Apple Extended Keyboard

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Apple Extended Keyboard

Apple Extended II Keyboard
Developer	Apple Computer
Type	Keyboard (computing)
Release date	April, 1987
Introductory price	US$163
Discontinued	1990

The Apple Extended Keyboard is a keyboard that was first sold separately alongside the Macintosh II and SE, and later prepackaged with Apple Professional Desktops during the early 1990s (starting with the Macintosh IIsi in October 1990). The keyboard is widely considered by enthusiasts to represent the golden era of Macintosh Keyboards and is fondly remembered by many. Retrospective articles credit the success of the product to a combination of sound, feel and durability.

Contents 1 Unique features 2 Resurrection 3 Trivia 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Unique features

There are a couple of features that make this keyboard unique:

• Caps Lock Key that physically locks down when activated, considered to be better for touch typists
• Alps brand key switches, credited for their good sound and feel
• Large spacing between keys, especially the top function keys and others
• The width of the keyboard matches the width of the Macintosh II
• The height allows it to fit under the "chin" of the Macintosh II

[edit] Resurrection

Many are still using this keyboard through the use of ADB to USB converters.

Matias now makes a keyboard called the Tactile Pro, made using keyswitches similar to those used in the Apple Extended Keyboard.

[edit] Trivia

• The Apple Extended Keyboard was nick-named "USS Enterprise" for its size ^[1]
• The Apple Extended Keyboard (M0115) was code-named "Dörfer" and "Saratoga";
• The Apple Extended Keyboard II (M3501) was code-named "Elmer" and "Nimitz";
• The European version was code named "Odin" which was a contraction of Euro and DIN.
• There are partisans for both versions of the Apple Extended Keyboard as the better keyboard ^[2]
• The Design Patent for the Extended Keyboard II (D335,228) was filed on November 15, 1990
• Steven Peart (frogdesign) was responsible for the industrial design and Dexter Francis (Apple Peripheral Products Group) was the Apple in-house project lead/product designer.

[edit] See also

• Apple Keyboard

[edit] References

1. ^ Wingfield, Nick, Hide the Button: Steve Jobs Has His Finger on It, http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB118532502435077009.html 
2. ^ Thomas, Tommy, Apple's Extended Keyboard II: Sequel to a Legend, http://lowendmac.com/thomas/06/1019.html 

[edit] External links

• The Legendary Apple Extended Keyboard (Lowendmac.com)
• The "Battleship" - picture of an Apple Extended Keyboard
• The Talk Show Episode 20 - A podcast with commentary and discussion about the Apple Extended Keyboards (April, 2008)

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