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Author Topic: DSI APLS keyboard  (Read 4866 times)

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Offline zwmalone

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DSI APLS keyboard
« on: Tue, 23 September 2008, 17:39:35 »
Does anybody have any experience with this?  Its only $50 with free shipping (for the time being)
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Can't get enough of them ALPS

Offline lexicon

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 24 September 2008, 07:18:48 »
Yes, I've had one for a couple of months.  I really like the key action -- very clicky with a nice solid feel.  Nice heft to the keys, makes you want to type on it.  It's very loud, not like a Model M but a higher, sharper click.  My problem is that there is a lot of resonance in the case and it makes fast typing sound as if you're ringing a bell.  Once you notice it, it can drive you crazy.  I keep meaning to open the case and see if I can damp the sound with some foam rubber or something.
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IBM Model M 1391401 (1989)
IBM Model M 52G9658 (1993) x2
Unicomp Customizer 101 (black)
Solidtek ASK-6600U
Dell AT101W (way too many)
Dell AT101W (black)
Silicon Graphics AT-101 (1993)
Cherry G84-4100

Offline itlnstln

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 24 September 2008, 07:41:08 »
Lexicon, if you do try to dampen the sound, let us know how it turns out.  My Northgate has that same feature of sounding like you're typing in a steel drum (it has Alps switches as well).  Putting it on a mouse pad helps a *little*, but it's not like having a truly inert casing.
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Offline lexicon

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« Reply #3 on: Wed, 24 September 2008, 13:20:56 »
B-b-b-but I'd have to stop typing on it to do that.  What's weird is that my Dell AT-101W, which also has clicky Alps switches, does the same thing (though not as bad) and it seems to have an all-plastic case, no metal backboard (which I assumed is the main thing resonating, but maybe not).  It may just be the other Alps switches humming along, in which case it's incurable.  Anyway, I'll open it up and look in a few days.
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IBM Model M 1391401 (1989)
IBM Model M 52G9658 (1993) x2
Unicomp Customizer 101 (black)
Solidtek ASK-6600U
Dell AT101W (way too many)
Dell AT101W (black)
Silicon Graphics AT-101 (1993)
Cherry G84-4100

Offline zwmalone

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 24 September 2008, 15:08:23 »
Great... Once I can talk myself into spending $50 for another keyboard... I think I've made my decision on what I'm going to buy.
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Can't get enough of them ALPS

Offline itlnstln

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 24 September 2008, 15:27:22 »
Quote from: lexicon;9060
B-b-b-but I'd have to stop typing on it to do that.


That's exactly the reason I have not gotten around to try to dampen the sound on mine.  I have 2 theories on how this could be done (and even better combined.  First, stuff the hollow spaces of the board with some kind of foam (like cut pieces of foam matress pad).  The other would involve putting down some type of pad around the bottom of each key, so when a key should bottom out, it reduces the clacking noise as this seems to be the source of the loudest noise, IMO.  Killing the resonance should help quite a bit and be fairly easy using option 1, option 2 would be much more difficult but, I think, very effective.
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Offline wellington1869

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 15 October 2008, 16:46:43 »
"First, stuff the hollow spaces of the board with some kind of foam (like cut pieces of foam matress pad). "

at home depot you can get a can of expanding insulation foam that home builders use to fill hollows in walls. its fairly dense once it sets.
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline lexicon

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 17 December 2008, 00:27:17 »
Quote from: itlnstln;9052
Lexicon, if you do try to dampen the sound, let us know how it turns out.  My Northgate has that same feature of sounding like you're typing in a steel drum (it has Alps switches as well).  Putting it on a mouse pad helps a *little*, but it's not like having a truly inert casing.


To recap:  DSI ASK-6600U, lovely white Alps switches, but a case that sounds like a bell ringing every time you actually type.

So I finally got around to opening it up, thinking that there would be a way to slip a thin sheet of foam or something in to stop the ringing.  There isn't.  The keys sit on a steel plate about 1/4 inch above (and firmly mounted to) the circuit board.  It's that space between the mounting plate and the circuit board that gives the plate plenty of room to "ring," esp. because the two are connected only at the ends.

You might be able to take off the top of the case and glue squares of dense foam or something between the rows of keys on the steel plate that would dampen the sound to the upper case cover, but I'm not really up for that at the moment.  That would probably at least partially kill that %$#@ ringing.
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IBM Model M 1391401 (1989)
IBM Model M 52G9658 (1993) x2
Unicomp Customizer 101 (black)
Solidtek ASK-6600U
Dell AT101W (way too many)
Dell AT101W (black)
Silicon Graphics AT-101 (1993)
Cherry G84-4100

Offline itlnstln

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 17 December 2008, 06:11:53 »
I found out the majority of the clacking resides in the switch itself.  I am doing a mod that will add the sliders of an Apple kb (which has rubber dampers) to my Northgate.  I will post details when I start the mod (probably next week).
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Offline wellington1869

