Hunting info on Apple M0118 (and a first post intro!)

[Ghostpixel]

Hi, this is my first post after lurking for a while here

I have always liked nice keyboards, but didnt have much knowledge about them for a long time. I started using Keytronic Ergoforce KT2001's in the late 90's or so and i was happy with that for about ten years

But now i have started to get more into mechanical keyboards. I have bought a few  and they all feel pretty diffrent to me. I started out with an Apple extended II which i liked very much. I then found an Apple M0118. It has a very annoying layout (cut in size, but not the numpad!) but the feel in the keys are a little better than both my extended II's for some strange reason.

I tried to find more info on the model, but its mostly only info on the simular and more common M0116 that has a bit diffrent layout i think. Any fun info on the M0118 model would be fun to read

I have a few more questions about other keyboards, but ill start diffrent threads about those (For example on my recent buy, the Dah Yang DYTCOM K-261 blue cherry).

[intealls]

I've got an M0118 as well, I find it to be a lot stiffer than the AEK II. Have tried another one, which was just as stiff. The keys also seem to be more difficult to depress when hit off-center. I find it quite terrible to type on.

Mine appear to be using Orange or Pink ALPS, see this page, down a bit. Sorry for the photo, I picked the one that captured the actual color of the switch most accurately (it looks like the one to the right in the wiki photo).

[Ghostpixel]

Might be a little stiffer, but more distinct and smooth tactile feel too. At least on mine I havent used mechanical boards that long too, so maybe i just like those harder alps more, not sure yet so i have to try more switches My blue cherry board for example is really flimsy and mushy in the feel (really weird feel). And my ibm model m is so hard that i get tired after like 5 mins of typing! That M0118 is just right for me

[intealls]

To each his own.

If you don't like the blue cherries and want to try some brown ones instead, I'm willing to trade you my ANSI Compaq MX11800 (with working trackball) for that blue cherry board of yours. The browns feel kinda similar to the ALPS in the M0118, although a LOT lighter. They don't feel as plasticky as the blues, but not as substantial as the M0118 ALPS. If you want a Sun Type 5 board, I'll throw in one of those as well. PM me if you're interested!

[didjamatic]

Welcome to Geekhack!  ALPS of that era rocked.  How good they are depends largely on the conditions the keyboard has been stored/used in since.  I have a M0115 with Oranges that is as smooth as any switch out there, I also have some AEKII's with dampened whites that range from smooth to rough depending on their treatment.  I still have a few M0118's that I had hoped to do a mod on one day.  I think they have Pink switches in them.

[bladamson]

That is a damn fine keyboard.  I wish I still had mine.

[msiegel]

That is a damn fine keyboard.  I wish I still had mine.

if you don't mind re-soldering a few numpad switches, i can add an M0116 (oranges) to your shipment. the other caps and switches are included.

i'm getting rid of my pile of ALPSperiments, so someone's gonna receive it

[bladamson]

Heck, sure, if you wanna get rid of it and the OP doesn't want it!

Assuming the switches will stay latched into the plate with no pcboard behind them, I'll desolder the whole thing and rewire the matrix and hook it to the controller out of one of these broken Ms. >_>

[msiegel]

great

you can always cut the pcb traces, and then re-wire the switches while they're still in place

[bladamson]

Oh yea!  Durr lol.

Thanks! ^_^

[Ghostpixel]

I took off a few keycaps and they are white or very light pink (was hard to see tbh). Then i removed the space key, and now i cant get it back in a good way Those are a nightmare to assamble. Think i broke something small and plastic too

[bladamson]

Awesome.

My old motherboard was tied down with bread ties, 'cos I ran out of standoffs...

[intealls]

I took off a few keycaps and they are white or very light pink (was hard to see tbh). Then i removed the space key, and now i cant get it back in a good way Those are a nightmare to assamble. Think i broke something small and plastic too

I think those plastic fasteners are the same ones that are in the AEK II, I've accidentally yanked them off numerous times. I haven't broken any though, they plop right back in. Post pictures of the damage, I might have some stuffz that'll help you out.

[Ghostpixel]

I think those plastic fasteners are the same ones that are in the AEK II, I've accidentally yanked them off numerous times. I haven't broken any though, they plop right back in. Post pictures of the damage, I might have some stuffz that'll help you out.

Ill try and take a pic of it in a while. Its the round little thing with two pegs that are supporting the switch on the left side that broke on one side, not the thing holding the metal piece, so to speak.