Blue Alps
- SneakyRobb
- THINK
- Location: Canada
- Main keyboard: KB-5161A, F122, Dc2014, Typeheaven, Beamspring FXT
- Main mouse: MX518 Legendary
- DT Pro Member: 0242
Hi,
I have just received after almost 6 years of trying and searching, my first SKCM blue alps keyboard.
I actually cannot express my exuberant pleasure at just the fact that I now have an SCKM blue alps keyboard. The typing experience? Ugh...
I have multiple multiple ibm capacitive and some beamspring boards. I spent a massive amount of effort and dollars acquiring them. I literally live 3km away from Don Mills Ontario where a large number of Beamsprings keyboards were made by IBM.
I have built, designed, and researched multiple IBM keyboard designs of model f and model b origin. I have been experimenting with making new beamsprings and the creation of various ibm components. and I honestly think that Model F is the best switch ever. It is literally better than the alps design. It is also literally better than the beamspring. it is the best switch. but.
But I just got my first SKCM blue... Blue alps are so open to humidity, so open to dust, etc. Such a fleeting glimpse. yet. I cannot express why, but it is my favourite switch. It is just the best.
I really have no other point than this. SKCM blue is excellent.
I have just received after almost 6 years of trying and searching, my first SKCM blue alps keyboard.
I actually cannot express my exuberant pleasure at just the fact that I now have an SCKM blue alps keyboard. The typing experience? Ugh...
I have multiple multiple ibm capacitive and some beamspring boards. I spent a massive amount of effort and dollars acquiring them. I literally live 3km away from Don Mills Ontario where a large number of Beamsprings keyboards were made by IBM.
I have built, designed, and researched multiple IBM keyboard designs of model f and model b origin. I have been experimenting with making new beamsprings and the creation of various ibm components. and I honestly think that Model F is the best switch ever. It is literally better than the alps design. It is also literally better than the beamspring. it is the best switch. but.
But I just got my first SKCM blue... Blue alps are so open to humidity, so open to dust, etc. Such a fleeting glimpse. yet. I cannot express why, but it is my favourite switch. It is just the best.
I really have no other point than this. SKCM blue is excellent.
- //gainsborough
- ALPSの日常
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: some kind of alps keyboard
- Favorite switch: clk: SKCM blue, lin: SKCL cream, tac: SKCM cream
- DT Pro Member: 0188
Nice man! Congrats! What board did you get?
- clickityClackity
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: HHKB JIS / Clueboard
- Main mouse: What's a mouse?
- Favorite switch: Zealiostotles
- DT Pro Member: -
Congrats!! Love me some Blue Alps.
- ZedTheMan
- Location: Central US
- Main keyboard: IModel F77/IBM 3101/Omnikey 102/96Kee
- Main mouse: Logitech G430/Logitech M570/Kensington Expert
- Favorite switch: Beamsprings. Alps SKCM Blue, Capacitive Buckling S
- DT Pro Member: 0219
Congratulations!
Blue alps are an excellent switch when in good shape.
Blue alps are an excellent switch when in good shape.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
That is a very nice description xD .
I agree completely! Even compared to switches that are as close as possible to objectively better, SKCM blue just have an indescribable spark of magic that nothing else has
.
I agree completely! Even compared to switches that are as close as possible to objectively better, SKCM blue just have an indescribable spark of magic that nothing else has

- Menuhin
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: HHKB PD-KB400BN lubed, has Hasu Bt Controller
- Main mouse: How to make scroll ring of Expert Mouse smoother?
- Favorite switch: Gateron ink lubed
- DT Pro Member: -
Searching for 6 years? You have the patience of a hunter, and deserve a rare blue Alps board.
Seeing all the the manufacturers discontinuing their best switches or themselves closing down,
Please at least a joint-effort project possible has to be possible to revive these particularly delicious clicking-tactile mechanism whether in an the identical copycat form or with some twists (e.g. mx keycap compatible).
I know, it's all about money and time, and passion, and someone with enough motivation to take the lead.
(Disclaimer: I'm a straight linear guy, typing now on Topre rubber-dome)
Seeing all the the manufacturers discontinuing their best switches or themselves closing down,
Please at least a joint-effort project possible has to be possible to revive these particularly delicious clicking-tactile mechanism whether in an the identical copycat form or with some twists (e.g. mx keycap compatible).
