Author Topic: AEK II feels bad? (Read 17863 times)

spolia optima · « **Reply #50 on:** Fri, 04 March 2011, 14:02:11 »

I withdrawal my NKRO comment

But I'm SURE the original AEK had decent rollover. I'm gonna test it out today

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #51 on:** Fri, 04 March 2011, 16:43:56 »

Don't get me wrong, when I started out on the AEKII I thought it would be higher rollover than that. Then I got to testing specific stuff. Like, I can hold the entirety of WASD and then a few others. There's alot of stuff like that. I do mean alot, but with the definition of NKRO being guaranteed, it only gets 2. If anyone adds this to the wiki, I feel like the other large amounts of KRO should be mention.

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #52 on:** Fri, 04 March 2011, 19:23:57 »

Quote from: False_Dmitry_II;304712

Yeah, I wanted to see how hard it would be to remove the dampeners. So long story short, after an hour or two all I'd accomplished was breaking off one of the two contacts for the scroll lock. Always a good idea to mess with something that doesn't matter.

If/when I return to doing so, I'll do all of it with the suggested tools. It sure looks faster for one thing. I think when it comes time I can also solder that piece back together enough to shove back into the hole and be functional again, it was about halfway down that the thing broke.

After breaking my space on my other apple mo118 i didnt dare remove any big keys

So now i have a nice (and/or annoying) contrast when typing on mostly damper-removed keys and some where its still there

Its so easy to break stuff, hehe. But it was really easy to get rid of the dampers on the small keys. First time i tried, and it was a breeze.

Soarer · « **Reply #53 on:** Fri, 04 March 2011, 20:09:47 »

Theoretical maximum for a non-NKRO is more like 20 or more!!!

max = (number of rows - 1) + (number of columns - 1)

Just depends how many of those the controller can be bothered to track, I guess.

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #54 on:** Fri, 04 March 2011, 22:13:17 »

I was pretty sure my Model M failed a heck of alot more than that. (I didn't know about the test program before that so I don't know how many the other stuff I have can do)

Soarer · « **Reply #55 on:** Sat, 05 March 2011, 08:32:37 »

Quote from: ripster;305287

Theoretical maximum is pretty theoretical though. I've never seen anything above 8 for a 2KRO keyboard.

What about that iRocks?

Soarer · « **Reply #56 on:** Sat, 05 March 2011, 10:34:08 »

That fair enough. Actually, they don't claim as many as they theoretically could - looks like they only claim for a column's worth of keys.

eot · « **Reply #57 on:** Sat, 05 March 2011, 18:03:04 »

Since I'm looking for a mechanical keyboard I decided to dig up the old AEK II and also a regular Apple Keyboard I:

I'm not able to try the different Cherry MX switches before I order a kb, so could anyone tell me how they compare to these old Apple keyboards? Just to give me an idea

Findecanor · « **Reply #58 on:** Sat, 05 March 2011, 18:24:36 »

The "Cream" ALPS switches in the AEKII feels much like a rubber dome. There is no Cherry MX switch that is close to it in feel*.
There is no Cherry MX switch that has dampening like the "Cream ALPS" -- but any Cherry MX keyboard could be modified to have it on (but only on) the downstroke.

I think that the M0116 (pictured) and M0118 feel almost like a Cherry MX Brown. At least that is the impression I got from the M0118 that I tried today.

*: The Cherry MX Clear is the MX switch that has a tactile bump most like it, but on the other hand, the resistance after the actuation point is very steep for the MX Clear while it is almost flat for the ALPS ... and I find that difference to be significant.

eot · « **Reply #59 on:** Sat, 05 March 2011, 18:32:34 »

Thanks! Then I think I will be happy with Cherry MX Brown
Not that it matters but mine is actually a M0118, posted the wrong picture =)

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #60 on:** Sat, 05 March 2011, 20:02:12 »

Quote from: Findecanor;305883

The "Cream" ALPS switches in the AEKII feels much like a rubber dome. There is no Cherry MX switch that is close to it in feel*.

I have seen in a few places where people compare the cream ALPS to rubber dome. I don't totally agree with this comparison completely. While the landing is not as "sudden" as most, if not all, mechinal keyboards, they don't feel 100% like a rubber dome. I can notice a difference between a rubber dome and a cream ALPS right away. Then again, perception varies from person to person.

