Re: IIGS extended keyboard

[dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff)]

garyt@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca wrote:
: I have an old GS that upgraded from a IIe, consequently I can't access 
: the sticky-mouse keys options.  I am a quadreplegic (wheelchair type).  I 
: would like to know if I can bypass the installed keyboard and hookup an 
: extended 101 keyboard.  For these functions to work I need the "clear" 
: key on the numeric side.
: I got fed up with the total lack of Apple support and am posting this on 
: an IBM compatible with ADOS (same application, better support)  But I 
: miss my GS!  Any ideas?  Thanks.

So you've got the IIgs-in-a-][e-case with the original ][e keyboard and
power supply.  Hmmm...

That means you should have an ADB port on the back of the case.  If you've
got a mouse plugged into a little round four-pin connector, that's the one
you want.  If that is the case (and I believe it is...), then you can
connect any IIgs-compatible keyboard into that port.  That translates to
"almost any Macincrash-compatible keyboard."  There are a couple of
exceptions, most notably the keyboard that splits down the middle.  But in
fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that a standard GS keyboard would work
just fine.  The GS keyboard is nearly identical to the Macintosh LC
keyboard...the most notable difference is that 

a.  The IIgs keyboard has real keyswitches underneath; the Mac keyboard
    doesn't

b.  On the Mac version of the keyboard, the CAPS LOCK key has swapped
    places with the CONTROL key, as on virtually all new keyboards...a
    "feature" which bugs the heck out of me.

I don't know whether an ADB keyboard and your ][e keyboard can co-exist,
but if they cannot, it is a fairly simple matter to disconnect the
internal ribbon connector leading to the ][e keyboard.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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