Go-To Apple ADB Keyboard

[rikerjoe]

In my collection of 68k Macs, I’ve acquired a series of Apple ADB keyboards:

• Apple Extended Keyboard M0115 from 1988
• Apple Extended Keyboard II M3501 from 1989 and 1990
• Apple Keyboard II M0487 from 1990 and 1991
• AppleDesign Keyboard M2980 from 1994

I’m sure there are others I don’t have. I found that my go-to keyboard out of this bunch is the Apple Extended Keyboard II M3501 from 1990. It is the one I always grab when testing with my ADB-based classic Macs. It is something about the look and satisfying clicking of the keys that I like.

What is your go-to keyboard?

 

[Trash80toG4]

I have the KBD from the IIgs on hand for fiddling with equipment. Great feel/tiny footprint on the bench. Like as not I use the AppleDesign for its very long straight cable on my KVM setup. It's not nearly as bad a folks make it out to be, but not all that great either.

NOT a fan of the AEKs whatsoever. The Datadesk Mac 101 is THE Mechanical KBD as far as I'm concerned. Great switches with VT-100 form factor dating back to the Mac Plus interface era, they rock!

Intro'd long before Apple's monstrosities were released with the Mac II. It was the very first upgrade I bought for my spankin' new SE/20/Radius16 very early on in 1988. Pounded a pair to death before I got the DA with its ADB board.

Snagged another off eBay quite some time ago along with one in Plus color/config. Love 'em, but rarely have them set up for playtime. One day my much upgraded Drexel branded 128K (to Plus + Micromac Performer) will be on display with that "proper" mechanical KBD.

AEK? Got 'em, but no thank you very much.

 

[Trash80toG4]

Here's the one that rocks my mechanical KBD loving world in pre-ADB beige:

Here's the new playstation under construction with the Drexel branded Plus and beige goodness:

Posting this because my Platinum ADB version is stored away while I rebuild the old setup without the tall bookcase endpeice/supports now in the Master suite. I'm on the lookout for the combined ADB/128K interface transitional unit.

Should document the re-build process?

 

[François]

I recently acquired an Apple Keyboard II M0487, and to my astonishment, I discovered that the escape key is next to the space bar ?!! What were they thinking ?!

I’m puzzled by this choice, especially considering that the escape key is in the correct standard position on the prior Apple Keyboard M0116 !

 

[Volvo242GT]

Used a DataDesk Mac101e (was the dual interface version that could be used on a Plus or an ADB machine) back in college on a IIsi that was in the Chemistry department. Didn't care for it much at all. Much preferred the M3501 back then. Once I tried a M0115, however, that became my favorite of the extended keyboards. For smaller keyboards, it's either the A9M0330 or the M0116 for me. The M0487 is good, but not great, feel-wise, plus the odd key placement and the power button's lack of tactile feedback, kinda push it back.

The M2980 is OK. Better than the A1048 USB ice tray "dirt collector" keyboard that I used previously with my old G3 and Mac Pro machines, but very mushy compared to an ALPS keyswitch board.