Pink/Orange alps sliders? Mechanical differences?

[chimera15]

Can anyone describe, or take apart a pink and an orange alps slider and show what the exact difference is between them? Is it possible to make a pink/orange alps slider a clicky by replacing the spring from a white alps switch? A pink/orange alps slider feels just like a white alps slider, but doesn't have an audible click?

Also is there any real difference between blue and white? I have those switches and I can't tell, and it seems there isn't any difference.

I have greens and I know there's no place to put a clicky or tactile spring, as the plastic doesn't have a slot.

If they're the same I have plans that I might change one of my older siig minitouch's that the fake simplified alps switches seem to be a bit worn out with pinks.

[msiegel]

The white Alps in my Apple Extended Keyboard II have a few differences from the orange Alps in my Apple M0116:

- the white Alps have little rubber bumpers on the bottom of the sliders to make bottoming out softer.

- the white Alps have a different metal insert to make them clicky and give a stronger tactile "bump" during travel.

the orange Alps have a metal insert as well, but the tactile bump is very soft and there's not really any click during travel. the orange bottom out pretty hard in the Apple M0116 (at least when *i* type ;)

- the white's spring is shorter and has more windings. to my fingers, this makes them less linear (they have more resistance toward the bottom of the stroke).

I'm considering transplanting all my AEK II's springs, sliders and clicky metal inserts into the M0116... I seem to recall this working when I tried it out awhile back... and the switches were fairly easy to open with two small flat-head screwdrivers :)

[lowpoly]

the white's spring is shorter and has more windings. to my fingers, this makes them less linear (they have more resistance toward the bottom of the stroke).

Springs are always linear, they're just lighter or stronger (not sure if this applies to the cone springs in the Topre btw).

Linear doesn't mean that the force is always the same on the way down. It means that the force increase happens linearly.

[chimera15]

Alright, I bought a M3501 cheap, which according to the alps switch thread has pinks.  Hopefully if I don't like the feel I can convert them to whites since Bob from northgate repair sent me a bunch of non functioning whites when I bought my last minitouch.  Thanks a lot.

[keyb_gr]

If in doubt, ask the almighty wiki for the patent. Skimming through the text, the operation seems to be explained in some detail.

[chimera15]

I got my m3501 today.  It's interesting, it had what appeared to be white alps from the outside, but they weren't clicky.   I took the switch's apart and they had rubber dampers on the side of the switch and different non clicky metal leaf springs.  I guess those are really pinks/oranges, but with white sliders instead.  Maybe it's an early version of pinks or something.  I don't really like the feel, I'm changing them to true clicky whites. lol

One thing that this keyboard has is an alps grey slider caps lock which stays in a locked down position, which is pretty cool. lol

[chimera15]

Oh I was surprised the m3501 also worked without additional drivers on my xp machine with the imate adapter.  Works smoothly and nicely.

[didjamatic]

Any more info on Pink/Orange differences?  Are they dampened?

I really like an Orange alps board I have, but haven't pulled switches apart to see what's inside.

[didjamatic]

I just pulled an Orange switch apart from an Apple Extended M0015 and it was not dampened, non-clicky, tactile.

[microsoft windows]

Whether or not the keyboard is used is important when comparing ALPS keyswitches. Their feel changes a great deal with wear and tear.

[mr_a500]

There's a video comparing orange and pink Alps M0116 keyboards, but the guy appears to be a mute and doesn't comment on anything. It looks like he's saying orange are better. I definitely prefer orange.

What I want to know - how can you identify orange or pink Alps without removing the key caps? Maybe it can be identified by serial numbers? If anybody out there has a M0116 and knows what slider it has, can you please post the serial number so I have an idea where the cutoff is?

My orange Alps M0116 is serial #288758.

[NAVIWORLDINC]

I have a pink alps board, ask me anything.

[NAVIWORLDINC]

OK....

I've always been curious the difference between Black Complicated and Pink ALPS.

I've never typed on a black complicated alps board, so it would be hard for me to say. If you asked me specific questions regarding my experience with pink alps I could most likely give a better answer.