I know, it's all about money and time, and passion, and someone with enough motivation to take the lead.
(Disclaimer: I'm a straight linear guy, typing now on Topre rubber-dome)
- ppCircle
- Location: Polska
- Main keyboard: Focus Fk-2002 HS Alps Blue / IBM 5140 Alps Brown
- Main mouse: Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Alps Blue / Alps Amber / Alps Brown / Alps N Green
- Contact:
Oh gosh, 6 years of waiting to try the most balanced/(best) switch.
Finding first blues took me ~6 months.
What board is that?
Finding first blues took me ~6 months.
What board is that?
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
It took me 2 years, and that was 6-7 years ago. About 3 years ago it seemed that they got somewhat more available for a while.
- PlacaFromHell
- Location: Argentina
- Main keyboard: IBM 3101
- Main mouse: Optical piece of shit
- Favorite switch: Beamspring
- DT Pro Member: -
It took me more than a beamspring. I don't even know if the keyboard I will get the next week is blue Alps or very early white Alps. Let's hope the best.
- SneakyRobb
- THINK
- Location: Canada
- Main keyboard: KB-5161A, F122, Dc2014, Typeheaven, Beamspring FXT
- Main mouse: MX518 Legendary
- DT Pro Member: 0242
Hi,
Thanks,
I got a very light use leading edge DC-2014 board. it feels very much like home, as the first mechanical keyboard I got was a capacitive Fxt.
Early on, I kept putting off a further exploration of alps. I knew I liked them, but I knew I must complete my IBM exploration. I could see that when I was buying $400 beamsprings in 2014/2015 that the price would increase, yet I just.. didn't get those blue alps then. That was a mistake. It is what it is.
Blue alps occupy this sort of underdog position. The model F in my opinion is king. A switch versus beamspring that is shorter, arguably just as clicky or 90-95% as much, more durable, more reliable, doesn't care about dust and less expensive. What is not to like?
Versus blue alps, the same conclusion must be drawn. but yet, I like that tenacity. There is some magic in them.
- SneakyRobb
- THINK
- Location: Canada
- Main keyboard: KB-5161A, F122, Dc2014, Typeheaven, Beamspring FXT
- Main mouse: MX518 Legendary
- DT Pro Member: 0242
Hi, thanks. It is true though. The SKCM blue just somehow demands your affection. I have noticed when eating figs that they get their tastiest just before the they go bad. I would them compare SKCM blue to the tastiest of fruit. They may trail F and Beam some of the time, but the moments when they are ahead? They are magic.Chyros wrote: 25 May 2019, 11:26 That is a very nice description xD .
I agree completely! Even compared to switches that are as close as possible to objectively better, SKCM blue just have an indescribable spark of magic that nothing else has.
-
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Lately an Ortek 142 though I swap out boards
- Main mouse: logitech
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0239
- Contact:
I'm up to four blue alps boards, luckily all in very good condition. It's like a disease, I want more 
Two gold badge Omni keys, a Computerland branded board, and an Acer KB 101A. I still love buckling springs, but.....YUM!

Two gold badge Omni keys, a Computerland branded board, and an Acer KB 101A. I still love buckling springs, but.....YUM!
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- Location: Singapore
- Main keyboard: Realforce R2
- Main mouse: G502 Hero
- Favorite switch: 55g Topre
- DT Pro Member: No
kiss anime wut?Sidney955 wrote: 05 Jun 2019, 08:06 Seeing all the the manufacturers discontinuing their best switches or themselves closing down, <url> Please at least a joint-effort project possible has to be possible to revive these particularly delicious clicking-tactile mechanism whether in an the identical copycat form or with some twists (e.g. mx keycap compatible).
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
Look at when Sidney955's account was made.Primuds wrote: 05 Jun 2019, 10:40kiss anime wut?Sidney955 wrote: 05 Jun 2019, 08:06 Seeing all the the manufacturers discontinuing their best switches or themselves closing down<url> Please at least a joint-effort project possible has to be possible to revive these particularly delicious clicking-tactile mechanism whether in an the identical copycat form or with some twists (e.g. mx keycap compatible).