Re: Yet another Apple II keyboard interface (PS/2 and RS232 support)

[Warren Ernst <wernst@gmail.com>]

On Jul 24, 11:17 am, pitz <pitz.w...@gmail.com> wrote:
> One of the reasons I would like a PS/2 keyboard adapter for a IIe (or
> any II for that matter) is that I can use a detached keyboard and only
> have my keyboard and monitor on top of my desk.  Additionally, I may
> also be able to hook it up to a KVM switch.
>
> On Jul 24, 10:29 am, m...@willegal.net wrote:
>
> > Hi Steve,
>
> > All my projects are motivated by fun factor first, potential market, a
> > very distant second. I'll worry about the marketplace in my "real
> > world" job, which pays the bills (and funds these projects).  An
> > example of this mindset is my firmware board.  Only one exists in
> > captivity.   I had a lot of fun building that thing.  I find the
> > firmware board very useful for purposes of Apple II motherboard
> > debugging, but I've got no interest from the Apple community to make
> > more. I don't regret building it at all, and actually have plans to
> > make some small enhancements to my prototype.
>
> > The prototype keyboard interface was built primarily because I needed
> > another keyboard for Apple II motherboard debugging and it looked like
> > a fairly small and interesting project.  Neither Vince's or Bill's
> > solution worked for me, since I don't have spare Apple II+ or IIe
> > keyboards laying around.
>
> > Still not sure where I'm going with this, but the input about IIe
> > version in interesting.  Quite frankly, not being a IIe type person,
> > I'm wondering what is driving this need.  Are the apple IIe keyboards
> > unreliable and hard to repair or do they have bad ergonomics?
>
> > Regards,
> > Mike Willegal
>
> > On Jul 24, 8:11 am, Steven Hirsch <snhir...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > m...@willegal.net wrote:
> > > > Hi Steven,
>
> > > > A IIe adaptor requires a small bit of additional hardware(added cost),
> > > > which my current (preliminary) design doesn't have.  The form and
> > > > function of the final design depends upon the level of interest as
> > > > well as the expectations of the Apple II community.
>
> > > There are already (2) such adapters offered that support only ][ and ][+
> > > (Garber and Vince Briel). Why dive into an occupied niche in a market that's
> > > tiny to begin with?
>
> > > I have no interest in a ][,][+ only adapter.  I would buy a //e adapter
> > > sight-unseen (perhaps 2).
>
> > > Steve

Though I don't have a need for one, a //e PS/2 keyboard adapter, along
with the new Apple //e VGA adapter, would allow for a //e to be easily
integrated into a desk full of PCs using a KVM switch.

-Warr