SOLD OUT Solidtek KB-6600 Full Size w/ALPS $4.99 + Shipping

[drewba]

SOLD OUT as of 1/2/15 6:30PM CST

http://www.directron.com/kb6600bu.html

Use promo code repeatcustomer10 to save 10% EDIT: REVENGE mentioned promo is expired

I haven't been able to find much current information about it, but at least a couple GH users here think it's a decent keyboard considering the price. It is definitely the cheapest way I'll be able to try out ALPS switches. My order was under $10 shipped, so I think it's safe to ignore this note on the site:
Note: Directron.com has a $10 minimum-order requirement.

I took a video sound tes.t This was taken on my phone which doesn't really do it justice. It's so much louder than my keyboard with MX Browns.

[SpAmRaY]

directron, now there is a name I haven't thought of in a really, really long time.

and here is the same keyboard at DSI http://dsi-keyboards.com/product/solidtek-kb-6600bu-full-size-alps-mechanical-switch-usb-keyboard/

[Lurch]

Any idea what switches are in this thing?

[SpAmRaY]

Any idea what switches are in this thing?

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/alps-specifications-t166.html

^^ according to that says Fukkas (Type 1 clicky simplifieds) 

[dante]

This is a VERY fun keyboard to type on.  It ran neck and neck with the FC200R Otaku Browns as my very first Mechanical.

I never did buy one (I was seduced by blank keycaps at the time so sue me) but fondly remember my first experience with it at Fry's.

[drewba]

Any idea what switches are in this thing?

What spamray said! Also check out my second link for a little more discussion: "It uses genuine simplifed ALPS branded key switches which are virtually identical to the Fukkas."

directron, now there is a name I haven't thought of in a really, really long time.

and here is the same keyboard at DSI http://dsi-keyboards.com/product/solidtek-kb-6600bu-full-size-alps-mechanical-switch-usb-keyboard/

Wow, alright so this is a steal then. I've found old links to this board going on sale for $35-40.

[Hak Foo]

I bought one years ago for about 50 bucks.

Plusses:  Nice white ALPS switches.  Costar-style stabilizers you can harvest.
Minuses:  2KRO, folded-over pins on switches to make desoldering harder, pad-printed keycaps, nonstandard bottom row, bigass enter, small backspace.

It's definitely a steal at $5 though.

[REVENGE]

Ridiculous price.

No go on using repeatcustomer10, says coupon expired.

[drewba]

I bought one years ago for about 50 bucks.

Plusses:  Nice white ALPS switches.  Costar-style stabilizers you can harvest.
Minuses:  2KRO, folded-over pins on switches to make desoldering harder, pad-printed keycaps, nonstandard bottom row, bigass enter, small backspace.

It's definitely a steal at $5 though.

Good to know! I wasn't able to find a formal review so this is helpful!

Ridiculous price.

No go on using repeatcustomer10, says coupon expired.

I edited the op. Sorry you couldn't save 50 cents

[Touch_It]

Hmm,  Seems like a good candidate to harvest switches from for my black AT101W with bad black alps. 

edit, has anyone bought from the site before?

[drewba]

Hmm,  Seems like a good candidate to harvest switches from for my black AT101W with bad black alps. 

edit, has anyone bought from the site before?

I purchased this keyboard from directron.com two days ago. They emailed me a payment confirmation email as well as an email with a (working) tracking number once the item shipped. I caught wind of this deal with someone local to Directron said they bought one of these from the storefront.

[Touch_It]

I might buy 1 or 2 I can get 2 for 15 bucks shipped

[SpAmRaY]

Hmm,  Seems like a good candidate to harvest switches from for my black AT101W with bad black alps. 

edit, has anyone bought from the site before?

I bought things from directron back when they were new...wow...I'm getting old :facepalm:

[Touch_It]

Bought one along with a friend.  Pimp


PS, THIS will be my friend's first mech keyboard.  Easy convert at 7 bucks

[RoflCopter4]

Oh, excellent, only $50 shipping for a $5 keyboard.

brb, suicide

[Touch_It]

Oh, excellent, only $50 shipping for a $5 keyboard.

brb, suicide

Damn,  you must literally live in the middle of nowhere.

[SpAmRaY]

Oh, excellent, only $50 shipping for a $5 keyboard.

brb, suicide

Damn,  you must literally live in the middle of nowhere.

*Canada*

[Touch_It]

Same thing. 


Sry couldn't resist.

[RoflCopter4]

Must be nice to live someplace that isn't a frozen ****hole. Shipping is always expensive and slow to Canada. You'd never guess our nations have a "free trade" agreement.

Apparently USPS Priority is "only" $18.25. Why the hell it is so much cheaper than "economy" shipping is literally hurting my brain.

[Touch_It]

Must be nice to live someplace that isn't a frozen ****hole. Shipping is always expensive and slow to Canada. You'd never guess our nations have a "free trade" agreement.

Apparently USPS Priority is "only" $18.25. Why the hell it is so much cheaper than "economy" shipping is literally hurting my brain.

That's a hard one to explain lol.  I live in nebraska witch is in the middle of nowhere as well.  Gets pretty cold here,  depending on where you live maybe more so.

[drewba]

Ok so I received the keyboard today. This the loudest thing on earth, I love it.

