(Custom) Apple IIc keyboard review (Alps SKCM Amber & Apple hairpin spring)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Skip to 10:39 and 11:03 for typing demonstrations.
Finally, my custom Apple IIc keyboard with Amber Alps is on the menu for this week's review! Also, I get to show you a full Apple IIc computer! This is a bit of a special episode, hope you enjoy it! :)
My keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardowns: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
My TOP X videos: bit.ly/2FmpZfd
My XL typing demos: bit.ly/2OoAW3w
My tutorials and featurettes: bit.ly/2OrkLUh
My unboxing videos: bit.ly/2TSrr0m
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22
The practice sentence was: "Hello my name is Thomas and I'm typing on an Apple IIIc keyboard right now. I'm typing the same sentence for both keyboards, so I should really type something ambivalent here." 
Наука
An modern, more durable, overall improved version of the Alps that doesn't have dirt/dust issues from the past would be a glorious day to celebrate for all keeb enthusiasts everywhere.
As far as I can tell (at least in the US Amazon), the closest available option is something like the "i-rocks K76M". It has a low weighting but around 50g ish tactile bump. It also uses a rather strange way to increase its durability via just having a shitload more metal contacts.
See, I WOULDN'T want them to improve it, I'm sure it'd fuck up the feel or sound somehow. Just exact copies of SKCMAG please.
with mx compatible stems
@Dangerous Extremist they only deteriorate after 20+ years and because a lot of the old keyboards got stored in people's basements and attics when the computers got old, but before they were vintage. Alps don't deteriorate while used normally. We had a bunch of AEKs that got 10 years of non stop usage in our uni computer labs, then got stored in cupboards, they are perfectly fine. So, unless you trash them, they are fine. The other point is, even non mint ones are better than a typical cherry.
@Ziv Zulander Where from? :o
That razor black widow sounds like a spray paint can
I liked my 2014 chroma but it died so im gonna put some chonky NovelKeys
x Kaihl Pro Heavy Plums.
@soople. I love the way that sounded.
When you want a church seat as a keyboard
Pew pew, shots fired ;p .
"When you want a heavenly" typing experience
holy christ the church jokes are unheavenly
@@plate4416 I know right? They're the worst jokes I've ever come a Cross.
That is the best sounding keyboard in the world. It needs a small brass plaque in the top left corner. Very impressive, very cool project.
i actually love the oblique font
YES, this review is finally here! You did a good job with that teaser a few weeks ago!
Man, it almost sounds like an old electric typewriter when you compare it to other keyboards. NICEEEEEEE
7:21
Chyros that's called a "half-ass enter".
It looks like a whistle, and we all know what whistles look like...
Hey, I love that font. It's so retro-cool. Way better than all the "gamer-y" fonts on mainstream mechanical keyboards anyway
Picked up a very clean working IIc with amber Alps and an AppleColor composite monitor for $35 not too long ago. One of my best craigslist scores ever. I love this keyboard (and the computer too).
Nice! I managed a similar deal - but with the monochrome monitor and the older keyboard. Still love the machine, though!
A few months ago I got enough Ambers to deck out an Acer 6011, which has a decently roomy case, and the results are delicious.
Nice! Is it a G case model?
Sure is ^_^
I'm trying to get enough skcm blues to one day replace all the switches in my razer blackwidow.
If there are no good Alps clones when I decide to replace all the switches, it'll either be old stock skcm blues, box whites or Jades, or maybe I'll try box royal or a Zealios, or glorious panda...
God please give us a proper SKCM clone in the mid to near future.
Hate to break it to you but alps switches use a different pin out compared to cherry switches so unless you go crazy with hand wiring (at which point you might as well go full custom) it won’t work.
I'm usually way more into the base quiet sound of tactile or linear switches. but I gotta admit, this might be my favorite clickly keyboard I've heard. It just sounds so good, I want one badly.
Good luck too. I've been trying to obtain a decent Amber IIc for years with no luck. It's a great find when you can get one.
Oh my goodness, that wooden keyboard case is BEAUTIFUL!!!
😍🩷🩷🩷
Dude that sound comparison between razer and your custom keyboard sounds like an emo kid screeching trying to argue with godly voice of yours.
It isn't Saturday without your videos
That wooden case sounds amazing, especially in combination with the amber alps. In my opinion the case is really understated as far as global sound of the keyboard. As an example I have an original dolch 64 keyboard that despite having the same switches as the razer it sounds a lot different. What's incredible is that the F row of my dolch sounds really similar to your leading edge, probably a combination of the dolch not having a plate mount but a good 5 cm of empty space above that acts as an acustic chamber. Too bad the rest of the keys don't have the same sound... (but still not as bad as your razer!)
The 40/80 column and QWERTY/Dvorak switches were designed to be pressed with the tip of a ballpoint pen to prevent kids in schools from accidentally or deliberately messing around with them, thus the little round indentation in the bottom of them.
