Oh man, I may have made a n00b mistake.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

After loosing an auction earlier today for an obscure alps based keyboard I just stumbled into another. I was told in the auction that this AT101W was a clicky keyboard and an older friend said that it was mechanical too. Now I've never owned an alps based keyboard, from further reading in this forum it seems that they are pretty much hated to a lesser extent than the rubber dome which I LOATHE.

To further my defense clickykeyboards DID say that is was well...clicky in their listing.
http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/20188/subcatid/0/id/243728

So tell me, am I going to be crying in my beer? Are alps still substantially better than the normal logitech domed hell, or are they pretty much gummy dome feeling except by mechanical means?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350352674727&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[Phaedrus2129]

Yes, ALPS are better than Logitech rubber domes. They aren't as highly regarded as Cherry switches, but compared to typing on mud it's a big step up.


Just because the hardcore enthusiasts look down on a product doesn't mean it isn't better than the usual slop.

[nowsharing]

If the seller listed them as being clicky, just politely ask for to cancel the transaction. You are both in the wrong, but only they can make it right. You should offer to cover the cost of the auction.

[hyperlinked]

It's $12.  Man up.

Yeah, just buy it. There's nothing wrong about an ALPS board even if it's not the #1 pick of a lot of people here. If you hate it just sell it as a RARE CLICKY COLLECTORS EDITION keyboard on eBay and you'll rake in cash enough to buy a Topre.

[EverythingIBM]

Yeah, just buy it. There's nothing wrong about an ALPS board even if it's not the #1 pick of a lot of people here. If you hate it just sell it as a RARE CLICKY COLLECTORS EDITION keyboard on eBay and you'll rake in cash enough to buy a Topre.

Forgive my ignorance, but, wouldn't topres be similar to the C64 keyboard with the stupid non-buckling spring?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Well, that is good news I guess. I don't have to have the best and my friends might like something better than their rubber nonsense. Thanks for the help.

I really like the eagerness of this community. For a long time I was just some weirdo ranting about old computer stuff in the middle of Montana. Nice to see that other people realize that a keyboard need not be a throw away device.

[Infinite north]

If you were going to cry into your beer over $20 some bucks I am going to guess you were going to be crying no matter what. Some people are just emotional like that. For all you know someone could have hidden a hundred dollar bill under the really hard to remove keycaps.

I had an ebay question also. Looking at this gem on an auction and wondering if anyone could give me some model specifics.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

That model is the "Lucky Strike". Known for being "Toasted".

It is known to have a somewhat spongy non tactile response.

[clickclack]

I wouldn't worry about it =)
The dell is a nice introduction into the mechanical keyboard hoarding compulsion.

I think one of the reasons that it is not as highly sought after here (and perhaps elsewhere) is the mechanism itself. It's in no way mushy, so no worries there, but it happens to be a stiffer switch (requires more force than some to activate) tends to be loud considering that its does not click (bottoms out really, really loud) and the switch has the tactile resistance very high up in the key press. Some people may miss keypresses because the initial force is so high up that your fingers (in particular the weaker ones like a pinky) sometimes just bounce off the key. Many others keyboards ease you more into the tactile bump.

I think it's definately worth a try,
enjoy... =)

[ch_123]

If the seller listed them as being clicky, just politely ask for to cancel the transaction. You are both in the wrong, but only they can make it right. You should offer to cover the cost of the auction.

Clicky is a very ambiguous term. Around here we have a fixed definition. Cherry has a fixed definition. Everywhere else it can mean anything. To the average person, the clatter a Dell AT101W makes when you type on it is "clicky", and good luck educating the Paypal resolution differences on the subtle points between bottoming out and a deliberate generation of noise when a switch is actuated. None of this is helped by the fact that Ripster once bought a NIB Alps-branded Black Alps keyboard which was advertised as being clicky.

And at the OP - the AT101W is not a terrible keyboard, it's just that when compared with most other mechanical keyboards, they're not the best, and we're a kinda picky bunch around here. As has been pointed out, they are a good introduction keyboard given their price.

[Rajagra]

The AT101 is a perfectly decent keyboard. One of mine bought new in box IS slightly clicky. Not in the same league as blue cherries or buckling springs, but it is audible. Another I bought used does not click.

It's a great keyboard to keep as a spare / take to work to avoid using the nasty boards they normally have / etc..

Might well be the best keyboard you've ever used. So far.

[Mental Hobbit]

The problem with black (and most other color) Alps switches is that they develop some rather nasty friction over time, so they'll feel scratchy. But two 101Ws at twelve bucks was certainly worth a shot.

[itlnstln]

They make great "beater" 'boards.  That way you can throw a half-way decent keyboard on something like a public PC without having to worry too much about cost.