[Coco] Mechanical keyboard upgrades for the CoCo

[Michael Brant]

As we are discussing this. I like Ed's idea of having the keys programmable
which I find essential if we add an F3, and F4 keys so the user can change
them as needed.  I am okay with a price that might be a bit high. Part of
what I like about the old computers is staying true to the original design
as much as possible.

On Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 4:07 PM, camillus <camillus.b.58 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm sorry there are so many alternatives ( ps2adapter, raspPi, arduino )
> to make interfaces under $100 that works with ps2 keyboard, it does not
> sactify spending $150 for a new keyboard. Also that $150 can buy me a FPGA
> DE1 board, that has already a keyboard interface on board.
>
> So, count me off for this one.
>
> cb
>
>
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> On 8/21/2015 11:01:46 AM, Brian Blake <random.rodder at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think you do - pretty sure I sold you a CoCo 1 with an HJL last year...
> ;)
>
> When I modded a Model III keyboard, I made a simple PCB adapter that
> plugged into the mobo connector. Was pretty thin, but, easy to do.
>
> As always, cash is king - I'm certainly willing to get one, but, that
> doesn't mean others will be.
>
>
> On 8/21/2015 11:57 AM, Zippster wrote:
> > Brian,
> >
> > I think I actually have an HJL keyboard.
> >
> > I’ll take look and see what we’d have to do. Probably 2 cut plastic or
> metal plates
> > and some standoffs. Replacing the connector on the motherboard with a
> pin header
> > and using a short ribbon cable would make things easy if people are
> willing to do that.
> >
> > Will we get 30+ people interested at $150? That would basically be the
> cost of parts.
> > Kits maybe? Probably another $20-$30 or so assembled.
> >
> > That’s with cherry keyswitches though at $1.50 each. There might be
> another alternative.
> >
> > - Ed
> >
> >
> >> On Aug 21, 2015, at 10:29 AM, Brian Blake wrote:
> >>
> >> Ed,
> >>
> >> Would some pics of my HJL, MarkData, and Macrotron keyboards help wrt
> fitment?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 8/21/2015 11:24 AM, Zippster wrote:
> >>> Ok Brian, you’ve convinced me. It needs to be done. :)
> >>>
> >>> It generally only takes about 30-50 units to make a hobbyist run
> viable.
> >>>
> >>> My biggest concern would be any fittings/plates needed to mate the PCB
> >>> to the CoCo case. Who is set up to help with that?
> >>>
> >>> The CPLD would be for ease of mapping/remapping with the legends on
> modern keycaps,
> >>> nothing to worry about though. It would only add $5 or so to the cost,
> and would allow for
> >>> matrix changes without a new PCB.
> >>>
> >>> I’m pretty sure keeping it at $150 or less will be doable if that’s
> acceptable to enough people.
> >>>
> >>> - Ed
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> On Aug 21, 2015, at 10:08 AM, Brian Blake wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> I'm not picking on Ed specifically here, especially considering all
> of his contributions to the CoCo-Cause, but, I'm having a hard time
> justifying the recent comments regarding a mechanical keyboard being
> prohibitively expensive, and here's why.
> >>>>
> >>>> We all have significant investments in our CoCo systems. Those of us
> running MPI's, floppy systems, hard disk systems, etc... have hundreds of
> dollars in them. When the items were available, you were looking at $100+
> for a hard disk controller (not complete disk system) from Cloud 9. An MPI
> on eBay is all over the map, but, I've seen them go for over $200 or as low
> as $50. How much will Jim's replacement MPI cost?
> >>>>
> >>>> Why is it that paying $145 for a drop in keyboard seems scary?
> Especially considering a keyboard is used EVERY TIME the CoCo is turned on
> - the above equipment may or may not be.
> >>>>
> >>>> Are PS/2 adapters wallet friendly? Hell yes they are! They also offer
> the ability to use the keyboard a bit of a distance from the CoCo due to
> the PS/2 keyboard's long cord. But, there's a lot to be said about keeping
> the CoCo original, or semi-original. If the original keyboard dies, and we
> still don't know about the mylar replacements yet, I don't think anyone can
> argue with the utility or durability of the switches Ed mentioned
> previously being on a drop in keyboard replacement. Having a drop-in ready
> keyboard to keep the CoCo semi-original would be a great item. I've got
> three CoCo's here with dead keyboards - while I wouldn't necessarily buy
> three replacements at once, I certainly would over time since I can only
> use one CoCo at a time, and I do like my hardware to be functional - I only
> have two CoCo's that I consider parts machines, and I bought them that way.
> >>>>
> >>>> And to explain my admittedly biased though a little more, let's look
> at the cost of the 'original' replacement keyboards and compare them to
> today's dollar:
> >>>>
> >>>> Keyboard 1984 Cost 2015 Cost
> >>>>
> >>>> Macrotron Pro $49.95 $115.78
> >>>> Macrotron Premium $89.95 $208.50
> >>>> Keytronic $89.95 $208.50
> >>>> MarkData $69.95 $162.14
> >>>> HJL-57 $79.95 $185.32
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> No, it's not any easier to swallow, but, $150 for a drop in
> replacement keyboard is not out of line compared to what was being sold
> 'back in the day.'
> >>>>
> >>>> Ed,
> >>>>
> >>>> Unless your plan is to make a keyboard that might be modular between
> several systems (which would be difficult at best considering keyboard
> layouts), I don't understand why a CPLD would have to be placed on the PCB.
> As long as the CoCo matrix is mapped out on the PCB and there's a cable
> with an adapter to fit the CoCo motherboard, it should be fairly simple.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>
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