What kind of switch is this keyboard using?

[Captain_Coke]

Salutations to you, geekhackers

I'm quite new to the mechanical keyboard world, and have only recently felt the need to get myself something good to type on. I know a lot of perfectly good keyboards are thrown away or sold for almost nothing, so I tried to look in that direction.

And then I found something, a Tulip keyboard, I had never heard of that brand, but well, for 3€, that seemed to be a good way to get my first mechanical keyboard. I cleaned the hell out of it and now I've been using it for two weeks, with no problem whatsoever.

I made a bit of search, but I haven't been able to find anything about the switches it used however. I know this keyboard is a copy of the venerable Model M, but I have the impression that the switches, from the pictures I've seen, are different.

Here are some pictures I've taken, I tried to give a good overview : http://www.flickr.com/photos/captain_coke/sets/72157629849016588/detail/

Also, the keys seem to be double-shot, which is a good thing, I guess?

Anyway, if you have any information, I'd be quite grateful. Do you think this is a good keyboard or should I try to find something better? (I like the typing on it, but I'm coming from a rubber dome IBM, so anything mechanical is better to me... it's also very loud, but I like it.)

Thanks in advance =)

(and excuse my english, I'm a frenchie)

[audioave10]

I say grab it if you can. It is surely very rare. I have no idea about the switch.

[Captain_Coke]

Well, in fact I'm already using it, but I'd like to know what I'm typing on =)

[IvanIvanovich]

Hard to say, I can't recall seeing that before. I would open it and look for further info, perhaps there is oem marking on pcb or similar that would help.

[audioave10]

Very soon now..."The No. 1 keyboard expert on the Planet" should chime in.

[Internetlad]

Cue the price is right losing horn.

So this is a rubber dome KB made to look like a mech? Tricky. I would have bought into it, but then again, I still pay money for music so there must be something wrong there.

[audioave10]

That's the most complicated rubber dome I've seen yet.

[Captain_Coke]

Are you sure? It seems very different from any rubber dome I've ever used. I guess I should open it to see inside, but last time I tried I couldn't see under the switch.

[Captain_Coke]

Oh well, seems you're right -_- .

Anyway, it's still way better than what I had, I'll have to find a real mechanical keyboard another time.

[Captain_Coke]

Sure, that's a yes, I hope to come here bother you once again when I will find another mystery board. Thanks !

[bazemk1979]

looks like even though is rubber dome keyboard the keycaps can be Alps switch compatible + they are DS!!!

[dorkvader]

That's the most complicated rubber dome I've seen yet.

Rubber dome.

Yeah, sort of looks like sliders over RD to me. Didn't ACER also do something like that?

looks like even though is rubber dome keyboard the keycaps can be Alps switch compatible + they are DS!!!

I was going to say that: seems this keyboard is worth it at least for the keycaps! It's in great shape, too.

Nothing wrong with high-quality RD: I enjoy my olivetti RD very much. Enjoy your keyboard!

[Captain_Coke]

Thanks !
I think I'm still going to look for other keyboards, at least to try different things (there's this store where I live where they sell a bunch of used keyboards, all for the same 3€ price, so I might be lucky one day).

[kilogeek]

Looks very strange for a rubber dome, you have big cylinders sliding parts, anyway it's top quality design IMO, much better than many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all...  The keycaps are high-end build.
I found 2 like this one, gonna grab at least one.

[SpAmRaY]

Looks very strange for a rubber dome, you have big cylinders sliding parts, anyway it's top quality design IMO, much better than many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all...  The keycaps are high-end build.
I found 2 like this one, gonna grab at least one.

All of my cherry MX keyboards have stabilizers? No idea what your talking about.

[Photekq]

many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all

You necro'd a 2 year old post just to say a load of nonsense?

[Oobly]

Interesting necro.

I've seen Tulip boards with "proper" Alps style switches and SMKs, but this looks like it's got Alps compatible plungers over rubber dome. Nice keycaps.

[kilogeek]

many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all

You necro'd a 2 year old post just to say a load of nonsense?

