Tac1138 (tac1138@aol.com) wrote:
: Having to replace my //e Keyboard twice I have found that there are
: atleast 3 types of keyswitch used for the system. I was told that at the time
: apple was outsourcing (sp?) its keyboards to a number of different mfgs. How
: many are types of KBs there are? I havent a clue.
I don't know about different manufacturers, but Apple has definately used
different keyswitches.
All of the ][es I have (all beige) have the Alps long-stem keyswitches.
I know that many of the earlier ][e's have the Alps short stem keyswitches
with extensions, and I think there may be two varieties of those. The ][e
keyswitches I have have stems that are kind of T-shaped when you look down
on them. When someone sits on those keys, the top breaks off, leaving the
stem.
The platinum //e's (with the numeric keypads) have a different form of
keyswitch...it is the same length as the ones that I have, but the key
stem is cylindrical, with a molded +-shaped section on top to engage the
keycap. I'm guessing that those switches are mechanically a little more
rugged (i.e. less likely to break off) but I have no idea whether they are
compatible with the Alps long-stem switches.
There have also been revisions in the way keyboards are mounted in the
][e's. The older ones (like mine) have support posts for the keyboard
attached to the base pan, and the keys just sort of stick through the
opening in the top of the case. Newer //e's, including all of the
platinum ones (as nearly as I can tell) and some of the beige ones, have
the keyboard attached to the underside of the upper case, which eliminates
the alignment problem I have experienced with the older design.
Anyone else have any insights?
--Dave Althoff, ][.
--
/-\ _ _ *** Thanks for a great season!!! ***
/XXX\ /X\ /X\_ _ /X/|_ _ _ _____
/XXXXX\ /XXX\ _/XXXX\_ /X\ <#&/XXX\ /X\ /X\ /XXXXX
_/XXXXXXX\__/XXXXX\/XXXXXXXX\_/XXX\_o==oXXXX\__/XXX\_/XXX\_/\_/XXXXXX