Which mechanical keyboard can replace my 14 year old Tulip ATK

[ATK]

Hi all,

Still love my Tulip ATK 02.01.01 http://deskthority.net/wiki/Tulip_SMK_s ... K_02.01.01
It's 14 years old and still rocks, but I'm looking for something new. To be honest, I haven't got a clue what kind of keyboard can replace the Tulip (been out of the game for 14 years ).

Have been checking a mechanical Ducky keyboard with blue cherries, but it just didn't feel the same. Has anyone got an idea?

Thanks!

ATK

[SL89]

well looking at that piece of fine hardware, I'd say you might to look at something with MX Green switches as opposed to blues (which are rather underwhelming)

[Muirium]

MX gets all the coverage, but it's actually pretty crap. MX green included: it's just MX blue with a heavier spring. Ducky's cool. But those switches are the weakest link. Gateron clones are a better option now.

But what I'd suggest a blue Alps board, or something with Montereys if you want a nice click. Or to go up to IBM buckling spring, if you can handle it! Not exactly "new" but the new in box ones are every bit as much of a treat!

[andrewjoy]

Or possibly alps ? MX blues are kind of depressing, at least the more modern ones.

A northgate may fit the bill. http://deskthority.net/wiki/Northgate_OmniKey_101

Northgate Bob has some 101s http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/

[Muirium]

Oof, that website! Bob really needs a redesign. This isn't 1996!

[andrewjoy]

Still better than massdrop!

Tempted to re-design it for him and just email him the HTML files!

[Chyros]

I agree completely with Mu. If you've been using Montereys for 14 years straight you'll very likely be extremely disappointed by anything Cherry has to offer.

Like him, I'd recommend finding either another Monterey board (chicony 5191, 5981), blue Alps board (various) or model F.

[ATK]

Wow, thanks for all the replies!

@Muirium, do they still make new keyboards with blue Alps?
Thing is, it has to be a new keyboard (though old black one will also work). Company I work at wants to see my yellow colored Tulip gone.

Found this Reddit about Matias clicky switches.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyb ... ches_what/

"The closest modern equivalent to complicated blue Alps would be the Matias clicky switches."

ATK

[terrycherry]

Glad to see you have the rare brown of SMK inverse cross mount! You should share it with pulling off all keycaps.(hope to see it has more colors in it)
My used Datadesk MAC-101 has white variant only and the ABS keycap not too yellow. The keycaps condition were better than rzw's brand new one.
I lost three function keycaps too. Will take some spare Alps or NMB Hi-tek keycap to replace them.
If you want to buy the brand new Alps keyboard. I could see the brand new keyboard with KPT switch keyboard(from China or Taiwan) or Tai-Hao APC series keyboard(from Thailand or Taiwan)

[seebart]

...do they still make new keyboards with blue Alps?

Unfortunately not. With a little luck and patience you should be able to find one in decent condition, just don't be too picky.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_Electric

[Muirium]

As I said: "new in box" is as good as it gets with these switches. Most of the companies, including Alps, went under in the 90s/2000s or just left the market. Keyboards were going cheap, and the money was gone. Cherry won by standing still. Not exactly inspiring but that's keyboards!

Clicky Matias are pretty shit. I wouldn't bother with them either. And the boards they come in are even more of a disappointment. For a lengthy discussion about Matias switches, check this thread:

http://deskthority.net/review-f45/kbp-v ... t9502.html

Notably, Hypersphere changed his mind about those switches as time went on! Czarek swears by them, however. I can't agree with his findings re: my beloved Model F, though. I've had great luck with them, including the 1985 Kishsaver I'm on just now.

Anyway, if you absolutely have to purchase a brand new keyboard from a company still in business, try Unicomp:

http://www.pckeyboard.com

They still make IBM's legendary Model Ms. Just not quite as well as IBM did…

[seebart]

Here you go:

http://deskthority.net/for-sale-f55/hhk ... 12054.html

It's JIS though.

[Muirium]

Pricey for a yellowed board. And the Japanese version of what is already an awkward layout. But, uh, yeah it's *a* Monterey board. Not the one I'd suggest though. Unless you want compact at all costs.

[bhtooefr]

Wait, where was it determined that the Clicks are shit?

The Quiet Clicks, I'll agree with that. But the regular Clicks, I like them. No, they're not as smooth as Alps SKCM, but they're still good. And, a board with Matias switches can be retrofitted with SKCL or SKCM with some soldering.

Now, the fact that they couldn't sell me a replacement cable for my Tactile Pro 4, that's another story... And, their caps are meh, and the case industrial design is awful. But the switches are good.

[terrycherry]

Japanese layout is suitable for me but it's from US! Hope it can find a nice home.

[Muirium]

If only. Cayden's in Canada. Shipping out from there is a bit of a ripoff, like here in dimwitted Britain.

Now, the fact that they couldn't sell me a replacement cable for my Tactile Pro 4, that's another story... And, their caps are meh, and the case industrial design is awful. But the switches are good.

Heh, high praise indeed! Okay, so *I* think clicky Matias switches are pretty shit. Not as bad as MX blue and green, but pretty piss poor in their own right. Then you factor in all the strings attached, and you've got a recommendation that has a nasty whiff about it that doesn't go away!

So much better off with a good classic Alps board. The "complicated" switches are way ahead of the "simplified" clones that Matias makes. And the boards are very often much prettier and have way nicer caps too. And that's before we mention the magic word: price.

There's nothing rare about good vintage Alps boards. Not even NIB! They're not nearly as hard to come by as some of the stuff I've got. My unicorn Kishy here most of all!

[bhtooefr]

TBH, there's probably a V80 MTS in my future.

After I get done buying an Ellipse F62, and a new desktop build, and...

