deskthority

Necroposting here, with my first post, but I've got some questions about this switch.

How does the sharpness of tactility compare to both conventional Model Ms, and Model Fs?

How variable is the tactile point? I know Alps said in their patent that they could use this to allow wider tolerances on springs.

Hard to compare to Model F or M, it's better to see it as an improved version of the Cherry MX Blue, with a sharper yet smoother tactile feeling at activation. The board I have felt pretty consistent I think, I haven't been able to play with it for a while.

Sounds like a quite interesting switch - a while back, I said that my ideal switch had the weight of a Cherry blue, but the force curve, smoothness, and general behavior of buckling spring.

Of course, that's before I got a Model F... but I'd definitely still like to try this switch.

Edit: Also, how loud is it, relative to Cherry blue, and how would you describe the sound?

Really interesting board, with really interesting switches.

I'll compare the Sega with a Cherry MX Blue board over the weekend and let you know about the sound.

Were you able to compare them?

These Alps have a really nice click. Sophisticated, definite. Nothing like the Blues with its dangling leaves. It's clear and clean but not super loud and no high pitched sounds.

Hmm. This switch sounds very, VERY interesting. I've been tracking down several leads on finding a keyboard using these switches (an ISO layout one actually exists, under the C.Itoh brand), but have been running into dead ends.

Would you be interested in selling yours?

This guy on Geekhack has apparently found yet another model with these switches. ISO/UK layout, "S.M. Keyboard A339B".

Too bad, geekhack is so lame, I can't see the pictures.

It does not show thumbnails if you are not logged in, but you can still click the picture links.

Thanks.. it is the switch!

And now I've gotten my hands on an Alps SM-101, which is essentially an ANSI version of the Teradrive board.

One of the most shoddily built metal spring keyboards I've ever laid my hands on. But, that doesn't really affect the feel...

So, let's get to that. More preload than I'd like, but peak force is quite nice. Feels a bit frictiony, and the tactile point just feels... odd - almost as if I were stretching the spring a bit before it's forced to buckle. (Although, my board may be worn out. The keycaps are worn down to the point that they don't even have their nubs on F and J any more (you can see they were there, but can't really feel them)!)

Noise is quite quiet for what it is. Quieter than MX Blues, and definitely quieter than any IBM or variant BS.

I think I'd class it as better than Cherry MX Blue, mainly because it's a lot smoother, but MX Blue seems to have less friction. And, I'd class it about the same as an IBM Model M (for completely different reasons, though - this seems to have the stiffness about where I want it, but the tactility seems quite a bit lower, whereas a Model M is too stiff, but the tactility is good. Neither has light enough preload, though). Beam spring and Model F 122 are better, though, in my opinion.

I will withhold full judgement, though, until I've either found an AT to PS/2 adapter, or gotten myself to Micro Center to get another. (Damn thing is AT, and I don't have anything left here that actually takes AT...)

Good hunting.

Don't you have a Teradrive board webwit? What's your impression?

If anyone wants the whole teradrive system including keyboard. I know someone who is selling online for 350euro. To rich for my blood though

Icarium: webwit posted his impressions earlier in the thread.

And, I rescind my comments that it's better than MX blue. After having actually plugged the thing in... oh god. It's worse than a rubber dome at speed. It's like the tactility all but goes away, and it just feels rather vague. The tactile event, click, and key transmission all occur at the same time, but the tactile event and click are less apparent the faster you go.

Interesting. Must plug mine in sometime

Very stylish board!

daedalus wrote:But here seems to be the secret sauce of the Alps BS -

Looks very similar to Acer's implementation though.

Acer switches are using a click leaf like Alps, with a hinged piece to hit the membrane, looking at the wiki.

These are buckling spring, with that protrusion (47/50/53) forcing the spring to buckle.

I'd need to see the rest of the diagram.

I have totally missed this. Cool board, looks sick with the sega logo. =)

^_^

Another board to go on the wiki. Preferably not photographed on a bed, though :-P

And the switches too for that matter.

Very nice comparison. Identical except for the color.

Is that a Teradrive board?

Icarium wrote:Is that a Teradrive board?

Yes

You could maybe use this method to produce a new plastic overlay for the LEDs DIY style:
http://blog.kevinthomasson.se/diy/profe ... ont-panels

octabit wrote: You could maybe use this method to produce a new plastic overlay for the LEDs DIY style:
http://kevinthomasson.se/blog/diy/profe ... ont-panels

That's a very nice guide and an awesome find! Thanks

Since the thread is already necro'd:

http://www.google.com/patents/US5012055

A second patent that seems to relate to this keyboard. So far as I know, I've never actually seen the insides of the switch, so there's no proof yet of which patent actually corresponds to the finished product.