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{{TODO photo|more=true|reason=evidence of the M0312}} {{infobox dkeyboard | image name = AEKII-front.jpg | model = M0312, M3501 | branding = [[Apple]] | manufacturer = [[Alps Electric]], [[Mitsumi]] | switch = [[Alps SKCM Salmon]]<br>[[Alps SKCM Ivory]]<br>[[Alps SKCM White Damped]]<br>[[Mitsumi standard mechanical]] | layouts = 108-key (ANSI), 109-key (ISO) Macintosh | interface = [[Apple Desktop Bus|ADB]] | weight = | years = 1990–1995 | price = | fcc = BCGM0312, BCGM3501 | switchmount = [[switch mount|plate-mount]] | supersedes = [[Apple Extended Keyboard]] | precedes = [[AppleDesign Keyboard]] }} The '''Apple Extended Keyboard II''' (AEKII) is a keyboard that was shipped with [[Apple]] Macintosh computers in the early 1990s. The AEKII is the successor to the [[Apple Extended Keyboard]] (AEK) and is smaller, quieter, and more refined. The AEKII was the last mechanical keyboard by Apple. It was succeeded by the much cheaper [[AppleDesign Keyboard]] [[rubber dome]] board. ==Variations== Variations of this keyboard found to date: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Model number ! FCC ID ! Made in ! Switch ! Copyright(s) |- | rowspan=2 | M0312{{Citation needed|reason=There is no evidence of this model|date=September 2021}} | rowspan=2 | BCGM0312{{Citation needed|reason=There is no evidence of this FCC ID|date=September 2021}} | rowspan=2 | USA | [[Alps SKCM Ivory]] | |- | [[Alps SKCM Salmon]] | |- | rowspan=7 | M3501 | rowspan=7 | BCGM3501 | rowspan=3 | USA | [[Alps SKCM Salmon]] | 1989, 1990 |- | [[Alps SKCM Ivory]] | 1990 |- | [[Alps SKCM Ivory]] | 1990, 1995 |- | Mexico | [[Alps SKCM White Damped]] | 1995 |- | rowspan=2 | Ireland | [[Alps SKCM Ivory]] | 1989, 1995 |- | [[Alps SKCM White Damped]] | 1989, 1995 |- | Japan | [[Mitsumi standard mechanical]] (linear) | 1989 |- |} ===Model numbers=== There are two model numbers: M0312 and M3501. The FCC IDs are BCGM0312{{Citation needed|reason=There is no evidence of this FCC ID|date=September 2021}} and BCGM3501 respectively. Citation: ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/322584991800, from dealer "jonathangoldman" (retrieved 01/01/2024). This auction was for multiple new-in-box keyboards. The box listed in the ad is very clearly labeled "Apple Extended Keyboard." A black and white sticker that reads "M0312" is clearly visible with a bar code "718908001691." "Made in Mexico" is also on the sticker. "Copyright 1991" is printed on the box. Another ebay auction, https://www.ebay.com/itm/402782801083, from dealer "appleantiques" (retrieved 01/01/2024) has a listing selling multiple Apple Extended Keyboard IIs: "For your consideration at this wonderful auction is a used vintage beige Apple Extended Keyboard II, model numbers M3501 and M0312. Fully tested and working. Keyboard has WHITE switches - I do not have any of these keyboards with salmon or orange alps switches. Product shown in photo shows the shape for this model of keyboard, and is not the precise unit being shipped. Keyboard has manufacture dates of 1990 and 1995." There is a backup of a page from clickykeyboards.com at https://web.archive.org/web/20090103012904/http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/9231/subcatid/0/id/312521 (from 2009; retrieved 01/01/2024). It shows pictures of a box for an M0312, but the actual keyboard being sold is clearly labeled "M3501." No year is shown in any of the pictures. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=25972.0 (retrieved 01/01/2024) says that the M0312 has cream damped Alps switches. There is also a lengthy discussion at https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=4178.0 (retrieved 01/01/2024) comparing the M0312 to the common M3501. ===Serial numbers=== The serial numbers of all M0312s contain "M0312" at the end. The serial numbers of some M3501s contain "M0312" at the end while others contain "M3501". As with other Apple keyboard models, the first letter of the serial number indicates the OEM, with "M" for Mitsumi and "A" for Alps. ===Switches=== ====Alps SKCM Ivory==== The most common switch in the Apple Extended Keyboard. The slider has a cream off-white colour. The switches are tactile and comparatively quiet. The sound is dampened by small rubber inserts on either side of the [[slider]] which cushions