[guk]

There's a great deal (48€ shipped) for an IBM Model M 1390131 if you're interested in that.

[Muirium]

A regular fullsize Model M is definitely a top tip! If you like that, you'll love Model F. If you don't, go Alps.

After I get done buying an Ellipse F62, and a new desktop build, and...

I'm with you there. New phone, new camera, kitchen sink, unicorn stables…

[chzel]

Nah, I like my unicorns running free! Admittedly the winter over here is milder..

[Chyros]

They made you change your board because it looks too old? Oo I always get admiring looks from my co-workers for my old boards!

Maybe I should bring in the Hi-Tek someday and see what they think about that one .

Seriously though, if you want proper switches you might have to dive into the oldies. So it's either looks or feels, sadly.

[Halvar]

Don't take anything in this thread too serious. Switches are first and foremost a matter of personal taste which might even change over time.

You might be very happy with MX switches or a Unicomp Model M or a Novatouch. No need to start the journey with Unobtainium.

[ATK]

They made you change your board because it looks too old? Oo I always get admiring looks from my co-workers for my old boards!

Maybe I should bring in the Hi-Tek someday and see what they think about that one .

Seriously though, if you want proper switches you might have to dive into the oldies. So it's either looks or feels, sadly.

Yeah, I totally agree. They just renewed the whole place and everything looks shiny new now, so my board kinda sticks out....

The cool thing about the Tulip, besides the lovely keys, is the din connector. I've got a din to ps2 connector hooked to a ps2 to usb connector so I can use it on my Macbook. Looks really cool, a 14 year old board hooked to a 2015 model Macbook

But still, buying a new board seems like an impossible task. As Halvar says, of course it's personal taste, but there are so many models out there... and talk about price. You would think they're made out of gold these days....

[Muirium]

Exactly. Don't waste €$100 or more on a modern board. They're horribly overpriced.

I'm not suggesting Unobtainium by the way. Far from it. There's plenty of great old boards out there, and even new in box (where they'll look fresh and sparkly) great ones cost way less than so much modern shite.

Real Unobtainium is that Kishsaver of mine I'm on about. Converted to native USB, how about a 34 year old keyboard on your MacBook, with no adapters? I use mine with Macs exclusively. Mostly on my Mac Pro desktop but occasionally on my lap with the Retina 15".

Anyway, you need to state your own preferences. Full size or tenkeyless? Clicky or tactile? Case colour? That stuff points you toward different paths.

[Hypersphere]

I still like my V60 with Matias-Click switches. Really not bad at all for something off the shelf. The only improvement I've made is to put some dye-sub PBT caps on it from an IBM 5140. In the world of Alps and Alps clones there are better switches, but you have to find a vintage board or desolder and install the switches in a custom board. I do have an Alps custom waiting for me to do the work, but for something that is available right now, I like the V60-MTS-C.

However, my daily driver at home and work for the past several months has been my HHKB Pro 2 boards with my silencing rings installed. Runners up are my silenced RF87U boards.

As for vintage boards, for me the ones to beat are the IBM capacitive buckling springs (Model F). Best switches ever (except perhaps for beam springs -- somewhat in Unobtainium territory).

[Halvar]

From how I understood this, there is mainly one reason for ATK to replace his Tulip, and that is the fact that his company wants him to use a new keyboard.

Is a beige 80s or 90s design keyboard even acceptable? Also, maybe they're even willing to buy it?

Does noise play a role? Do you want a full standard design, or would you prefer something smaller? Or bigger?

[Chyros]

Looks really cool, a 14 year old board hooked to a 2015 model Macbook

In can't even imagine how much they'd object to my stuff, I have very few keyboards that are as young as 14 years old xD .

Back home, all my friends used to make remarks how much my old beige (rubber dome ) Sony keyboard stuck out compared to my (then quite new) shiny black monitor and sleek black PC tower and black speakers. If it hadn't been for those remarks, I might not have sought another old keyboard out when the Sony died, and I might never have gotten into mechanicals in the first place!

The truth is, a nice old keyboard can be really stylish even if it IS ancient and doesn't fit in with the rest of your equipment. The people in your company are tasteless heretics!

[seebart]

Their probably just following their own damn internal company rules. As you know most people have no clue Chyros. I recently had guests at my place and one of them saw my SSK on my desk and asked me why on earth I would use such a bulky old keyboard. They looked at it like some alien on the desk, not believing it would even work. The conversation did not even proceed beyond the mechanical vs. rubberdome stage. We both gave up. I did not show them my 1970's keyboards.

[keycap]

If you've been using Montereys for 14 years straight you'll very likely be extremely disappointed by anything Cherry has to offer.

Extremely accurate. I have 2 Cherry boards and have tried all of the Cherry MX switches, but I can easily say that I would prefer a decent rubber dome board over what Cherry has to offer. Their clicky switches are a joke in physical form, their linear switches are more scratchy than pencil-on-sandpaper, and the tactile switches are just as scratchy as the linears, but with an unclean and disappointing tactile bump. They sound plasticy, rattly and annoying, even when lubed. Cherry MX Clears felt okay, but they're still too expensive, given their somewhat boring keyfeel. Not to mention that lubing/stem-changing/cleaning is complete hell unless you have a PCB-mounted Cherry board.

Complicated Alps, when in good condition, are light-years ahead in terms of quality... set aside Bamboo Black Alps. Alps are very temperamental; you can have a White Alps keyboard that feels like shit and another one that feels amazing. It all depends on the condition they're in. I guess that's one of the good things about Cherry switches — they'll feel consistent even if they're somewhat dirty.

[Wilkie]

So the only problem with the Tulip is that it's gone yellow? Perhaps you could try retr0bright to whiten it and keep the board?