DSI Big Font Keyboard KB-BF-I-113 (alps) @ $50

[ruumis]

it's not ebay, and I apologize if this has been covered before, but there's another full-size Alps board available at the $50 price point (on clearance). I make no comment on the aesthetics... besides, we're all touch-typists, right?

[kishy]

Daaaaaamn, dats gon' be double shots fo' sho!

But imagine if they were?

I dislike the price. Alps keyboards are fun, but not that fun.

Disclaimer: I don't believe those actually are double shot.

[ruumis]

I dislike the price. Alps keyboards are fun, but not that fun.

I dunno, that's what I paid (including shipping) for my ABS M1, and I feel the price was fair. Contrary to what some others here have said, I've found the build quality to be very high. I don't know if I'd pay $50 for that big font board, probably not. That's not really a clearance price, IMHO. We'll see if they drop it further, they might move a few units.

[kishy]

Yeah, especially as any variety of clearance, for a typical keyboard with Alps that's high.

The large lettering is a plus for anyone with a vision impairment however, and since computer accessories made to suit that type of disability are typically paid for through government healthcare and disability benefits - yes, we do that in Canada - the manufacturers ask higher prices.

Kind of like when you take your car to the body shop for a new bumper cover because of that fender bender and the new bumper is priced at six thousand dollars because the shop knows your insurance company is paying.

[ch_123]

The main good thing to be said for the ABS M1 is that it's really cheap. Another $20 will set you up with a Unicomp though... And with eBay, there's plenty of great keyboards you can get second hand for less.

[bitflipper]

The DSI bit font board has yellow alps which are linear. Imagine typing on marshmallows. The keycaps are not only not double shot, but they look like the letters are decals which will rapidly wear off with a little use. Except for the Alps, it looks like a $3.99 keyboard.

[bitflipper]

Wimp.

I'm a wimp too. I've never taken apart a key switch. This might be a good board to experiment on since I'll never use it. I'll post some pics when I do and let you identify the innards.

[bitflipper]

OK, here are the pics of the surgery. I presume the leaves are soldered to the board and I didn't try to pull too hard on them. Interestingly the controller IC says Strongman on it and SMK is on the PCB:

[bitflipper]

Those look like ALPS Simplified Type II, nicknamed XM, with a standard 8 windings spring.

Was the click leaf thin and kind of copper looking?

Sorry, I didn't notice your click leaf question before. Must have been an edit.

Here's a pic of the underneath of the upper housing for posterity. It has two protrusions that prevent it from accepting a leaf spring. Also, the housing is a little smaller than and therefore not compatible with a complicated Alps housing. So you can't even make it clicky without some soldering skills.

I wonder if it would accept one of those half-size leaf springs?