Alps Appreciation

[Myoth]

But your clone switches aren't the class of switches that worked great in the first place, so why even bother ?

Link me some complicated Alps clones and I'll be the first one to be interested in them.

[purdobol]

But then your target audience isn't us, it's the general populous.

It's not even that. The only segment big enough and willing to pay premium for quality products is "by gamers for gamers". With all the quirks and weird trends attached. Would even go so far as to say that the only way to achieve success with new switch or quality clone is to directly target them.

So far it didn't happen, but I bet it will. Sooner or later.

[//gainsborough]

Then it makes sense to go with a class of switches that worked great in the first place.

...r-right - SKCM alps.

Link me some complicated Alps clones and I'll be the first one to be interested in them.

+1

[abrahamstechnology]

But your clone switches aren't the class of switches that worked great in the first place, so why even bother ?

Link me some complicated Alps clones and I'll be the first one to be interested in them.

It's NOT the switchplate that makes the keyfeel!

[abrahamstechnology]

Then it makes sense to go with a class of switches that worked great in the first place.

...r-right - SKCM alps.

It was the housing, NOT the SKCM switchplate that made Alps' keyfeel great.

[//gainsborough]

It's not even that. The only segment big enough and willing to pay premium for quality products is "by gamers for gamers". With all the quirks and weird trends attached. Would even go so far as to say that the only way to achieve success with new switch or quality clone is to directly target them.

So far it didn't happen, but I bet it will. Sooner or later.

One could certainly make a [pretty BS] case for gamers, actually!

TRY ALPS NOW!!!! SHORTER TRAVEL THAN GENERAL CHERRY MX SWITCHES! THE .5MM MAKES A DIFFERENCE! BY GAMERS FOR GAMERS!

You can have that one for free, Matias.

[//gainsborough]

It's NOT the switchplate that makes the keyfeel!

Okay now here is where I have to definitively disagree. I definitely think the switchplate contributes to both sound and feel in complicated alps.

edit: and in fact - I think replacing any single major component of the switch will alter the way it both feels and sounds. Switchplate, slider material, click-leaf/tactile-leaf, spring weight, and housing all play a role in my mind.

[snacksthecat]

But your clone switches aren't the class of switches that worked great in the first place, so why even bother ?

Link me some complicated Alps clones and I'll be the first one to be interested in them.

It's NOT the switchplate that makes the keyfeel!

Well you’re right about that! It’s the whole apparatus; the spring, leaf, slider, housing, keycap, etc. Each component complementing the last one perfectly, like pairing a fine wine with a steak.

Actually alps are overrated. #BuckySpringBoi4£if€

[abrahamstechnology]

But then your target audience isn't us, it's the general populous.

It's not even that. The only segment big enough and willing to pay premium for quality products is "by gamers for gamers". With all the quirks and weird trends attached. Would even go so far as to say that the only way to achieve success with new switch or quality clone is to directly target them.

So far it didn't happen, but I bet it will. Sooner or later.

True. And I think it's sad that non-gamer desktop PC users are content on typing on crappy Mac-knockoff chicklet keyboards.

[Hypersphere]

This is one of those discussions that could use some hard data. Of course, it's much more fun to speculate.

[Hak Foo]

Frankly, I think the trick would be to find a way to bake it into the cost of business PCs.

Many people are typing on soggy rubber domes and chicklets because it's what Dell/HP/Lenovo/Acer ships in the box, and the procurement process says "replacements get the standard model keyboard of the day."

If they introduced a new AT101W and sold it stock with every business-class PC, it would be the #1 mechanical board on the market in two months.

[Hypersphere]

How the cool kids respond to the question, "What's your Alps status?"

It's complicated.

[purdobol]

How the cool kids respond to the question, "What's your Alps status?"

It's complicated.

Hahahahahaha

Spoiler:

...

[Hypersphere]

How the cool kids respond to the question, "What's your Alps status?"

