Yet another Apple II keyboard interface (PS/2 and RS232 support)
mi...@willegal.net
I just pushed some preliminary information about the Apple II
keyboard interface converter I'm working on, onto my website. This
little board converts PS/2 keyboard output or an RS232 data stream
into a ASCII keyboard interface. I figure that it also could easily
be adapted to Apple 1 or other vintage computers requiring an ASCII
keyboard.
Check it out and let me know what you think. Once I get the design
and feature set locked down, I'll push source code and layout up to
the website. I'm considering building a small lot of boards for kit
builders, but that depends upon the interest I get from the vintage
computer community.
http://www.willegal.net/appleii/appleii-kb-int.htm
Regards,
Mike Willegal
Steven Hirsch
> Hi Folks,
> I just pushed some preliminary information about the Apple II
> keyboard interface converter I'm working on, onto my website. This
> little board converts PS/2 keyboard output or an RS232 data stream
> into a ASCII keyboard interface. I figure that it also could easily
> be adapted to Apple 1 or other vintage computers requiring an ASCII
> keyboard.
Mike, There are already several gadgets out there to interface PC keyboards
with Apple ][ and ][+ computers. Many of us are eager for this ability on a
IIe. Will your adapter be able to support that?
mi...@willegal.net
A IIe adaptor requires a small bit of additional hardware(added cost),
which my current (preliminary) design doesn't have. The form and
function of the final design depends upon the level of interest as
well as the expectations of the Apple II community.
Regards,
Mike Willegal
On Jul 22, 7:29 am, Steven Hirsch <snhir...@gmail.com> wrote:
James Littlejohn
> Hi Steven,
>
> A IIe adaptor requires a small bit of additional hardware(added cost),
> which my current (preliminary) design doesn't have. The form and
> function of the final design depends upon the level of interest as
> well as the expectations of the Apple II community.
>
> Regards,
> Mike Willegal
>
Well, put me on the interested list for at least one.
Steven Hirsch
> Hi Steven,
>
> A IIe adaptor requires a small bit of additional hardware(added cost),
> which my current (preliminary) design doesn't have. The form and
> function of the final design depends upon the level of interest as
> well as the expectations of the Apple II community.
There are already (2) such adapters offered that support only ][ and ][+
(Garber and Vince Briel). Why dive into an occupied niche in a market that's
tiny to begin with?
I have no interest in a ][,][+ only adapter. I would buy a //e adapter
sight-unseen (perhaps 2).
Steve
mi...@willegal.net
All my projects are motivated by fun factor first, potential market, a
very distant second. I'll worry about the marketplace in my "real
world" job, which pays the bills (and funds these projects). An
example of this mindset is my firmware board. Only one exists in
captivity. I had a lot of fun building that thing. I find the
firmware board very useful for purposes of Apple II motherboard
debugging, but I've got no interest from the Apple community to make
more. I don't regret building it at all, and actually have plans to
make some small enhancements to my prototype.
The prototype keyboard interface was built primarily because I needed
another keyboard for Apple II motherboard debugging and it looked like
a fairly small and interesting project. Neither Vince's or Bill's
solution worked for me, since I don't have spare Apple II+ or IIe
keyboards laying around.
Still not sure where I'm going with this, but the input about IIe
version in interesting. Quite frankly, not being a IIe type person,
I'm wondering what is driving this need. Are the apple IIe keyboards
unreliable and hard to repair or do they have bad ergonomics?
Regards,
Mike Willegal
On Jul 24, 8:11 am, Steven Hirsch <snhir...@gmail.com> wrote:
pitz
any II for that matter) is that I can use a detached keyboard and only
have my keyboard and monitor on top of my desk. Additionally, I may
also be able to hook it up to a KVM switch.
Warren Ernst
Though I don't have a need for one, a //e PS/2 keyboard adapter, along
with the new Apple //e VGA adapter, would allow for a //e to be easily
integrated into a desk full of PCs using a KVM switch.
-Warr
Steven Hirsch
> Though I don't have a need for one, a //e PS/2 keyboard adapter, along
> with the new Apple //e VGA adapter, would allow for a //e to be easily
> integrated into a desk full of PCs using a KVM switch.
Precisely my motivation. I'm running out of room for keyboards.
Steven Hirsch
> The prototype keyboard interface was built primarily because I needed
> another keyboard for Apple II motherboard debugging and it looked like
> a fairly small and interesting project. Neither Vince's or Bill's
> solution worked for me, since I don't have spare Apple II+ or IIe
> keyboards laying around.
I'm not following. I was under the impression that Vince's gadget _replaces_
or supplements the ][+ keyboard. What does a spare ][+ keyboard (or IIe, for
that matter) have to do with it??
> > Still not sure where I'm going with this, but the input about IIe
> version in interesting. Quite frankly, not being a IIe type person,
> I'm wondering what is driving this need. Are the apple IIe keyboards
> unreliable and hard to repair or do they have bad ergonomics?
No, see the other folks' responses. I'm looking to save desktop space. The
upcoming VGA card and a PS2 --> IIe adapter would work towards multiplexing
one keyboard and monitor over all my systems. I already have a Belkin adapter
that bridges a PS2 keyboard to the ADB bus for my IIGS and a Highway RGB -->
VGA converter for same. Same idea for my Amiga 1200: PS/2 keyboard adapter
(no scan conversion required for a number of modes, since the AGA video can do
31.5Khz. Horz freq).
When all is said and done, I want to drive all my classic systems from a
common monitor, mouse and keyboard. The mouse is going to problematic, but at
least those don't take up much desktop space.
Steve
Terry Olsen
> with the new Apple //e VGA adapter, would allow for a //e to be easily
> integrated into a desk full of PCs using a KVM switch.
I don't have any expectations that something like this will ever see the
light of day, but I'd love to see a "KVM Adapter" for a IIgs. Mine would get
more use if I could run it through my KVM.
Scott Alfter
I'm pretty sure ADB KVMs used to be available for use with desks full of
Macs...one of those ought to work, if you can find one on eBay or whatever.
Another possibility would be a PS/2-to-ADB adapter; there might even still
be one or two companies making those.
_/_
/ v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( http://alfter.us/ Top-posting!
\_^_/ rm -rf /bin/laden >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?
Steven Hirsch
> In article <L9qdnYz5haj4pxbV...@bresnan.com>,
> Terry Olsen <tols...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> Though I don't have a need for one, a //e PS/2 keyboard adapter, along
>>> with the new Apple //e VGA adapter, would allow for a //e to be easily
>>> integrated into a desk full of PCs using a KVM switch.
>> I don't have any expectations that something like this will ever see the
>> light of day, but I'd love to see a "KVM Adapter" for a IIgs. Mine would get
>> more use if I could run it through my KVM.
>
> I'm pretty sure ADB KVMs used to be available for use with desks full of
> Macs...one of those ought to work, if you can find one on eBay or whatever.
> Another possibility would be a PS/2-to-ADB adapter; there might even still
> be one or two companies making those.
Yes. Per my post above, the Belkin PS/2-to-ADB adapter (marketed for use with
their KVM switches) works just fine - for the keyboard at least. Mouse
operation is not quite ready for prime-time with IIGS (though I assume it will
work correctly with an older Mac). I end up plugging an actual IIGS mouse
into the ADB passthrough on the adapter. But, better an extra mouse on the
desktop than a keyboard (or three, or six..).
Steve
stockhunt
Check out Stockhunt.com, turn $150 into $1,000,000.
It works for Jim Cramer why wont it work for you.
Sign up now!
http://www.stockhunt.com/news-letter.aspx