Thread

SE/30: Original Keyboard / BBSs

SE/30: Original Keyboard / BBSs Peripherals 28 posts Jan 26, 2009 — Feb 2, 2009

#1 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 - 20:35

Hi,

My first post, this is a great forum with a vast amount of information

I recently bought a SE/30 on eBay and I'm working on restoring it to it's original condition

I have searched around and found some stock SE/30 images the machine sitting with the IIGS keyboard as well as the standard original ADB keyboard

Which one original came with the machine by default?

What's a good BBS that is still alive (active) and kicking today? That I could access with MacTerminal?

#2 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 - 20:39

The original Apple ADB Keyboard (called, simply the Apple Keyboard) would've come with the SE/30.

Unfortunately I can't imagine many BBS's would still be alive and kicking today.

#3 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 - 20:55

I figured that when I started finding pictures of the SE with the standard full keyboard, d'oh

I have a IIgs keyboard on the way, if its crap I'll just have to go searching for the fullsize

Thanks for your reply/time

#4 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 - 21:43

A look at bulletin board systems in wikipedia suggests

http://www.telnetbbsguide.com/dialbbs/dialbbs.htm [

] ]'>

#5 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 - 23:24

I have a IIgs keyboard on the way, if its crap I'll just have to go searching for the fullsize

Not very high expectations? There are some who hold it in high regard, the best keyboard ever made!

#6 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 00:18

A look at bulletin board systems in wikipedia suggestshttp://www.telnetbbsguide.com/dialbbs/dialbbs.htm [] ]'>

Actually I think what I am looking for is more of a terminal accessible BBS from the internet, not of the dial in type

We don't have a landline so dialing in isn't an option at the moment

Where would you find zterminal or MacTerminal now a days? System 6 Heaven's mirrors are down

#7 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 01:36

IIRC the SE series did not come with keyboards in the box. It could have come with just about anything considering its run was from January 1989 until October 1991. I've seen IIGS keyboards, both types of extended, the original "clicky" short keyboard, and, with the later models, the Keyboard II.

#8 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 02:43

I also don't think the SE came with a keyboard. You had the choice of the Apple Keyboard or the Apple Extended, both sold separately, or you could buy any one of a number of third part keyboards.

#9 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 04:38

That certainly does make sense many of machines in the 80s were just the machine it self

#10 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 05:26

Actually I think what I am looking for is more of a terminal accessible BBS from the internet, not of the dial in type

See sig ;-)

No games, no files... mostly inane chatter, but we likes it.

There's also Age of Reason at telnet://aor.retroarchive.org running on an Apple IIe; the RetroBBS (home of RetroChallenge) at telnet://lorance.no-ip.org and (for now at least) RetroBaud at telnet://retrobaud.dyndns.org

BTW, the IIgs keyboard is really nice IMHO, but there are many who disagree.

#11 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 07:36

That certainly does make sense many of machines in the 80s were just the machine it self

Yep, Apple was at the height of its greed with Jean-Louis Gassée and John Scully practically giddy with the prospect of charging ultra premiums since they believed they had the monopoly on the GUI.

Here's the proof the SE lacked a keyboard:

http://www.vectronicsappleworld.com/ads/ads/macintosh/sespecs4.jpg

#12 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 10:27

The IIGS keyboard is well-liked by those with smaller fingers, as the area on which the key can be pressed is somewhat smaller than other ADB keyboards. Try one before you buy one, if you can.

If you are interested in the feel of the keyboard, the extended keyboards (I and II), IIGS keyboard, and original ADB "short" keyboard are clicky in nature. The Apple Keyboard II (the newer short keyboard) is not clicky (and is downright mushy if you find one manufactured in Mexico...I recommend one from Malaysia instead). The AppleDesign keyboard (late 1990s ADB extended model) follows the same logic as the Keyboard II in terms of country of origin and feel.

#13 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 12:46

The IIGS keyboard is well-liked by those with smaller fingers, as the area on which the key can be pressed is somewhat smaller than other ADB keyboards. Try one before you buy one, if you can.
If you are interested in the feel of the keyboard, the extended keyboards (I and II), IIGS keyboard, and original ADB "short" keyboard are clicky in nature. The Apple Keyboard II (the newer short keyboard) is not clicky (and is downright mushy if you find one manufactured in Mexico...I recommend one from Malaysia instead). The AppleDesign keyboard (late 1990s ADB extended model) follows the same logic as the Keyboard II in terms of country of origin and feel.

