It came with my first computer, a Dell with a CPU at 333MHz (Stock). I would assume I got it around 1999, and I was using a cheap compaq and dynex rubber-dome for a long amount of time... They both broke down, and when I went to the store to actually try a mechanical keyboard with all the different cherry MX switches I knew I had to test out. Once I knew what to try, and knew I had to look for a replacement keyboard, I stumbled across this DELL QuietKey and fell in love. I seriously can not wait to try out cherry MX blue switches, and compare it to my blue ALPS.
This will be my first mechanical keyboard, and I have a rubber-dome with blue alps that I just discovered to re-assure me of my purchase: Cherry MX blue Race /w Blue LEDs!
O_o
Blue alps is a very good mechanical switch... 
I just bolded the mechanical part of your response, and realized I was using a mechanical switch for all those years and telling people on the forum I've never tried anything besides a rubber-dome. I hope I wasn't lying about the rubber-dome part, I mean these are still considered rubber-domes and not a mechanical keyboard.. right(Referring to the Dell Quiet Key with blue ALPS)?