I'm willing to shell out some cash in return for a mint condition Apple Extended Keyboard II or Apple Extended Keyboard. Help me find one.

April 17, 2008 8:37 AM

In search of a legend: Where (or from whom) can I buy a new Apple Extended Keyboard?

I've tried the Tactile Pro, the Das Keyboard II , and Model M: none of them come close the perfection that is an AEK. I currently have two refurbished Apple Extended Keyboard II's (model M3501), both of which have a sticky spacebar. One of them is still in working order, but if it fails, I may go crazy when I'm forced to get the Tactile Pro out of the closet. Seriously, I can't stand that thing. I'm not looking for recommendations. I'm not looking for alternatives. I'm looking for the original.

I'm willing to shell out some cash in return for a mint condition (ideally, meaning never used and still in box) Apple Extended Keyboard II or Apple Extended Keyboard. My search of the internets has come up with nothing, so I'm turning to you, mefites, in hope that one of you collects vintage Apples and has a box of these in your basement. Or, if you have a friend who may be able to get their hands on a M3501, please put me in touch with them. Email's in my profile.

Thanks, and happy typing.

posted by slhack3r to technology (5 answers total)

I had about 20 of these at one point, but i think I recycled them. I'll take a look to see if my fears are correct :(

That said, eBay searching for M3501 gives many results, and some are buy it now.
posted by tomierna at 9:30 AM on April 17, 2008

Dan Benjamin of hivelogic.com just got one. He'd be a great source. Email him on his contact page, he's usually good about responding.
posted by blueplasticfish at 9:30 AM on April 17, 2008

All of the M3501's on ebay are used/refurb. I'm looking to get a new one this time around - my last two refurbs have died very quickly.

I actually got in touch with Dan about this before posting - his recent buy was a refurb - which was also in bad shape.
posted by slhack3r at 9:42 AM on April 17, 2008

Sigh. You WOULD post this a week after I'd taken my might-as-well-be-fresh-out-of-the-box AEK II to the city's electronics recycling facility, along with some ancient Macs . . .
posted by CommonSense at 9:47 AM on April 17, 2008

I know that you don't want alternatives, but I'll mention it anyhow. The Datadesk 101e. They still have a few new old stock items on hand. The reason I mention this is because, as I understand it, the AEK was manufactured by Datadesk under contract from Apple, and the 101e is mechanically (but not cosmetically) identical.

I'm typing on a newish 101e right now and I love it.
posted by adamrice at 9:48 AM on April 17, 2008