The more I use mine, the more I am developing a "liking." That does not mean that it will become my favourite keyboard. It is the only one I left at work for the time being. Just like the best way to learn any operating system is to use that operating system all the time and not in dual boot, I figured out that the only way I would give this keyboard a fair chance would be to use it exclusively for quite some time. Eight hours per day exclusively on the AEK II is a good test in my opinion.

When I got my G80-3000, it was not my favourite keyboard. I did not like the "slippery" feel of the keycaps and the scooped F and J. I kept swapping going back and forth to it. Then I started using it exclusively. It became my favourite keyboard. In fact, for a long time, I was most accurate and the fastest on my G80-3000.

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #61 on:** Sat, 05 March 2011, 22:39:31 »

I can see why that could be said. But it doesn't feel like a rubber dome at all. Plug in an actual $5 rubber dome board and you'll see.

I bet most people who say that simply haven't used one in a long time. I plugged my old rubber dome in a week or two ago just to remind myself what they felt like, and I was not expecting what I felt on that.

Even so, if/when I get that splinter forceps, I may well take mine apart and toss all of the rubbery bits. Mainly because I seem to like more clicky, but even as it is it feels good and comfortable.

kps · « **Reply #62 on:** Sun, 06 March 2011, 09:50:09 »

Quote from: eot;305873

I'm not able to try the different Cherry MX switches before I order a kb, so could anyone tell me how they compare to these old Apple keyboards? Just to give me an idea

They are different, but closest to MX Browns, I'd say, unless your Apple keyboards are heavily worn, in which case they might be closer to MX Blacks (or equally worn Browns). Can you feel a difference between the keys of the AEK II and the older Apple Keyboard, and if so, which do you prefer?

Quote from: False_Dmitry_II;306004

Even so, if/when I get that splinter forceps, I may well take mine apart and toss all of the rubbery bits.

Before you do that, consider posting a WTT ad; you can probably find someone willing to swap a set of undamped sliders for AEKII ones. (I would, depending on your shipping location.)

theferenc · « **Reply #63 on:** Sun, 06 March 2011, 11:24:49 »

I also have a set that came out of a Dell.

Pylon · « **Reply #64 on:** Sun, 06 March 2011, 14:59:30 »

Quote from: kps;306168

They are different, but closest to MX Browns, I'd say, unless your Apple keyboards are heavily worn, in which case they might be closer to MX Blacks (or equally worn Browns). Can you feel a difference between the keys of the AEK II and the older Apple Keyboard, and if so, which do you prefer?

Before you do that, consider posting a WTT ad; you can probably find someone willing to swap a set of undamped sliders for AEKII ones. (I would, depending on your shipping location.)

Definitely do that. People murder AEKIIs all the time for the sliders and then throw the rest of the board away. You should definitely do a trade.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #65 on:** Tue, 08 March 2011, 12:16:40 »

After more than a week with this keyboard at work, I think that the keys will provide their "best" feeling if we don't pound on the keys like we would on a rubber dome keyboard. If we do, then the feeling is not so great. This makes sense I think because if we pound on the keys, we would be "squeezing" the rubber dampers, and therefore get a mushy feeling. I have also swapped F and D, and J and K keycaps to keep things consistent with my other keyboards.

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #66 on:** Tue, 08 March 2011, 12:42:08 »

Heh, I was seriously thinking about doing that. Just to help me feel where I should be basing my idea of where all the keys are, the bumps being there throws me off. I never look at the keys so it wouldn't bother me, but I don't know if it would bother other people or not.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #67 on:** Tue, 08 March 2011, 14:42:24 »

Quote from: False_Dmitry_II;307743

Heh, I was seriously thinking about doing that. Just to help me feel where I should be basing my idea of where all the keys are, the bumps being there throws me off. I never look at the keys so it wouldn't bother me, but I don't know if it would bother other people or not.

The bumps threw me off too. That was why I moved them.

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #68 on:** Wed, 23 March 2011, 14:32:33 »

I have now switched for sliders with no rubber dampeners. I like the feel of this as it is now better than I did it before or a Dell AT101.

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #69 on:** Wed, 23 March 2011, 19:33:32 »

Anyone tried taking away both the dampeners and the tactile leaf? Should be a mix of cherry reds and blacks.

