"If by 4100 you mean the G84-4100, these feature ML modules, which are short-travel keyswitches. They feel quite nice, but as the name implies, key travel is short."
No, I mean the physical contacts of the switches, not the function. lol I don't think the feel of them is nice at all either. I really dislike that keyboard. To me it feels little better than a hhk lite. My idea was to try to replace those switches directly with alps clickies, or some other clickies from a full sized keyboard you can get cheap, instead of the non clicky cherry switches. I suppose now that I know the other two contacts are only a function of a light or something I could do the same thing I'm doing to the btc, but would be nice to find a board that I could just desolder and solder in new clicky switches instead of having to add wire leads and come up with a structure to hold the new switches.
I've considered chopping off a keyboard, but building a case that's functional and reasonable looking is pretty difficult, and tracing the wiring is a pain as well. Not to mention I wouldn't want to chop off the number pad. A fully functional mini keyboard has a function key and the ability to turn keys into a keypad and arrow keys. I need that functionality in a mini or it's no good to me.
There are a lot of alps keyboards for sale on ebay where the seller doesn't even list or know that the keyboard is a clicky or what a clicky is. If you look for them and know what to look for they're easy to find. I expect even in Europe.
I'm a student as well. I simply don't have any money to be spending $80 on a keyboard anymore. I know it's not a lot relatively in terms of mini keyboards that are currently being produced, especially with hhk pro's being $250+. If I had any money I would, buy the siigs. They're the best keyboard I've ever used. I wasn't saying that relatively it's a lot to new keyboards, but for me, relatively, when you can get alps switch full size mechanical keyboards for $20 easily. If I can make a mini somehow even if it takes me some time. It is a ton of difference in money. I'm not working so every penny is precious, and have a lot of spare time.
I bought 2 siigs at $80 already, and considered it a good deal. I doubt Bob's supply will last until I have more money to spend.