Author Topic: What switches does this use?  (Read 1708 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline chyros

  • a.k.a. Thomas
  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 3499
  • Location: The Netherlands
  • Hello and welcome.
What switches does this use?
« on: Fri, 27 February 2015, 03:30:05 »
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALPS-AT-101-Keyboard-With-Mechanical-Touch-/111608844009?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fc67cee9

A Dell AT101 that isn't a Dell. Made by and branded Alps. Couldn't find anything about it on the wiki.
Check my keyboard video reviews:


Offline azhdar

  • Praise the AZERTY god
  • Posts: 2444
  • Location: France
  • 65% Enlightened
Re: What switches does this use?
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 27 February 2015, 03:35:12 »
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Dell_AT101

Layout is weird , Azerty but some of the keys aren't , nav cluster isn't translated, It might be a bastard board.
Azerty Propagandiste

Offline Findecanor

  • Posts: 5082
  • Location: Koriko
Re: What switches does this use?
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 27 February 2015, 06:51:34 »
I think it could be a Belgian layout. * and £ being swapped compared to French would be the tell. But I'm no expert.

Alps was the original OEM for the Dell AT101 and AT102. Later Dell used other manufacturers, apparently under license from Alps.
Alps was also OEM for many other companies such as Silicon Graphics, several Japanese companies, Bull, etc.
« Last Edit: Fri, 27 February 2015, 06:57:11 by Findecanor »
🍉

Offline Daniel Beardsmore

  • Posts: 1874
  • Location: Hertfordshire, England
  • RIP
    • Boring twaddle
Re: What switches does this use?
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 27 February 2015, 15:08:16 »
One reason I prefer the term "Alps Bigfoot" over "AT102-102" is that the latter, just like with the NMB RT101, is ambiguous. It's used both for the Alps SKCL/SKCM standard platform ("Bigfoot") as well as for the rubber dome equivalent.

The one depicted (FCC ID LPZCLARA 101-102) looks like GYIMIDAS101-102, which is a rubber dome keyboard with sliders:

http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/wang-5181.html

GYIMIDAS101-102 has a reverse curve case, while the confirmed mechanical keyboards use a "banana" shape (the case only curves upwards).

I can't prove that it's not mechanical, only that it's not the expected shape of an Alps Bigfoot keyboard (Dell AT101, SGI Granite, AX systems etc)
Bore Awards
Most Boring Person on the Planet – 2011 Winner

Offline Findecanor

  • Posts: 5082
  • Location: Koriko
Re: What switches does this use?
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 27 February 2015, 17:00:05 »
http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/wang-5181.html
Interesting link, showing how a Chicony keyboard fits inside a Wang case. I know that the innards of a Chicony won't fit inside a Dell AT101 case because the spacing between the F12 and PrintScreen columns is smaller on the Dell.
The keyboard in the auction has the same spacing between F12 and Prt Sc as between groups of function keys. Therefore it can not have regular Alps bigfoot innards.

BTW, the Dell AT101R (rubber dome) has a banana case...
« Last Edit: Fri, 27 February 2015, 17:03:45 by Findecanor »
🍉

Offline Daniel Beardsmore

  • Posts: 1874
  • Location: Hertfordshire, England
  • RIP
    • Boring twaddle
Re: What switches does this use?
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 27 February 2015, 17:52:16 »
The AT101R is a Silitek keyboard, so it won't necessarily follow the same pattern as Alps-made keyboards.
Bore Awards
Most Boring Person on the Planet – 2011 Winner

Offline MajorMajor

  • Posts: 88
  • Mechanical Keyboard Enthusiast
    • Coding Supply
Re: What switches does this use?
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 27 February 2015, 18:42:40 »
That's a sweet looking color scheme, I like your style! :thumb:
TKL / Clears / Dvorak / Flipped Space for Life / Best Programming Keyboards