Buckling Spring vs ALPS Actuation Force

[Hyde]

Hello so I've bought a Matias Quiet Pro recently and lately I've been debating if it's worth it for me to buy a Unicomp just so I can try out buckling spring also.  My goal is to try out all the common switch types, buckling spring and topre are next on the list.

Though from what I find so far that I notice ALPS is noticeably heavier compare to MX Blue.  Does anyone know how ALPS will compare to buckling spring?  At the moment I find ALPS's actuation force just heavy enough to be in the acceptable range, but any heavier I feel like it might have finger fatigue or simply slow down my typing speed.

My guess is buckling spring is probably gonna be heavier but anyone who actually own both keyboards can answer that?

[daerid]

Well, I have a Tactile Pro 3 here sitting next to a Unicomp Ultra Classic. And in all honesty, they're quite comparable in terms of force required to actuate.

They feel quite different though. The Unicomp has a much more noticeable travel distance to the keys, and a very sharp tactile point. The force curve doesn't feel much like it changes after the tactile point though.

The TP3 feels like a shorter throw, and the once the you get past the tactile point, the force required to depress the switch seems like it drops off dramatically.

It's hard to explain, but the buckling spring feels "cleaner". Like there's less going on in the switch. The TP3 feels like there's a lot more things moving when you depress it (which, in truth there are).

Hope that helps!

[fohat.digs]

I have never really done an A-B test (get it A=Alps B=Buckling Spring? pathetic excuse for a joke, I know) but while the "force" may be similar, I imagine that the buckling springs are less tiring to type on long-term.

Perhaps it is just my imagination, or maybe I am inclined to release the BS quicker than I release the Alps.

And, last, although they do not enjoy a good reputation, in the "long-term fatigue" department I might select the blacks in my Dell AT101. They are pretty effortless as keystrokes go.

[AKIMbO]

I find ALPs to require about as much force as buckling springs.  Certain alps switches require more force (namely every xm switch ever made in the history of man...which are atrocious do not ever ever ever use them).  Black alps, orange alps, salmon alps, blue alps all require about the same amount of force as BS over membrane boards.  The feel is definitely different though.  Dampened alps require a wee bit less force than BS over membrane.  Complicated white alps require a wee bit more force than BS over membrane.  Of course, this is all subjective but whatever, it's my 2 cents.

[Hyde]

Cool so I guess I should have no problem using buckling spring then.  Though now I'm still debating whether it's worth it to buy one to try it out.  Granted Unicomp keyboards aren't that expensive but shipping will cost quite a bit.

Also I find at the moment I'm actually more interested in the linear mod.  Maybe since because my last keyboard I used was MX Red and I quite enjoyed how effortless it is to type on linear switches, now I find having distinct tactile bumps really slows me down on my typing.

I guess maybe I'll do the ALPS linear mod first and decide on Unicomp later.  Thanks for the replies guys !!!

[AKIMbO]

Cool so I guess I should have no problem using buckling spring then.  Though now I'm still debating whether it's worth it to buy one to try it out.  Granted Unicomp keyboards aren't that expensive but shipping will cost quite a bit.

Also I find at the moment I'm actually more interested in the linear mod.  Maybe since because my last keyboard I used was MX Red and I quite enjoyed how effortless it is to type on linear switches, now I find having distinct tactile bumps really slows me down on my typing.

I guess maybe I'll do the ALPS linear mod first and decide on Unicomp later.  Thanks for the replies guys !!!

I have a bag of linear yellow alps for sale if you're interested.

[Hyde]

lol oh I'm just gonna open the switch up and take out the "clicker".  The new Matias ALPS are designed that you don't need to desolder to open the switch.  Makes modding, lubing ... etc easy.

The linear conversion is super easy too just remove this 1 metal piece in there and put it back then done.

Though this is all theory I haven't personally tried it yet I'll let you know if I messed up LOL.


EDIT:  Basically if you look at the first few pictures it will show how the opened up switch look like, what you want to do is take out the largest metal piece inside the switch.  http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38206.msg805829#msg805829

[ch_123]

I have never really done an A-B test (get it A=Alps B=Buckling Spring? pathetic excuse for a joke, I know) but while the "force" may be similar, I imagine that the buckling springs are less tiring to type on long-term.

Perhaps it is just my imagination, or maybe I am inclined to release the BS quicker than I release the Alps.

I'd agree. In my experience, the Alps switches have all the force concentrated high up in the travel and then suddenly give way after the tactile point, and thus I tend to bottom out hard on them. I found that typing on Dell AT101/2s would lead to pain in my hands. However, I am very fond of the Blue Alps because they are lower force switches, and thus the bottoming out isn't as hard.

[SmallFry]

I have never really done an A-B test (get it A=Alps B=Buckling Spring? pathetic excuse for a joke, I know) but while the "force" may be similar, I imagine that the buckling springs are less tiring to type on long-term.

Perhaps it is just my imagination, or maybe I am inclined to release the BS quicker than I release the Alps.

I'd agree. In my experience, the Alps switches have all the force concentrated high up in the travel and then suddenly give way after the tactile point, and thus I tend to bottom out hard on them. I found that typing on Dell AT101/2s would lead to pain in my hands. However, I am very fond of the Blue Alps because they are lower force switches, and thus the bottoming out isn't as hard.

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