Hello to all AF-members,
while searching in old elektor magazins resulting from a demand for translation of another
project in my site i stumbled across a issue from 1978 that published a DIY project of making
a ASCII keyboard including the film for creating a PCB and the complete decoding and the circuitplan.
The entire description is in english language.
This is a quite good alternative to create a keyboard for use also with Apple 1 clones.
Therefor i decided to launch a page with the entire description and the related updates:
http://www.appleii-box.de/A20_ASCIIkeyboard.htm
There is also a link to a downloadable file of the content of that page.
Have fun....
sincerely
speedyG
Nice find SpeedyG
Wendell Sander has built a very nice Apple1/Apple II keyboard. The description is on his site.
http://www.apple1notes.com/old_apple/Peripheral_Boards.html
I think what most people will find is that building a custom keyboard with mechanical switches from scratch is an expensive proposition. Unless you can get the switches and keycaps from a donor keyboard, the cost really adds up.
I have most of a layout done for a similar Datanetics clone keyboard that uses Cherry keyswitches, and would use a modern micro controller for decoder. It was going to be setup to work with either an Apple 1 or as an Apple II replacement. However, it just seemed to me that the price of the thing would limit the market to a very few people and those people would probably rather have a true Datanetics clone for the Apple 1 or find a real Apple II keyboard for that system.
regards,
Mike Willegal
Hello Mike,
last year i would have agreed 100% with your opinion.....
but in ther meantime (at least here in Europe ) the price for a Apple II keyboard ( even a clone one ! )
have raised up to 100 Euro ( aprox. 115 bucks ) and more.....
so in the meantime if you have a chance to get such a singlesided PCB etched by hobby equipment
and a chance to pick up very old IBM keyboard from the dumpyard ....
well - then such a DIY project can be realized for aprox. 50 Bucks....
and that ( at least here in Europe ) is an alternate chance.....
At US market situation is far better to snatch a keyboard from a recycler ....
there i still agree with your remarks...
speedyG
Mike,
Just FYI - I would buy that kit in a heartbeat if it worked in a II+. I have a broken foil keyboard in a II+ that I have given up on saving. A replacement with modern components would be a gift at any price.
Hello bushnrvn.,
in that case i´d recommend to send Mike a pm for info on terms of buy and shipment......
sincerely
speedyG