[drewba]

double post

[RoflCopter4]

Huh, I missed the fine print.

http://www.directron.com/canada.html

"Notes: (1) We also offer USPS shipping although rates have to be adjusted manually. Simply pick the USPS shipping method you want and once the order is processed any correction in price will be adjusted manually. (ud100903mp)"

So it's not $18.25 after all. They don't even tell you what it will cost. Wonderful.

[Photekq]

Damn, nice price!

[atectatifern]

In for one. Thanks for the pointer!

[Xonar]

Bought one. I'm gonna have a good amount of Alps boards in my collection pretty soon.

[jdcarpe]

Why must you show me these things? Do I really need 4 more Alps keyboards, just because they cost $5 each??

[Halverson]

Why must you show me these things? Do I really need 4 more Alps keyboards, just because they cost $5 each??

Yes, yes you do

[jdcarpe]

Why must you show me these things? Do I really need 4 more Alps keyboards, just because they cost $5 each??

Yes, yes you do

It's like you KNOW me.

[Halverson]

Why must you show me these things? Do I really need 4 more Alps keyboards, just because they cost $5 each??

Yes, yes you do

It's like you KNOW me.

BWAHAHA!

[RoflCopter4]

You know, someday I'm going to be in charge of Canada, declare war on the US, and then instantly surrender so that we can join the union and therefore not have to pay international shipping prices anymore. It's a foolproof plan.

[ShawnMeg]

Ok so I received the keyboard today. This the loudest thing on earth, I love it.

Post a sound file, please.

[Melvang]

Ordered me 2 of these.  Couldn't pass up that many alps switches for 15 shipped.  Even if they caps and keyboards are ****e.  They switches from one will be transplanted into the AEKII I have as I don't care for the dampened alps in it.

[drewba]

Ok so I received the keyboard today. This the loudest thing on earth, I love it.

Post a sound file, please.

Sure, I'll record something on my phone and post it later on today.

[Touch_It]

Ok so I received the keyboard today. This the loudest thing on earth, I love it.

Post a sound file, please.

Sure, I'll record something on my phone and post it later on today.

Sweet.  Loud is good.  If it's not loud it's not worth typing on, lol.

[RoflCopter4]

I actually can't even express in words how annoyed I am at shipping ruining this deal.

Anyone who's used these switches, how do they compare with older complicated Alps? I've only used SMK "Monterey Blue" switches and orange Alps, so my Alps experience is limited.

[jdcarpe]

White Alps are similar to blue Alps, only not quite as light or smooth. They really aren't too bad for typing at all. I'm not a big fan of black Alps, but linear green Alps are nice also. I've never really tried orange, salmon, or dampened cream Alps.

[jacobolus]

Note that these are simplified (Forward Electronics/Fuhua/“Fukka”) SKBM switches, or possibly Hua-Jie or Xiang Min clones (it’s hard to tell since there are no pictures anywhere of the switches in these boards specifically), not “complicated” SKCM Alps switches.

Most of the various simplified and clone switches are alright, but nothing I’d take to a desert island.

[RoflCopter4]

Ah well. Seems like they're sold out anyway.

[drewba]

Ok so I received the keyboard today. This the loudest thing on earth, I love it.

Post a sound file, please.

Sound test This was taken on my phone which doesn't really do it justice. It's so much louder than my keyboard with MX Browns.

Although it may be a moot point if you haven't already ordered one; as roflcopter4 mentioned, looks like they're sold out. I edited the OP and title

[Touch_It]

Pleasant sounding.  Perfect to make co-workers go crazy.

[Xonar]

Mine came yesterday. This is my first Alps board, and I already like it better than any Cherry switch I've ever tried. The keyboard was definitely a steal at $5, considering the switches and the relatively decent build quality. I'll probably write up a review on it in the next few days.

[drewba]

Mine came yesterday. This is my first Alps board, and I already like it better than any Cherry switch I've ever tried. The keyboard was definitely a steal at $5, considering the switches and the relatively decent build quality. I'll probably write up a review on it in the next few days.

Glad you like it! I'll keep an eye out for your review.

[Melvang]

mine came in today and they seem to be Costar esque stabs.  Testing coming in a moment to see if they are infact compatible with SP's caps.  They also had paper shims stuffed into the stab inserts on the cap.

Pics incoming soon as well

[jdcarpe]

Funny bottom row on these.

1.5-1-1.5-6-1.25-1.25-1.25-1.25

But they feel really good! Every bit as good as my Focus 2001 with the same simplified white Alps switches.

[RoflCopter4]

Is there anyone who can compare them to real Alps switches? I've got a set of the real ones coming in the mail but because they sold out so fast I didn't get to buy one of these to compare with.

[jacobolus]

Personally I find these to be okay but not great to type on. I don’t like them as much as complicated white Alps (with or without slits), Matias switches, or even the green-slider switches in a Ducky 1087XM. They’re not bad for $5 though!

I’m not precisely sure if these are “simplified white Alps switches” (as in, SKBM switches made by Fuhua / Forward Electronics), or one of the many Alps clones. I’ll try to take a switch apart and figure out tomorrow. (Or someone else can give it a shot, comparing at all the pages linked from http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_mount_recognition#Alps_clones.)

[Touch_It]

Mine along with my friends got shipped to the wrong address .  (not the company's fault).  He tracked them down though and will likely pick them up this weekend.