In love with my NeXT keyboard

[U47]

I never see these discussed, but I just finished a converter for it and I'm in love with my NeXT keyboard.


I realize since Jobs died everything NeXT has been wrapped up into his hagiography, but I honestly think it may be my favourite keyboard. Sure, no Function keys, but I never use them anyway as they are too far to reach. I'm not a huge fan of numpads, but the lack of Function keys keeps the dimensions small enough for the board not to look imposing.


The keycaps are particularly amazeballs. The doubleshot black/green is just beautiful to me. The black/white caps with the green side legends are classy.


The cream ALPS have their renowned feel, as expected.


Anyways, haven't had a chance to clean it up yet for some cupcake shots, but thought I'd share a few pix.


Oh, a question I guess: is there anyone else out there who uses one of these?

[heedpantsnow]

I never see these discussed, but I just finished a converter for it and I'm in love with my NeXT keyboard.
(Attachment Link)

I realize since Jobs died everything NeXT has been wrapped up into his hagiography, but I honestly think it may be my favourite keyboard. Sure, no Function keys, but I never use them anyway as they are too far to reach. I'm not a huge fan of numpads, but the lack of Function keys keeps the dimensions small enough for the board not to look imposing.
(Attachment Link)

The keycaps are particularly amazeballs. The doubleshot black/green is just beautiful to me. The black/white caps with the green side legends are classy.
(Attachment Link)

The cream ALPS have their renowned feel, as expected.
(Attachment Link)

Anyways, haven't had a chance to clean it up yet for some cupcake shots, but thought I'd share a few pix.
(Attachment Link)

Oh, a question I guess: is there anyone else out there who uses one of these?

Cool.  I've always loved the look of these. Was it hard to convert?

[U47]

Cool.  I've always loved the look of these. Was it hard to convert?

Well, not really because Hasu did the legwork of a converter, LadyAda (of Adafruit Industries fame) got out the scope and figured out how to speak NeXT-ese, and a Benjamin Gould did a bit of fill-in-the-blanks work with the TMK firmware and voila.

Trickiest part was soldering the converter board together, but Hasu sells them completed if that's not your bag (I love soldering).

[wakko]

[KaminKevCrew]

That's some legit double-shotedness. A friend of mine runs an apple extended 2 off a teensy. I'll have to make him look out for one of these, as those caps are so cool!

[Mattr567]

Those Alps keycaps are amazing. Was going to buy one just for the keycaps but the Massdrop Alps switch keycap drop showed up and I was good to go!!

I believe those are Salmon Alps rather than Cream. NEXT keyboards usually use Black Alps and this is the first Ive seen that doesn't use it. Since Black replaced Salmon it makes sense. Also that slider doesn't look like a Cream switch.

Source - Own AEKII