Alps Appreciation

[chzel]

I have much respect for Kontaktchemie products, so if you have access do use it. As you get more and more hands on with old keyboards and electronics in general, you will find IPA an indispensable tool, so try to get some (1L goes a long way).

[alh84001]

Now, wouldn't this be the awesomest Alps keyboard, period.


Yes, I was lazy, and made this in one minute in macOS Preview app, but still, it's enough to get me drooling. The label would need to say Omnikey/SSK, obviously.

[seebart]

Very nice. I think instead of "Omnikey/SSK" the label should say "Mini Omni Key". SSK is always IBM.

[emdude]

I would prefer Omnikey/84, personally.

[seebart]

I would prefer Omnikey/84, personally.

True, that sounds better than "mini". Unfortunately for us this will remain fictional anyway unless someone chops their Omni Key which I doubt.

[Scottex]

I would prefer Omnikey/84, personally.

this one would be the most fitting

[Hypersphere]

Omnikey 84 might imply one of those twilight zone layouts between 60% and TKL. I've never managed to adjust to keyboards in that range. Give me a 60% or TKL -- preferably a 60%. Someone with better rendering skills than mine should do an image of an Omni 60.

[Chyros]

Now, wouldn't this be the awesomest Alps keyboard, period.

Correct, it wouldn't be, because that would actually look more like:

[y11971alex]

Are you sure that keyboard exists outside of your hard drive?

[seebart]

Correct, it wouldn't be, because that would actually look more like:

Hahaha that cracks me up. And with a calculator of course. I think you and kbdfr need to talk Chyros. If the G80-0081 had a calculator that would be perfect for Chyros:

XNviQlo.jpg (458.4 KiB) Viewed 5606 times

Tipro vs. G80-0081.jpg (330.45 KiB) Viewed 5604 times

[emdude]

Mmm, nothing like having several dozen function keys.. and two Escs!

EDIT: And good god seebart, what would one do with so much keyboard?!

[Hypersphere]

Madness!!!

[seebart]

Mmm, nothing like having several dozen function keys.. and two Escs!

EDIT: And good god seebart, what would one do with so much keyboard?!

I have no idea. But I do know we have users here at DT that actually work with keyboards that large.

[alh84001]

Correct, it wouldn't be, because that would actually look more like:

I'm sorry, but BAE ruins it

[Hypersphere]

Definitely! Replace the BAE with an ANSI Return, put a key directly above for a Backspace, and with the Right Shift already split, you're all set for a HHKB remapping. Of course, this would make 188 or so keys redundant!

[alh84001]

They would all be mapped to various calculator functions anyways.

[Chyros]

Correct, it wouldn't be, because that would actually look more like:

I'm sorry, but BAE ruins it

But it's the Focus layout, who doesn't like the Focus layout D: .

[Hypersphere]

@Chyros: I am raising my hand.

[keycap]

I recall finding that some of the older Guitar Hero controllers came with White Alps clones on the strum bar, and I was curious to find out what was inside the guts of an off-brand Guitar Hero controller. The strum bar felt very Alps-like to me, so that's what likely made me want to open it up.

Spoiler:

These are my first Alps clones. I mean, they're pretty smooth, but I'll be damned if these things aren't stiff. Other clones like Type OA2 or XMs aren't this stiff are they?

[Chyros]

I recall finding that some of the older Guitar Hero controllers came with White Alps clones on the strum bar, and I was curious to find out what was inside the guts of an off-brand Guitar Hero controller. The strum bar felt very Alps-like to me, so that's what likely made me want to open it up.

Spoiler:

These are my first Alps clones. I mean, they're pretty smooth, but I'll be damned if these things aren't stiff. Other clones like Type OA2 or XMs aren't this stiff are they?

All the Alps clones I tried aren't stiff, they're actually lighter than real Alps. However, most tend to be quite clunky.

[keycap]

I recall finding that some of the older Guitar Hero controllers came with White Alps clones on the strum bar, and I was curious to find out what was inside the guts of an off-brand Guitar Hero controller. The strum bar felt very Alps-like to me, so that's what likely made me want to open it up.

Spoiler:

These are my first Alps clones. I mean, they're pretty smooth, but I'll be damned if these things aren't stiff. Other clones like Type OA2 or XMs aren't this stiff are they?

All the Alps clones I tried aren't stiff, they're actually lighter than real Alps. However, most tend to be quite clunky.

These are crazily stiff. I measured the bottom out force to be at around 100g, and the tactile point is even higher than that. Easily the stiffest switches I've ever tried.

[Chyros]

I recall finding that some of the older Guitar Hero controllers came with White Alps clones on the strum bar, and I was curious to find out what was inside the guts of an off-brand Guitar Hero controller. The strum bar felt very Alps-like to me, so that's what likely made me want to open it up.

Spoiler:

These are my first Alps clones. I mean, they're pretty smooth, but I'll be damned if these things aren't stiff. Other clones like Type OA2 or XMs aren't this stiff are they?

All the Alps clones I tried aren't stiff, they're actually lighter than real Alps. However, most tend to be quite clunky.

These are crazily stiff. I measured the bottom out force to be at around 100g, and the tactile point is even higher than that. Easily the stiffest switches I've ever tried.

Probably specialist ones, considering they're on special buttons. I found some very stiff Alps clones marked "CS" on the housing, come to think of it, but they are at least 150 gf I think, there's no way they're general use.

