Apple Keyboard II

Apple Keyboard II
Model no.	M0487
Branding	Apple
Manufacturer	Mitsumi; SMK
Keyswitches	Tactile Mitsumi KPQ Type; SMK spring over membrane; SMK Alps mount (caps lock)
Keycaps	Pad-printed cylindrical
Interface	ADB
Introduced	1990
Supersedes	Apple Standard Keyboard

This article requires photographic illustration — need photos of the other variant

The Apple Keyboard II, family number M0487, is a low-cost keyboard from Apple, supplied with the Macintosh Classic and Macintosh LC.

Description

The Apple Keyboard II features two bidirectional ADB ports that function either as upstream (to connect to the computer or another ADB device higher up the chain) or downstream (for connecting the mouse or downstream peripherals). The cable is detachable and connects to either ADB port, with the mouse normally connected to the other port. Right-handed people would typically use the right-hand ADB port for the mouse, and left-handed people would use the port on the left; the other port is used for the keyboard cable.

The caps lock key uses a latching action switch.

The keycaps are pad printed, and have Apple's typical bottom-left legends with italic type.

Variants

Mitsumi

The Mitsumi variant uses sliders with conductive rubber feet, that make contact with a single-layer membrane. Above the plastic key plate, rubber cups are placed to provide the return spring function and tactility. The caps lock key uses a Mitsumi membrane lock switch.

The example below has a manufacture date of 1991-05-24.

Full keyboard with detachable coiled cable
Mitsumi KPQ Type switches
Keyboard opened up
Membrane connector
Rear with label
The base, rigid metal membrane backplate, and single membrane layer
Membrane sheet
Metal backplate
Date of manufacture embossing
Controller board and chip
Rear of the controller board
Switches and keycaps; the latching switch under Caps Lock can be seen
Rear of the switch system, showing the conductive feet on the sliders

Apple Keyboard II JP with ISO Enter and transformation keys are always the Mitsumi variant.

Full keyboard (JP ISO)
Mitsumi KPQ Type switches

SMK

The SMK variant uses SMK spring over membrane, with Alps-mount sliders.^[1]

The caps lock switch is SMK Alps mount lock. This single discrete switch is soldered to its own PCB and connected to the controller via flying leads.

The guide plate appears to be produced flat and then folded into shape; with very little effort, the segments for each row of keys can be snapped off.