The short Apple Keyboard II, is this the one that came with the Classic and Classic II? If so I remember it well and even the power on button felt cheap

In junior high I had a Macintosh II and it had the original extended ADB keyboard (the one I should of bought)

I guess I will see just how good the original short ADB keyboard is

I have a Power Macintosh 8500 somewhere at work with the 2nd version of the extended keyboard (tear drop mouse era) and it types well and inst super loud, I was thinking of just snagging that but it wouldn't be historically correct

That certainly does make sense many of machines in the 80s were just the machine it self

Click to expand...

Yep, Apple was at the height of its greed with Jean-Louis Gassée and John Scully practically giddy with the prospect of charging ultra premiums since they believed they had the monopoly on the GUI.

Here's the proof the SE lacked a keyboard:

http://www.vectronicsappleworld.com/ads/ads/macintosh/sespecs4.jpg

This is pretty awesome, I've been looking for some older Mac marketing material, commercials and such

Actually I think what I am looking for is more of a terminal accessible BBS from the internet, not of the dial in type

Click to expand...

See sig ;-)

No games, no files... mostly inane chatter, but we likes it.

There's also Age of Reason at telnet://aor.retroarchive.org running on an Apple IIe; the RetroBBS (home of RetroChallenge) at telnet://lorance.no-ip.org and (for now at least) RetroBaud at telnet://retrobaud.dyndns.org

BTW, the IIgs keyboard is really nice IMHO, but there are many who disagree.

Thanks, I will give that a try once I get it up and running

#14 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 - 13:48

Yes, the Keyboard II came with all Classic and LC models (which included keyboards right in the box).

#15 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 - 07:18

In case anyone's intersted here's the list of the BBS directory from Wally's link ....

206-244-9661 Top Hat

206-386-4199 Seattle CommunityNet

207-784-2130 Kobayashi Alternative

214-333-5385 Discovery

214-987-2135 Eclectic BBS

281-272-8162 Ye Olde Inn

289-997-1205 DarkRealms

301-574-1472 Eagle's Dare

301-949-5764 IdeaLink

302-762-2003 Delaware OnLine!

303-665-6091 The King's Market

303-679-0161 Empire Of The Dragon

305-248-7815 Santronics SoftWare

337-232-4155 Positronium

401-724-4410 ChowdaNet

403-288-8208 Mike's MadHouse

416-698-6573 BayMan

450-466-9637 Evening Shade

501-224-0915 ThunderBolt

502-875-8938 Capitol City OnLine

503-523-0136 The Keep

512-327-8598 TechnoDrome

530-534-5329 TDEC West

575-461-0077 QuasiIndefatigable X

604-266-5271 The BandMaster

607-655-5652 The Prism

608-267-7551 WI Lakes BBS

613-392-8896 The Lion's Den

626-355-5347 Mysteria

734-484-0512 Grex

770-788-6492 Bozax

780-439-8364 Xanadu

780-963-1859 The PowerStation

815-727-6072 The ShareWare Library

860-535-4284 Bits & Bytes

905-840-0592 HomeWard Bound

937-279-0136 My Crazy World

940-565-9165 The Mezzanine

951-242-3593 The BorderLine

951-549-9994 Vertrauen

954-484-5020 Puget Systems

972-329-0781 The PrisonBoard

:b&w:

#16 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 - 17:46

...Actually I think what I am looking for is more of a terminal accessible BBS from the internet, not of the dial in type...

The home page of the original link I supplied has a multipage Telnet listing.

http://www.telnetbbsguide.com/

#17 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 - 20:10

I'm a dope, thanks

#18 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 - 21:31

and original ADB "short" keyboard are clicky in nature.

Maybe it's just the one I have, but after some years of usage, mine went into retirement about half a decade ago. Sometimes I like to take it out and use it thinking I'll have some retro fun, but then I'll remember about all the broken and sticky (endlessly repeating) keys it has. No fun! Again, I don't know if that's a common problem or not, for older ones to have bad keys. I have 2 or 3 Apple Keyboard II's which are just OK, though.

