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Author Topic: Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard  (Read 3916 times)

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Offline armenws

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« on: Sat, 10 April 2010, 20:49:20 »
Hi all - my first post here. I'm a keyboard enthusiast.

I today acquired this keyboard (pictures attached). It's a split style with a pencil holder, AT connector, very sharp edges, apparently double-shot keys, and after some googling of the FCC number, i found a "reveal" keyboard that seems very similar, or maybe 'erogocare'. There's no name branding at all. The keys have a light touch but a loud click - louder and higher pitched than the model M, very non-linear tactile bump, and yet are pretty light so at first I thought it was some shallow dome switch that was bottoming out, but you can hear the switch then the bottoming separately. Plus the nearest one I could find on this japanese site has ALPS all over it...

http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~duelist/kb-7061/index.htm

Also I almost forgot to add that it has the same dual hight legs as the japanese one, and lots of non-slip rubber too.

I think the "reveal" and "ergocare" was just a branding of another manufacturer's product- the question is who?

Any ideas what brand/year this puppy is?

Thanks!

http://i43.tinypic.com/2nsz7dv.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/ml16hl.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/15quoeg.jpg
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Offline kishy

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 10 April 2010, 20:56:17 »
We've seen this before...I think webwit has one and recently posted about it. You may be able to find it if you check his posts but he posts a lot so I dunno.

Welcome to geekhack!
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Offline armenws

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 10 April 2010, 22:46:26 »
wow awesome, thanks guys!

Webwit what did you mean by fake ALPS in your other thread? They're knockoff switches??

Impressive collection btw!!

Yes - it must be the Reveal - same model numbers except no branding.  Since it's super yellowed with age I'm thinking of dying it fun colors.  I've been hesitant to take off the keycaps until I learned more - can I pop them off non-destructively? If I unscrew the back and clean out all the board chow, does it fall apart like a buckling spring board or is it easier?

Thanks again for the responses and help!
« Last Edit: Sat, 10 April 2010, 22:53:13 by armenws »
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Offline ch_123

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 11 April 2010, 04:27:14 »
Many switches, particularly Alps, had unauthorized copies made by Chinese or Taiwanese manufacturers. The vast majority of fakes were vastly inferior to the real deal.

Understanding Alps switches is an art of Arcane mastery which few bother investing time into due to their relative mediocrity compared with other switches (although I personally think Blue Alps are better than Blue Cherries, which are very popular here)
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Offline armenws

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 12 April 2010, 23:59:49 »
Quote from: ch_123;171366
Many switches, particularly Alps, had unauthorized copies made by Chinese or Taiwanese manufacturers. The vast majority of fakes were vastly inferior to the real deal.

Understanding Alps switches is an art of Arcane mastery which few bother investing time into due to their relative mediocrity compared with other switches (although I personally think Blue Alps are better than Blue Cherries, which are very popular here)


Good to know. From what I've heard about them the blue cherries are on the top of my list of ones I'd like to try - I'll see if I can find the arcane and mysterious blue Alps instead.
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Offline kishy

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 13 April 2010, 04:35:07 »
What exactly makes the Leading Edge not PC compatible? Except the broken-ass layout I see no problems.
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Offline ch_123

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 13 April 2010, 04:39:28 »
Obvious XT keyboard is obvious.
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Offline kishy

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 13 April 2010, 04:40:53 »
Quote from: ch_123;171788
Obvious XT keyboard is obvious.


Which is, if anything, MORE of a PC than anything with a PS/2 or USB port...
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Offline ch_123

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 13 April 2010, 04:45:28 »
But not compatible with anything made in the past 20 years or more...
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Offline kishy

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 13 April 2010, 04:51:24 »
Quote from: ch_123;171790
But not compatible with anything made in the past 20 years or more...


Bah you're no fun.
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Offline armenws

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 14 April 2010, 20:18:43 »
« Last Edit: Wed, 14 April 2010, 20:20:44 by armenws »
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Offline kishy

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 14 April 2010, 20:25:31 »
I love white ALPS. They cause anger among ripster.
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Offline armenws

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 15 April 2010, 22:55:09 »
Quote from: ripster;172251

Those are White Complicated Clickys BTW.  It's the little doggie tabs in the upper housing and those vintage double shots.
Show Image


Is that good?
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Offline armenws

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 16 June 2010, 23:50:52 »


now it looks like this.
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Offline clickclack

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 16 June 2010, 23:55:20 »
Nicely sexed up!
Bravo =)
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862+ keyboards and counting!   R.I.P.ster          Vendor link ->Clack Factory

Offline armenws

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Mystery double-shot ALPS keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 17 June 2010, 00:59:09 »
Quote from: clickclack;193891
Nicely sexed up!
Bravo =)


thanks!
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