geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: paldepind on Thu, 20 February 2014, 07:10:20
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Hi!
Today I found an Apple Keyboard with ALPS switches in a thrift store. It does however use ADB (I thought it was a PS2 port).
I have not been able to find much info on the keyboard on this forum. But I'm not sure if that's because Apple ALPS are rare or just not worth it? Does anyone have experience with using this keyboard with current hardware? Is it doable? I mean, it doesn't have F-buttons and I can't really figure if it will just work if I get a ADB to USB converter?
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griffin iMate, or google "tmk firmware" if you want to get fancy.
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If you want to get interested in old Apple keyboards, you should get a Griffin iMate for $25.
If the keyboard does not have F keys, it is likely an "Apple Keyboard" not an "Apple Extended Keyboard" but some people really like the small size.
The orange (maybe salmon/pink) switches are considered desirable, you could harvest them at the minimum.
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Yes, it's an Apple Keyboard. This one to be specific: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0118
Well. I actually bought the keyboard. I'm just not sure what to do with it now that it's not PS2 connected as I thought.
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Yes, it's an Apple Keyboard. This one to be specific: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0118
Well. I actually bought the keyboard. I'm just not sure what to do with it now that it's not PS2 connected as I thought.
it's ADB. Apple has never used PS/2.
look up TMK like I said -- i'm pretty sure you can use the firmware to map a function layer to use F1-etc.
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it's ADB. Apple has never used PS/2.
Yes. That's what I said ^^
look up TMK like I said -- i'm pretty sure you can use the firmware to map a function layer to use F1-etc.
Ok cool. I'll look into it.
The keyboard is pretty neat in a retro way and the switches are quite nice even though I prefer the linear reds in my Poker 2 (which I got a few days ago).
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it's ADB. Apple has never used PS/2.
Yes. That's what I said ^^
werps. just saw :)
i have one of these boards too, they're really cool!
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it's ADB. Apple has never used PS/2.
Yes. That's what I said ^^
look up TMK like I said -- i'm pretty sure you can use the firmware to map a function layer to use F1-etc.
Ok cool. I'll look into it.
The keyboard is pretty neat in a retro way and the switches are quite nice even though I prefer the linear reds in my Poker 2 (which I got a few days ago).
I have one of these Apple keyboards, and I do agree, the switches are quite nice (I'd say comparable to dampened MX Browns). However, I don't have the need to make it work with a modern PC because it's currently connected to my Mac Classic. :D
Best of luck converter hunting, hope you find what you're looking for! :thumb:
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i have one of these boards too, they're really cool!
And you're using it with the iMate and tmk firmware with success?
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If you really like the keyboard, but also like linear switches, you can always buy an old board with complicated green Alps switches, and swap them. [On ebay recently, I’ve seen various green Alps boards for like $60 shipped.] Complicated green Alps are nicer linear switches than MX reds, IMO.
If you want to have fun with keyboard layouts, and you can handle some soldering and simple programming, buy a Teensy 2.0 microcontroller and look at hasu’s tmk_keyboard firmware project, which has a nice ADB-to-USB converter as a sub-project. Or if you just want to plug the thing in and have it work, get one of those Griffin iMate thingies.
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You can convert it with a Teensy: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=14290.0
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I love Teensys, and have at least 3, but for old Apple hardware just get one of these and don't worry about it anymore:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griffin-iMate-ADB-to-USB-adapter-BRAND-NEW-/360863571305?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5405251d69 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griffin-iMate-ADB-to-USB-adapter-BRAND-NEW-/360863571305?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5405251d69)
Plug and play. Keep it around for whenever an AEK turns up.
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I love Teensys, and have at least 3, but for old Apple hardware just get one of these and don't worry about it anymore:
Hasu’s firmware is great though, and you can do a lot more with it than you can with an iMate.
For example, on that M0118, there are a bunch of keys along the bottom row (`, \, arrows) that can be productively used for various function layers.
Programmable keyboards are the best. :-)