Hello all and thank you for checking out this forum.

I have recently found myself in love with the conception of mechanical keyboards. Until recently I haven't had the pleasure of typing on such an amazing tool. I found myself in luck when I purchased an old Wyse (Cherry MX Black) keyboard and Focus Electronics FK-2001 (White Alps) mechanical keyboard for under 10 dollars (yes...I am American)(I'm sorry...;]).

I found myself lucky again that I came across the absolutely amazing websites (keyboardporn.com & deskthority.com) and the thousands of people who shared my interest in collecting keyboards and various keyboard parts. Needless to say my wife couldn't see my desire in collecting keyboards until I presented these websites to her (and the dollar value of the keyboards).

The true meaning behind this post is to ask the general keyboard collecting public where best to continue my collection? ( I will upload pics of my recent finds soon enough)

I love the feel of the Cherry MX blue (click) and for an unknown reason I have fallen in love with the White ALPS type key switch (forgive me). I am looking to make a custom keyboard soon using Cherry MX Red Switches and some custom key caps I have found online. This keyboard will be used for everything from day to day typing to online FPS gaming. I am not one for the major brands (such as Razer or Thermaltake) who provide the gaming keyboards. I would prefer a less known custom brand who can design my keyboard to fit my simple demands.

Anything and everything you all can suggest would be much appreciated and if any of you have a keyboard you are willing to get rid of please let me know. The quicker I can expand my collection and knowledge of the Mechanical world of keyboards...the better.

Alright finally here are some images of the newer FK-2001 keyboard I purchased.

White alps are great.


A wave of US people today.

If you want to try out a large amount of different switches get in touch with trax. I recently sold him a box of boards with many different switches, last I heard he was reselling it, because none of them was the perfect switch for him.

As for customizing a board for gaming...what did you have in mind?
Are you looking for backlighting or actual usefulness?^^
Deck makes some nice backlit boards, and the ducky shine would also be an option for that...
If you are looking for a board that you can program macro keys, customize the layout to your own preferences...then I would recommend you look into both Tipro and Access-Is Point of Sale keyboards. Both are fully programmable and pop up used on ebay, DT, and GH occasionally. If you can live with a matrix layout, kbdfr still has a dozen leftovers from a large package he bought a while back (he is the tiproman). These boards generally have black MX switches and NKRO, but they can be modified with some soldering. I use an Access 127 key board that was modded to cherry blues.


As for (cheaply) expanding your collection I can recommend the following:
-check in with liquidation businesses that handle used electronics
-local goodwill stores
-E-waste recyclers
-you might also consider an ad in the local classifieds saying you are looking for old PC peripherals

Ive been doing this in my part of the world for the past months and have found a few things.

As for (cheaply) expanding your collection I can recommend the following:
-check in with liquidation businesses that handle used electronics
-local goodwill stores
-E-waste recyclers
-you might also consider an ad in the local classifieds saying you are looking for old PC peripherals

Sounds like a great idea but how did you find them?

If you want to build a custom board with cherry mx, the easiest way atm is to get a phantom (see MO Phantom)

Icarium wrote:As for (cheaply) expanding your collection I can recommend the following:
-check in with liquidation businesses that handle used electronics
-local goodwill stores
-E-waste recyclers
-you might also consider an ad in the local classifieds saying you are looking for old PC peripherals

Sounds like a great idea but how did you find them?

A lot of these companies post their own ads in local papers...usually something like "buying defective electronics, free pickup, etc."

Sold the vintage-switch-try-box to Icarium btw.

White alps are great. Cant decide between Montereys or White ALPS or Blue ALPS though :/

Thanks for all your input guys/gals.

I have all the ones I do now by looking at the local "Goodwill" stores. The FK-2001 was NIB for $5. I'll keep looking there for now and I'll try some of the local businesses to hopefully find myself an Industrial IBM Model M (gahhhhhh!!!).

For Ascaii - For the gaming keyboard I would prefer something with Macro capability and a backlit board would be nice but not mandatory. I'm stuck between the MX Black and MX Red Switches though. My Wyse keyboard has the black so I know what they feel like but I haven't had the pleasure of feeling the MX Red Switches yet. I should probably wait to buy this keyboard until I've had this pleasure.

I'll try to get photos of my growing collection tonight. (Bare with me)

You don't live in Arizona, do you? I have a lot of keyboards you could try if you do.

