Full-height keyboard keys WHERE DID THEY GO

[RMDB9]

Am currently browsing some 1990s Apple Macintosh manuals online; I am surprised how tall keyboard keys were in those days.

Keyboards, what happened?

[RMDB9]

And in case somebody wants to see how preppy Apple's visual identity was :
https://vintageapple.org/macmanuals/pdf/Macintosh_...

[Mr E]

Cost, noise, user preference?

‘Proper’ keyboards are still available, but they’re not cheap.

Edit; what I suspect really happened was laptops. Laptops drove ‘thin’, thin was cheaper and people were prepared to accept the compromise.

Look at the mess Apple had recently trying to provide an ultra thin keyboard

[bitchstewie]

I think with the prevalence of laptops and saving space there's been a move to low profile/slim keyboards.

No doubt a bit of a fashion thing too.

You can easily still buy a standard keyboard though.

[RMDB9]

Oh, and while we are at it - I need 2 things from a computer: very simple word processing (I write, someone else will edit/format) and basic spreadsheet stuff (+ - * / ). No internet, no colour, no nothing. No software updates, AI, video, what ever.

Is it a very luddite and almost hipsterish idea to consider buying a MacSE or + for that?

[Mr E]

RMDB9 said:

Oh, and while we are at it - I need 2 things from a computer: very simple word processing (I write, someone else will edit/format) and basic spreadsheet stuff (+ - * / ).

Is it a very luddite and almost hipsterish idea to consider buying a MacSE or + for that?

Buy pretty much anything that will connect to the internet and use cloud services (google docs / office 365 etc)

If the Mac is what you want, go for it. It’ll be well made and probably very reliable. But don’t kid yourself that it’s a decision that isn’t driven by “the shiny”

[RMDB9]

I am usually writing my stuff from scratch, so the result needs to be sent to somebody else for further editing. I need to look up how to connect a Mac SE or Plus with the modern systems though, any expeirence?

[Stay in Bed Instead]

There used to be a whole industry for wrist supports too.

[Zirconia]

Still got my eMac key board, full hight and fully loaded, USB connection. Comes in handy if you have to do an emergency boot of the mac when it doesn't load blue tooth connections. I still like it.

[markyb_lcy]

I still use a clicky mechanical keyboard with large keys mostly for gaming but I also prefer it for typing generally. They are not cheap but individual keys can be serviced so they should last a long time.

[Mr E]

RMDB9 said:

I am usually writing my stuff from scratch, so the result needs to be sent to somebody else for further editing. I need to look up how to connect a Mac SE or Plus with the modern systems though, any expeirence?

Sorry, I’ve just twigged that the Mac you’re on about is a 30 year old relic.

Yes, I’m sure it’s possible. I’m also pretty sure it’s more pain than it’s worth unless you really want to improve your beard and lumberjack shirt credentials in shoreditch.

If I wanted retro but functional, I’d consider a raspberry pi and then a retro case.
https://retropicases.com/collections/raspberry-pi-...

Frankly, you could buy a non functional Mac SE, and fit the Pi in it if that was your end goal.

[Zirconia]

Mr E said:

RMDB9 said:

Oh, and while we are at it - I need 2 things from a computer: very simple word processing (I write, someone else will edit/format) and basic spreadsheet stuff (+ - * / ).

Is it a very luddite and almost hipsterish idea to consider buying a MacSE or + for that?

Buy pretty much anything that will connect to the internet and use cloud services (google docs / office 365 etc)

If the Mac is what you want, go for it. It’ll be well made and probably very reliable. But don’t kid yourself that it’s a decision that isn’t driven by “the shiny”

Mac comes with its own office similar stuff (Pages, Numbers etc.). Starting to shift over to it, takes a bit of getting away from the usual MS stuff that has taken years to get used to but capable.
https://www.apple.com/pages/
https://www.apple.com/numbers/
Reason for my shift is the version of Office I have is about to become non supported and I would have to buy the next version, though it will still work. This Mac stuff is free and I can import whatever MS disc and spread sheets I have into the Apple version.

[RMDB9]

It is really about the simplicity of the applications and the operating system. The computer will be in my study and noone gets to see it. No show-off in Shoreditch.

[JaredVannett]

Unicomp

[MitchT]

The keyboard on my 2008 MacBook Pro is lovely. Quite flat but very quiet and soft to touch. On my 2017 MacBook Pro the keys are noisy and it feels like I'm hitting a hard surface.

[bigandclever]

RMDB9 said:

.

Is it a very luddite and almost hipsterish idea to consider buying a MacSE or + for that?

I think that if you don’t already own it then buying one is desperately hipsterish

[CubanPete]

Membrane keyboards are a fraction of the cost to make of a microswitch one.

Also progress... The original keyboards developed from typewriters, mechanical, then electric and then the PC.

[xeny]

RMDB9 said:

I am usually writing my stuff from scratch, so the result needs to be sent to somebody else for further editing. I need to look up how to connect a Mac SE or Plus with the modern systems though, any expeirence?

You can use a "standard" 3.5" disk in a late SE (FDHD is typically the description) with some software on the Mac side to let it write PC format. Alternatively SE/30s can take an ethernet card, so you could potentially use FTP.

Getting it all working has lots of potential to become an end in iteslf.

If you do look at this approach, I'd recommend hunting down a copy of WriteNow! as the word processing package.

[Riley Blue]

JaredVannett said:

Unicomp

I have and occasionally use a Unicomp Model M - earplugs help.

[Hoofy]

My glowing keyboard keys are just under 2cm from "base" to top of the keys. I guess it's down to what you want when buying. I never thought about it before. I just bought mine for the glowing lights.