Ah, that makes sense!
@@Chyrosran22 In fact, if you press them down all the way, they lock into a lower position, like a classic caps lock key. This is because 40 column mode was for when you had a //c hooked up to a TV that couldn't handle 80 column text (so you would only change that mode when you changed your physical display device), and DVORAK keyboard mode was for when you wanted to change the key arrangement, which (to properly complete) meant popping the keycaps off and re-arranging them, so something people would do rarely after you bought the computer, and you wouldn't want to accidentally press the keyboard key and change your layout while typing.
Those comparisons... WOW. Nice job Thomas! Talk about bringing out something's fullest potential. (pun intended)
Please make an hour long asmr of that wooden custom keyboard, sounds fantastic.
Finally, after spamming f5 for an hour it works! a new video!
Goddamn it, now I miss my IIc...ugh, why did I sell it
rip you...
did it have ambers?
I just came across one of these for sale at an expo. I didn't buy it because it was way overpriced and I already have way too many keyboards... but those switches were so nice, they almost made me throw caution to the wind and do it anyway. Definitely the nicest feeling short travel switches I've personally experienced.
That does sound great! Bassy and satisfying and no gunky, grindy sounds. Great job, Thomas!
That Razer tho? Ugh. Sounded like dinky hail against a car windshield.
those alps are godly...
I also have both types of boards. The apple switch can be customized if you remove the hairpin and massage them to change the click and tactility. When completely removed they are a nice cushioned linear. I actually think the design is somewhat ingenious in that it can be maintained without opening and that the spring is also the switch mechanism and without the hairspring has little friction. Also the color in the cap is a beautiful ivory beige. I also thought the Alps lock switches in the apple made board is a work or art. These and the keys deserve a better life in retirement if only I could make an adapter for them to sit atop a switch of my choosing.
Very nice! I just got a hold of two Apple IIc's with Amber Alps myself and I'm definitely loving them even more than the White Alps I've been using for a while. Still need to find a Blue Alps keyboard to compare them too though.
Boy what a huge difference @ 8:35
Glad to see this finally pushed through. Meanwhile, I do wonder what went wrong with the hairpin switch. The internal spring mechanism seems fairly similar to plate spring switches, while the hairpin mechanism works on technically the same principle as a clickbar, so the design itself shouldn't be inherently bad, but likely just badly implemented. Probably Apple learning that the variables that go into designing a switch goes beyond just a solid engineering concept.
blame the gay shield
We need like an hour long ASMR typing video of your custom IIC keyboard!
I did record a TDXL of it, will release at some point in the future :) .
@@Chyrosran22 YESSSSS! Thank you, you are seriously the best! ❤️
God. Damn. That's a good sounding keyboard. Project A definitely gets an 'A' :-) Noice
I just watched that bizarre Steve Jobs biopic with Fassbender. This is well timed.
I bought a IIc on eBay a year ago and didn’t know that some come with the hairpin switches. You can imagine the disappointment when it arrived and I did my first typing tests. Sold it to the another person on eBay for slightly more money. Of course I did not tell the bidders about its dark secret in the description.
don't spill water on it. It's veneered and stained so it'll have some resistance to moisture, but it's still MDF and will turn into pulp if it gets wet.
@10:55 The keys sound great with the thockiness, but I resent the spacebar a little bit though
All kinds of awesome.
Now, the question is does that custom 60% make a loud ass THUD when you drop it from 2 CM above your desk?
Also I too like Apple's oblique font. It's a quirk of their vintage boards and after owning an AEK with SKCM Oranges, I've kinda come to love it. So much so that another board I own has keycaps on it in Cherry profile with almost the same font.
Typing demo xl of the custom apple iic now
Haha the hairpin keyboard is actually difficult to listen to after the Alps. Keys sound all gummed up.
Taking notes 📝
7:25 for some Barry's "what is it?"
We’re going to be seeing an MS DOS computer! The question is: which one?
Two people actually managed to narrow it down to the exact make and model based on that trailer. I was very impressed xD .
Compaq Portable I/II
Chyrosran22 definitely the Compaq Portable ][.
This isn't a review, you're just bragging!
Some replacement Apple IIC+ got Salmon Switch from what i have seen on yahoo auction japan.
That's not a keyboard - it's a musical instrument!
please do an asmr with this keyboard its glorious
You really should've removed the rubbery protection mat from the Apple made keyboard, it's most likely gone bad, and make those switches feel a lot worse than they need to. I did with mine, and after that its pretty ok.
Can’t remember if this is the keyboard of an Apple that I played Karateka with. With 5.25” floppy!!
Aww hell yeah
Typing demo XL of the Amber board I beg of you
Absolutely ;)
Chyrosran22 And now I thank thee XD
Noice
Hope you'll do BOX Crystal review 😏
Finally
No way, Thomas! I was still uncertain at first, but after you mentioned who made the oak case for your keyboard..
