Author Topic: Green Alps anyone? (Read 6871 times)

xsphat · « **on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 02:56:54 »

I salvaged a couple old 'boards with these:

I'm not gonna use the 'boards so I was wondering if anyone wanted them for projects. PM me if interested.

xsphat · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 15:43:44 »

No one wants 'em? They're from the 90s. I dont want any money for them, just pay shipping.

metalliqaz · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 15:48:08 »

Is green clicky?

esoomenona · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 15:48:41 »

How much would shipping be?

xsphat · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 15:54:32 »

No clue, pm me your address.

The greens are non clicky, but have a tactile bump.

Daniel Beardsmore · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 16:08:21 »

(Edited for being didn't-read-it-properly nonsense)

Those are not Alps switches. They're clones of some kind. It's obviously a Macintosh keyboard.

If the keyboard is from 1997, it may be a Xiang Min (XM) switch, as they're one of the very few companies that made green switches, and they have the four small tabs. (XM started making them in 1997, and in 1998 everyone went gaga over translucent plastic.) That said, I've never heard of an XM tactile switch – they only do linear and clicky these days. Could be some other clone.

What does it come out as on the RipOMeter?

xsphat · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 17:40:31 »

The keyboard is an Apple but it is made for Mac. Made by Micro Warehouse Inc. And yeah, right. They are clones. I cant find an Alps logo anywhere. So do these feel like the green Alps Ducky at Mechanical Keyboards?

SmallFry · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:06:45 »

I got excited there for a minute. Legitimate green ALPS have an LED cutout on top.

Daniel Beardsmore · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:32:11 »

Quote from: SmallFry on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:06:45

I got excited there for a minute. Legitimate green ALPS have an LED cutout on top.

Wow, I didn't realise that. Yes, seems both green and yellow linear switches have the LED cutout.

Current XM switches are available with a "click blade" (KSB-C), linear (KSB-N, for no-click maybe) and linear + LED cutout (KSB-LE, used in the Tactile Pro 3). It seems they alternate between green and white sliders. There are no tactile models now, and I've never heard of a tactile clone, though they clearly exist, per the above.

I'd be interested to see the internals of one of the switches, and compare it to this page: http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/8366

xsphat · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:37:10 »

omg dude, can I rip out a switch and mail it to you? I'm not mechanically inclined, know nothing about this sort of thing and have no tools.

rowdy · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:38:37 »

I like that F1 is labelled "undo" - imagining a frantic user looking for help and every time they press F1 (the modern "help" key) the last thing they did disappears

)

xsphat · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:41:30 »

^^ yeah, and no matter how many times I press F4, no paste comes out. What a jip.

SmallFry · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:57:19 »

Quote from: xsphat on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:37:10

I'm not mechanically inclined.

And you're on a what type (typically) of keyboard forum?

Daniel Beardsmore · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:01:24 »

Quote from: rowdy on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:38:37

I like that F1 is labelled "undo" - imagining a frantic user looking for help and every time they press F1 (the modern "help" key) the last thing they did disappears )

You do realise this is a Mac keyboard? Why would Mac users press F1? I see that Apple have now removed the Help key from the keyboard though.

Quote from: xsphat on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:37:10

omg dude, can I rip out a switch and mail it to you? I'm not mechanically inclined, know nothing about this sort of thing and have no tools.

I should probably take the whole board. Just one, though. I'm also hoping to get a salmon genuine Alps board of another forum member. Just to play with the switches — can't be bothered to buy an ADB to USB converter for my old G4 tower (my most recent Mac, that I seldom use).

Daniel Beardsmore · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:03:06 »

Quote from: SmallFry on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:57:19

Quote from: xsphat on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:37:10
I'm not mechanically inclined.
And you're on a what type (typically) of keyboard forum?

For that, you smart arse, you should be made to open up a whole pile of soldered-down KSB-LE switches (XM with LED). I can't get the stupid things apart, and stopped before I end up destroying a switch on my Tactile Pro 3.

xsphat · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:04:35 »

I'll send you a board with no cable for shipping. That way I'm rid of both of them.

rowdy · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:05:42 »

lol yes.

So these are ADB? I have an ADB Mac (but don't use it, waaay too old). And postage to Australia - no thanks.

SmallFry · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:07:30 »

Quote from: Daniel Beardsmore on Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:03:06

Quote from: SmallFry on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:57:19
Quote from: xsphat on Thu, 15 November 2012, 18:37:10
I'm not mechanically inclined.
And you're on a what type (typically) of keyboard forum?

For that, you smart arse, you should be made to open up a whole pile of soldered-down KSB-LE switches (XM with LED). I can't get the stupid things apart, and stopped before I end up destroying a switch on my Tactile Pro 3.

I've opened ALPS before. Not too bad, more time consuming than MX, but still not bad.

Daniel Beardsmore · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:13:06 »

Quote from: SmallFry on Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:07:30

I've opened ALPS before. Not too bad, more time consuming than MX, but still not bad.

I specifically said KSB-LE, cloth ears. Something about the construction prevents the upper shell from coming loose. Maybe the LED is a really tight fit and you need a third hand to grip the shell tight and wrench it free? I don't really care to experiment on a Tactile Pro 3, and all the leverage is putting dents in the soft plastic case of the keyboard itself. Fukka switches on the other hand are really easy to get apart and to reassemble (especially compared to trying to get a Type IV back together, which is a real pain).

"Mechanical" in mechanical keyboards doesn't mean steampunk, though ...

SmallFry · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 15 November 2012, 19:19:40 »

Well then. Mr. ALPS, lets take this outside...

Findecanor · « **Reply #20 on:** Fri, 16 November 2012, 05:53:36 »

I had one of those, but it had real white Alps.

laffindude · « **Reply #21 on:** Fri, 16 November 2012, 09:18:25 »

I'd put money on the beardy man.

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Author Topic: Green Alps anyone? (Read 6871 times)