Mac 128k pre-ADB?

[Apostrophe]

Hi,

I remember reading somewhere that the ADB port was introduced a while after the first Macintosh. Sure enough, upon seeing the pictures of the back of a Mac 128k, I see no ADB ports! I looked for info in many places, but they're all vague about what the 128k used prior to ADB. Just out of curiosity, what port in the 128k did the keyboard and mouse plug into?

-Apostrophe

 

[tomlee59]

They were called......the mouse and keyboard ports.

The keyboard plugged into a socket in the front. The connectors look a lot like phone hardware, but the cable is wired in reverse.

The mouse connector was in the back.

 

[Flamingtoasters]

If you need a mouse and keyboard, you are a bit stuck. The mice are easy top find, but only in the platinum plus color. The keyboards are harder to find; they usually only are found with a full 128k. The keyboard cable is important as well. It is not your standard phone cable. If you attempt to use a phone cable w/ a 128k keyboard, you could bust the board.

I believe one of Larry Pina's books has a section about converting phone cables for a 128k keyboard.

 

[tomlee59]

As noted above, the cable is wired in reverse. The connector is also narrower than a standard RJ-11. If you shave down the sides, you can make it fit. Just remember to un-reverse the connections to avoid destruction.

 

[Mac128]

I wouldn't say the keyboards or mice are particularly rare at all. Most of the ones I've ever seen for sale are the beige variety. They turn up on eBay all the time. Here's a beige 1984/86 mouse for $.99. On the extreme high end of the spectrum, Robert2d3d has a more common platinum one for $39.00.

The mouse by the way connects to the far left 9 pin serial port (as you look at the ports). Never plug the mouse into printer and modem ports and vice versa. While most of the Apple serial peripherals omit pins on unused ports and avoid conflicting with damaging configurations, there are no guarantees. The proprietary keyboard and 9-pin mouse connectors persisted on the 128K, 512K and Mac Plus. The Plus introduced the round Mini-Din-8 serial printer and modem port, which had been standard 9-pin serial and prevented confusion with which port to plug in the 9-pin mouse. The Apple IIGS was the first computer to get the new ADB connectors, followed by the SE and Mac II. They ADB and non-ADB equipment are not compatible and there are no adapters to use one with the other. Ironically, the ADB port's similarity to the new Mini Din-8 serial ports led to confusion as to where to plug the mouse and printers.

As for keyboards, starting on the extremely high end, robert2d3d will sell you n authentic 128K beige one right now for $129.00. On the low end of the spectrum, there's one on eBay right now for $15. Littlejohn918 offers both the 128K model and the beige extended keyboard modelfor $4.99.

So you see, they are very easy to come by, should you find yourself without. It's all a matter of how much money you want to pay and how quickly you need it.

 

[Apostrophe]

No no, I don't have a Mac 128k. I'd certainly like to, but they're just too expensive on eBay.

My question was curiosity alone. Besides, as per my sig, I'm looking for a 128k, 512k, or Plus, all three of which I believe have no ADB. In case I do end up getting one, it would be useful to know.

Thanks for your answers!

-Apostrophe

 

[waynestewart]

I have a few 512K Macs. I don't suppose you're within driving distance of Vancouver, BC, Canada

Wayne

 

[porter]

I remember reading somewhere that the ADB port was introduced a while after the first Macintosh.

With the Macintosh SE and Macintosh II to be precise.

 

[Charlieman]

I remember reading somewhere that the ADB port was introduced a while after the first Macintosh.

With the Macintosh SE and Macintosh II to be precise.

Cough, Apple IIgs.

 

[Mac128]

I remember reading somewhere that the ADB port was introduced a while after the first Macintosh.

With the Macintosh SE and Macintosh II to be precise.

Cough, Apple IIgs.

Cough, Cough, does anybody read my posts above? :beige:

The Apple IIGS was the first computer to get the new ADB connectors, followed by the SE and Mac II. They ADB and non-ADB equipment are not compatible and there are no adapters to use one with the other.

 

[porter]

Cough, Cough, does anybody read my posts[/url] above?

Missed that, it was amongst too many words. :I

 

[joshc]

Cough, Cough, does anybody read my posts[/url] above?

Missed that, it was amongst too many words. :I

Reading is definitely too cumbersome. :lol:

 

[Green78II]

No no, I don't have a Mac 128k. I'd certainly like to, but they're just too expensive on eBay.
My question was curiosity alone. Besides, as per my sig, I'm looking for a 128k, 512k, or Plus, all three of which I believe have no ADB. In case I do end up getting one, it would be useful to know.

Thanks for your answers!

-Apostrophe

The 128, 512, and Plus do not have ADB. At least none of the ones I've seen do.