Author Topic: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...  (Read 4033 times)

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Offline mougrim

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Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« on: Sun, 18 January 2015, 13:34:06 »
Got myself an AEKII - ALPS cream damped, made in Ireland - yellowed, of course, but otherwise nice, clean and in working order (thanks to hasu for code of adb-usb converter).

Anyone knows what this layout is? French? Belgian?
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline Touch_It

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 18 January 2015, 13:39:42 »
I really like the old Apple colored logo.  Also grats on the acquisition.  Thoughts on the key feel?


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline nubbinator

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 18 January 2015, 13:54:22 »
I think that's Belgian AZERTY, not French. 


And your Unicomp Cyrillic set looks nice.

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 18 January 2015, 14:29:52 »
I really like the old Apple colored logo.  Also grats on the acquisition.  Thoughts on the key feel?

Yep. It's so better than their current one :)

Thankee :)

Hmm... Typing on it for two days now. I'd say - very similar to my V60MTS Quiet Click, but somewhat stiffer and more heavy. I like this feeling Also AEKII has better keycaps - they add that "solid" feeling. Oh, and original latching Caps Lock is very nice :)
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 18 January 2015, 14:47:15 »
I think that's Belgian AZERTY, not French. 


And your Unicomp Cyrillic set looks nice.

Thankee :) Now I know - because man who sold it for me for 40 bucks (I know, I know, but it's still less then what I'd paid if I ordered it on ebay with all this expensive shipping) haven't any idea where it came from, but he'd cleaned it for me and give me an original cable with it from his stock.

Thank you. Ordered it for my Model F, and it turned up really nice. I like their choice of golden color for Cyrillic letters.

Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 18 January 2015, 14:49:31 »
Also, my soldering skills are officially suck :) But ths contraption of an ADB-USB converter actually works :)



IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline RoflCopter4

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 18 January 2015, 15:03:10 »
Neat. How do the keys feel? I'm typing on an AEK 1, but it has orange Alps rather than dampened Alps.

Also, nice price. I technically payed only $32 US for this keyboard, but with shipping and conversion it came close to $90 Canadian.
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Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 01:28:32 »
Neat. How do the keys feel? I'm typing on an AEK 1, but it has orange Alps rather than dampened Alps.

Also, nice price. I technically payed only $32 US for this keyboard, but with shipping and conversion it came close to $90 Canadian.

Rather like, but not exactly identical, Matias Quiet Click. I like them. My main keyboard is AT Model F - heavy and clicky, but now i'm the fan of Alps switches too. Haven't tried AEK with orange Alps, so can't tell you how it's feel in comparison to it. But I heard orange alps are tactile and clicky :)

Oh yes... I heard about shipping to and from Canada... sometimes I think it's cheaper just to go pick up keyboard to USA. But it's nothing if you conpare it to shipping to, say, Australia. Or Europe. So I was lucky indeed to find european AEKII.
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline mecano

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 03:39:24 »
I think that's Belgian AZERTY, not French. 

What make you think it's belgian over french?
Got a macally clone here, it's french azerty (well at least I bought it as it with a LCIII) and it has exactly the same layout.

Offline mecano

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 03:41:35 »
Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?

Any sticker on the other side? Check this

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 03:57:14 »
Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?

Any sticker on the other side? Check this

There is sticker, but it says only "Made in Israel" :)
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline 1391406

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 07:53:36 »
I have a couple of AEK's (M0115) and much prefer their sound and feel over the AEK II.
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Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 08:06:33 »
I have a couple of AEK's (M0115) and much prefer their sound and feel over the AEK II.

Orange or salmon switches? I wanted to get an AEK, but if I'll order it from USA, it will cost me about 100 buck with shipping. Well, more like 80 or 90, but still... So my best bet is to find it somewhere in Europe...
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline Findecanor

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 08:20:23 »
Rather like, but not exactly identical, Matias Quiet Click. I like them.
Indeed Matias made his "Quiet" switches to resemble the "Cream" Alps in the AEKII.

I also find the Salmon and Orange Alps to be nice. Some people like the orange better, but I can't tell them apart by feel.
🍉

Offline 1391406

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 09:24:16 »
I have a couple of AEK's (M0115) and much prefer their sound and feel over the AEK II.

Orange or salmon switches? I wanted to get an AEK, but if I'll order it from USA, it will cost me about 100 buck with shipping. Well, more like 80 or 90, but still... So my best bet is to find it somewhere in Europe...

Orange, and I hope you find one.
Unicomp Classic | Chicony KB-5181 (Monterey Blues) | IBM Model M (1391401) | IBM XT Model F | IBM AT Model F | Dell AT101W | 122-key IBM Model F
IBM Model M13 | Apple Extended Keyboard | Apple Extended Keyboard II | MTEK K104 | NTC KB-6251/2 | Realforce 87U | Realforce 104U | Type Heaven

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 11:30:29 »
I have a couple of AEK's (M0115) and much prefer their sound and feel over the AEK II.

Orange or salmon switches? I wanted to get an AEK, but if I'll order it from USA, it will cost me about 100 buck with shipping. Well, more like 80 or 90, but still... So my best bet is to find it somewhere in Europe...

Orange, and I hope you find one.
I'll try. Or maybe Apple Desktop Bus keyboard from Apple II. It's pretty nice too :)
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline berserkfan

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 19 January 2015, 23:34:12 »
Oh Oh Oh

So you're going after other switch types, but not telling me my jailhouse mods are nice?

 :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
Most of the modding can be done on your own once you break through the psychological barriers.