What nonsense ? On most KB using Cherry MX, keycaps are just plugged on a small cross, this means key stabilization relies only on the switch ability to hold transversal forces. This is just solid physics basics. Stabilization is prior to contact mechanism because keys with poor stabilization will not offer comfortable typing : lateral movement and resistance when not pressed on their center.
Whatever color you use, BS mechanism as engineered by IBM will always be better. I even prefer some high quality dome keyboards than overpriced MX keyboards. It's a point of view... At least I'm giving more information than your impolite reply does.

[nappi11]

this looks like it's got Alps compatible plungers over rubber dome.

This is seems to be quite common: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Fujitsu_dome_with_slider
I've harvested some alps-mounted keycaps from a keyboard with those switches. In fact, I've put them into my focus and for some reason, they feel much better than the original caps.

[rowdy]

many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all

You necro'd a 2 year old post just to say a load of nonsense?

He'd going to fit in well around here, then )

[Findecanor]

There are lots of different rubber domes with Alps-compatible sliders.

[fourzeropooh]

many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all

You necro'd a 2 year old post just to say a load of nonsense?

What nonsense ? On most KB using Cherry MX, keycaps are just plugged on a small cross, this means key stabilization relies only on the switch ability to hold transversal forces. This is just solid physics basics. Stabilization is prior to contact mechanism because keys with poor stabilization will not offer comfortable typing : lateral movement and resistance when not pressed on their center.
Whatever color you use, BS mechanism as engineered by IBM will always be better. I even prefer some high quality dome keyboards than overpriced MX keyboards. It's a point of view... At least I'm giving more information than your impolite reply does.

Is this guy the tp of BS?

[tp4tissue]

many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all

You necro'd a 2 year old post just to say a load of nonsense?

What nonsense ? On most KB using Cherry MX, keycaps are just plugged on a small cross, this means key stabilization relies only on the switch ability to hold transversal forces. This is just solid physics basics. Stabilization is prior to contact mechanism because keys with poor stabilization will not offer comfortable typing : lateral movement and resistance when not pressed on their center.
Whatever color you use, BS mechanism as engineered by IBM will always be better. I even prefer some high quality dome keyboards than overpriced MX keyboards. It's a point of view... At least I'm giving more information than your impolite reply does.

Is this guy the tp of BS?

I only post good information

[kilogeek]

I just got one of these Tulep keyboards, they are not so rare in Europe, they came with desktop PC made in Holland, the keyboard itself seems to be made in the UK (read XXXXX-UK etched on the metal backplate although it's a french layout).
Completely disassembled it, yes it is dome but very good design compare to most domes I've seen.
The typing feeling is very close to a non-clicky mechanical (red MX) and it should last for long IMO.
But for sure it can't be NKRO (IBM model M is not either anyway) as it use the classic 3 layers films matrix.

After 1 day, I'll go back to my RT-102, typing feeling is not that good on this keyboard, keys have too much lateral movements and random resistance, not firm enough, RT-102 is still the best dome I've tried so far.

[kilogeek]

many Cherry MX keyboards where keys are not stabilized at all

You necro'd a 2 year old post just to say a load of nonsense?

What nonsense ? On most KB using Cherry MX, keycaps are just plugged on a small cross, this means key stabilization relies only on the switch ability to hold transversal forces. This is just solid physics basics. Stabilization is prior to contact mechanism because keys with poor stabilization will not offer comfortable typing : lateral movement and resistance when not pressed on their center.
Whatever color you use, BS mechanism as engineered by IBM will always be better. I even prefer some high quality dome keyboards than overpriced MX keyboards. It's a point of view... At least I'm giving more information than your impolite reply does.

Is this guy the tp of BS?

no LOL, but cherry MX would be perfect if the keys were not just plugged on but using square or cylinder static guides, like done with dome switches, MX springs should never be fully pressed too, this can be ensured using such slinding guides.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

The one in the OP is from Jing Mold Electronic Technology — not a name that rings a bell.

Who here has an actual Tulip mechanical? I'm looking to confirm that the mechanical model numbers use the international dialling code as the last two digits, based on the Dutch keyboards ending -01 (for the US layout most Dutch people use) and -44 (for UK ISO). This appears to be true of both the Monterey and SMK OEM versions.