So, while I've had this Apple //c keyboard with Alps SKCM Amber switches for years...
... These spare Alps Amber switches just arrived in the mail today:
God, do I love Alps Amber switches! Literally my favorite tactile feel
AND my favorite clicky sound! Ain't no Blue can hold a candle to Amber!
I ordered a handful of additional Alps Amber switches, so I can hopefully get underway with my Bluetooth
llcB build. I think I've only got a little left on my Danger Zone 75% + 1 keyboard, with it's magnetically detachable number pad, and would like parts on hand to switch over to the new project right away, once it's done. When that happens... I don't know... I put in 90 hours on my current paycheck. Ugh... Been so worn out lately!
Still in the mail, are some keys to go with those additional switches. I got both the [Open Apple] and [Closed Apple] keys, another [Reset] key, and the two small slanted toggle button keycaps (the weird looking switches to the right of the Reset key). I wanna drill and file out an opening in the plate to fit one more modifier key down below, filling in the 1u gap.
• Esc will move up to where the Reset key is located
• [~`] will move to where [Esc] was
• [Closed Apple] key will be moved to the gap in the modifier row
• [Open Apple] key will replace the right [Closed Apple] key, to mimic dual [Command] keys, as is often found on Mac keyboards
•
Don't shoot me... Control and Caps Lock will likely be swapped. This is both for familiarity and for Kerbal Space Program's default throttle controls
• Either a small trackball or a small trackpad will be placed in the upper right corner, where the LEDs currently are
• The two [Reset] buttons (the existing one, plus the one in the mail) would become mouse buttons, mounted next to the trackball/trackpad
• The two small slanted toggle button key caps that are in the mail will be mounted to the top right edge of the case, as shoulder buttons
The shoulder buttons are intended for use with the upper right corner of the keyboard gripped, where the trackball is used by the thumb, and the two shoulder buttons would be the two mouse buttons, operated like a game controller's shoulder buttons. They would serve as duplicate mouse buttons, and would be electrically paralleled to the two mouse buttons on the top right of the keyboard.
Alternately, the trackball have is exactly 1u wide. Sadly, it's much longer, about the same length of the [Shift] key. It would be theoretically possible to cut the PC board down, and manually wire the connections. If this were done, It could be butted up into the 1u gap in the modifier row... Which quite frankly, would be
AMAZING... Thing is, I only have ONE of these mini trackballs, and I'm kinda afraid to heavily modify it, incase I permanently break it. If I give up on an [Open Apple] to the right of the Spacebar, I could shift the arrow keys one key left, and open up the bottom right corner. Being able to spread out in one direction, plus being easily accessible to the right thumb would be kinda convenient... Depending on how things fit together, I could side mount, or even possibly bottom mount those narrow buttons, depending on where the fingers naturally lie when placing the thumb on a bottom right corner mounted trackball... I mean, it's a cool idea, but I also have so much open space at the top right... That'd simply be easier. We'll see.
The only reason I think it'd be possible, is that the only component on one side of that trackball's PC board is just a connector and one of the two mounting holes. If the board was cut, and wires were soldered directly to the board, skipping the connector, and that mounting hole were removed, then it could fit flush. I'm just concerned about damaging the mechanism if I cut into it, and whether it'll even mount properly with only one mounting hole.
Sadly, I'm still looking for the upper plastic shell, but I did find the lower plastic shell for an Apple //c, at least. It's a start.
It's in the mail along with those key caps that I bought.
If anyone's got the top shell, the handle, or even the whole case, I'd be interested, btw.
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When I see "Post your battle station" threads,
THIS is what I imagine! I love it! Is that a VFD screen on the right side too! You putting that to use on your setup or not? That keyboard screams either video editing or publishing, with possibly CNC controls as a distant third to me, but I could be wrong. What's the primary application? Either way, there's no sinking that battleship!
Wyse 901028-01 Keyboard:
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Really dig that purple-on-grey! Much respect to companies that go all out with the double shot.
Personally, I tend to veer spherical, but those are nice looking keys. Pretty cool that they come with some unique text too.