blue Alps Leading Edge DC 2014, bidding starts at $36 shipped

[jacobolus]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301237131652

[ComradeSniper]

I'll be keeping an eye on this one and putting in a snipe if the price doesn't get too crazy.

[jacobolus]

I’m guessing $80+ since this one looks to be in good shape, but you never know.

[Vanilla]

I'll be keeping an eye on this one and putting in a snipe if the price doesn't get too crazy.

As will I. $1000 snipe FTW! 

[Defect]

I'll be keeping an eye on this one and putting in a snipe if the price doesn't get too crazy.

As will I. $1000 snipe FTW! 

I'll just make sure to put in a 999 so you get your money's worth.

[nubbinator]

Bidding actually started at $19.99 with my bid on it, then shot up quickly  .

[fohat.digs]

Looks much nicer and cleaner than the last couple that I bought.

I predict $85 + shipping.

[Defect]

Looks much nicer and cleaner than the last couple that I bought.

I predict $85 + shipping.

Would any of you consider it a waste to buy this for 85 just to harvest the switches?  Would it be destruction of a good board?  I don't know much about the board itself.

[nubbinator]

Looks much nicer and cleaner than the last couple that I bought.

I predict $85 + shipping.

Would any of you consider it a waste to buy this for 85 just to harvest the switches?  Would it be destruction of a good board?  I don't know much about the board itself.

Yes, it would be.

[jdcarpe]

Looks much nicer and cleaner than the last couple that I bought.

I predict $85 + shipping.

Would any of you consider it a waste to buy this for 85 just to harvest the switches?  Would it be destruction of a good board?  I don't know much about the board itself.

Yes, it would be.

LOL

Says the guy with the snipe bid in...

[Vanilla]

I'll be keeping an eye on this one and putting in a snipe if the price doesn't get too crazy.

As will I. $1000 snipe FTW! 

I'll just make sure to put in a 999 so you get your money's worth.

Face it, we're at the mercy of somebody here who's gonna put $1001 to beat us out.

[nubbinator]

LOL

Says the guy with the snipe bid in...

I have no snipe bid, I had the opening bid.  I was hoping to get it at a decent price since I've been looking for one for a while.

[fohat.digs]

Would any of you consider it a waste to buy this for 85 just to harvest the switches?  Would it be destruction of a good board?

The board has virtually no value on its own. Its sole reason for existence is as a switch donor.

The keycaps on this one look nice, so you will get an incomplete set of doubleshots as a bonus.

The board is very well made and was an excellent piece during Reagan's first term in office, but is hopelessly obsolete now.

[jacobolus]

Bidding actually started at $19.99 with my bid on it, then shot up quickly  .

It started at your $20 + $16 shipping (at least, that’s what was listed for me)

[dorkvader]

Looks much nicer and cleaner than the last couple that I bought.

I predict $85 + shipping.

Would any of you consider it a waste to buy this for 85 just to harvest the switches?  Would it be destruction of a good board?  I don't know much about the board itself.

Yes, it would be.

Mainly because the PC/XT layout is the best.

PC/XT layout for life.

[end sarcasm]

(I gotta be more careful about that online)

[nubbinator]

Would any of you consider it a waste to buy this for 85 just to harvest the switches?  Would it be destruction of a good board?

The board has virtually no value on its own. Its sole reason for existence is as a switch donor.

The keycaps on this one look nice, so you will get an incomplete set of doubleshots as a bonus.

The board is very well made and was an excellent piece during Reagan's first term in office, but is hopelessly obsolete now.

Well made, but no value but as a donor?  You could do a Soarer's mod it and have a nice board.  If it was a flimsy Chicony, I'd agree, but a solid board like this doesn't qualify as "just a donor".

[fohat.digs]

Well made, but no value but as a donor?  You could do a Soarer's mod it and have a nice board.

Whatever. Your opinion is as equally valid as mine.