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 20 January 2015, 00:37:25 »
Oh Oh Oh

So you're going after other switch types, but not telling me my jailhouse mods are nice?

 :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

They're nice. And I'm told ;) But I haven't got keyboard I'm planning to mod yet... and you haven't told how to do it yet ;)
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline Huxley2500

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 20 January 2015, 10:58:02 »
I think that's Belgian AZERTY, not French. 


And your Unicomp Cyrillic set looks nice.

Thankee :) Now I know - because man who sold it for me for 40 bucks (I know, I know, but it's still less then what I'd paid if I ordered it on ebay with all this expensive shipping) haven't any idea where it came from, but he'd cleaned it for me and give me an original cable with it from his stock.

Thank you. Ordered it for my Model F, and it turned up really nice. I like their choice of golden color for Cyrillic letters.

Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?

Dongle SW protection.

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 21 January 2015, 08:38:59 »
I think that's Belgian AZERTY, not French. 


And your Unicomp Cyrillic set looks nice.

Thankee :) Now I know - because man who sold it for me for 40 bucks (I know, I know, but it's still less then what I'd paid if I ordered it on ebay with all this expensive shipping) haven't any idea where it came from, but he'd cleaned it for me and give me an original cable with it from his stock.

Thank you. Ordered it for my Model F, and it turned up really nice. I like their choice of golden color for Cyrillic letters.

Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?

Dongle SW protection.

Yep, but I dunno for which soft :)
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline TopreFan333

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 21 January 2015, 10:50:12 »
Got myself an AEKII - ALPS cream damped, made in Ireland - yellowed, of course, but otherwise nice, clean and in working order (thanks to hasu for code of adb-usb converter).

Anyone knows what this layout is? French? Belgian?


I have exactly this keyboard at home, but in US configuration. Mine says is made in USA, and has that little boxed S icon on the back that apparently indicates quieter switches (?). Was actually considering selling it, can put up a [FS] post and pics if people seem interested...

Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #21 on: Wed, 21 January 2015, 11:35:32 »
Got myself an AEKII - ALPS cream damped, made in Ireland - yellowed, of course, but otherwise nice, clean and in working order (thanks to hasu for code of adb-usb converter).

Anyone knows what this layout is? French? Belgian?


I have exactly this keyboard at home, but in US configuration. Mine says is made in USA, and has that little boxed S icon on the back that apparently indicates quieter switches (?). Was actually considering selling it, can put up a [FS] post and pics if people seem interested...

Mine made in Ireland, so it's kinda more rare :)
US layout, of course, more common. But I like all that extra keys on AZERTY keyboards. Used some of them to made media-keys layer.

I think you can find a buyer for it - but I'm not sure what price you should ask. If it nice and not yellowed, you can get for it about 40 bucks, I think.
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline HalfSharkAlligator

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #22 on: Thu, 22 January 2015, 02:50:11 »

I have exactly this keyboard at home, but in US configuration. Mine says is made in USA, and has that little boxed S icon on the back that apparently indicates quieter switches (?). Was actually considering selling it, can put up a [FS] post and pics if people seem interested...

Interested, PM sent.

Offline rowdy

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #23 on: Thu, 22 January 2015, 03:52:56 »
I think that's Belgian AZERTY, not French. 


And your Unicomp Cyrillic set looks nice.

Thankee :) Now I know - because man who sold it for me for 40 bucks (I know, I know, but it's still less then what I'd paid if I ordered it on ebay with all this expensive shipping) haven't any idea where it came from, but he'd cleaned it for me and give me an original cable with it from his stock.

Thank you. Ordered it for my Model F, and it turned up really nice. I like their choice of golden color for Cyrillic letters.

Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?

Dongle SW protection.

Yep, but I dunno for which soft :)

Congratulations on your acquisition :)

Software dongles often did not say which software it was for.  That would make it too easy for people to steal.  I don't think I've seen one that actually had the software name written on it.  A few had the company name, and from that you could usually work out which software it enabled.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

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Offline mougrim

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #24 on: Sun, 25 January 2015, 02:32:07 »
I think that's Belgian AZERTY, not French. 


And your Unicomp Cyrillic set looks nice.

Thankee :) Now I know - because man who sold it for me for 40 bucks (I know, I know, but it's still less then what I'd paid if I ordered it on ebay with all this expensive shipping) haven't any idea where it came from, but he'd cleaned it for me and give me an original cable with it from his stock.

Thank you. Ordered it for my Model F, and it turned up really nice. I like their choice of golden color for Cyrillic letters.

Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?

Dongle SW protection.

Yep, but I dunno for which soft :)

Congratulations on your acquisition :)

Software dongles often did not say which software it was for.  That would make it too easy for people to steal.  I don't think I've seen one that actually had the software name written on it.  A few had the company name, and from that you could usually work out which software it enabled.

Yeah, and sime was for custom software... so I doubt I ever find what it was for :)
IBM AT Model F, Vortexgear Race 3, AEKII (Alps Cream Damped), Metoo Zero (modded to Kailh Box Navy)

Offline mecano

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Re: Got myself an Apple Extended Keyboard II...
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 27 January 2015, 06:06:21 »
Also i got this weird thingy which came with keyboard. Dunno what is it - I suppose some sort of ADB dongle for running software?

Any sticker on the other side? Check this

There is sticker, but it says only "Made in Israel" :)

I post the image from previous message link for others to see as it seems only mougrim did had a look:
88845-0

Looks like this particular model was used by Scitex DTP softwares as well, as Scitex was an Israeli brand before being acquired by HP...