Alps Appreciation

[emdude]

@Hypersphere, this happens to me quite often with my 5140 60%, haha.

I actually don't mind the odd choice of homing keys on Apple boards myself, my fingers usually hover over the keyboard when I type so I just need to get my initial bearings when I begin. I do sometimes have to consciously remind myself that the homing keys should be under my middle fingers.

[mike52787]

I you ever want top part with that multistation board you know who to call

[Mattr567]

I should post here more often...Right now I post mostly on Geekhack's Alps Appreciation thread

[drevyek]

I'm playing around with cream and orange alps, and found that, in the same (orange) housing, the cream sliders feel much rougher and sharper than the orange sliders. Is it just me? I want to be able to use the cream sliders for their damping, but don't want to sacrifice smoothness.

[E3E]

I'm playing around with cream and orange alps, and found that, in the same (orange) housing, the cream sliders feel much rougher and sharper than the orange sliders. Is it just me? I want to be able to use the cream sliders for their damping, but don't want to sacrifice smoothness.

The sliders? Maybe they're in bad condition? If the rubber has hardened on the dampeners, the feel would be absolutely terrible.

[E3E]

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

Holy moly, those part guys are nuts. I got a quote for a DocuTech for like $900+ once.

...$6 a switch, huh? For all my Xerox boards, that'd be a cool $2496. If I charged $15 a switch, well... That's just crazy. Of course, I'd never do that to you, my little lovelies. Never.

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.

Is it because of the look? Because all Alps PBT caps with that stepped profile are the same, mold wise, as far as I've seen.

I actually like a lack of homing keys on my boards. Just feels nice and smooth, though yeah, if your hand placement is off, you'll be typing in Welsh for a while (no offense to the Welshmen of DT).

I think my favorite kind of homing is deep dished sphericals, scoops, and dots.

[emdude]

Yeah, I like the standard legends and the front-printed numpad legends (even if they are just pad-printed). I prefer them to SGI Granite caps and most certainly to ABS caps.

If I had Dell AT101 PBT caps, those would probably end up being my favorite.

I haven't tried scooped homing keys, I think I'd like them a lot.

[alh84001]

Is it because of the look? Because all Alps PBT caps with that stepped profile are the same, mold wise, as far as I've seen.

The look is a big part of it, obviously. And they really do look great. The other part is the sound&feel. I don't know if it's because of the combination with switches and/or plate and case, but the whole package sounds absolutely awesome. It's a relatively deep, bit understated and very, very clear sound.

[Chyros]

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

I got them at $1 a switch in the end. $18.50 a switch would've cost me a small fortune xD .

[alh84001]

I know . Quite remarkable really

[hypkx]

Is green the new blue alps?

[alh84001]

I think it's too rare to become one

[Chyros]

Is green the new blue alps?

Neon greens are very interesting, and good switches, but I don't consider them on par with first-gen Alps switches. The pine ones are somewhat comparable to other tactile Alps, but bamboo ones feel quite unique, nothing like other Alps switches.

[alh84001]

Aren't pine ones similar to SKCM browns which are also quite unique? At least that's my takeaway from trying them out.

[seebart]

Aren't pine ones similar to SKCM browns which are also quite unique? At least that's my takeaway from trying them out.

Nothing like the lilac and moave ones I tried in lotusland. Rare does not equal better, that's why this is pathetic.

[alh84001]

No one ever questioned that However, sometimes you want to try something new/different and see for yourself or the interest is purely academic.

In this specific case SKCM browns are not even that rare, and the whole package with 5140 caps is really good (better than SKCM creams which is arguably a more rare switch). You should try it, it won't hurt

[mike52787]

Aren't pine ones similar to SKCM browns which are also quite unique? At least that's my takeaway from trying them out.

Nothing like the lilac and moave ones I tried in lotusland. Rare does not equal better, that's why this is pathetic.

Please describe these switches, I and doubtlessly many others here have never heard of them.

[seebart]

No one ever questioned that However, sometimes you want to try something new/different and see for yourself or the interest is purely academic.