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 18 December 2008, 23:41:36 »
Quote from: lexicon;15104
To recap:  DSI ASK-6600U, lovely white Alps switches, .


lexicon, do you know if these are strongmans or alps in this board? (if they're strongmans I might buy one as a donor board).
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline Chloe

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« Reply #10 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 18:32:24 »
I emailed DSI about the switches in the ASK-6600. This is the reply I got from Karl:

Quote
Alps the company has not manufactured any key switches for a while. They were bought out by a Taiwan company that manufacture Alps compatible key switches, these are not Strongman.
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Offline wellington1869

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 18:59:20 »
Quote from: Chloe;15396
I emailed DSI about the switches in the ASK-6600. This is the reply I got from Karl:


Thanks chloe. thats funny, karl's response is a little cryptic (ie, he's saying on the one hand no one makes alps (meaning these are strongman?) and on the other hand these are not strongman. So what are they?!)

FYI, I PM-ed lexicon and asked him as well, and here is his response (I'm sure he wont mind my sharing the key info here!):

Quote

They say "Alps" on them, below the white stem. Above the stem, if it means anything, they say "5" on the left and "M" on the right. The switches are mounted upside down.


Wasnt entirely sure what last sentence meant but he says they do have 'alps' stamped on them :)
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline Chloe

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« Reply #12 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 19:23:19 »
Quote from: wellington1869;15404
Thanks chloe. thats funny, karl's response is a little cryptic (ie, he's saying on the one hand no one makes alps (meaning these are strongman?) and on the other hand these are not strongman. So what are they?!)


I'm assuming Fu Hua or another Taiwanese factory made them. Production of ALPS was transferred to Fu Hua, but there were other factories. This would explain the fake simplified ALPS.
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Offline lexicon

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« Reply #13 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 22:25:41 »
What I meant by "upside down" is that you have to type with your fingers under the keyboard.

No, wait, I meant that from the normal typing perspective, the embossed "Alps" is upside down.  On the Dell and SGI boards, the "Alps" logo is at the top of the switch, rightside up.

By the way, the DSI website says:

The ASK-6600 keyboard features advanced Alps mechanical key switches and an ergonomic layout.  


I can't imagine what makes it "ergonomic."  I guess it must be the huge L-shaped enter key and the tiny, annoying backspace key.

For what it's worth, the switches are extremely clicky and loud.
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IBM Model M 1391401 (1989)
IBM Model M 52G9658 (1993) x2
Unicomp Customizer 101 (black)
Solidtek ASK-6600U
Dell AT101W (way too many)
Dell AT101W (black)
Silicon Graphics AT-101 (1993)
Cherry G84-4100

Offline Chloe

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 23:12:26 »
On some keyboards the switches are mounted upside down. I saw one recently with the Escape switch mounted sideways.
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Offline xsphat

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 23:38:35 »
Quote from: Chloe;15460
On some keyboards the switches are mounted upside down. I saw one recently with the Escape switch mounted sideways.


Really? I have never seen that.



I know, I don't get the reasoning behind doing that either.
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Offline Chloe

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« Reply #16 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 23:54:16 »
It is a bit odd. It must be because of the location of the pins on the switches. Whoever designed the PCB thought it was a good idea.

Do the A9M0330 have clicky ALPS?
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Offline xsphat

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« Reply #17 on: Fri, 19 December 2008, 23:59:41 »
Quote from: Chloe;15465
Do the A9M0330 have clicky ALPS?


No, and I don't know what it had. I liked it until the second I got a new keyboard with real Alps switches.

It felt like crap and that's all I really remember about it. Sorry.
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Offline Chloe

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« Reply #18 on: Sat, 20 December 2008, 00:44:20 »
Thanks, I don't think I'll bother getting one.
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Offline wellington1869

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #19 on: Sat, 20 December 2008, 13:14:56 »
Quote from: Chloe;15465
It is a bit odd. It must be because of the location of the pins on the switches. Whoever designed the PCB thought it was a good idea.

Do the A9M0330 have clicky ALPS?


they look like some kind of alps or alps clone, no?
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3

Offline xsphat

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #20 on: Sat, 20 December 2008, 13:21:38 »
Look at the stem in my picture. Definitely not Alps
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Offline Chloe

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« Reply #21 on: Sat, 20 December 2008, 14:53:05 »
They look like the ones in this:
http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/monterey.htm
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Offline wellington1869

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DSI APLS keyboard
« Reply #22 on: Sat, 20 December 2008, 15:12:55 »
Quote from: Chloe;15560
They look like the ones in this:
http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/monterey.htm


looks alps-ish to me!
thats looks like a clicking leaf too.
Wonder if these are the cheap chinese knockoffs that some folks have mentioned seeing.
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"Blah blah blah grade school blah blah blah IBM PS/2s blah blah blah I like Model Ms." -- Kishy

using: ms 7000/Das 3
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