deskthority

I am considering running a USA group buy for Xiang Ming KSB switches. This will be my first group buy ever so I may make some mistakes.

Anyway, the switches are clicky and linear (KSB-C and KSB-LE) "The clicky switches are noted for being significantly stiffer than Alps and Fuhua switches, with strong tactility."

wiki/Xiang_Min_KSB_series

I am just putting this out there to see how many would be interested in such a group buy, reply if interested.

what's the appeal of these ?

Myoth wrote: what's the appeal of these ?

Good in-production Alps clone

abrahamstechnology wrote:

Myoth wrote: what's the appeal of these ?

Good in-production Alps clone

This might be interesting, especially the "Clicky" version. Does anyone know how long these switches will last?

Elrick wrote:

abrahamstechnology wrote:

Myoth wrote: what's the appeal of these ?

Good in-production Alps clone

This might be interesting, especially the "Clicky" version. Does anyone know how long these switches will last?

Their site says 5 million, but I don't know if that's accurate, I think they tested it under 12v. I'd say with normal keyboard usage around 20 million you get with SKBM-like switches. They are gold plated and look similar to Tai-Hao's contacts.

Xiang Ming hasn't responded yet, so I contacted Hua-Jie.

"Significantly stiffer" than white Alps sounds a little scary to me.

Techno Trousers wrote: "Significantly stiffer" than white Alps sounds a little scary to me.

REAL men are never scared, they just tackle any switch regardless.

This switch is probably used by Arnold Schwarzenegger on his non-acting days. So if the Terminator can use them, any brave individual could do the same.

abrahamstechnology wrote:

Myoth wrote: what's the appeal of these ?

Good in-production Alps clone

good? in regards to what?

I mean doesn't matias already sortof fill this hole? even their stuff is very underwhelming. Simplified alps clones can't possibly be in high demand.

mike52787 wrote:

abrahamstechnology wrote:

Myoth wrote: what's the appeal of these ?

Good in-production Alps clone

good? in regards to what?

I mean doesn't matias already sortof fill this hole? even their stuff is very underwhelming. Simplified alps clones can't possibly be in high demand.

Mainly because other than Matias and to a lesser extent, Tai-Hao, they are extremely hard to get. The last time XMs were in the mainstream was some old Ducky board from 2010, before the mechanical renaissance of recent years. In fact, I can't seem to get in contact with Xiang Min at all, I may have to make this a Hua-Jie only group buy (I DID get in contact with them)

Has anyone tried the switches Datacomp still lists on their site? Probably disappointing like most modern clones, but I've never heard a firsthand report on these. They show three versions of "ALPS Type" switches--red/linear, blue/tactile, and brown/silent tactile. Going by the photos these have wide tabs like genuine Alps, rather than being four tab clones.

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=246

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=245

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=244

Polecat wrote: Has anyone tried the switches Datacomp still lists on their site? Probably disappointing like most modern clones, but I've never heard a firsthand report on these. They show three versions of "ALPS Type" switches--red/linear, blue/tactile, and brown/silent tactile. Going by the photos these have wide tabs like genuine Alps, rather than being four tab clones.

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=246

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=245

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=244

That might be a better bet, since Xiang Min isn't responding at all. However they don't seem to have a clicky version.

I'm guessing that blue/tactile might be clicky, as opposed to brown/silent tactile.

abrahamstechnology wrote:

Polecat wrote: Has anyone tried the switches Datacomp still lists on their site? Probably disappointing like most modern clones, but I've never heard a firsthand report on these. They show three versions of "ALPS Type" switches--red/linear, blue/tactile, and brown/silent tactile. Going by the photos these have wide tabs like genuine Alps, rather than being four tab clones.

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=246

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=245

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=244

That might be a better bet, since Xiang Min isn't responding at all. However they don't seem to have a clicky version.

Polecat wrote: I'm guessing that blue/tactile might be clicky, as opposed to brown/silent tactile.

abrahamstechnology wrote:

Polecat wrote: Has anyone tried the switches Datacomp still lists on their site? Probably disappointing like most modern clones, but I've never heard a firsthand report on these. They show three versions of "ALPS Type" switches--red/linear, blue/tactile, and brown/silent tactile. Going by the photos these have wide tabs like genuine Alps, rather than being four tab clones.

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=246

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=245

http://www.datacomp.com.tw/ShowProducts.asp?id=244

That might be a better bet, since Xiang Min isn't responding at all. However they don't seem to have a clicky version.

Most likely. I'll shoot them an e-mail.

Here's the past discussion on the Datacomp switches. Seems strange that nobody has actual examples in hand:

keyboards-f2/new-datacomp-alps-t17278.h ... er#p384343

Polecat wrote: Here's the past discussion on the Datacomp switches. Seems strange that nobody has actual examples in hand:

keyboards-f2/new-datacomp-alps-t17278.h ... er#p384343

Hopefully that'll change. If they get back to me I'll buy a bunch and resell them here.