New source of ALPS switches

[Bodibo]

Every time I see someone talk about an ALPS switch keyboard, they inevitably mention the AT101 or AT102. By pure luck, I walked past some old keyboards the uni was throwing out and had a quick play. Most were spongy and rubbish, but one had a click; further inspection revealed ALPS switches. The keyboard is a Viglen keyboard from 1996. I have never heard anyone mention these as a source of ALPS switches before, so if you come across one, take it!

[lowpoly]

Unfortunately, those are not Alps switches. They just use the Alps keycap interface. What you have here is a rebranded Acer 6312, a membrane board with a clicky mechanical actuation mechanism.

DMuk has a Viglen.

[Bodibo]

Bugger. I was all excited through my ignorance. Anyway, I will give it a go once I have finished cleaning it.

So what's a real ALPS switch look like?

[itlnstln]

Check out a few of the Northgate/Macally reviews in the reviews section.  Northgate (and now, CVT) keyboards are great ALPS-based boards.

[lowpoly]

<----------------- Alps switch

[DMuk]

That's the same keyboard I'm using Bodibo. Not bad for nothing. It's worth giving a bit of a clean, though you may find some of the switches are a bit iffy.

You can always swap the switches from less used parts of the 'board (such as the function keys) as I have done.

Edit: I see lowpoly is already ahead of me!