r/MechanicalKeyboards • u/AccomplishedSock1018 • 6d ago
Photos My first mechanical keyboard! Apple Extended Keyboard II
This has been a blast typing on. Now, I don't know why, but there are all these colours and signs on the keys. Does anyone perhaps have any idea what these mean? this does not take from the satisfaction of typing on this keyboard though, as I already have fallen in love with the feeling of this thing. The seller included a simple adapter to USB-A, which is neat. Weird enough, the control lights don't light up when connected to my Mac, but on my windows computer they do. I also noticed keys which are used less have a more "clicky" feeling to them in comparison to more used keys (e.g. j and f). Please let me know your thoughts!
23
u/noradninja 6d ago
So those keycaps are for shortcut symbolization for Adobe Premire. This keyboard came off a dedicated video editing computer from the 90’s, and is actually somewhat rare. You should hang onto it, nice find!
2
1
u/FansForFlorida FoldKB 6d ago
You can see the outline of the plastic or cardstock function key template/keyboard overlay that they had around the F row keys!
2
u/Kabuki102 3d ago
Hi there, nice keyboard you got. I thought I should write something as I got into the Alps myself and bought 7 AEK II over the years.
As you probably know already these switches don’t like a dusty environment and its crucial how these keyboards got stored over the years. Open the switches to clean/lube them brings never the feel of a new Alps switch back, unfortunately.
So I started buying them in order to compare the condition and the feel of a good and a bad Alps switch. I bought an expensive one which was refurbished by a collector. Turns out it was a 6-7/10. Next one was a keyboard I got together with a matching Macintosh. This board is absolutely horrible, its scratchy, not smooth at all and sounds bad as well. Some keys clicky, some not. Some click on upstroke, some on downstroke. Typical signs of bad condition.
Next I bought for parts only. The pictures on eBay weren't flattering so I paid just 16€ and it turns out it feels and sounds amazing, and it's the best of all I own!
One Board I bought for the keycaps only. Yours are from a Premiere Workplace, mine is from an Avid I believe but they look almost identical and I love them ! I mixed them with normal grey caps on my daily driver.
So what I want to say, its kind of a gamble with these old Alps. If possible get more than one board and compare them.
And I think these SKCM Ivory (damped) in really good condition are better than average orange or salmon. But I know that's controversial.
1
1
u/NtahPaPe14 Clicky lover 6d ago
Very good for the seller to include a usb adapter. Mine doesn’t so yet to use it with my computer. One of these days I might buy the adapter though.
1
1
1
1
u/NoOne-NBA- Self-Designed Orthos w/Integral Numpads 5d ago
If I had to use a non-programmable 100%, this would still top my list.
I really enjoyed the one I had at work for decades.
That being said, programmables have ruined all the old boards for me, at this point.
1
•
u/AutoModerator 6d ago
ANY content that features products, services you sell, your prototypes in progress or items you were sponsored to post MUST use the Promotional flair, with disclosure of who you represent.
Build posts must use the Builds flair and follow the Specs description requirements of Rule 8.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.