What next?

[kelvinhall05]

I really want to get a new keyboard, but I am not sure what I should try and get next. Obviously I would love to get some blue Alps or basically any NOS Alps, but realistically speaking, I am not sure what I want. I've tried FLS3 (hated them...very disappointing, maybe I just need to try NOS ones), a LOT of white Alps, linearized black Alps, some green Alps but they weren't in very good shape, a Model M, and Fujitsu Peerless. I have a BTC DWS coming in the mail and am in the process of getting a salmon Alps M0116.

My question is, what should I (realistically) try and buy next? I loved all the switches I have tried with the exception of FLS3 and I am overall just not a huge linear fan. What should I look for? Hell, I will entertain offers to buy stuff right here thanks!

[swampangel]

https://www.lfkeyboards.com/smk-tkl/

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32764002294.html

Edit: I didn't find the white clicky ones in stock on aliexpress, but they're cheaper on taobao anyway: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a2 ... 6560209301

[kelvinhall05]

https://www.lfkeyboards.com/smk-tkl/

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32764002294.html

Edit: I didn't find the white clicky ones in stock on aliexpress, but they're cheaper on taobao anyway: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a2 ... 6560209301

Very interesting! Will consider

[ddrfraser1]

I tried BTC DWS and they were delicious once I lubed everything up have you tried BKR redux domes?

[kelvinhall05]

I tried BTC DWS and they were delicious once I lubed everything up have you tried BKR redux domes?

Don't have a topre board to try. On my list, but so expensive ._.

[Darkshado]

New, COTS? Matias for another variant on the Alps designs. (You'd also be encouraging a Canadian company if that's something you care about.)
Vintage? Model F. If you've liked the M, like clicky switches in general, and can live with the not-quite-modern-standard layouts they're pretty hard to beat.

[uttindar]

Very interesting! Will consider

You can also build 60% SMK board with XW60V1 PCB which is way cheaper than SMK-TKL (especially if you only want to try new things - PCB is fully compatible with usual 60% cases, MX plates, stabs).
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=595263304018
The only downside - it's not always in stock and restocked once in few months (last time I've seen one was in the end of February).

V1 board can be used with SMK, ALPS SKCM/SKCL, ALPS Plate Spring switches and V2 with ALPS SKCC, Omron B3G-S (although I'm not sure about the plate compatibility, I only built SMK one for now).

Too bad that 0.11$ white SMK switches on Taobao are out of stock ( https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=540513185273 ) and seller replaced them with Orange ones. Orange switches supposed to be linear but seller answered that they are the same as white, so who knows. I ordered them too but they will arrive in a month.

[funkmon]

New, COTS? Matias for another variant on the Alps designs. (You'd also be encouraging a Canadian company if that's something you care about.)
Vintage? Model F. If you've liked the M, like clicky switches in general, and can live with the not-quite-modern-standard layouts they're pretty hard to beat.

I second this about Matias. I love those alps they have. Almost perfect. I haven't knowingly tried a blue alps ever, but I have tried Apple Extended keyboards in quite good nick and, of course, have used a few white alps in my day. I think Matias may be my favourite alps implementation. Furthermore, they appear to have done some mild design changes to increase the longevity of the boards to the now industry standard 50 million clicks.