Is it true that you're Dutch? I saw it on your Twitter at first.. You're getting amazing keyboards but still live in the same country as mine! Even though i've yet to figure out where to look for all this stuff, I'm nearly speechless!
Yes, I'm Dutch :) .
I’m in love
keyboard
nice
I’d have made it like a guitar. Rosewood back and sides, spruce top. And a hole in the bottom so the sound could bounce off the desk and up at you
Thocky to the exTREME!!!
so Thomas, are you gonna clean the hairpin keyboard or smth?
No fucking way is that worth my time xD .
@@Chyrosran22 big oof for you, the contamination shield really make switches gay af
Hmmm... Maybe I should buy that NOS Model F XT module on eBay...
NICE!
I'm disappointed you didn't opt for Applewood...
Hi Chyrosran22,
I have - for some reason - begun enjoying watching keyboard reviews and I'm currently looking for a super quite office keyboard for programming use.
Would you recommend any ? I've kept an eye on Fujitsu KB SCR2 (Nordic), it has a smartcard reader sadly, but darn - so nice and quite to type on.
I demand TDXL for both keyboards.
Damn that sounds nice and thocky.
Thicc Thocks.
THOCC.
6:21 So it's got three special switches up at the top left: RESET, a 40/80-column toggle switch, and, uh, ... a KEYBOARD switch? What on earth? When would you not use a keyboard as a keyboard?
It switched the keyboard between QWERTY and Dvorak modes.
Chris Carlson That would be amazing, if true.
Hi Thomas, is there any chance to share the blueprint of the wooden keyboard case? Thanks a lot.
noice, ...i'm procrastinating on building mine heh
Therapist: Non standard return key is not real it can't harm you
Non standard return key: 9:44
Kailh box jades switches ???
I think the Apple keyboard is the better sounding :P Now, if you don't mind, I see a wooden keyboard flying at head height.
apple keyboard font appreciation gang shall not forgive this
You made a subwoofer keyboard
Wow that @7:18 must be the worst Enter key ever created :P
Flat or like 3 degree kryboard cases rocks XD i am not sure why people like tilted keyboards
are hairpins WORSE than MYs???
I went to a computer museum this summer, they have to switch out the demo Apple IIc because non of the keys go down anymore. Show you how god-awful the hairpin switches are.
Oh wow xD .
Alps SKCM Amber: amazing feel and enjoyably clicky.
Every attempt at a keyboard from Apple: shit.
Their siscsor switches are okay. Great on a laptop, right crap for a desktop.
That looks like really poor wood work. If it is just veneer why not one large veneer on top with no seams?
8.75U space bar???!
I happen to have the same Apple IIc, can you let me know where I can get the converter? Thanks!
I got it from Tindie ages ago.
Christ. Sell me that board!
man, that's a fuckin bassy board. almost makes me want to take my ported keyboard idea seriously
Anyone know of a switch similar to those ambers that are mx style?
I kinda took a step back and realised that these keyboards look like they’re missing a tooth.
Like a galloping horse
You know that you sound like the Postal Dude? You have to do teh Voice Over!
I dunno man, they hired John St. John himself for the new one xD . How could I possibly compete with that?
@@Chyrosran22 I can not see where the problem lies ^^. No for real, i know that. But every time i see your Videos i have that flashback. Maybe in a Mod form?
Anyways. I like your work.
You could of at least compared it to box clicky switches
Pretty sure I already compared BOX clickies to Alps somewhere, much as I love clickbar switches, they don't stand a chance in this case.
Ok nice
TDXL FOR PROJECT A, NOWWWWWW
It's been noted on the list! 8)
6:20 WHAT
乇乂ㄒ尺卂 ㄒ卄ㄖ匚匚
Love it! Cleaning my Amber Alps while watching this! 😅
Reviewing amazing switch and terrible switch in the same video.......
your enter keys are pretty pathetic in the first place haha
Flagged for sound porn...
9:06 What was that? American Sign Language version of tourettes? :p
Lucid Moses probably making sure the audio on the camera or external recorder was on and levels were ok.
And in this case, left in to give us an idea of absolute volume, room acoustics, etc.
@@matthewkriebel7342 Yes, I assumed it was his clapper board and just messed up the timings. Still worth a chuckle I figured.
Jealous!
Mdf though, y
omg
You'll be lucky if you don't get murdered over this, mate! Have you thought about upping security on your apartment? ;-)
XD
I'm actually first, holy fuck
You pay somebody to make that box. Wow
I have no experience with woodwork, and even the company who did it said it turned out to be a lot trickier than they expected, so I'm glad I did xD .
@@Chyrosran22 you should tinker around with Autodesk Inventor and have a look at some online 3d print outlets. You could print a super little case in opaque resin or similar material, with a bit of community support, something I didn't offer in my previous comment. Apologies for the asshollyness of my comment. Keep up the good work. Making shit is hard...