In my opinion, the XT layout sucks, plus, I have had 3 of these and none has worked with a Soarer's/Teensy.

[Defect]

Then I will not bid.  I only planned to buy this board for the switches and would hate to destroy something that other enthusiasts see value in.

Someone bring me blue alps x.x

[ebacho]

Well made, but no value but as a donor?  You could do a Soarer's mod it and have a nice board.

Whatever. Your opinion is as equally valid as mine.

In my opinion, the XT layout sucks, plus, I have had 3 of these and none has worked with a Soarer's/Teensy.

I've had two of them and both of them worked with a soarer. YMMV of course but something is up I suspect.

[fohat.digs]

Then I will not bid.

You do recognize that Dorkvader is joking, don't you?

It took me a couple of years to get a bowl of blue Alps to make a real keyboard with.

Don't waste an opportunity. These will only get harder and harder to find. I am just glad that I got in earlier rather than later.

[dorkvader]

You do recognize that Dorkvader is joking, don't you?

I edited my post to make it more clear.

Gotta be more careful in the future.

[1391406]

That layout.

[jacobolus]

By the way, to whoever ends up with this, you feel any scratchiness at all, then you owe it to yourself to try to get the dust out of the switches’ top housing. (I think there may have been some factory applied dry lube, so you may want to add some krytox or something when putting it back together.)

A good condition blue Alps switch (and similarly for at least ivory, brown, amber, orange, green switches) is very very smooth going up and down, smoother than a NIB “vintage” MX black switch. Lots of old switches from the 80s end up with quite a bit of dust and grit inside them from poor storage conditions over the years. Comparing the best condition blue/green/orange Alps switches I’ve tried to others, there’s quite a noticeable difference. But I think it could be made up with careful cleaning and optional lubing of the switches.

[AKIMbO]

Then I will not bid.

You do recognize that Dorkvader is joking, don't you?

It took me a couple of years to get a bowl of blue Alps to make a real keyboard with.

Don't waste an opportunity. These will only get harder and harder to find. I am just glad that I got in earlier rather than later.

You need to stop singing the blue alps praise and start trash talking them. More blue alps for us alps hipsters.




Blue alps suck....amirite guys!?

[CPTBadAss]

They're terrible and I want to recycle for the environment. Send your blue alps to me for proper disposal

[nubbinator]

You need to stop singing the blue alps praise and start trash talking them. More blue alps for us alps hipsters.




Blue alps suck....amirite guys!?

Yup.  Black or White Alps for lyfe cracka.

[AKIMbO]

You need to stop singing the blue alps praise and start trash talking them. More blue alps for us alps hipsters.




Blue alps suck....amirite guys!?

Yup.  Black or White Alps for lyfe cracka.

Simplified white alps are da best alps.

[nubbinator]

Simplified white alps are da best alps.

Better yet, go score some Omron or NEC boards.  Or, if you really want something awesome, get a board with Aristotle switches.

[luisbg]

I always see these deals too late, or when my wallet isn't in the mood for new purchases.

[dorkvader]

Simplified white alps are da best alps.

Better yet, go score some Omron or NEC boards.  Or, if you really want something awesome, get a board with Aristotle switches.

guys guys cherry MY all the way.

Moose is a genius.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Better yet, go score some Omron or NEC boards.  Or, if you really want something awesome, get a board with Aristotle switches.

The Omron and NEC I still want to try.

[Vanilla]

Haha this thread has made the seller one happy camper!

I wonder if this is going to cost as much as an SSK by the end of it....

[fohat.digs]

I have a jar with over 200 of the precious "black" Alps switches.

Before I put them up for sale on ebay for $900, I will offer them here for the geekhack discount at $850.

Includes free shipping, worldwide!
 

[False_Dmitry_II]

This one actually looks fairly decent condition, isn't crazy yellow, and the keys don't seem too shiny. So I'm not surprised at the price.

