Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard

This article requires additional photographic illustration — replacement orange Alps photo set (more open licensing and photos of the PCB, ICs and caps lock switch), and a replacement set of photos of the salmon Alps keyboard that actually show the switches, as the missing photos will not be added to the existing photo set

Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard

Model no.	A9M0330 (except older Alps version)
Part number	658-4081 (older Alps version)
FCC ID	BCG5ARA9M0330 (newer Alps version) BCG47FA9M0330 (SMK version)
Branding	Apple
Manufacturer	Alps Electric, SMK
Keyswitches	Alps SKCM Orange Alps SKCM Salmon SMK Alps mount
Interface	Apple Desktop Bus
Years of production	1986–1992

The Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard was sold with the Apple IIGS computer; as such, it is often referred to as the Apple IIGS Keyboard.

The Apple IIGS and its keyboard were the first Apple products to have:

• Apple Desktop Bus, including an extra port for a daisy-chained connection to the Apple Desktop Bus Mouse
• Power button on the keyboard
• "Platinum" design

Variants

Alps

Made in Japan. Alps SKCM Orange and Salmon switches. Caps lock is Alps SKCL Lock; in one orange Alps version, this switch is cream.<ref>Think Different — Apple II gs Keyboard수리 II</ref> The change to salmon Alps may coincide with the apparent discontinuation of orange Alps around 1991.

Most instances of these keyboards have a simple label, with part number 658-4081.<ref name="DT-Orange-SMK" /> At some stage, the rear label was brought in line with the Taiwan-made version; these are labelled as model A9M0330 as per the SMK version.<ref>바람,별,구름 — Apple iigs 신품</ref> It would appear that the keyboards with the new label are the ones with salmon Alps switches, but this is presently speculation.

The yellowing characteristics suggest ABS for the case and space bar, and a different material (e.g. PBT) for the remaining keys.<ref>Flickr — Newton Keyboard Size vs. Apple IIgs Keyboard</ref>

Orange Alps

This is likely the earlier version from Alps, with a simple rear label and orange Alps switches.

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  Top
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  Bottom
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  Rear label
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  Orange Alps switch

Salmon Alps

There appears to be correspondence between the use of salmon Alps switches and the revised rear label that matches the label found on the SMK-made version.

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  Top view
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  Bottom view
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  Right side profile
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  Left side profile
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  ADB port detail
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  Detail of Apple logo and power key
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  Opening case
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  Without case
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  Controller, dated 9041
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  PCB
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  PCB detail showing Apple Computer logo
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  PCB detail showing ALPS logo
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  Product label; note the newer design

SMK

Made in Taiwan, with white tactile SMK Alps mount switches.<ref>Mousefan — Apple A9M0330 ADB TAIWAN</ref> The PCB has an SMK part number (2J-M9020-02B), and Apple's Technical Procedures refers to the switches as being SMK.<ref name="A2GSTP" /> The SMK version has double-shot moulded keycaps, which are slightly darker in colour than the Alps version.

The example below is from ca. 1988, while MouseFan's example is from 1987.

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  Some key caps removed
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  SMK switches exposed
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  Close up of locking SMK key switch on left
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  Keyboard controller, dated 8844
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  Rear label
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  Keyboard assembly rear
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  Rear of PCB
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  PCB markings

External links

• Apple IIGS on Wikipedia.
• Geekhack — Keyboards with ADB port

References

<references> <ref name="DT-Orange-SMK">Deskthority — Apple Desktop Bus Keyboards (or Apple IIGS)</ref> <ref name="A2GSTP">ftp.apple.asimov.net — Apple IIGS Technical Procedures (page 5.10)</ref> </references>