Re: //c+ keyboard, what can I do with it?

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Jon Co asked:

>I have unearthed another relic from my closet, this time, it seems to
>be a //c+ keyboard.  The layout looks exactly like the IIGS keyboard
>minus the numeric keypad.  There's the //c-like reset button in the
>usual place on top, there's a switch beside it, could be the 40/80
>switch or the qwerty/dvorak switch. then there's what appears to be
>some kind of variable resistor.  Could be a volume control.  Then
>there are 2 LED's on the right, presumably the power and the in-use
>light.
>What can I do with this keyboard.  I do not have a //c+.  I do have a
>//e, a IIGS and a //c.  Would it work as-is in any of these?  The keys
>are still in great condition, I'd like to use it on my //c but I'm not
>sure if the pinouts are the same (or for that matter if the number of
>pins are the same)  If they need re-wiring I would probably put
>together an ADB keyboard with it and use it with my IIGS.

Not likely.  All keyboards for 8-bit Apples are matrix keyboards,
which are scanned by a keyboard encoder and presented to the
processor as a parallel ASCII code.

ADB keyboards are controlled by a microcontroller in the keyboard
and on the mainboard of the computer, and communicate network-
like, over the ADB.

With old ADB keyboards going for $5 and less, and the custom
microcontrollers available only by scavenging from other ADB
keyboards, there is no point in trying to make an ADB keyboard.

Perhaps its best use is to offer it to someone who needs to
replace a damaged //c+ keyboard.

>Speaking of IIGS, I'm using some old mac keyboard on my GS.  What
>annoys me with that keyboard is that the ESC key is not where it
>should be, instead is between the space bar and the arrow keys, and
>the CTRL key and CAPS LOCK key have swapped places as well.  And to
>make things worst, there are KATAKANA characters to the right of the
>usual english letters.  Does anyone know where that keyboard came
>from?  The underside says assembled in mexico, and is called the
>"Apple Keyboard II" made by Apple Computer, Inc., Family number: M0487

It would seem that you have a Mac keyboard made for use in Japan.
All types of ADB keyboards are still available in the used/thrift/auction
marketplace, usually for less than $5.

-michael

Check out amazing quality 8-bit Apple sound on my
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/