I don't live in AZ. I do have family that lives down in AZ though. I'll email you when I'm down there next.

Just came across another Focus 2001 with white alps. This keyboard was definitely used by the look of it but after a nice bath it's almost new.

The white alps on this board feel different from my newer one. They are much stiffer and they don't have the same click to them. Could I possibly use some sort of non conductive oil (or something) to loosen up the switches?

This board also doesn't have the windows keys, the control & escape keys have a red font, and the shift keys have green font.

How many different models of the Focus 2001 did they make over the years?

The Focus 2001 without windows key is the old one with true white clickly/tactile alps the ones with windows keys have blue alps.

rodtang wrote:The Focus 2001 without windows key is the old one with true white clickly/tactile alps the ones with windows keys have blue alps.

Now I'm a little confused. Both keyboards appear to have the white Alps switch.

this thread needs more pictures

The Focus 2001 is one of my favorites, it was also my first mechanical. I have two, the first is revision 1 from 1988 the other is revision 8 from 1992.The revision one has real complicated blue ALPS the revision 8 has white simplified ALPS. I assume the difference you feel is a white complicated switch vs a simplified switch. Win keys could mean simplified or complicated but I assume all winkeyless to be complicated. Notice the large change in weight from '88 to '92. Regardless of switch the revision 1 feels much more solid to type on.

1988:






1992:








EDIT to further help you solve why your keyboards feel different.
Compare switches from each of your keyboards to find out if the difference you feel is a simplified switch vs complicated.
If this is not the difference then there are two more possibilities. One has more wear, or they are different revisions and one has a slightly higher build quality of the keyboard itself(Possibly a more thick backplate).

Magna224 wrote:The Focus 2001 is one of my favorites ...

Great picture collection. A long time ago I owned one of these myself (blue ALPS), but then I sold it, because it was yellowed.

Can you do the community a favor and upload all your photos and information you have to the wiki?

wiki/Focus_FK-2001

Thanks!

7bit wrote:

Magna224 wrote:The Focus 2001 is one of my favorites ...

Great picture collection. A long time ago I owned one of these myself (blue ALPS), but then I sold it, because it was yellowed.

Can you do the community a favor and upload all your photos and information you have to the wiki?

wiki/Focus_FK-2001

Thanks!

It might take me a while to get it there, tomorrow would be the earliest. I have to get ready for work soon.

No hurry! But an article about the Focus_FK-2001 is still missing.

Actually telling simplified from complicated is more complicated than that. I'd give a wiki link but I don't think I'm supposed to. But not bad for a simplified explanation.

However I WILL give a link to my Ripsters Quality~Fg Theorem (RipQFT).

All of the ALPS switches that I have come across it held true. It may not be exact but it seems accurate. I wish certain people would let you do as you please. You are often very helpful and certainly one of the most knowledgeable. Unlike the others who have the information you get more of the information out to the majority. The link is very much appreciated. I know you have information on most keyboard related topics, I just don't feel like searching for it.

ripster wrote:...[URL TO A WEBSITE THAT IS MOST PRESUMABLY DOWN]...

I doubt links to GeekHack are useful at all.

Less whining and bashing; more linking.

Wait, I thought the white alps in focus 2001 was complicated and the blues in the win-key version was simplified...

Here are some images of the older FK-2001 Keyboard I found.

Here is another one I found. Not 100% sure what it is but from the little research I've done it looks like a Fujistu. If anyone out there has more information on what brand and switch type this keyboard is I would much appreciate it.

That, my friend, is a Fujitsu Peerless. Rated for 30 million keypresses. My first dumpster find was one of these.

Burn it.

Here are some images of a Wyse EPC keyboard with Cherry MX Black switches.

Another random piece I found for super cheap and couldn't pass up. -A Mitsumi-

Last but not least of the collection is a Liteon SK-6000 ergo with touchpad mouse built in. I couldn't pass this one up and I'm not sure what type of switch (it doesn't feel mechanical to me) this keyboard has.

Thank you all for the information you've given me on my early and immature collection (so far). I know some of the keyboards in my collection aren't up to snuff but I would like to remind you all I didn't pay more than $5 for any of these keyboards.

If any of you have a keyboard (preferably alps or cherry mx switches) you are willing to get rid of please feel free to PM what they are and the price (and possibly some pictures).

Another keyboard I am looking for is an Industrial IBM Model M. If anyone out there has one and are willing to get rid of it let me know. I would gladly take it off your hands.