Apparently, the Apple /// has double-action cursor key switches. Apparently.
I love unreferenced claims. I have no proof to offer, but you can see the switches here, which seem to be from another series entirely:
http://appletothecore.me/files/original_apple_III.php
I've asked for a bigger photo and/or more details — I don't recognise the double-action switches.
Apple /// double-action switches
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Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
-
Findecanor
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
Sorry about that; I had submitted the edit prematurely... I had found it first here: Adrian Black on Youtube: The Apple III: My mini review and repair and then I looked around for a better reference but never found any.
Edit: I added that reference to Cursor keys now.
I also found the page you linked to be the best page that shows the switches. I think they look like the Alps SKFF on the Canon AP400.
I found a user on Geekhack that has (or has had) an Apple III, and asked that user to compare his switches to a picture in the thread here.
Edit: I added that reference to Cursor keys now.
I also found the page you linked to be the best page that shows the switches. I think they look like the Alps SKFF on the Canon AP400.
I found a user on Geekhack that has (or has had) an Apple III, and asked that user to compare his switches to a picture in the thread here.
-
Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Yes, SKFF confirmed. Identical to the ones in the Canon AP-400. Picture maybe forthcoming.
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snuci
- Vintage computer guy
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- DT Pro Member: 0131
- Contact:
In addition:
From the Apple II Service Reference Manual - Page 0145 of 0730
THE KEYBOARD
The Apple III has a built-tn 74 key typewriter-like keyboard which includes
full alpha/numerics, four cursor control keys, two special function keys, and
a numeric keypad. It has full upper and lower case ASCII code generation
capability as well as full incorporation of Apple ][ functions.
The drawing on the previous page shows the standard keyboard legend and
details the keystation number. Note that in addition to the 74 keys there is
a recessed Reset key. Every key on the keyboard can be observed individually
by the software. The Control and Shift keys modify the key codes when
presented to the system.
The keyboard is electrically connected to the main circuit board by a 26 conductor
ribbon cable. The cable plugs into a socket on the keyboard and the
main circuit board. The signal assignment is shown on the Pin Signal Assignment
table.
Repeat Functions
Any key held down for more then 1/2 second is automatically activated to repeat
at a 10 CPS rate. A high speed (30 CPS) repeat function is activated by
holding down the closed Apple key (Key #68) after depressing and holding the
key to be repeated. An idiosyncracy of the Apple III is that if the closed
Apple key is depressed before another key, it is displayed as only one character.
If it is depressed after another key, the high speed repeat is
activated.
The four cursor contiol keys (63, 70, 71, 72) are two-contact keys. This
means that as the key is partially depressed, it makes its first contact
generating a signal code. When it is fully depressed, it will make a second
contact, automatically activating a high speed repeat of that key.
READING THE KEYBOARD
The keyboard can be thought of as two hardware ports (busses) that can provide
two distinct types of data. The first type is ASCII, which is addressed by
Memory Address C000; we will call this the KA port. The KA port always contains
the lower 7 bits of the ASCII code and, like the Apple }{, uses the MSB as a 'keyboard
data ready' flag. The second type of data is addressed by
Memory Address C008; we call this the KB port. The KB port looks at the
"direct connect" keys and at the eighth bit of the key code. A summary of the
bit meanings for these two types of data is shown in the table at the top of
the following page.
From the Apple II Service Reference Manual - Page 0145 of 0730
THE KEYBOARD
The Apple III has a built-tn 74 key typewriter-like keyboard which includes
full alpha/numerics, four cursor control keys, two special function keys, and
a numeric keypad. It has full upper and lower case ASCII code generation
capability as well as full incorporation of Apple ][ functions.
The drawing on the previous page shows the standard keyboard legend and
details the keystation number. Note that in addition to the 74 keys there is
a recessed Reset key. Every key on the keyboard can be observed individually
by the software. The Control and Shift keys modify the key codes when
presented to the system.
The keyboard is electrically connected to the main circuit board by a 26 conductor
ribbon cable. The cable plugs into a socket on the keyboard and the
main circuit board. The signal assignment is shown on the Pin Signal Assignment
table.
Repeat Functions
Any key held down for more then 1/2 second is automatically activated to repeat
at a 10 CPS rate. A high speed (30 CPS) repeat function is activated by
holding down the closed Apple key (Key #68) after depressing and holding the
key to be repeated. An idiosyncracy of the Apple III is that if the closed
Apple key is depressed before another key, it is displayed as only one character.
If it is depressed after another key, the high speed repeat is
activated.
The four cursor contiol keys (63, 70, 71, 72) are two-contact keys. This
means that as the key is partially depressed, it makes its first contact
generating a signal code. When it is fully depressed, it will make a second
contact, automatically activating a high speed repeat of that key.
READING THE KEYBOARD
The keyboard can be thought of as two hardware ports (busses) that can provide
two distinct types of data. The first type is ASCII, which is addressed by
Memory Address C000; we will call this the KA port. The KA port always contains
the lower 7 bits of the ASCII code and, like the Apple }{, uses the MSB as a 'keyboard
data ready' flag. The second type of data is addressed by
Memory Address C008; we call this the KB port. The KB port looks at the
"direct connect" keys and at the eighth bit of the key code. A summary of the
bit meanings for these two types of data is shown in the table at the top of
the following page.
-
Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I do have a photo of the whole keyboard that we can use, but you're welcome to shoot the keyboard in more detail.
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Findecanor
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
Picture from clicketyClackety:
Looks to me like the exact same switches as on the Canon AP400 typewriter, i.e. Alps SKFF Double Action Black.
- 7ee745c126f2da1f8c51265e8de84d97.jpg (89.25 KiB) Viewed 2807 times
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Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
There are two versions, black and white. One uses an external spring for simplicity, and the other is self-contained. The Apple /// has used both. I seem to recall that the black type is later.