So, after some local searching, I had a great find. I found a Focus 8000 (FK-8000), this keyboard is like the FK-2000 and the
FK-2005 except this model has a built in calculator that acts with the numpad, quite an odd feature. After some cleaning and refurbishing, the unit is up and working beautifully. This turned out to be a great keyboard. The typing is very stiff, I may have gotten some water inside of the alps caps, but I also think that this may have been barely used. All of the keys work, but I wish the typing was a bit less stiff, any suggestions?

Here are pics:

Yellow ALPS for scroll lock, caps lock and num lock.


White ALPS for all other keys






The calculator runs on a small 3v battery, like ones used for CMOS


Dirty.


Keypad


Dirty Dirty... (it was cleaned, but no photo of board clean)


Stuff got messy...




Manufacture date


The final product!



I hope you enjoyed the photos! If you have any suggestions to reduce the stiffness (haha) of the keys please let me know. When cleaning it I used Qtips between the alps switches, a bit wet with dental caps and water. I had one other one I did this with and it didn't have this effect. Could the triggers just be barely used? Old? I hear a spring sound when I type.

Trent

Nice keyboard! I have a Focus FK-5001 but unfortunately the numbers in the calculator's display are all scrambled. At laest mine has a TURBO key
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Focus_FK-5001

Cool calculator!!!
If I'd find something like this, I'd mod it with blue montereys : a lot less 'stiffer' than white clicky alps.

Mrinterface wrote:Cool calculator!!!
If I'd find something like this, I'd mod it with blue montereys : a lot less 'stiffer' than white clicky alps.

I find it interesting that the keys are so stiff. It has been multiple days since the clean and they are still quite stiff. What interests me the most is that I have two FK-2000's both of which have the same white alps switches, but neither of them have the stiffness that this board does. One I have used to years and the alps have been used very well, the other was practically brand new but didn't have the stiff issues.

Trent wrote: One I have used to years and the alps have been used very well, the other was practically brand new but didn't have the stiff issues.

Aaahhh, the weird and wonderful world called ALPS... You never know what you are going to get , until you get it....

May I know how much did u pay for the keyboard?

Aww I fell in love in that model! That big-ass ENTER and RGB shift/alt/ctrl... and calculator.

bucyfer wrote:May I know how much did u pay for the keyboard?

Aww I fell in love in that model! That big-ass ENTER and RGB shift/alt/ctrl... and calculator.

I contacted a local computer recycling plant to contact me if they had any PS/2 or AT keyboards come by that had a "mechanical feel" to them. They called me up to inform me that they had two keyboards for me to come and look at. One was this FK-8000 and the other was a newer model FK-2000 with a windows key (the one I had been using for years did not, although had colored letter Shift, Alt and Ctrl keys.) They offered me both keyboards for $5

When I initially told them about my interest, I mentioned the IBM Model M keyboards, and they told me that whenever they found old AT and PS/2 keyboards that they most of the time threw them out. This made my die a little on the inside , and I told them that I would buy any/all mechanical keyboards that they get, forever. I hope to get many more keyboards from them over the next few months while I am still in this area, and told them that I'd pay for them when I eventually move out of the area if they ship them to me.

Trent

Sweet move!

Did you managed to find anything about the stiffness of the keys, i have an Ortek MCK-84 and some keys are still very stiff, specially the ENTER key and it happens more when you try to press the bigger keys from the sides inteast from the center it seems. But its still a joy to type on these.

regards,

maxrunner wrote:Did you managed to find anything about the stiffness of the keys, i have an Ortek MCK-84 and some keys are still very stiff, specially the ENTER key and it happens more when you try to press the bigger keys from the sides inteast from the center it seems. But its still a joy to type on these.

regards,

I have 5 different types of white clicky alps boards. They all feel different. The FK-8000 is very stiff. My FK-9000 is normal and one of my FK-2000's are light light light! It seems to really just depend on the situation