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #70 on:** Wed, 23 March 2011, 19:39:30 »

I like it without dampers, but they are a bit heavy for me still, and they get a little bit lighter without the leaf wich is nice in a way (tried it without leaf on one key only so far), but kind of a weird feeling

I'll check out the mods section a bit more.

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #71 on:** Wed, 23 March 2011, 22:31:16 »

I did that with one key before I really started just to see what a linear feel would be like and I didn't like it.

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #72 on:** Thu, 24 March 2011, 01:16:57 »

Ye i decided against it too. They feel too weird

I have started to cut all the springs now with 15% or so in length, but keeping the tactile leafs. They feel much lighter but still very tactile

Now i can manage my keyboard need until tkc start selling the 88 key topre in 6 weeks

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #73 on:** Thu, 24 March 2011, 16:45:53 »

I am finished with the mod now, and this is by far the best feeling i have had with this board! Now i like it even more than cherry browns (compaq board), which was the one i loved the most before this mod. I managed to get rid of the little nibs on the d and k key too

Now i just have to get some rit-dye action going

Not sure what colours to go with though.

CurtisLeon · « **Reply #74 on:** Fri, 25 March 2011, 15:48:13 »

I've got an original AEK with orange ALPS. I don't particularly like it too much. It's hard to describe how it feels... "rusty" would be my word for it. I've cleaned it out very thoroughly, but I just don't think it feels good or tactile at all. I much prefer the white ALPS in my FK-2001. Dig the keycaps, though.

eot · « **Reply #75 on:** Mon, 30 May 2011, 06:39:06 »

Quote from: kps;306168

They are different, but closest to MX Browns, I'd say, unless your Apple keyboards are heavily worn, in which case they might be closer to MX Blacks (or equally worn Browns). Can you feel a difference between the keys of the AEK II and the older Apple Keyboard, and if so, which do you prefer?

I don't have an ADB adapter so I can only use those keyboards on old ass computers like my SE-30 (<3) which means I haven't used them that much lately, but I think the original Apple Keyboard feels a lot better than the AEK II. The keys have a lighter touch and feel much more responsive whereas the AEK II feels quite heavy and a bit mushier. I don't know if that has anything to do with wear, but neither keyboard has any worn off text and there's just a slight amount of shininess on some of the keys. The keys that haven't been used (like pg down) don't feel any different from the used ones either so I don't think it's wear. The keycaps themselves are a bit dirty though.

The AK is also quite a lot louder than the AEK II which I don't think is particularly loud. I just went to the post office to pick up my Filco which turned out to be a Majestouch 2 and not a 1 (boo, wanted bright LEDs!) and it's of course even lighter than the AK and a bit louder too. The distances on the browns before you get to the 'bump' is slightly longer than on the AK, and the AK also feel kinda linear after the bump, so it's more like a hill than a bump I guess

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I like the AK much better than AEK II but I don't know if my AEK II feels like it's "supposed to".

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #76 on:** Mon, 30 May 2011, 07:35:30 »

I think AEK II have that "mushy" feel thanks to the dampeners tbh. Some people like them, but try to take a few away and see how you like it after. Its a world of difference in feel imo. I also liked the normal Apple keyboard switches better than the aeII, but after the mods i like aeii way more. The hard part was cutting all those damn springs to the correct length

Now the are as light as cherry brown

eot · « **Reply #77 on:** Mon, 30 May 2011, 07:39:56 »

Ah, they have dampeners!
I suspected that but I didn't know there was such a thing for key switches. That explains why you feel a bigger difference when you really try to type on it instead of just pressing the keys to get a feel for them.

Pylon · « **Reply #78 on:** Mon, 30 May 2011, 12:55:18 »

Also, blacks and whites have different springs.

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #79 on:** Mon, 30 May 2011, 15:26:51 »

Can you ripometer aeII with cut springs and no dampeners if you get the chance? = Ghetto what?

Ghostpixel · « **Reply #80 on:** Tue, 31 May 2011, 11:06:13 »

It did indeed feel a bit weird at first

But now i cant imagine using a normal aeII. This is now my 24/7 daily board

At least until i buy that topre im thinking about...

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #81 on:** Wed, 01 June 2011, 19:14:08 »

I was away for 15 days without my keyboards. When I came back, the AEK II, for some reasons, felt so much better. It's still the same keyboard, but the feel is perceived to be different by my brain.

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Author Topic: AEK II feels bad? (Read 17863 times)