Author Topic: Mac keyboards (Read 6162 times)

Gregg · « **on:** July 26, 2007, 01:00:24 PM »

I read an article in the WSJ about how Steve Jobs doesn't like buttons. (7/25/07)

In the article, it mentions that the original Mac keyboards had fewer keys than the competition. When Mr. Jobs left Apple in 1985, a new keyboard was introduced, nearly doubling the number of keys! It proved to be quite popular.

Now, I'm curious, but not enough to attempt a lengthy search (I've rarely done a quick one) to find a photo of one of the early keyboards. I'm betting several members had one, or still do, and that a few have enough curiosity, and time, to scrounge up a picture or two. How 'bout it?

Parker · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2007, 03:35:21 PM »

Original keyboard for Apple II

The original macintosh keyboard

Apple IIgs, Mac Classic, etc. (one of the first keyboards with numbers)

and notice... no F# keys (F1, F2, etc.)

The Keyboard with almost double the keys (F keys, numbers, arrows, pg up/down, etc.)

Steve takes a break from Big with apple's first usb keyboard

They change their minds with the USB Pro Keyboard

They go wireless!

THE NEXT GENERATION! No physical keyboard!!!

This may not be complete. Feel free to add

krissel · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2007, 01:58:49 AM »

I'm still typing on my 1995 model Apple Design Keyboard which came with my old Performa. I have a second one that came with my 9600 and it is still in use also. They are ADB but I have one connected to my DA through a USB adapter. I love the feel of these keyboards. Only other keyboard I have felt comfortable using is my Wallstreet....ooooh, that is a beauty.

Here's the oldie (not my personal one cause mine have some letters worn off that I have to redraw occasionally with a Sharpie).

ADB keyboard

Gregg · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2007, 07:42:42 AM »

Thanks for the

s! That pretty much covers it, eh?

I didn't count keys, but "almost double" seems like a stretch at a glance.

Parker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2007, 08:22:51 PM »

The Apple USB Keyboard that they're selling now i find is pretty much the same keyboard as the ADB keyboards that they used to make...

(the only problem is that i get the control and apple keys mixed up... alternate OS perseption

)

and PS:
the iPhone keyboard absolutely stinks!
i tried it today and that's enough to turn me off from buying one of those things

krissel · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2007, 12:45:13 AM »

I hope the present keyboards aren't like the one that came with my Dad's eMac. Sure it has the full amount of keys but the feel is awful. We ended up buying a Kensington keyboard with a better touch. It still isn't as good as the old ADB ones but it is a bit better. There are very subtle differences in these keyboards not only in feel but in the spacing of the keys. I find myself making many more mistakes on my Dad's keyboard than on mine. I think the keys are closer together or slightly offset or something...

One other thing that gets me annoyed is where they put the little finger starting dots. On my keyboards the K and D have the dots but on my Wallstreet the J and the F have the dots. If you use only one keyboard it doesn't matter but switching between them puts me off my speed for a while.

sandbox · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2007, 09:50:56 AM »

On both iBook and eMac have dots on F & J. I don't care for the eMac keyboard and have replaced it with a Logitec. My Beige G3 keyboard has the dots on K&D. It was a quieter and smoother keyboard than the eMac and continues to fuction under constant use in pristine condition, dots misplaced and all.

kcourt · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2007, 11:01:35 AM »

I hated the USB black keyboard - it seemed so cheap and tacky (and little) for such an expensive computer. I changed it as soon as I could.

Kathy

Gregg · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2007, 04:38:18 PM »

QUOTE(krissel @ Jul 28 2007, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One other thing that gets me annoyed is where they put the little finger starting dots. On my keyboards the K and D have the dots but on my Wallstreet the J and the F have the dots.

...one more thing to _ace the competition battle. I hope the K and D win. I think we could do without the J and F much more easily.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:27:29 PM »

Those little 'bumps' are useless for me, I can hardly see them! "Touch Typing" means I actually have to touch the keys instead of merely call out their names!

I also hated those black keyboards, it was nearly impossible to see the letters; too shiny, too dark, lettering too small, etc.

Only gave up the ABD keyboard when I got a slightly smaller USB model. They were/are the best, but I need more space on the real desktop for storing/stacking more junque!

kimmer · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2007, 08:29:25 PM »

QUOTE(krissel @ Jul 27 2007, 10:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One other thing that gets me annoyed is where they put the little finger starting dots. On my keyboards the K and D have the dots but on my Wallstreet the J and the F have the dots.

It's been several years since I've used (or even seen) a typewriter, but weren't the "F" and "J" keys the ones with the home bumps? That's where I remember them anyhow, and that's where I expect them to be. Anywhere else is simply an annoyance and will cause me to put punctuation marks where they don't belong.

My current keyboard is most comfortable. It's the one that came with my G4 Quicksilver. My only dislike is the keys being black -- I cannot read them without 10,000 watts of direct light that then melts the keys. LOL!

I wish I had purchased the white key replacement while it was available; then I'd have keys I could read and my keyboard skin would work.

Gregg · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2007, 07:39:12 AM »

The Dell keyboard here at work has the "bumps" on F and J.

I had a black keyboard for my Macintosh TV. The letters were white. You can't get much more contrast than that. I never had a problem seeing them, but I do "touch type" so it wouldn't have been much of an issue.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2007, 03:26:05 PM »

QUOTE

You can't get much more contrast than that.

Contrast and readability are two although related factors. A thin white line/letter on a highly reflective/shinny black key is more difficult to see than an equal sized black line/letter on a dull, slightly off-white key, IMHO. Thus the improvement when the Mac created a WYSIWYG, black letters on a white screen effect. Oh well, keyboard usability is much more than the color of the keys and letters, anyway. Many are comfortable with typewriter-style, mechanical keys. That feel was mimicked for a while with computers. But it became a matter of ease of assembly and cost so mere electrical switches has become the 'norm'. Many younger users may never have seen much less used an IBM Selectric

and simply don't know how those devices felt. I guess the keyboards became extinct before the 'dinosaurs' who used them!

kimmer · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2007, 03:31:09 PM »

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jul 31 2007, 01:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Many younger users may never have seen much less used an IBM Selectric

and simply don't know how those devices felt. I guess the keyboards became extinct before the 'dinosaurs' who used them!

Hey! Who you calling a dinosaur?

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2007, 04:47:36 PM »

QUOTE

Who you calling a dinosaur?

Why me, of course! But that's mainly because I don't know the feminine form of the word.

But if the fossil fits...

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Author Topic: Mac keyboards (Read 6162 times)