[Coco] Mechanical keyboard upgrades for the CoCo

[Salvador Garcia]

That is a very good point. I have been toying with the idea of getting FPGA CoCo.


Still one thing is getting a new tech CoCo and another is keeping the original one in working order if for no other reason than having a workable computer. I don't see myself going back to the CoCo 1 for serious computing. Salvador




-----Original Message-----
From: camillus <camillus.b.58 at gmail.com>
To: Josh Harper via Coco <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Fri, Aug 21, 2015 3:09 pm
Subject: Re: [Coco] Mechanical keyboard upgrades for the CoCo


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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