Re: Some II+ Questions. (ProDOS etc.)

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Linards Ticmanis <ticmanis@coli.uni-sb.de> wrote:

> Am I right to assume that the standard original II+ keyboard is also
> 52 Keys in a teletype-like arrangement, with that sturdy mechanic feel
> and pretty tight key springs?

Yep.  There was a later keyboard which had a softer feel, more like the
IIe.

> I guess this clone's @ on shift-0 is a peculiarity, right? IIRC the
> original should have it on shift-P. Is the @ symbol printed on the P
> Key or do you just have to know it is there?

On a real ][ or ][+, "@" is shift-P, and is printed on the key.

> Also are there any other special characters on the shifted letters?

Shift-N produces "^" (caret), and this is labelled on the key.
Shift-M produces "]" (right bracket), but this isn't labelled.

G has "BELL" above it, reminding the user of the Ctrl-G combination.

I see that all the shift and control combinations are simple
manipulations of the high order four bits of the ASCII codes.  How
quaint.  :-)

I'm not sure if I knew these, but Ctrl-Shift-P, Ctrl-Shift-N and
Ctrl-Shift-M all generate the appropriate control character ($80, $9E
and $9D respectively).

> What does shift-0 and ctrl-nonletter keys produce on the real Apple,
> just the basic assignment without modifier?

Yes.

> Is there any reason for "]" being there while "[" is not? This strikes
> me as very odd.

Likewise.  If the pattern was followed, "[" should be on shift-K, "\" on
shift-L, and "_" on shift-O.

I doubt there is any connection with the Applesoft BASIC prompt, as the
right bracket on shift-M probably dates back to the original Apple ][.

> Last question, this keyboard has printable character keys that are
> dark grey with white lettering, while the others are light grey with
> black lettering and the special FUNC key is white and has CAPS LOCK
> and FUNC written on it. Is this the same colors as the Original?

The II+ keys were brown with white lettering, or grey/brown with white
lettering for the later version.