The AppleDesign keyboard (late 1990s ADB extended model) follows the same logic as the Keyboard II in terms of country of origin and feel.

I used to have two, then I gave one away... but now I have two again. Anyway, there seem to be two different types, I noticed. One is curved on the bottom, around where the ADB port is, and the other one (which I think is the one I gave away) had a V-shaped plastic instead of round. Anyone have these or know about the difference?

Also: beware the ADB Mouse II, which is round. I have about 5 or 6 of these things, and only 2 or so are good. Why? The clicker goes bad! The original blocky ADB Mouse: much more reliable, though it is a nice bonus to have a heavy gray mouse ball, not the light-weight black one.

#19 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 - 23:04

Elysiom, if you're after early mac marketing material, go to www.macmothership.com - they've got lots and lots and lots.

#20 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 - 17:01

Thanks, lots to look at there

#21 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 - 16:23

I have a IIgs keyboard on the way, if its crap I'll just have to go searching for the fullsize

Click to expand...

Not very high expectations? There are some who hold it in high regard, the best keyboard ever made!

I actually ended up liking it, small clicky keyboard.. works for me

Did these IIgs keyboards actually come packed in with the machine? I ask this because they have a soft power on button for your bigger Macs... I didn't think the IIgs could soft power on?

Seems more like just one of the many options you could select when purchasing just the machine it self (mentioned above)

#22 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 - 20:46

I didn't think the IIgs could soft power on?

They can't. That button is used to do a soft reset. Press Command-Control-Power Key.

#23 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 - 00:12

I specifically purchased a Sophisticated Circuits PowerKey Classic (only $35) so I could take advantage of the Power Key on my IIgs keyboard attached to my SE/30. After you are booted, pressing it again brings up the Restart/Shutdown dialog so you can do those operations too, all without touching the hardware power switch.

#24 Sun, 1 Feb 2009 - 00:35

I'm pretty sure the SE/30 came with the original ADB Keyboard included, as LCGuy said. Many users chose to buy the "extended" keyboard so they had a separate numeric keypad etc. I recall the local University putting a heap of unused standard keyboards out to tender because their users had opted to buy extended keyboards for their SE/30s.

I always used a IIGS keyboard for testing Macs on the workbench. This was for a number of reasons: 1. it had a small footprint - didn't take up make space. 2. The sales guys weren't ever tempted to "borrow" it to get a client out of a tight spot! 3. I kind of liked it.

#25 Sun, 1 Feb 2009 - 18:42

Did these IIgs keyboards actually come packed in with the machine?

Click to expand...

No.

Yep, they really were included.

http://vectronicsappleworld.com/ads/ads/appleiigs/iigsspecs3.jpg

http://vectronicsappleworld.com/ads/ads/appleiigs/iigsspecs4.jpg

Not only is the keyboard included in the specs, but page 4 shows that it was included with the IIgs part number.

#26 Mon, 2 Feb 2009 - 00:57

Maybe it's just the one I have, but after some years of usage, mine went into retirement about half a decade ago. Sometimes I like to take it out and use it thinking I'll have some retro fun, but then I'll remember about all the broken and sticky (endlessly repeating) keys it has. No fun! Again, I don't know if that's a common problem or not, for older ones to have bad keys. I have 2 or 3 Apple Keyboard II's which are just OK, though.

I have an ADB keyboard II, it has a few sticky/endlessly repeating keys...i'd say its a common issue with them, though mine came from a school, so yeah.

JDW: I had no idea that they still sold the PowerKey power strips...they were really quite a nifty idea...just a shame they never offered an Australian version, otherwise I'd have one!

#27 Mon, 2 Feb 2009 - 01:07

I strongly suggest you write Sophisticated Circuits to ask about 220VAC compatibility. Their products used to be wildly popular and I cannot imagine they ignored Europe and Australia all those years.[/i]

#28 Mon, 2 Feb 2009 - 01:55

Did these IIgs keyboards actually come packed in with the machine?

Click to expand...

No.

Click to expand...

Yep, they really were included.

I made a mistake. :-x I was thinking about his comment on the power key.

Did these IIgs keyboards actually come packed in with the machine? I ask this because they have a soft power on button for your bigger Macs... I didn't think the IIgs could soft power on?