Could not agree more, I want to try something new/different all the time. Unfortunately it's not possible that much.

In this specific case SKCM browns are not even that rare, and the whole package with 5140 caps is really good (better than SKCM creams which is arguably a more rare switch). You should try it, it won't hurt

I know brown are not that rare although I have not managed to find any here in three years, do you have some for me? SKCM creams? Not as in Alps SKCM Cream Damped?

Aren't pine ones similar to SKCM browns which are also quite unique? At least that's my takeaway from trying them out.

Nothing like the lilac and moave ones I tried in lotusland. Rare does not equal better, that's why this is pathetic.

Please describe these switches, I and doubtlessly many others here have never heard of them.

Only available in lotusland! Far far away in a distant galaxy...

[mike52787]

No one ever questioned that However, sometimes you want to try something new/different and see for yourself or the interest is purely academic.

In this specific case SKCM browns are not even that rare, and the whole package with 5140 caps is really good (better than SKCM creams which is arguably a more rare switch). You should try it, it won't hurt

Looks like I need to try browns. I dont think they could replace creams as my favorites, but I believe all tactile alps are delicious, with the exception of blacks and dampened cream/white.

[seebart]

No one ever questioned that However, sometimes you want to try something new/different and see for yourself or the interest is purely academic.

In this specific case SKCM browns are not even that rare, and the whole package with 5140 caps is really good (better than SKCM creams which is arguably a more rare switch). You should try it, it won't hurt

Looks like I need to try browns. I dont think they could replace creams as my favorites, but I believe all tactile alps are delicious, with the exception of blacks and dampened cream/white.

SKCM salmon and orange are still my favorite. Both realistically available.

[mike52787]

SKCM creams? Not as in Alps SKCM Cream Damped?

.

Nothing like the lilac and moave ones I tried in lotusland. Rare does not equal better, that's why this is pathetic.

Please describe these switches, I and doubtlessly many others here have never heard of them.

Only available in lotusland! Far far away in a distant galaxy...[/quote]
Did I miss the joke??
As for the cream alps, undampened creams My personal favorite switch. Found commonly in NeXT non ADB keyboards

[alh84001]

I know brown are not that rare although I have not managed to find any here in three years, do you have some for me?

If by here, you mean Ze Vaterland, no, I haven't been able to find them there. But, I have managed to find some relatively close. Stay tuned

SKCM creams? Not as in Alps SKCM Cream Damped?

Yes, undamped ones.

Only available in lotusland! Far far away in a distant galaxy...

Book your tour now - http://www.lotusland.org/visit/make-a-tour-reservation/

Looks like I need to try browns. I dont think they could replace creams as my favorites, but I believe all tactile alps are delicious

Well, I like Oranges better than Creams as well, so there's your orientation. Keep in mind that I had a short time yesterday evening to try both Browns and Creams.

SKCM salmon and orange are still my favorite. Both realistically available.

I think we already discussed this and agreed to disagree that these are not at all common in EU . Maybe a certain quantity of them diffused across the pond, and the same could happen with browns.

[seebart]

If by here, you mean Ze Vaterland, no, I haven't been able to find them there. But, I have managed to find some relatively close. Stay tuned

I absolutely will.

Yes, undamped ones.

Right, that's what I though.

Book your tour now - http://www.lotusland.org/visit/make-a-tour-reservation/

That's where they hide all the super rare switches!

We can always agree to disagree, highly important for communicatiuon.

[E3E]

No one ever questioned that However, sometimes you want to try something new/different and see for yourself or the interest is purely academic.

In this specific case SKCM browns are not even that rare, and the whole package with 5140 caps is really good (better than SKCM creams which is arguably a more rare switch). You should try it, it won't hurt

I'd have to agree with the statement that 2nd gen switches just aren't as smooth as Alps' first gen SKCM/SKCL switches.

Alps SKCM Green, pine, is very very similar to Alps SKCM Brown, but they are slightly more rough. What gives this away is the more noticeable scrape sound they have against the tactile leaf. They both have this, but you hear it far more prominently with Alps SKCM Greens.

