geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: wazup on Fri, 27 March 2015, 22:01:52
-
I purchases this AEKII several months ago, and have been wondering why mine is the only one I have seen so far that doesn't have an apple logo on the front. The rear badge says AEKII so it isn't a clone, and the PCB has the apple logo on it. Was there a year where they just did not have a logo on the keyboard?
(http://i.imgur.com/WQoVE81l.jpg?1)
-
It should be in the upper left. Maybe someone painted over it?
Or maybe you just have a special snowflake keyboard with no logo.
-
Hrmm, from what I understood the apple logo was actually attached with a screw on the upper left, but on my board there is no marking/blemish in the plastic of the case to suggest it was ever there, just confused
-
I've seen some that were rebranded without the Apple and with what appeared to be a dyseubbed logo, so it's possible that it's from a non-Apple system or non-Apple supplier and no branding was never put on the board in the first place
-
Or maybe you just have a special snowflake keyboard with no logo.
oooo special snowflake.....i don't think its worth anything just curious about it
-
Note also the splat keys have no apple logo.
Perhaps, just as many manufacturers mimed the style of the Model M and F, someone aped the AEKII.
-
Oh, you’re right. This one is pretty clearly otherwise identical to an Apple branded one, and presumably also ADB, so probably used with a Mac. I wonder in what context Apple needed to sell a computer/keyboard where they couldn’t include the logo? Very unusual.
Maybe it was Bill’s personal computer, and he thought if he got one without the branding, nobody would know!
-
Here is the back, just to show it is genuine
(http://i.imgur.com/8eP5rBfl.jpg?1)
-
Maybe this shipped with an Apple Network Server, which didn't even run Mac OS, but AIX.
-
I have never seen a serial number like that. I remember all of mine having "M3012" or something like that near the end, especially the 1990 copyright.
-
Maybe this shipped with an Apple Network Server, which didn't even run Mac OS, but AIX.
There's an extensive technical manual (http://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/computing/Apple_Service_PDF/Network-Workgroup_Servers/network_server_500.700.pdf) for these things linked from their Wikipedia entry that includes:
The following figure illustrates the front view of the Network Server 500 and 700 Series. Note that the monitor and keyboard must be purchased separately.
Keyboard - Supports Apple ADB keyboards (AIX requires an extended keyboard for installation)
Note: AIX software does not come preinstalled in standard configurations of the Network Server 500 and 700 Series. The AIX software must be purchased separately.
Interesting that they would not include a keyboard (required to install the OS, which did not come preinstalled) but go to the expense of producing a semi-unbranded keyboard specifically for this line. Also Wikipedia says the AEKII was discontinued in 1994 while this line of servers didn't launch until 1996. On the other hand Deskthority wiki says AEKII was produced until 1995, which makes this a little more plausible.
I wonder if they actually utilized those command keys for anything in CDE or if they were just vestigial.
-
This AEK II looks earlier than that. Note it uses cream (“pine”) switches; by the latest production runs of the AEK II, Alps had switched to white sliders (“bamboo” switches).
I don’t see any specific evidence that this keyboard went with an Apple Network Server. And in particular, it looks like the Apple Network Server did have an Apple logo on the front.
-
Yes I believe these are the cream damped switches listed on deskthority, it doesn't look white and the year matches up with the creamed damped production. The mystery continues though.
-
The first numerals in the serial number indicate that the keyboard was manufactured the first (01) week of 1993 (3).
The part of the serial number after the % looks like a model number, but searching for M0477LL/A does not help at all.
-
Wikipedia says the AEKII was discontinued in 1994 while this line of servers didn't launch until 1996. On the other hand Deskthority wiki says AEKII was produced until 1995, which makes this a little more plausible.
As I recall, I have owned AEK2s with 1995 copyright dates (all were white) but the 1990 copyrights are much more common.
Also, if memory serves, Terrapin says that he has had 1989 copyright AEK2s with salmon/pink Alps.
-
The first numerals in the serial number indicate that the keyboard was manufactured the first (01) week of 1993 (3).
The part of the serial number after the % looks like a model number, but searching for M0477LL/A does not help at all.
AP30100H%M0477LL/A
So AP (3) (01) That date seems confusing to me, as the last picture of the white alps one on deskthority (below) would make it produced in 96, and I thought they were discontinued 95?
AP6205QV%M0312J
http://deskthority.net/w/images/c/cd/Apple_Extended_II_White_Damped_Mex_--_rear_label.jpg
Or is there different labeling between boards from US and Mexico? But you are right the M0477LL/A is different from any of the other AEKII on deskthority as they all have M0312, and say can sometimes contain M3501.
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_Extended_Keyboard_II#Serial_numbers
edit: fixed link,then date, then just put the deskthority serial number in text