====== Apple IIc Keyboards ======

<WRAP wfix right>

|  **Apple IIc Microcomputer Keyboard**  ||
| {{keyboard:apple:img_1411.jpg?300|apple IIc amber alps}} ||
| **Manufacturer** | Alps Electric\\ Apple |
| **Switch** | [[switch:alps_skcl_lock|Alps SKCL Lock]]\\ [[switch:alps_skcm_amber|Alps SKCM Amber]]\\ [[switch:alps_skcm_blue|Alps SKCM Blue]]\\ [[switch:alps_skcm_orange|Alps SKCM Orange]]\\ [[switch:alps_skfl_lock|Alps SKFL Lock]]\\ [[switch:apple_hairpin|Apple Hairpin Switch]] |
| **Sense method** | Metal contact\\ Capacitive |
| **Protocol** | Proprietary |
| **Keycaps** | [[dyesub link|Dyesub PBT]] |

</WRAP>

===== Description =====

The **Apple IIc** was a microcomputer part of the greater Apple II family released by Apple Computer in 1984. Meant to be a more compact version of the Apple IIe, the computer's keyboard was revised several times over it's lifespan. It is currently the only keyboard known to have been shipped with [[switch:alps_skcm_amber|Alps SKCM Amber]].

===== Construction & Internals =====

All variants of the Apple IIc microcomputer appear to have shared the same construction, with a beige plastic case that housed the keyboard, floppy drive and computer itself.

=== Switches ===

The keyboards switches used can be roughly categorized into two "generations", those procured with the [[switch:apple_hairpin|Apple Hairpin Switch]] and Alps SKCL/SKCM series.

The Apple Hairpin Switch variants appear to have been the earliest versions of the keyboards, having been produced at least until 1986. As the Caps Lock, 80/40 Column toggle and Keyboard toggles all necessitated latching switches, these keys used presumably a latching variant of [[switch:alps_skfl|Alps SKFL]].

The original Hairpin Switch keyboards were eventually succeeded by those procured with Alps switches, the overwhelming majority of which used [[switch:alps_skcm_amber|Alps SKCM Amber]], with Alps SKCL Lock replacing Alps SKFL for the appropriate keys. A limited number of examples appear to have been shipped with [[switch:alps_skcm_blue|Alps SKCM Blue]], but it is unclear as to when Alps ceased production of models with the amber switches, or if there was a "clean break" between amber and blue alps models at all.((
[[https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=459360#p459360]]
))

The later Apple IIc Plus would be shipped with [[switch:alps_skcm_orange|Alps SKCM Orange]], symmetrical with the switches carried by other Apple keyboards from the time.

=== Keycaps ===

Variants with Alps switches used dye-sublimated keycaps with a flat profile.

{{tag>wip keyboard:sense-contact keyboard:oem-alps keyboard:oem-apple}}