Keyboard home keys

[tbohen]

I'm using my SE/30 as a distraction free writing machine, but one of the biggest issues I have is the keyboard home keys on the D and K keys. Its an "Apple Keyboard"

Did the Keyboard II have the home keys on the F and J where I'm expecting to see them?

If not did any ADB keyboards?

On a side note what is the history behind the home keys being on the D and K.

I may have a bad memory but going back to electronic typewriters in typing class in the late 80's I swore all keyboards had the little bump for the home keys on the F and J???

 

[Anonymous Freak]

It's an Apple thing.

Many older typewriters had no bump on ANY key. Even the pre-ADB Apple keyboards are missing the bump. It was with the ADB era (and the //c, for that matter,) that Apple started putting a bump on. I don't know why they chose D and K, but that became the "Apple standard" up until the USB models. I have one of each ADB Apple keyboard model, and they all have it on D and K. (Again, plus the //c and //c+; I don't know about the //e line.)

 

[tbohen]

Ahh ok, I was confusing the lack of the bumps on the old machines.

Its surprising how distracting it is to touch type when I'm used to the home key bumps on the H and F.

Hmm maybe I can file them off? Or just get used to it I supposed.

 

[Scott Baret]

I remember discussing this exact subject with a fellow Mac user back in seventh grade when ADB keyboards were in the process of being phased out. Apple's ADB keyboards had the bumps on the D and K, as did many of their older keyboards (but not all--the original short Mac keyboards don't have any bumps even though bumps are present on the IIe Enhanced).

The standard F and J bumps came around with the first USB keyboards in 1998.

 

[Dog Cow]

The IIgs keyboard and all IIe (not just enhanced) keyboards also have the bumps on D & K.

IIe

IIgs

 

[luddite]

Why not just switch the key caps? Presumably you don't have to look at them if you're touch typing...

 

[Scott Baret]

If you have the IIGS keyboard (my personal favorite and the one I use on my Classic), it's really easy to switch the caps--they will come off very easily with a very small flat screwdriver with no damage to the keycap. The IIGS keyboard used to be extremely popular with Dvorak keyboard users for this reason.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

And I always like the GS keyboard solely because it has "Control" in the right place. I never noticed that the keycaps are easy to move...

Interesting. You learn something new every day. Even if the knowledge is nearly 25 years old...