[fohat.digs]

This one actually looks fairly decent condition, isn't crazy yellow, and the keys don't seem too shiny.

Yes, I have had 3-4 of these, and none were anywhere near this nice.

[Vanilla]

So the guess of the auction ending @ $85 was exceeded; any other guesses?

Are blue alps that uncommon?

[jevvix]

So the guess of the auction ending @ $85 was exceeded; any other guesses?

Are blue alps that uncommon?

They are uncommon, but I think it's more of this keyboard is appears to be in very good shape that is really driving the price up.

[fohat.digs]

They are uncommon, but I think it's more of this keyboard is appears to be in very good shape that is really driving the price up.

They haven't been made since the mid-1980s, as I understand it. The excellent condition outside probably reflects equally fresh insides.

[engicoder]

They are uncommon, but I think it's more of this keyboard is appears to be in very good shape that is really driving the price up.

They haven't been made since the mid-1980s, as I understand it. The excellent condition outside probably reflects equally fresh insides.

The top bidders probably aren't planning on harvesting the switches, but rather are interested in a nice example of the DC-2014. Its one of the nicer looking boards of that era (IMO).

[False_Dmitry_II]

That probably depends on whether the logic works or not. If it doesn't respond to a Soarer Converter like the ones fohat has gotten, I'm not sure someone would take the time to do hand-wiring.

[Vanilla]

I was considering to get it to try out blues; do you guys think a 5 pin to ps2 converter (such as the metal one that came with one of my model m's) would work?

[jacobolus]

It’s an XT keyboard, so you need a Soarer’s converter box (just an AT->PS/2 adapter isn’t sufficient). I’ve heard reports of some working and others not working. Most geekhackers seem to buy them just as switch donors.

[Vanilla]

It’s an XT keyboard, so you need a Soarer’s converter box (just an AT->PS/2 adapter isn’t sufficient). I’ve heard reports of some working and others not working. Most geekhackers seem to buy them just as switch donors.

Hmm I see. Thanks.

[fohat.digs]

The top bidders probably aren't planning on harvesting the switches, but rather are interested in a nice example of the DC-2014. Its one of the nicer looking boards of that era (IMO).

I would be astonished if this were true. I could see maybe a couple of truly fanatic keyboard "collectors" with lots of spare cash to indulge their hobby wanting one to put on the shelf, along with their other obsolete XT exemplars, but I would imagine that 99% of real keyboard users out there just want those precious switches (and, secondarily, the doubleshot keys).

But perhaps I am allowing my own feelings cloud my perspective.

[Defect]

I'm out.  That's too high of a price per switch for me.

Who else is still in?

[fohat.digs]

That's too high of a price per switch for me.

Blue Alps are really nice, but at $1+ per switch you should probably move over to clicky Matias and stop worrying.

[engicoder]

I would be astonished if this were true. I could see maybe a couple of truly fanatic keyboard "collectors" with lots of spare cash to indulge their hobby wanting one to put on the shelf, along with their other obsolete XT exemplars, but I would imagine that 99% of real keyboard users out there just want those precious switches (and, secondarily, the doubleshot keys).

But perhaps I am allowing my own feelings cloud my perspective.

Or equally as possible, I'm the one with the clouded perspective :-) 

[fohat.digs]

Or equally as possible, I'm the one with the clouded perspective :-) 

PS - I am an old man too. I learned engineering on the slide rule. I got my first calculator when I was a senior in college.

[Vanilla]

I'm out.  That's too high of a price per switch for me.

Who else is still in?

I'm still in; if worse comes to worse and it doesn't work with a soarers converter I'll cannibalize it's switches.

[exitfire401]

I'm out.  That's too high of a price per switch for me.

Who else is still in?

I'm still in; if worse comes to worse and it doesn't work with a soarers converter I'll cannibalize it's switches.

I was in, until I got an offer to buy some caps I wanted. Good luck guys. May the twitchiest finger win.