Alps Bigfoot
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| Branding | Various |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Alps Electric |
| Layouts | Various |
| Keyswitches | Alps SKCL/SKCM series |
| Interface | Various |
Alps Bigfoot (also BigFoot and Big Foot) is a nickname given to the former Alps standard OEM keyboard platform.
History[edit | edit source]
Alps "Bigfoot" keyboards were sold to a large number of customers; in Japan, they are best known for their use in AX systems, and in the West they are best known in the guise of the original Dell AT101. The "Bigfoot" name has also become associated with the Alps SKCL/SKCM series switches used in these keyboards.
The Packard Bell KCLEA907L has a case of the same design, but the switch layout is based on the IBM Model F AT, instead of the IBM Model M.<ref name="rzwv-GoldStar" /> This smaller design is not covered by the "Bigfoot" moniker.
Later Dell AT101 keyboards, as well as at the AT101W and AT102W, were made by Silitek, with an identical design to the Alps-made keyboards; it is not known whether this transfer of manufacturing was amicable, or whether it was arranged without the participation and approval of Alps Electric.
Identity[edit | edit source]
In the 1994 Alps catalogue, Bigfoot keyboards were listed as models KFCMEA and KFCLEA. The model numbers suggest separate product ranges for linear (SKCL) and tactile and clicky (SKCM) switches. "KFCLEA" has an extra 'F' compared to the "KCLEA907L" Packard Bell model. The non-Bigfoot Panasonic Business Partner 286 keyboard has assembly number KFCMEA015A, which suggests that "KFCLEA" and "KFCMEA" refer simply to SKCL/SKCM series switches and do not denote any specific keyboard arrangement.
Rear labels do not use KF codes. Generic OEM labels as found on Dell and Toshiba keyboards refer to these keyboards as models "101"<ref name="at101-102" /> and "102"<ref name="dt-toshiba102" /> and as "AT101" (and presumably AT102) from family "AT101-102".<ref name="at101-102" /> "101" and "AT101" appear in the Alps Electric USA FCC IDs of GYI3PVAT101 and GYIAT101-102 (keyboards made in the US and Ireland). Whether this has any bearing on Alps Electric in Japan is not known.
Examples[edit | edit source]
| Keyboard | Switches | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Early Dell AT101 series | Alps SKCM Salmon | |
| Sharp Personal Workstation Keyboard<ref name="silencium" /> | Alps SKCL Yellow, Alps SKCL Green | |
| Sharp UE-1K02 AX Keyboard<ref name="silencium" /> | Alps SKCL Yellow | |
| Mitsubishi M-6905-1 AX キーボード<ref name="silencium" /> | Alps SKCL Yellow | |
| Mitsubishi M-6905-1N AX キーボード<ref name="silencium" /> | Alps SKCL Yellow | |
| HP C-1414 AX keyboard<ref name="silencium" /> | Alps SKCM Cream | |
| Sanyo AXキーボード<ref name="silencium" /> | Alps SKCM Cream? | |
| Fuji Xerox XJ-T99<ref name="silencium" /> | ||
| SGI Bigfoot series | Alps SKCM Cream Damped, Alps SKCM Black, Alps SKCM White Damped | |
| Bull KBU 1971<ref name="gh-KBU1971" /> | Alps SKCM Black (pine) | ca. 1989 |
| Toshiba 102<ref name="dt-toshiba102" /> | Alps SKCM Salmon | |
| Toshiba 101 | Alps SKCM Blue |
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Characteristic function key reference strip ridge on many models (Dell AT101 depicted)
References[edit | edit source]
<references> <ref name="silencium">Atelier Silencium — AX & Alps Bigfoot Keyboard</ref> <ref name="gh-KBU1971">geekhack — Alps Appreciation Thread</ref> <ref name="rzwv-GoldStar">ちゃたりたいね — PACKARD BELL KCLEA907L ALPS茶軸リニア</ref> <ref name="dt-toshiba102">Deskthority — Bigfoot Toshiba branded.</ref> <ref name="at101-102">Deskthority — The Alps Trilogy Part 3: SKCM Orange & Alps history.</ref> </references>
