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Author Topic: Alps help  (Read 1448 times)

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Offline Abacus1234

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Alps help
« on: Sun, 17 March 2013, 03:51:10 »
I am kind of a noob when it comes to Alps switches. Is there like an Alps thread out there that has all the info? I have had trouble finding good info. Specifically, I'd like to know about durability (supposedly cherry are 50 million actuations), the amount of force required to activate the different ones, and a possible good board to try them out without spending too much money (I prefer cherry browns, so is there an alps switch that is tactile but non-clicky?).  Any help would be appreciated.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 17 March 2013, 09:38:36 »
The most common Alps "starter" is the Dell AT101. It has black Alps, which are linear, and depending on who you are talking to, might be slightly tactile or might not.

These boards are common and relatively cheap, but beware, while a good one is very nice, a bad one is not pleasant. Do not judge all Alps by a bad AT101.

Apple Extended Keyboard and AEK2 are good boards, the AEK2 is also plentiful and cheap, but will require an ADB-to-USB adapter ($25 on ebay).

From there, they get much harder to find and more expensive.
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Offline AKIMbO

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 17 March 2013, 09:41:33 »
^Essentially what fohat said.  I've found that Black alps tend to be the most commonly found, cheapest alps...but when they are in bad condition...they are in BAD condition. 
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Offline Burz

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 17 March 2013, 09:53:38 »
AFAIK the only ALPS switch that claims in the neighborhood of 50M keystrokes is Matias. Their two switch types are tactile-clicky and tactile-quiet. They are in current production but the boards start at $130 for a model without tenkey.
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Offline Tarzan

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 17 March 2013, 09:57:56 »
Just to clarify, I think the reference to cheap may have been in relation to newer mechanical boards. 

I've been looking at Apple Extended Keyboards - Model M0115 to try out the orange Alps variant, and been out-bid several times already.  Going rates on Ebay seem to be $35.00 - $50.00, when shipping is included.  These prices don't necessarily include cables or adapters to convert to PC connectivity.

On the other hand, I got a black Dell AT101 (black linear Alps) for $5.00 at a local computer scrapper, and an older Magitronic board (white clicky Alps) for $25.00 shipped.  YMMV, of course.
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 17 March 2013, 10:04:14 »
I got my hands on a Mr. Interface Switch Try Bag and wrote a review on the switches. The bag has a lot of Alps switches and I documented my thoughts on each there.
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Offline Abacus1234

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 17 March 2013, 21:17:52 »
Well thanks to everyone who responded. You guys gave me some good places to start looking.
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Offline Rule16

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 20 March 2013, 13:04:15 »
Quote from: Abacus1234 on Sun, 17 March 2013, 21:17:52
Well thanks to everyone who responded. You guys gave me some good places to start looking.
If you like linears my Packard Bell with Greens feels fantastic.
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Offline iri

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 20 March 2013, 15:02:51 »
anyone compared linear alps to linear cherries?
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 20 March 2013, 15:03:22 »
Quote from: iri on Wed, 20 March 2013, 15:02:51
anyone compared linear alps to linear cherries?

For one thing, the actuation point is in a different place.
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Offline iri

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 20 March 2013, 15:06:05 »
higher on alps?
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(...)Whereas back then I wrote about the tyranny of the majority, today I'd combine that with the tyranny of the minorities. These days, you have to be careful of both. They both want to control you. The first group, by making you do the same thing over and over again. The second group is indicated by the letters I get from the Vassar girls who want me to put more women's lib in The Martian Chronicles, or from blacks who want more black people in Dandelion Wine.
I say to both bunches, Whether you're a majority or minority, bug off! To hell with anybody who wants to tell me what to write. Their society breaks down into subsections of minorities who then, in effect, burn books by banning them. All this political correctness that's rampant on campuses is b.s.
-Ray Bradbury

Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 20 March 2013, 15:07:23 »
To me, it feels like it's almost at the top. Very high up. The Cherry actuations all seem to be more centered.
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Offline iri

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Re: Alps help
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 20 March 2013, 15:10:51 »
makes linear alps attractive in my eyes... now i have to try moar boards :(
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(...)Whereas back then I wrote about the tyranny of the majority, today I'd combine that with the tyranny of the minorities. These days, you have to be careful of both. They both want to control you. The first group, by making you do the same thing over and over again. The second group is indicated by the letters I get from the Vassar girls who want me to put more women's lib in The Martian Chronicles, or from blacks who want more black people in Dandelion Wine.
I say to both bunches, Whether you're a majority or minority, bug off! To hell with anybody who wants to tell me what to write. Their society breaks down into subsections of minorities who then, in effect, burn books by banning them. All this political correctness that's rampant on campuses is b.s.
-Ray Bradbury
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