[Coco] Mechanical keyboard upgrades for the CoCo

[Brian Blake]

Try it now.

The recent upgrade to the latest forum software reset some permission...


Brian

On 8/28/2015 4:03 PM, Greg Law wrote:
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>
> -----Original Message----- From: Brian Blake
> Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 3:47 PM
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [Coco] Mechanical keyboard upgrades for the CoCo
>
>
> Mark,
>
> The Spectrum Projects and the Macrotron Professional were/are the same
> keyboard. Ads can all be viewed here:
> http://www.tandycoco.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=356
>
> I've got the HJL-57, MarkData SuperPro and the Macrotron Professional
> keyboard. If you want, I can send you pics of the mounting and support
> hardware for each.
>
>
>
> Brian
>
>
> On 8/28/2015 2:47 PM, Mark J. Blair wrote:
>> I'm listening to episode 3 of the CoCo Crew Podcast, and my ears 
>> began ringing when they talked about this keyboard project. Cool!
>>
>> Looking through the November, 1983 issue of Rainbow Magazine, I see 
>> five keyboard upgrade advertisements:
>>
>> p76  $89.95 KeyTronic
>> p82  $69.95 Super-Pro
>> p149 $59.95 Spectrum Projects
>> p231 $79.95 HJL-57
>> p313 $89.95 Macrotron Premium (ALPS keyswitches)
>> p313 $49.95 Macrotron Professional (no picture?)
>>
>> The return key placement on that Spectrum Projects keyboard is awful!
>>
>> Taking the HJL-57 keyboard price as a benchmark and adjusting for 
>> inflation, it cost $191.56 in 2015 dollars:
>>
>> http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=79.95&year1=1983&year2=2015
>>
>> The other upgrades cost between $119.68 and $215.52 in 2015 dollars. 
>> Those selling prices appear to be right in line with the construction 
>> cost I'm estimating so far for a top-end, low-quantity keyboard, with 
>> a relatively light markup.
>>
>> Here's where I am right now:
>>
>> * Cost of keyswitches is understood.
>> * Cost of custom keycaps is understood.
>> * I have a feeling for the likely PCB cost.
>> * Next step is to design the sheet metal and bezel, then shop those 
>> around for quotes.
>>
>> This weekend I need to spend some time on a Timex Sinclair 2068 
>> project that I've said I'd do, so I don't know if I'll make progress 
>> on the keyboard project this weekend. But it's moving along, and it 
>> might even see the light of day!
>>
>
>


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