Solidtek 6600-ABU value for money

[iggysaps]

Well if you are into brand new mechanical keyboards and are just starting your collection, I guess this solidtek with fake white alps will be worth it.  It costs about US$48 around $53 with shipping within the US.  It's comparable to the feel of the DELL AT101W which has black alps just a bit softer snap back on the keys.

It is clicky and tactile and a good start for a mechanical keyboard newbie.

Don't know if anyone else wishes to comment, since I barely hear it mentioned on the boards..:smile:

[huha]

Well if you are into brand new mechanical keyboards and are just starting your collection, I guess this solidtek with fake white alps will be worth it.  It costs about US$48 around $53 with shipping within the US.  It's comparable to the feel of the DELL AT101W which has black alps just a bit softer snap back on the keys.

It is clicky and tactile and a good start for a mechanical keyboard newbie.

Don't know if anyone else wishes to comment, since I barely hear it mentioned on the boards..:smile:

Do you wish to take some pictures and upload some sound samples?

-huha

[maxlugar]

It's comparable to the feel of the DELL AT101W which has black alps just a bit softer snap back on the keys.

It is clicky and tactile and a good start for a mechanical keyboard newbie.

Don't know if anyone else wishes to comment, since I barely hear it mentioned on the boards..:smile:

This is a decent keyboard for the money.  I actually prefer this keyboard over the $189 CVT Avant Stellar.  With its metal case, the Avant Stellar is much heavier.  But the Avant typing action is kind of sloppy. Also, the Avant Stellar key caps are labeled with stick-on decals.

The fake ALPS used in the DSI/Solitek 6600 are not like the real (complicated) ALPS keyswitches used in the Northgate Omnikeys. But by the same token, the brand new Solitek 6600 is 1/4 the price of a used Northgate Omnikey 102 and is better made than 95% of keyboards currently manufactured in China.

I do not agree that the key action is similar to the Dell AT101W.  The Dell uses linear "non-clicky" ALPS keyswitches.  The key switches used in the Solitek 6600 have a definite tactile bump and audible click.

[timw4mail]

This is a decent keyboard for the money.  I actually prefer this keyboard over the $189 CVT Avant Stellar.  With its metal case, the Avant Stellar is much heavier.  But the Avant typing action is kind of sloppy. Also, the Avant Stellar key caps are labeled with stick-on decals.

The fake ALPS used in the DSI/Solitek 6600 are not like the real (complicated) ALPS keyswitches used in the Northgate Omnikeys. But by the same token, the brand new Solitek 6600 is 1/4 the price of a used Northgate Omnikey 102 and is better made than 95% of keyboards currently manufactured in China.

I do not agree that the key action is similar to the Dell AT101W.  The Dell uses linear "non-clicky" ALPS keyswitches.  The key switches used in the Solitek 6600 have a definite tactile bump and audible click.

You know, the Dell actually isn't linear, but it is pretty close. It has the most subtle tactile point out of any keyboard I've tried.

[maxlugar]

You know, the Dell actually isn't linear, but it is pretty close. It has the most subtle tactile point out of any keyboard I've tried.

I haven't noticed the bump.  It must be very subtle, but since my daily driver is an IBM 84-key PC AT keyboard, all other keyboards seem linear to me. :heh:

Admittedly, I haven't done much typing on my Dell AT101W so I'll have to check it out again to see if I can discern the subtle tactile point.

[patrickgeekhack]

Do you wish to take some pictures and upload some sound samples?

Yes OP. It would be nice if you could post some pictures and a sound sample. Like you said, it does not get talked about a lot.

[iggysaps]

Am a bit busy these days.  But if I find time, I will post some pictures, and a sound sample.  I don't use it much.  But it is better than nearly all the rubber domes.  A bit noisy though.

[itlnstln]

As you move from heavier key switches to lighter ones, tactility is hard to detect until you lighten your stroke.  I, personally, find the Dells very tactile, but I had been using Alps for quite some time when I first tried it.  When I tried Cherry browns after using the Alps, I thought they were overrated and pretty much linear.  After I used my MX-11800 for about a week, or so, and further lightened my touch, I could easily feel the tactile bump.

[cmr]

yeah the at101w i am on right now has a definite tactile click but basically no audible click

[Special K]

You know, the Dell actually isn't linear, but it is pretty close. It has the most subtle tactile point out of any keyboard I've tried.

The keys also seem to take longer to bounce back up after you release them, but maybe that's just my imagination.

[patrickgeekhack]

The keys also seem to take longer to bounce back up after you release them, but maybe that's just my imagination.

Unfortunately, we don't have any objective way of measuring this. Could it because Alps switches require a little bit more force than say blues cherries? More force = more time before moving to other keys? Just a thought.

[itlnstln]

I am no professor of physics, so I can't explain it, but Cherry and BS springs seem to have more "spring" in them than those used in Alps (and clones) switches.  Even my browns that have lighter springs than Alps seem to bounce back stronger than any of the Alps keyboards that I have used.  After using Cherry switches, Alps feel more clunky and slow in comparison.  Even the heavy BS feel more nimble than Alps, IMO.

[keyb_gr]

I am no professor of physics, so I can't explain it, but Cherry and BS springs seem to have more "spring" in them than those used in Alps (and clones) switches.  Even my browns that have lighter springs than Alps seem to bounce back stronger than any of the Alps keyboards that I have used.

That's easily explained when looking at force graphs. Clicky Alps seem to hold an approximately constant force after activated, while BS and Cherry switches show a linear increase again.

[itlnstln]

That's easily explained when looking at force graphs. Clicky Alps seem to hold an approximately constant force after activated, while BS and Cherry switches show a linear increase again.

Right, but what I can't explain is why.  Is it in the desighn of the springs, or is it in the overall switch design?

[cmr]

is this keyboard available without the weird enter key?