Dell AT101 vs. AT101W

[oldabelincoln]

What's the difference with respect to switches?

AT101W is widely reported to be Black Alps, but I can't find anything on AT101(no suffix).  

Looking to replace my wife's AT101W with same, but noticed that her previous keyboard was an AT101 - now not working so can't even to a comparison of the feel.

AT101 has no Microsoft Win etc. keys, AT101W has them.  The W suffix suggests the additional MS keys, but one never knows, do one?

[ThirdLap]

I've got a few of each.  They both use black Alps switches, and the feel is essentially identical. FWIW, the AT101s seem much more likely to have the internal steel plate.  None of my AT101Ws have 'em, while my AT101s do. The Ws do indeed have the Windows keys.

[oldabelincoln]

I've got a few of each.  They both use black Alps switches, and the feel is essentially identical. FWIW, the AT101s seem much more likely to have the internal steel plate.  None of my AT101Ws have 'em, while my AT101s do. The Ws do indeed have the Windows keys.

Many thanks, ThirdLap.

I'm unfamiliar with the innards - is there an advantage to having a steel plate?  If so, is there any external way (e.g., a part number difference) to figure out if the plate is there, or must it be talen apart to find out?

[ThirdLap]

I'm unfamiliar with the innards - is there an advantage to having a steel plate?  

I suppose the biggest functional advantage is that it might help keep the keyboard from sliding around on your desk under vigorous use.  Holding one in each hand, the difference is only slightly noticeable.  Perhaps 250-300 grams.

If so, is there any external way (e.g., a part number difference) to figure out if the plate is there, or must it be talen apart to find out?

My AT101s all seem to have it, while I've yet to find an AT101W with one.  I can only assume from the ten I've encountered that Dell removed the plate as a cost-saving measure with the later boards.

[oldabelincoln]

Thanks!

Much obliged.

[ThirdLap]

Anytime.

[oldabelincoln]

Meant to ask - There is much info here devoted to cleaning keys, but are the keys on these units meant to be removable for cleaning?

[ThirdLap]

They're removable, but it takes a bit more effort than with IBM Model Ms.  I use a modified set of large tweezers as a keycap puller, which seems to work well.  

What I did was use a pair of needlenose pliers to bend the tips of the tweezers inward about a mm or so, which allows me to slide it around the bottom sides of each individual keycap, grasp it, and pull upward with minimal potential for damage. It works far better than prying them off with a flathead screwdriver, which I do not recommend.

[oldabelincoln]

Very clear.

Thanks again.

[ch_123]

Dell AT101s with the original Dell labels have pink Alps switches, and were made by Alps as opposed to Silitek, so they are made to a much higher standard.

Koreans love them for some reason, and there's been a few reported cases of them selling for $400+.

[ThirdLap]

Dell AT101s with the original Dell labels have pink Alps switches, and were made by Alps as opposed to Silitek, so they are made to a much higher standard.

I noticed that many of the old logo AT101s sold on eBay tend to have black alps. Was there a previous logo? Or did others with this logo also have pink Alps?

Koreans love them for some reason

I bet at some point someone wrote a glowing review of them in a Korean PC mag and they gained a cult status of sorts.  Kinda like the recent renewed interest in the Model M.

[ch_123]

Lolwtf? That keyboard is meant to have pink switches. Someone buy that keyboard and burn it!

It's probably a late production model. The vast majority have pink switches.

EDIT: That's actually a Silitek-made old logo AT101... Never knew they existed.