is duly noted. You post questions before doing the bare minimum of research. You continue to act clueless even when the information is spoon fed to you. Be careful, you may alienate the very members who are willing to provide you with answers.

Please, spare me your insipid indignation and please continue to not post often.

Your pathetic lack of attention would have let you know that I am not dissatisfied with my big font keyboard, either, and that the topic has shifted towards the ASK-6600 keyboard.

Just go away.  Nobody needs you here, especially since you are unable to pay attention to the thread.

[d4rkst4r]

Please, spare me your insipid indignation and please continue to not post often.

Your pathetic lack of attention would have let you know that I am not dissatisfied with my big font keyboard, either, and that the topic has shifted towards the ASK-6600 keyboard.

Just go away.  Nobody needs you here, especially since you are unable to pay attention to the thread.

Insipid indignation, summoned again! I'll post whenever I feel like it, thank you.

OK everybody, the topic has shifted to ASK-6600. Please do not post any silly pictures or off topic comments.

LOL, I like the nasty PM you sent me. I don't think I deserved that. Pure class telling me to go do that to myself.

I suggest you investigate the ignore feature of the forum.

Back on topic, as requested. ASK-6600 is that clicky? I read the wiki, but is is clicky?

[aegrotatio]

I re-watched this video and reviewed the AT101W being tactile, non-clicky and the ASK-6600 being tactile, and very clicky.  I think the latter is the OEM of the SIIG Mechanical, too.
http://www.viddler.com/explore/HotHardware/videos/69/

[d4rkst4r]

aegrotatio, you're too defensive and overreact to constructive criticism. Don't take it personally, it's just a keyboard forum. I'm not very good at this because you think I'm trolling or picking on you when I'm really offering sound advice. If you have a problem with that, then you can use the forum's ignore feature or politely go away.

As for the ASK-6600, there's already a thread asking about the switch type, but then, you don't know how to use the forum's search feature. If you take the link to the DSI site, the description states "Advanced Alps Mechanical Key Switch technologywith click sound".

My advice would be to revive that old thread and pose the question again to DSI-Bradley. Or you could just pm him.