the impact at the end of both the downstroke and the upstroke. Because of the dampening and high tactile point of the Ivory Alps switches, the keyboards are sometimes mistaken for having rubber dome switches. This switch has been "resurrected" in the form of the [[Matias switch#Matias Quiet switch|Matias Quiet switch]]. If the label has a symbol in the bottom right corner of a 'S' within a square, then that is an indicator that the keyboard has dampened switches. These have only been spotted on M3501s made in the USA or Mexico with ivory or white damped switches. Keyboards made in Ireland (of which all had ivory switches) have not been spotted with the symbol. ====Alps SKCM Salmon==== A tactile switch with pink/salmon-coloured slider. The feel is similar to ivory Alps, except that the slider does not have rubber bumpers and they therefore bottom out hard. All AEKII with Salmon Alps have been made in USA. ====Mitsumi standard mechanical==== All-white [[Mitsumi standard mechanical]], with Alps mount sliders. The switches are faintly tactile, and reportedly relatively silent. All AEKII with these switches have been made in Japan. Keyboard PCBs have also been made by Mitsumi. ====Alps SKCM White Damped==== A rare variation of the Ivory Alps switch, with the biggest difference that the sliders are pure white. The tactile leaf inside the switch is somewhat different from the Ivory Alps, but the switch is reported to feel practically the same. Not to be mistaken for other White Alps switches that are clicky. ===Layouts=== Non-US layouts have symbols on the non-alphanumeric keys instead of words. The alphanumeric keys section is 15u wide, compared to 14.5u on [[Apple Standard Keyboard]]. On [[ISO]] keyboards, the keys in the leftmost column on the main keyboard are 0.25u wider, and the keys in the rightmost column are 0.25u narrower compared to ANSI keyboards. This means that the alphanumeric keys on ISO keyboards are shifted 0.25 right in comparison and the vertical [[return key]] is 0.25u narrower than most other ISO Enter/Return keys (but not as narrow as on the [[Apple M0118]]). All keyboards made in Japan have had ANSI layouts. ISO layout keyboards have been built in Ireland. ==Construction== The construction of the keyboard is quite unconventional by today's standards. The keyboard is an evolution of the [[Apple Extended Keyboard]], designed in the "Snow White Design Language" formulated by Frog Design and used in Apple products from 1984 onwards. === Case === The case has smaller borders than the [[Apple Extended Keyboard|AEK]] and the Apple logo has moved from the left side to above the Escape key. It is held together with only one screw. It also has a new retractable foot near the back to tilt the keyboard. The single large foot is unusual in its construction in that it is manipulated by moving a slider on the rear which moves the foot by action of an inclined plane. Like the AEK, there are two knobs on the sides of the function row for holding an overlay. There are also [[light-emitting diode|LED]]s for [[caps lock]], [[scroll lock]] and [[num lock]] above the [[numeric keypad]]. === Internals === The Caps Lock key has a latching key switch. Switches for the modifier keys and Caps Lock are on dedicated lines so as not to impair other keys, which are in a [[keyboard matrix]] without diodes. The two Command keys are joined on the same line — and read as the same key. The switches are mounted in a steel plate and printed circuit board. The plate has tabs on the front which interlocks into the single rubber foot on the underside; the plate and foot are holding each other in place without glue. There is one [[Apple Desktop Bus|ADB]] port on the left and one on the right side. Either one can be connected to the host computer, while the other is usually used for a mouse. Each port is mounted on a separate PCB connected to the main PCB with a ribbon cable. === Keycaps === The [[keycap]]s, with the exception of the space bar, are made of [[PBT]] with [[dye sublimation|dye-sublimated]] [[legend]]s in the [[keyboard fonts|font]] ''Univers 57 Oblique''. The space bar is probably made of ABS, and yellows as fast as the case. The profile of the keycaps is special to Apple. It is as if the rows were shifted one step down compared to the "standard" profile used by most other keyboards with [[Keycap mount#Z_mount|Alps mount]] on key switches. The top of the case has a slight curve, and each keycap's skirt reaches down only to match that curve. The keys on the [[function keys|function key]] row are special in that the mount is vertical and not horizontal as on other rows. The reason for this is probably to avoid vertical wobble, as these keys are the highest on the keyboard (two rows above number row). ==Gallery== ===SKCM Salmon=== <gallery widths=250 heights=187 caption="M3501, made in USA ©1989"> File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 89 -- top.jpg | Top File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 89 -- rear label.jpg | Rear label File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 89 -- switches.jpg | Switches File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 89 -- switch.jpg | Switch File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA -- PCB.jpg | PCB branding </gallery> <gallery widths=250 heights=187 caption="M3501, made in USA ©1990"> File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 90 -- top.jpg | Top File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 90 -- rear label.jpg | Rear label File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 90 -- switches.jpg | Switches File:Apple Extended II Salmon USA 90 -- switch.jpg | Switch </gallery> ===SKCM Ivory=== <gallery widths=250 heights=187 caption="M3501, made in USA"> File:Apple Extended II Cream Damped USA -- top.jpg | Top File:Apple Extended II Cream Damped USA -- rear label.jpg | Rear label File:Apple Extended II Cream Damped USA -- switches.jpg | Switches File:Apple Extended II Cream Damped USA -- switch.jpg | Switch </gallery> <gallery widths=250 heights=187 caption="M3501, made in Ireland"> File:AEKII-front.jpg | Top File:AEKII-back.jpg | Bottom File:AEKII-creamALPS.jpg | Switches File:AEKII-adjust.jpg | Height adjustment </gallery> ===SKCM White Damped=== <gallery widths=250 heights=187 caption="M3501, made in Mexico"> File:Apple Extended II White Damped Mex -- top.jpg | Top File:Apple Extended II White Damped Mex -- rear label.jpg | Rear label File:Apple Extended II White Damped Mex -- switches.jpg | Switches File:Apple Extended II White Damped Mex -- switch.jpg | Switch </gallery> ===Mitsumi=== <gallery widths=250 heights=187> File:Apple Extended II Mitsumi -- top.jpg | Top File:Apple Extended II Mitsumi -- label.jpg | Rear label File:Apple Extended II Mitsumi -- switches.jpg | Switches File:Apple Extended II Mitsumi -- switch close-up.jpg | Switch close-up File:Apple Extended II Mitsumi -- PCB.jpg | PCB branding </gallery> ==Modifications== Replacement circuit boards: * [https://github.com/kb-elmo/aek2_usb AEK II USB]—replacement PCB on Github (ANSI). For ATmega32A - all through-hole components. * [https://github.com/djvs/aek djvs' AEK[2]]— replacement PCB on Github (ANSI). Uses a SMD ATmega32u4 MCU. Support for RGB indicator LEDs and [[Cherry MX]] switches ==See also== * [[Apple Extended Keyboard]], the predecessor model. * Matias [[Matias Tactile Pro|Tactile Pro and Quiet Pro]]: these both use the new [[Matias switch]]es after the discontinuation of the [[Alps SKBL/SKBM series]]; the Tactile Pro range was designed as the spiritual successor to the Extended Keyboard and the new Quiet Pro has damped switches similar to those in the Extended Keyboard II. ==External links== * Tommy Thomas. [http://lowendmac.com/thomas/06/1019.html Apple's Extended Keyboard II: Sequel to a Legend], lowendmac.com 2006-10-19. * パンミア. [http://kbd.rzw.jp/column/apple_extended_keyboard_ii_m3501/ Apple Extended Keyboard II M3501 各種比較 まとめ], kbd.rzw.jp, 2012-12-31 * Sandy: [http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/apple_aek-II%20m3501.html APPLE EXTENDED KEYBOARD II], A little bit of keyboards, 2013-02-04. * Mousefan: [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/ext2m.htm AppleExtendedKeyboardⅡ M3501 MITSUMI JAPAN 91], 2004-10-10 * Mousefan: [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/ext2.htm Apple Extended KeyboardⅡ ADB Made in USA], 2004-03-01 [[Category:List of all keyboards]] [[Category:Apple keyboards]] [[Category:Keyboards with Alps SKCL/SKCM switches]] [[Category:Keyboards with Mitsumi switches]] [[Category:Office keyboards]] [[Category:Vintage keyboards]]
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