Back at the "Extended Keyboard II"

[Mathias]

I just wanted to share my happyness about the Apple Extended Keyboard II, that I am now using again on a daily basis. I am still using just oldworld Macs for everything at home. I had 4 years with many different USB keyboards (cheap one but as well some better Cherry ones), and as well the other ADB stuff.

As I sold some stuff the last moth I stumbled across my Extended Keyboard II that somebody gave me 10 years ago, and cleaned it, and wanted to give it a try, as I never used it. And it is absolutely great! It is wonderful, totally right feeling, and a real product for everything that may come - feels totally undestroyable. Well it was not that cheap back than in 1994, but that the difference is that huge, ... seems I will stay at mechanical keyboards as far as possible. When I think what problems all the G3 & G4 USB keyboards are producing a few years after usage, I cannot belive it that people are accepting such stuff at all!

What nice USB keyboards do you use with your G4s?

 

[uniserver]

i love the AEK II !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed, its a great keyboard.!

I'm pretty sure that iMate mcdermd got me for christmas was like the best gift ever.

 

[volvo242gt]

On my G4's, I've been using a M0115 Apple Extended Keyboard with a Griffin iMate. On the Digital Audio, the power key even works. Not so on the Mirrored Drive Door machine, however.

-J

 

[mcdermd]

I use the AEK on my iMac at work.

 

[finkmac]

I have an AEKII… Good keyboard, but I prefer Apple's chicklet keyboards.

 

[CelGen]

I liked the old AEK. It's also easier to find Avid keycaps for it.

 

[Schmoburger]

I used a black AEKII and ADB mouse from my Directors Edition on my G3 tower in preference to the USB keyboard it came with... they really are just such a nicely designed keyboard,. I use the black variant of the extended USB keyboard on my G4 and a puck mouse (I actually like the puck) as it doesnt have an ADB port, which i find all in all to be almost as nice a keyboard to use as the AEKII, tho if anything I'd prefer it to have the extra bit of a lip beneath the bottom row. It's reasonable tho, and far nicer than the early small footprint USB keyboards.

 

[techknight]

I dunno, I have to disagree. I have an AEKII and an AppleDesign keyboard side by side, and I was kind of partial to the AppleDesign keyboard, I liked its feel a bit better plus it had taller keys.

With the AEKII, I found myself fumbling over the keyboard alot (i have fat sausage fingers). And chicklet keys, heeeeck with that. I hate those, too flat and not enough travel, pretty much just like every other chinese/taiwanese laptop made today, and netbook/tablet keyboards. Dont get me started. Press one key and I got dsjhewyrgsdyhfewt lol

 

[volvo242gt]

Should try the original M0115. It's a lot better than the M3501 AEK II.

-J

 

[techknight]

Mine is the M3501. I hate it. with a passion. lol. my fingers dont like it. Plus its piss yellow ;-)

my Appledesign keyboard looks brand new. I remember using them in school when the computer lab was full of 5200 roadapples, and those keyboards.

I got my first try at an AEKII when the LC5XX came with them, and i really didnt like it that much then.

Like my PC I use now, I use the mid 90s microsoft keyboard. (not the split type, they sucked). I dont like the Model M that much. it types ok, but i fumble on that one too. This one not so much.

 

[volvo242gt]

If you like the early Mac keyboards (the 128, 512, and Plus versions), you'll probably like the 0115. Has almost the same tactile feel to it that the early boards have. Some of the 3501's did as well, but later versions became rather lackluster in feel.

-J

 

[techknight]

i love the feel of the 128/512/plus keyboards, but they are too loud for my liking though. CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK. lol. Sounds like a bird through the fan blades of a 747. lol.

 

[volvo242gt]

It's a little quieter. Not much in the way of "TONKa-TONKa-TONKa", but the feel is definitely there.

-J

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I still mourn the passing of my beloved DataDesk Mac101, NOTHING from apple compares to the Alps Mechanical Switches or VT-101 styling and KeyCaps the original as far as I'm concerned. I never cared as much for the 101e that came after.

I keep an AEKII handy, but I much prefer the sharp edged sculpting of the AppleDesign's KeyCaps, I think the sculpting of the KeyCaps has a lot more to do with the feel of a KBD than most folks seem to. Snappy mechanical clicking is a bonus, but a really well engineered rubber dome's tactile feedback is good enough. I hated the AppleDesign at first because it's a bit mushier than I like, but it came bundled with the Quadra 630 that I installed in the rug rat's desk so I got used to it . . .

. . . I could use it all I wanted at night without waking the little bugger up . . . ;D

 

[LCGuy]

My two favourite keyboards:

ADB: Apple Extended Keyboard II - this was my favourite keyboard up until the Das came along. Love it.

USB/PS/2: Das Keyboard - just beautiful.

 

[NJRoadfan]

I prefer the AEKII more for its durability than its typing feel. I've had them survive a 4 foot drop keys down onto concrete floors without any damage. Despite having the praised Alps switches, they aren't all that tactile to me as they aren't clicky at all.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

The AEK II that I really like is my Radius Extended Keyboard I )

 

[volvo242gt]

I prefer the AEKII more for its durability than its typing feel. I've had them survive a 4 foot drop keys down onto concrete floors without any damage. Despite having the praised Alps switches, they aren't all that tactile to me as they aren't clicky at all.

That's why I run the older M0115. Feels almost exactly like my Apple //e with the early keyboard.

-J

 

[techknight]

the Apple 2E keyboard wasnt bad.