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[Q] Apple Adjustable Keyboard, "u" key misbehaves

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Ken Kling

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Jun 27, 1995, 3:00:00 AM6/27/95
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I have a persistent problem with my Apple Adjustable Keyboard. The "u"
key misbehaves. When the key is struck hard, no character appears. When
the key is struck lightly, the result is variable -- one character, no
character, or multiple characters. The problem seems to occur more
during the summer months (warmer and more humid). The really odd thing
is, this is my second Apple Adjustable Keyboard and I have had the
problem with both keyboards. Each one was purchased a year apart.

Has anyone else had the same problem? Any solutions? Could software be
causing this problem?

Ken Kling <kl...@OIT.PeachNet.EDU>
Academic Services & Distance Learning
Office of Information and Instructional Technology
State of Georgia (USA) Board of Regents

The Avatar

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Jun 28, 1995, 3:00:00 AM6/28/95
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In article <3sp7n4$6...@news-read-1.PeachNet.EDU>, Ken Kling
<kl...@oit.peachnet.edu> wrote:

Same problem, but it's my ddddd key :) (Realy!)
Maybe these Keyboards are just not as good as the others

Sean.

--

Sean Farquharson
Ava...@dorsai.dorsai.org

Michael Skovrinskie

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Jun 28, 1995, 3:00:00 AM6/28/95
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In article <3sp7n4$6...@news-read-1.PeachNet.EDU>, Ken Kling
<kl...@oit.peachnet.edu> wrote:

>I have a persistent problem with my Apple Adjustable Keyboard. The "u"
>key misbehaves. When the key is struck hard, no character appears. When
>the key is struck lightly, the result is variable -- one character, no
>character, or multiple characters. The problem seems to occur more
>during the summer months (warmer and more humid). The really odd thing
>is, this is my second Apple Adjustable Keyboard and I have had the
>problem with both keyboards. Each one was purchased a year apart.
>
>Has anyone else had the same problem? Any solutions? Could software be
>causing this problem?
>

The problem is not in the software. It is a flaw in the design of the
Apple Adjustable Keyboard. I have heard many complaints of this and I
have experienced it myself. That is probably why Apple pulled it from the
market.

A wise person provided me with a solution a few months back (Do this on
your own free will, knowing that it may void your warranty).
1) remove the key cap from the troublesome key
2) spray the socket with an electrical lubricant/cleaner (I used Radio
Shack brand Tuner control)
3) clean the excess
4) replace the key cap

Mike Skovrinskie .v~ midk...@psu.edu
1923 Kent Dr. .(W skov...@crayola.cse.psu.edu
/<M. http://www.crayola.cse.psu.edu/~skovrins/
\~b___________/$@|\--------------------------------------------------------.
>@)$$$$$$$$$($( )#H>==================================================----->
/_p~~~~~~~~~~~\$@|/--------------------------------------------------------'
\<M` "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."
Camp Hill `(B ~William Shakespeare
PA, 16802 `?_ Hamlet, 1600


Steve Martin

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Jun 28, 1995, 3:00:00 AM6/28/95
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In article <3sp7n4$6...@news-read-1.PeachNet.EDU>, Ken Kling
<kl...@oit.peachnet.edu> wrote:

>I have a persistent problem with my Apple Adjustable Keyboard. The "u"
>key misbehaves. When the key is struck hard, no character appears. When
>the key is struck lightly, the result is variable -- one character, no
>character, or multiple characters. The problem seems to occur more
>during the summer months (warmer and more humid). The really odd thing
>is, this is my second Apple Adjustable Keyboard and I have had the
>problem with both keyboards. Each one was purchased a year apart.
>
>Has anyone else had the same problem? Any solutions? Could software be
>causing this problem?

Funny you should mention it. I just scrapped my Apple Adjustable Keyboard
for an Extended Keyboard II yesterday (yanked the cables, ran out and
bought a new keyboard in frustration!). The 'v' key used to actually get
stuck down. Now the 'k' key has gotten unreliable like you describe
above.

I think the adjustable keyboard is a turkey.

