Author Topic: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps  (Read 3269 times)

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Offline dante

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Offline jwaz

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 28 October 2013, 11:02:05 »
These have a very interesting layout. Which switches? Linear Alps?


« Last Edit: Mon, 28 October 2013, 11:04:54 by jwaz »

Offline dante

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 28 October 2013, 11:03:21 »
Unlike most this seller is knowledgeable.  I just purchased a Space Invaders board from him and he was able to answer all of my questions.

Historically these have had yellow tactile, yellow linear, and green linear.  I'm sure he can fill you in.

Offline jwaz

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 28 October 2013, 11:05:27 »

Offline AKIMbO

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 28 October 2013, 12:02:10 »
The listing in the OP is for yellow ALPs.  I asked the seller....was hoping for green ALPs.  Yellow aren't bad, but they're no green.

Unlike most this seller is knowledgeable.  I just purchased a Space Invaders board from him and he was able to answer all of my questions.

Historically these have had yellow tactile, yellow linear, and green linear.  I'm sure he can fill you in.

You're forgetting mistsumis switches.  The ZKB2-AT's also came with mitsumi switches too.
« Last Edit: Mon, 28 October 2013, 12:06:08 by AKIMbO »
Mkawa Beta SSK | IBM SSK | IBM Model AT F | IBM F 122 | IBM Unsaver | LZ-GH (62g ergo clears) | HHKB Pro2 Type-S | HHKB Pro2 | Realforce 87U-Silent (55g uniform) | Leopold FC660C | Omnikey 101 (blue alps) | Kingsaver (blue alps) | Zenith ZKB2 (green alps)
| KBD75 (box reds)

Offline remdell

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 02 November 2013, 19:39:25 »
The listing in the OP is for yellow ALPs.  I asked the seller....was hoping for green ALPs.  Yellow aren't bad, but they're no green.


Man, I just encountered the listing and bidded right away thinking the keyboard had green alps.  I've tried quite a lot of alps switches (black, orange,  pink, white, cream, and white smk) already, and I like them all (although black and orange alps are probably my favorites).  The only linear switch I've tried are MX blacks, which I've found to be okay.  What switch does yellow closely relate to?
Rukia PC | RF87U Digilog | Norbaforce MKII Palm Desert | Zenith ZKB-2R | Datadesk MAC-101

Offline AKIMbO

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 02 November 2013, 19:57:24 »
The listing in the OP is for yellow ALPs.  I asked the seller....was hoping for green ALPs.  Yellow aren't bad, but they're no green.


Man, I just encountered the listing and bidded right away thinking the keyboard had green alps.  I've tried quite a lot of alps switches (black, orange,  pink, white, cream, and white smk) already, and I like them all (although black and orange alps are probably my favorites).  The only linear switch I've tried are MX blacks, which I've found to be okay.  What switch does yellow closely relate to?

In between mx reds and mx blacks. Linear alps are awesome...much smoother than cherry mx linears.
Mkawa Beta SSK | IBM SSK | IBM Model AT F | IBM F 122 | IBM Unsaver | LZ-GH (62g ergo clears) | HHKB Pro2 Type-S | HHKB Pro2 | Realforce 87U-Silent (55g uniform) | Leopold FC660C | Omnikey 101 (blue alps) | Kingsaver (blue alps) | Zenith ZKB2 (green alps)
| KBD75 (box reds)

Offline remdell

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 02 November 2013, 21:26:41 »
The listing in the OP is for yellow ALPs.  I asked the seller....was hoping for green ALPs.  Yellow aren't bad, but they're no green.


Man, I just encountered the listing and bidded right away thinking the keyboard had green alps.  I've tried quite a lot of alps switches (black, orange,  pink, white, cream, and white smk) already, and I like them all (although black and orange alps are probably my favorites).  The only linear switch I've tried are MX blacks, which I've found to be okay.  What switch does yellow closely relate to?

In between mx reds and mx blacks. Linear alps are awesome...much smoother than cherry mx linears.
Oh, that sounds pretty good.  Are yellow linear alps heavier than green alps?  I actually like heavier switches, but MX blacks are pretty much my limit.
Rukia PC | RF87U Digilog | Norbaforce MKII Palm Desert | Zenith ZKB-2R | Datadesk MAC-101

Offline AKIMbO

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 02 November 2013, 21:51:23 »
The listing in the OP is for yellow ALPs.  I asked the seller....was hoping for green ALPs.  Yellow aren't bad, but they're no green.


Man, I just encountered the listing and bidded right away thinking the keyboard had green alps.  I've tried quite a lot of alps switches (black, orange,  pink, white, cream, and white smk) already, and I like them all (although black and orange alps are probably my favorites).  The only linear switch I've tried are MX blacks, which I've found to be okay.  What switch does yellow closely relate to?

In between mx reds and mx blacks. Linear alps are awesome...much smoother than cherry mx linears.
Oh, that sounds pretty good.  Are yellow linear alps heavier than green alps?  I actually like heavier switches, but MX blacks are pretty much my limit.

Yeah they are a tad heavier.
Mkawa Beta SSK | IBM SSK | IBM Model AT F | IBM F 122 | IBM Unsaver | LZ-GH (62g ergo clears) | HHKB Pro2 Type-S | HHKB Pro2 | Realforce 87U-Silent (55g uniform) | Leopold FC660C | Omnikey 101 (blue alps) | Kingsaver (blue alps) | Zenith ZKB2 (green alps)
| KBD75 (box reds)

Offline remdell

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Re: [ebay] Zenith ZKB-2 Alps
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:28:07 »
I just received this Zenith keyboard today, and I gotta say... this keyboard is just amazing!  I was afraid that I wouldn't like yellow linear ALPS, but the feel of them is very comparable to my well-loved black ALPS (just minus the tactile bump).  However, I'm sure that my liking for the switches is greatly due to the construction of the keyboard.  The durability and construction of the keyboard is superb and is very comparable, if not better than the IBM Model M. 

This keyboard is definitely my new favorite old school mechanical keyboard.  Don't let the construction of old NMB RT101+ or Chicony KB 5181s dissuade you guys from purchasing more old DIN5 keyboards.  I'm totally looking forward to getting this keyboard with green alps when I've accumulated more keyboard dollars.
Rukia PC | RF87U Digilog | Norbaforce MKII Palm Desert | Zenith ZKB-2R | Datadesk MAC-101