geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: arfink on Sun, 22 November 2009, 13:29:02
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So, a friend of mine was being a bit crazy and was (for reasons he won't fully explain to me) waving my Apple A9M0330 around. It's the keyboard I use with my Apple IIgs, and it's a real nice board. I'm not sure what kind of switch it uses, if it's a cherry or alps or what (probably alps), but they're really nice. And anyways, he has smashed a few keys off, and not just popped them off but the shank is broken off and everything. Superglue won't "take" on the plastic. Any repair ideas?
Otherwise, he's going to get me a replacement. He's a decent guy, and said he'd pay for it. Found a nice one here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Apple-Desktop-Bus-keyboard-m-n-A9M0330_W0QQitemZ150358747486QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item230214695e
If I get the replacement instead of fixing this one, what should I do with the busted one? It's a nice board, hate to chuck it. Maybe use it as a test for dye experiments? Only one or two keys from the tenkey cluster are busted. One broke all the way off, the other is just hanging on by a sliver.
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are the keycaps themselves still in good condition?
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Other than the broken ones on the numpad, yes. The switches are all 100% working, and the case is still fine too.
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hmm, it sounds like you just need a few replacement keycaps. is that right?
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Yeah, but these are kinda funky keycaps. Where, besides from another keyboard of the same type, would I get them?
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is this the "apple keyboard II" which does not have mechanical switches?
or the one that looks similar but does have switches?
If it is the first one I might be able to help you out with some new key caps...
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i bought an A9M0330 awhile back, mistakenly thinking it had pink or orange ALPS.
you're welcome to whichever number pad keys you need... i'll just mail them to you :)
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5884&stc=1&d=1258929578)
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is this the "apple keyboard II" which does not have mechanical switches?
no, it's this early model:
(http://pds2.egloos.com/pds/1/200604/20/06/c0025306_1045582.jpg)
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I think there's one of those boards lying around in the wondiferous 'back room' of my college computer lab. What switches does it use? It didn't feel mechanical to me the first time I pressed, but hey, I thought the same when I pressed a key on the AEK II for the first time...
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I think there's one of those boards lying around in the wondiferous 'back room' of my college computer lab. What switches does it use? It didn't feel mechanical to me the first time I pressed, but hey, I thought the same when I pressed a key on the AEK II for the first time...
there's a squishy one that looks similiar:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/128331613_93561da3db.jpg)
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No, I'm pretty sure it was the above one, I have memories of the AT enter and the segmented gaps between the numpad and main body... What switches does it have?
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No, I'm pretty sure it was the above one, I have memories of the AT enter and the segmented gaps between the numpad and main body... What switches does it have?
they have an alps-like interface with white sliders, but they're not labeled alps...
longer throw than alps, tactile and slightly clicky, with a smoother action. they tend to bind when hit off center though, at least on the old unit i have.
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OMFG NON ORIGINAL NON COMPLICATED SIMPLIFIED GENUINE FAKES.
Oh Alps... Will I ever understand you?
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this is why i'm converting back to buckling spring XD
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Well, I could use the 5 and 6 keys from the number pad.
And yes, it's a very nice feel on this keyboard, but mine is in pretty good shape and doesn't have any binding issues. There isn't any "click" that you can hear, but it's got a distinct point at which the switch kinda "gives" and then you know it's been actuated.
I'll send you a PM, and you can get those keys in the mail for me. Thanks so much!
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Turns out the keyboard I saw was this -
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Apple-Macintosh.jpg)
I think it's using Linear Alps. I might 'borrow' it to take a further look.
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^^^ That's the Macintosh Plus Keyboard, M0110A. I don't think it has Alps switches.
The smaller Apple keyboard with Alps switches is the M0116:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Apple_ADB_Keyboard.jpg)
Smaller version of the Extended I, logo is also in the same place.
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The one I found was P/N M0110A, made in Ireland (as were most European Alps boards of the day)
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I really love my adb keyboard. I just wish i could use it
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It's actually the first ADB board to reach market.
On the two I have, IIRC it's the close tolerance between the keycaps and the side of the case (and to a lesser extent to each other) that can cause them to bind if hit off-center rather than anything going on with the switches - except for the contribution of the inherent looseness of Alps-style switches, of course. It's especially a problem if the case plastic has warped at the edges at all as some rougher used ones can have.
The case edges essentially come straight up to form the side boundaries of the board in a very minimalist style with not quite enough lip or reinforcement to prevent warping from sun, age, abuse, etc. Also, the design of the keycaps creates a relatively narrow space between each other as well as the board edges with lots of nearly vertical edge surface area to bear against each other that is kind of unforgiving of loose switches, warped or misaligned plastic, etc.
All such issues aside, they are really nice compact boards (an elegant if flawed design) when in good condition with an action similar to, but a bit less refined than, an AEK I.
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I'm always surprised at how much travel those little keys have. 's one of the big reasons why I'd like to mod the thing with an internal adb->usb adapter and use it with my notebook. though there's probably not enough room for that.
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=5907&stc=1&d=1259074533)
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I really love my adb keyboard. I just wish i could use it
Just get a griffin, adb boards are fully pc and mac compatible with griffins. Love it on my m1242.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Griffin-imate-USB-to-ADB-Adapter-hard-to-find_W0QQitemZ230403682331QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMice?hash=item35a521301b (http://cgi.ebay.com/Griffin-imate-USB-to-ADB-Adapter-hard-to-find_W0QQitemZ230403682331QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMice?hash=item35a521301b)