[keycap]

Probably specialist ones, considering they're on special buttons. I found some very stiff Alps clones marked "CS" on the housing, come to think of it, but they are at least 150 gf I think, there's no way they're general use.

Makes sense as they were used for a strumming bar. Thanks again Chryros

[Hypersphere]

Does anyone here use their Leading Edge DC-2014 for typing as opposed to exploiting it as a source of blue Alps switches?

Via some remapping with an Orihalcon/Soarer internal converter, I've managed to make the layout fairly workable. However, the stumbling block is the reverse-L Return key, which tends to bind unless it is struck in the center of the lower horizontal section (I usually hit the Return key on the left edge).

Any tips on making the Return key move more freely? What about converting it to ANSI? I suppose converting it to ANSI would entail major surgery.

Of course, I could just switch to a standard ANSI keyboard, but there are a number of things I like about the DC-2014.

I've posted a more embellished version of this on GH, but I thought I would try here as well. Thanks.

[alh84001]

Well, I had a (mis?)fortune of receiving both my US and Japan hauls on the same day. Many thanks go to Croatian customs office. Not! They decided to squeeze me dry on the Japan haul. Luckily, the US haul went through a member here so it was a breeze. Many thanks for real

So, there's a lot of stuff to go through, and I'm kind of swamped with some other stuff for the next two weeks, but I'll try to post info on some of the more interesting stuff. However, I need to wait for Pro Micros to properly test Sharps and NeXTs. For now, just a pic of Alps part of the haul (definitely a bigger part of the whole haul) and a couple of points:

• two top left keys on Sharp keyboards have an SKCL key that I don't know anything about and which doesn't seem to be present in the wiki - it is like a darker cream or washed out yellow or salmon switch and it has some kind of black residue on it. Also, it is _really_ heavy. Doing a quick coin test, it bottomed out at some 125 to 130 grams. Here are some pics:
  Spoiler:

  
• loose SKCM creams are from a Canon typewriter (thanks to a mamber here) and they seem heavier than the ones in NeXT board. One a small sample size ones in NeXT actuated with 13 nickels stacked, while ones from Canon actuated at 15 nickels stacked, with one actuating with 16 nickels stacked on top
• SKCM browns are a really interesting switch. Heavy (heavier than those Canon SKCM creams), and different from other tactiles in that force is quite high immediately when starting to press the switch. And keycaps from that 5140 are really amazing. I'll let the novelty wear off, but I think they may be my favorite Alps keycaps. If only they were ANSI compatible. Also, fun little quirk is position of the arrow on the left shift. All-in-all, really amazing board.
• I'll have to check, but the SKCM ambers in that IIc seem not as good as the ones I already have. Not bad by any means, but not quite there. The machine has yellowed quite a bit, so that might be a useful indicator.
• SKCM Creams undamped are nice, but I still love oranges more.
• no verdict on SKCM blacks in NeXT board. I'll have to test them side-by-side with ones in AT101W
• that IBM board is in quite a rough shape :/ Switches are nice though. Keycaps as well.
• I don't think I could ever get used to ergonomic layout like in Omnikey Evolution, but who knows. If I do, it is a prime candidate for a switch and keycap swap a-la that candy 101. Switches are actually quite nice (finally, some non-binding SKCM white), but I absolutely hate Northgate keycaps. Oh yeah, the cable is horrible.
• AKB-3240 keyboard is really nice. Keycap profile is different than anything else I've seen/experienced, and the keycaps are T H I C K. Hopefully, down the line, I will get some time down and try to convert it.

[Hypersphere]

@alh84001: Quite a haul! I also admire the dye-sub PBT Alps-mount keycaps from IBM 5140 convertible computers, and I like brown Alps switches, even if they are a bit heavy. I have a custom 60% with brown Alps that is great fun to type on.

My NeXT keyboard is the non-ADB US ANSI layout with non-damped cream Alps -- a very nice switch.

Please give us an update when you've had a chance to sort through everything.

BTW, I have pleasant memories from two visits to Zagreb many years ago. One of these included a trip to a conference in Bled. My time in Zagreb happened to coincide with an interesting mushroom festival, and I was fortunate to get tickets to a concert at the splendid opera house.

[ohaimark]

If you ever want to get rid of the Omnikey...

[emdude]

The IBM 5140 key caps probably my favorite Alps-mount caps as well; the only thing that really bothers me about them are the lack of homing bars or dots, but otherwise they are just great. The layout is fun too.

[Hypersphere]

Interesting that you mention the lack of homing keys in the IBM 5140 set. They did the same thing with the IBM XT. Before not having homing keys, if I thought about it at all, I more or less assumed that I really didn't need them. However, when I use a keyboard that lacks these little reminders, I find that I often end up with my fingers misaligned on the home row.

This is also another reason why I tend not to use the dye-sub PBT caps from Apple keyboards -- using D and K as homing keys is just too confusing.

[alh84001]

@Hypersphere I will definitely try and convert 5140 board some time this month and give it a good shakedown

@ohaimark Too early to tell It's definitely an Omnikey with a metal backplate and all. Plastic on top seems a bit different though.

@emdude would you prefer the homing dots on D and K instead?

And I just realised how crappy that pic is. Unfortunately, my Lumia's camera is acting up, so this was taken with iPhone 5. To anybody wondering, those loose greens in bottom row are SKCL and _not_ SKCM I recently got a quote for SKCM greens of $15 a switch. Then another one came in at $18,50, and finally I got a "reasonable" offer of ~$10 couple of days ago. @Chyros, that quote of $6 you got doesn't seem that big right now