So yeah, rarity doesn't mean anything about the quality of a switch. Which is also why I don't buy into certain statements about rare Cherry switches being better than their more common counterparts, like vintage MX Black versus Nixdorf blacks.

I like Greens more, but that's just out of coolness, the slider color, and rarity. The placebo effect is enough to make a lot of people consider rarity a qualitative factor for switches.

[hypkx]

No one ever questioned that However, sometimes you want to try something new/different and see for yourself or the interest is purely academic.

In this specific case SKCM browns are not even that rare, and the whole package with 5140 caps is really good (better than SKCM creams which is arguably a more rare switch). You should try it, it won't hurt

Looks like I need to try browns. I dont think they could replace creams as my favorites, but I believe all tactile alps are delicious, with the exception of blacks and dampened cream/white.

SKCM salmon and orange are still my favorite. Both realistically available.

I tried salmon alps and dont liked them , they feel strange for me.

[E3E]

I tried salmon alps and dont liked them , they feel strange for me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like salmon Alps. How do you feel about oranges?

To me, salmons feel hollow and lifeless. All the saturation got sucked out of the vivacious oranges and they've stiffened up thanks to a hard life.

[hypkx]

I tried salmon alps and dont liked them , they feel strange for me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like salmon Alps. How do you feel about oranges?

To me, salmons feel hollow and lifeless. All the saturation got sucked out of the vivacious oranges and they've stiffened up thanks to a hard life.

I never tried orange, feel they really such different?
My favourite ones are: New white alps>blue alps>green alps clones (which I sadly sold)>dirty white alps>salmon alps>cream/white dampened alps

[E3E]

I never tried orange, feel they really such different?
My favourite ones are: New white alps>blue alps>green alps clones (which I sadly sold)>dirty white alps>salmon alps>cream/white dampened alps

I've swapped springs from oranges into Salmons to make sure it wasn't just weight, and they aren't as smooth. Salmons are a bit clunky, in my opinion.

It's another example of a later generation switch not being as smooth as its predecessor.

[drevyek]

I'm playing around with cream and orange alps, and found that, in the same (orange) housing, the cream sliders feel much rougher and sharper than the orange sliders. Is it just me? I want to be able to use the cream sliders for their damping, but don't want to sacrifice smoothness.

The sliders? Maybe they're in bad condition? If the rubber has hardened on the dampeners, the feel would be absolutely terrible.

I've swapped sliders around- that was my first thought. If you look at the sliders from below, the arbor for the spring is much longer on the creams. I don't think it is bad rubber either: I'm more talking about the tactile bump. The oranges feel smooth and round, while the creams, with the orange internals, still feels tough and generally bad.

I've swapped springs from oranges into Salmons to make sure it wasn't just weight, and they aren't as smooth. Salmons are a bit clunky, in my opinion.

It's another example of a later generation switch not being as smooth as its predecessor.

My experience exactly. The change in the switch plate, and a slight alteration in the leaf spring makes for a big change in feeling.

[Hypersphere]

<snip>
<snip>
@hypkx:

My favourite ones are: New white alps>blue alps>green alps clones (which I sadly sold)>dirty white alps>salmon alps>cream/white dampened alps

Good to see someone else who ranks (new) white Alps above blue Alps.

Ranking Alps is problematic, however, because so much depends upon the generation of the switch, condition of the switch, and the keyboard in which the switch is installed.

Trying to take all this into account, my current favorite Alps switch and keyboard is white Alps in a reconditioned Northgate Omnikey 101. I like this somewhat better than blue Alps in a Leading Edge DC-3014.

Currently on my workbench are other boards and switches I want to try, including orange Alps in an AEK and yellow Alps in a Zenith ZB-163-73.

I am debating reconditioning the DC-3014 or leaving well enough alone. However, I will be doing a little more work on my Omni 101 -- installing an internal converter and panel-mount micro-USB connector. The internal converter should take care of the hot-swap issue I have experienced with this keyboard. A nice thing about this mod is that the holes for the existing mini-DIN6 connector line up exactly with the DataPro panel-mount micro-USB connector, so I will not need to drill any new holes in the case.