--
Steve Martin (Please don't ask, I'm not the actor.)
mar...@metronet.com
http://www.metronet.com/~martin/
Letterboxed Movies on TV and Dockernaut

Gary Fisk

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Jun 28, 1995, 3:00:00 AM6/28/95
to
> In article <3sp7n4$6...@news-read-1.PeachNet.EDU>, Ken Kling
> <kl...@oit.peachnet.edu> wrote:
>
> >I have a persistent problem with my Apple Adjustable Keyboard. The "u"
> >key misbehaves. When the key is struck hard, no character appears. When
> >the key is struck lightly, the result is variable -- one character, no
> >character, or multiple characters. The problem seems to occur more
> >during the summer months (warmer and more humid). The really odd thing
> >is, this is my second Apple Adjustable Keyboard and I have had the
> >problem with both keyboards. Each one was purchased a year apart.
> >
> >Has anyone else had the same problem? Any solutions? Could software be
> >causing this problem?

I have the same problem, but it is the 5 key. Sticking keys are a common
problem with the adjustable keyboard. There have been many complaints.
But overall, I like the split keyboard design and would hate to give it up.

Has anyone tried the Adesso split keyboard? It looks like the microsoft
ergonomic keyboard and is advertised for $99. Is it any good?

--
************************************
Gary D. Fisk
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dept. of Psychology
Birmingham, AL 35294

Ken Kling

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Jun 29, 1995, 3:00:00 AM6/29/95
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Such a pitty. Great design, poor implementation. I've also had problems
with the numeric keypad section. Twice, the numeric keypad of a new
keyboard seemed to have the "Power" key logically depressed (physically,
the key looked OK). Thus when ever the Mac was shutdown, it would
immediately reboot. SOS-APPL support was able to replace the external
unit for no charge.

Edward S. Eslami

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Jun 30, 1995, 3:00:00 AM6/30/95
to
In article <martin-2806...@net156.metronet.com>,
mar...@metronet.com (Steve Martin) wrote:


>Funny you should mention it. I just scrapped my Apple Adjustable Keyboard
>for an Extended Keyboard II yesterday (yanked the cables, ran out and
>bought a new keyboard in frustration!). The 'v' key used to actually get
>stuck down. Now the 'k' key has gotten unreliable like you describe
>above.
>
>I think the adjustable keyboard is a turkey.


Agree completely, my 'u' key went, then my 'k' key. I lived with it for
about two weeks then ordered a Microspeed extended keyboard ($70 cheap and
has clearly marked keys) to end the frustration.

I did find that opening and closing the keyboard would sometimes help, but
it was too erratic.


Edward Sherwin Eslami
___________________________________
Experience dictates that people \ "THE DATA-JUNKIE"
are very different from each other. \ esl...@haven.ios.com
Wisdom shows us that we are the same. \ WWW page coming soon!

Jeff Ferrio

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Jul 3, 1995, 3:00:00 AM7/3/95
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> Agree completely, my 'u' key went, then my 'k' key. I lived with it for
> about two weeks then ordered a Microspeed extended keyboard ($70 cheap and
> has clearly marked keys) to end the frustration.

I've had similar problems with mine ('e' and 'd' key stopped working or
worked erraticly). I popped the keys off and then blew them out. Seemed
to fix the problem. Seems like little bits of dirt can get easily lodged
into the contacts and prevent a clean closure.

Joseph A. Pellettiere

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Jul 5, 1995, 3:00:00 AM7/5/95
to

I was having a similar problem with a few keys, last night
I pulled several off, blew them out, and put them back on, now
everything is working fine again. Talk about a cheap fix.

No, I didn't use a key puller, some I was able to just lift
with my fingers, others I carefully used a small helper screwdriver.

Joe

In a previous article, as...@acpub.duke.edu (Aaron Sundance Cobb) says:

>In article <jaferrio-030...@192.0.2.1>, jafe...@cris.com (Jeff


>Ferrio) wrote:
>
>> I've had similar problems with mine ('e' and 'd' key stopped working or
>> worked erraticly). I popped the keys off and then blew them out. Seemed
>> to fix the problem. Seems like little bits of dirt can get easily lodged
>> into the contacts and prevent a clean closure.
>

>Did you use a key puller? If so, any recommendations on where to get one?
>
>Aaron Sundance Cobb
>
--
Joe
ja...@po.cwru.edu

Aaron Sundance Cobb

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Jul 5, 1995, 3:00:00 AM7/5/95
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