One thing I always wanted to do is an Apple II-like keyboard that could be connected to anything emulating a II or II+ (or a Teletype - same layout). Lot of the “experience” hinges on the physical object more than the perfect pixels on the screen.
Oh definitely. I had to go with an RGB keyboard and some generic keycaps for this build, but it definitely was a compromise. Otherwise the keyboard would have been more expensive than everything else combined…
Shouldn't it be a PCB, switches, close-enough keycaps, and a tiny controller? I'm imagining a 3D printed case, with screw inserts and supports for the board on the bottom part. I never designed a keyboard though, but if it's prohibitively expensive, this throws a wrench on a bunch of retro keyboard projects I have.
A //e version would be nice.
One thing I always wanted to do is an Apple II-like keyboard that could be connected to anything emulating a II or II+ (or a Teletype - same layout). Lot of the “experience” hinges on the physical object more than the perfect pixels on the screen.
This my project :) I specifically avoided the //e for reasons of needing to replicate the custom PLD chips.
Anyway, someone’s already done that here: https://www.applefritter.com/content/uncle-bernies-replica-2...
Thank you. This is a super cool project.
On the physicality, what do you think about the keyboard part? Do you think a USB Apple II keyboard would be a good idea?
Oh definitely. I had to go with an RGB keyboard and some generic keycaps for this build, but it definitely was a compromise. Otherwise the keyboard would have been more expensive than everything else combined…
Is building a keyboard so expensive?
Shouldn't it be a PCB, switches, close-enough keycaps, and a tiny controller? I'm imagining a 3D printed case, with screw inserts and supports for the board on the bottom part. I never designed a keyboard though, but if it's prohibitively expensive, this throws a wrench on a bunch of retro keyboard projects I have.