Author Topic: Just got my first non-ibm model m keyboard: Focus 2001  (Read 2144 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline mikeosoft

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 3
Just got my first non-ibm model m keyboard: Focus 2001
« on: Fri, 16 March 2012, 15:28:16 »
Hey guys I was at an estate sale this morning and was in this old lady's house and in one of the rooms (assuming the son's) I found some cobalt programming manuals on a desk and looked underneath and spotted this:



I was almost going to walk away from it when it hit me that despite being manufactured in china, it's a focus and if i recall they used alps switches and have some-what f a cult following by people who use them.  There was no price on it, unlike everything else in the room so i assumed it wasn't for sale.  I walked downstairs with it and asked the old lady who owned the home if it was for sale and how much.  She told me 5 dollars.  I handed her the money and left.

Upon getting home I snapped a shot of the back serial sticker to confirm:



I can see it's missing some stuff like the plastic cover. anyone know anything about this keyboard or can offer a newbie to non-model m's a bit of insight I will be grateful. Off to do some forum searching for focus and 2001.

Offline Magna224

  • Posts: 394
  • Location: Tempe, Arizona
Just got my first non-ibm model m keyboard: Focus 2001
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 16 March 2012, 15:39:38 »
It should have simplified white ALPS and it will have doubleshot keycaps. This one is one of the newer ones and its made sometime in the '90s. It looks like yours is in pretty nice condition minus the 2001 logo and cover. Congratulations on your find.
« Last Edit: Fri, 16 March 2012, 15:50:26 by Magna224 »
If you live in AZ you can try my keyboards. I usually keep plenty of different ALPS and MX and buckling springs.

Offline mikeosoft

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 3
Just got my first non-ibm model m keyboard: Focus 2001
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 16 March 2012, 17:04:41 »
Quote from: Magna224;548083
It should have simplified white ALPS and it will have doubleshot keycaps. This one is one of the newer ones and its made sometime in the '90s. It looks like yours is in pretty nice condition minus the 2001 logo and cover. Congratulations on your find.


The serial number starts with "93" does that indicate 1993? i saw a geek newsletter from september 1985 which made me think it was from the 80s, but the keyboard feels very light.  Are simplified alps worse than complex ones?

Ripster thanks for the details in your sig , very informative and helpful resource.  I've upgraded to OSX lion and safari tries to auto-correct my text and cobol becomes cobalt.  It's apple's way of making OSX less useful and more like iOS where apple calls the shots. Anyways thanks for reminding me to switch to Chrome or disable safari autocorrect

Offline rootwyrm

  • Posts: 829
  • The Hands of Steel
    • My Website!
Just got my first non-ibm model m keyboard: Focus 2001
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 16 March 2012, 17:59:04 »
I know that EXACT keyboard VERY well. It's a genuine Focus FK2001. Not sure if it's a retail or OEM though. OEM generally does not have the dust cover hinges, and does not have the "FK2001" or "Focus" plastic installed - it's intended to carry an OEM label or is delivered blank. Minus that plastic plate, no idea. (And yes, they were OEM'd - sometimes in different bodies, too.)
 
Funfact: there are two types of Focus FK2001's. One is Alps Simplified - the most common type. The other is Alps Knockoffs. In fact, the Alps Knockoff keyboards may be Focus knockoffs themselves. They surfaced around 1994ish and are identifiable by a different dust cover hinge. As far as I can tell by your picture, you have the curved closed-body hinges, which are indicative of the genuine article. The knockoffs have squared dust cover hinges which are flat at the back.

Serial isn't necessarily indicative of manufacture date on an FK2001, but based on the layout I would say it's most likely early, since it has the overlay/write-in space below the F-keys. Some later ones deleted that feature. It's a damn good score either way - I loved the FK2001 because it was very light, but extremely rigid.
"I remain convinced I am the only person alive who has successfully worn out an IBM Model M mechanically."
Daily Drivers: Adesso 625 (NPKC PBT / Kailh Blue), Rosewill RK9000V2 (KC PBT / MX Brown), 1994 Model M13, Sun Type4, and the rare IBM 1394540.

Offline mikeosoft

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 3
Just got my first non-ibm model m keyboard: Focus 2001
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 17 March 2012, 16:06:37 »
Quote from: ripster;548978
I doubt they are Focus knockoffs.  These guys - Monterey/Focus/ALPS tend to have blurry OEM relationships.   Kinda like iOne/Xarmor/Qtronix/Qpad etc....


No love for Grace Hopper?

Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat their mistakes.

This is DOUBLY true in Signature Plastic Group Buys.
(Attachment Link) 44595[/ATTACH] (Attachment Link) 44597[/ATTACH] (Attachment Link) 44598[/ATTACH] (Attachment Link) 44596[/ATTACH]


ripster i am not trying to rip on you or bust your chops, and no disrespect because i see you are a well respected person here and very helpful to me, but for the love of god i have no discernible ability to decode your posts and try and make an understanding of the second paragraphs of each of your posts in this thread.  Grace hopper i think i understand her importance shes a rear admiral naval officer who helped create and develop for use cobol aka the first programming language. i looked her up on wiki. cool stuff i guess. no disrespect meant towards her or anything, but i'm not focused on her and frankly she's a good citizen .  "Mistakes form the past and knowing my history?" i don't follow.  

the keys from the group buy look sick what happened there? can i get in on the 2012 order?

Anyways thanks and i hope you dont take this the wrong way but reading into your posts and trying to come up with what your point is sometimes makes me feel like im 19 again and tripping on mushrooms trying to find deeper meaning in a david gilmour lyric.

Offline Quarzac

  • A very busy dude!
  • Posts: 676
  • Location: Bay Area
  • Still around, sometimes.
Just got my first non-ibm model m keyboard: Focus 2001
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 17 March 2012, 16:56:14 »
I thought the Focus 2001 used complicated white alps?
Risen from the dead for a model F.

Wyse buy colors were GSY for the dark grey, GBA for the light grey, and BBI for the fonts.