The Apple Extended Keyboard is a keyboard

Keyboard (computing)

In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...

 that was first sold separately alongside the Macintosh II

Macintosh II

The Apple Macintosh II was the first personal computer model of the Macintosh II series in the Apple Macintosh line and the first Macintosh to support a color display.- History :...

 and SE

Macintosh SE

The Macintosh SE was a personal computer manufactured by Apple between March 1987 and October 1990. This computer marked a significant improvement on the Macintosh Plus design and was introduced by Apple at the same time as the Macintosh II....

.
Later the Apple Extended Keyboard II prepackaged with Apple Professional Desktops during the early 1990s (starting with the Macintosh IIsi

Macintosh IIsi

The Macintosh IIsi was a compact three-box desktop unit, effectively a cut-down Macintosh IIci in a smaller case , made cheaper by the redesign of the motherboard and the deletion of all but one of the expansion card slots...

 in October 1990). These keyboards are widely considered by enthusiasts to represent the golden era of Macintosh Keyboards and are fondly remembered by many. Retrospective articles credit the success of the product to a combination of sound, feel and durability.

Unique features

Among the features that make this keyboard unique are:

• Caps Lock Key that physically locks down when activated, considered to be better for touch typists
• Alps Electric Co.
  Alps Electric Co.
  produces electronic devices, including potentiometers and touchpads. Alps is a multinational corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company was established in 1948. As of August of 2010, the CEO is Masataka Kataoka...
  
   brand mechanical key switches, credited for their good sound and feel
• Large spacing between keys, especially the top function keys and others
• The width of the keyboard matches the width of the Macintosh II
• The height allows it to fit under the "chin" of the Macintosh SE

Resurrection

Many are still using this keyboard through the use of ADB to USB converters.

Matias now makes their third revision of a keyboard called the Tactile Pro. It is made using keyswitches similar to those used in the Apple Extended Keyboard.

Trivia

• The Apple Extended Keyboard was nicknamed "USS Enterprise" for its size
• The Apple Extended Keyboard (M0115) was code-named "Dörfer" and "Saratoga";
• The Apple Extended Keyboard II (M3501) was code-named "Elmer" and "Nimitz";
• The European version was code named "Odin" which was a contraction of Euro and DIN.
• There are partisans for both versions of the Apple Extended Keyboard as the better keyboard.
• The Design Patent for the Extended Keyboard II (D335,228) was filed on November 15, 1990.
• Steven Peart (frogdesign) was responsible for the industrial design and Dexter Francis (Apple Peripheral Products Group) was the Apple in-house project lead/product designer.

External links

• The Legendary Apple Extended Keyboard (Lowendmac.com)
• The Talk Show Episode 20 - A podcast with commentary and discussion about the Apple Extended Keyboards (April, 2008)
• Alps Electric Co. US patent for Pushbutton switch with aural confirmation of operation
• geekhack photos of the Apple Extended Keyboard mechanisms