Are there still ALPS keyboards which are manufactured now?

[RC-1140]

Hey,
I'm just interested in it: Are there any brandnew keyboards which are using ALPS switches? All I know is the Matias Tactile Pro, but that's only for Mac OS X. If my understanding is right, please correct my otherwise, the only ALPS Switches which are produced currently are the simplified. There wasn't much information about the different types in the wiki, as some of the links there were dead. I'd be especially interested in clicky, and nonclicky tactiles (That'd be type I or II, right?). Most of the information on here seems to be about the Cherry Switches, and I have learned a lot about them, but now I'd like to see some ALPS too.

greetings,

RC

[wirefish]

I believe the Filco ZERO is still being manufactured; the Keyboard Company (in the UK) sells them (but is currently out of stock):

http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=853

Also, the Matias is designed for Mac OS X but there's no reason it wouldn't work with Windows or Linux. Matias even offers a driver for Windows that maps option and command to windows and alt (otherwise they'd be reversed).

Both of these have the simplified "Fukka" switches.

[blert]

I thought the SIIG JK-US0112 aka Solidtek 6600 used the Simplified Alps-type Fukka switches?

[blert]

Here's this ripster fellow:

I think the Siig is a Solidtek 6600 clone. Type 1 Simplified Clickys (Fukka). Most people it seems prefer the Cherry Blues.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:10030&do=comments

I'm not very clear on Alps-type/Fukka distinctions, myself.  I haven't yet found a spec sheet for the Siig.

There was one of the Siig's at the local Fry's megasuperlectro store a couple of weeks ago, and it did have a pleasing clickiness to it.  But I'm not enough of a switch connoisseur to know what it was.  Not a cherry, though, I don't think.

[eyesnine]

Some DSI keyboards use ALPS.

[False_Dmitry_II]

If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can always buy a new board (if you're into having everything super new and shiny) and a New Old Stock complicated alps and stick the complicated switches into the newer board.

[RC-1140]

well, honestly I'd be interested in the simplified switches too, as I never had an ALPS keyboard under my fingers at all. I guess they are pretty rare here in Europe. I was hoping to find an ALPS keyboard which I would be able to get without having to pay half of the price for shipping. I didn't see any european distributors in the WW Shopping Links. Buying used mechanicals is pretty complicated here too.

Well, and when I was looking for keyboards with ALPS switches, I noticed that I didn't really find much information about new ALPS keyboards at all.

But I think I will take another look on the Filco Zero when it is back in stock at keyboardco.


RC