It's complicated.

Hahahahahaha

Spoiler:

...

I must say, I rather liked that myself.

We should have tee shirts made with that slogan, perhaps illustrated with an exploded view of an SKCM complicated [blue] Alps switch from the DT wiki. The proceeds could go toward funding Alps resurrection projects. (Now I'm actually being serious).

[abrahamstechnology]

How the cool kids respond to the question, "What's your Alps status?"

It's complicated.

Hahahahahaha

Spoiler:

...

I must say, I rather liked that myself.

We should have tee shirts made with that slogan, perhaps illustrated with an exploded view of an SKCM complicated [blue] Alps switch from the DT wiki. The proceeds could go toward funding Alps resurrection projects. (Now I'm actually being serious).

Would support that!

[Menuhin]

How the cool kids respond to the question, "What's your Alps status?"

It's complicated.

Hahahahahaha

Spoiler:

...

I must say, I rather liked that myself.

We should have tee shirts made with that slogan, perhaps illustrated with an exploded view of an SKCM complicated [blue] Alps switch from the DT wiki. The proceeds could go toward funding Alps resurrection projects. (Now I'm actually being serious).

+1
Both the 'exploding' Alps T-shirt and the real complicated Alps resurrection project (perhaps even make Alps PCB-mountable when resurrected)

[ZedTheMan]

+1 to exploding Alps t-shirt

[Hypersphere]

Anyone willing to take on the job of organizing the Alps tee shirt project?

I regret that I cannot, owing to current work commitments.

[Polecat]

How the cool kids respond to the question, "What's your Alps status?"

It's complicated.

I want the old fishing proverb paraphrased on my T-shirt-- "The worst day typing on Alps is better than the best day typing on anything else."

(That's an opinion, and a rather facetious one at that...which really shouldn't have to be explained...or dumbed down with an emoticon so the idiots will know how to react...)

[Muirium]

“Don’t ask me about my keyboard without an appointment. It’s complicated.”

[//gainsborough]

[Muirium]

When it comes to Alps, It’s Complicated.

[seebart]

When it comes to Alps, It’s Complicated.

Very true, before I found my beloved ALPS KB's I bought a lot of garbage.

[Muirium]

Speaking of which, I still have that sleek Alps equipped NeXT waiting for you!

[seebart]

Speaking of which, I still have that sleek Alps equipped NeXT waiting for you!

[Hypersphere]

Perhaps we could upgrade the tee shirt to wearable tech, so that the slogan could be easily changed or rotated among several.

[seebart]

Perhaps we could upgrade the tee shirt to wearable tech, so that the slogan could be easily changed or rotated among several.

I'd love a tee shirt! Sign me up!

[Polecat]

Perhaps we could upgrade the tee shirt to wearable tech, so that the slogan could be easily changed or rotated among several.

Nice, but we'll need to agree on a default slogan that it reverts to when the programming chip fails.

[Menuhin]

Perhaps we could upgrade the tee shirt to wearable tech, so that the slogan could be easily changed or rotated among several.

Nice, but we'll need to agree on a default slogan that it reverts to when the programming chip fails.

A good old normal machine washable and under the sun dry-able and wet T-shirt contest usable T-shirt would be good... if actuate-able then even better.
By the way, I hate bamboo Alps switches and the simplified ones - they should go extinct. Please don't contaminate the design of good key feels - bamboo Alps they have to go.

[Hypersphere]

Perhaps we could upgrade the tee shirt to wearable tech, so that the slogan could be easily changed or rotated among several.

Nice, but we'll need to agree on a default slogan that it reverts to when the programming chip fails.

A good old normal machine washable and under the sun dry-able and wet T-shirt contest usable T-shirt would be good... if actuate-able then even better.
By the way, I hate bamboo Alps switches and the simplified ones - they should go extinct. Please don't contaminate the design of good key feels - bamboo Alps they have to go.

What about short switch plates?