In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, John Butterworth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>The blackbox QL has big bold characters in the centres of the keytops, >just like a typewriter. With a keyboard interface a PC type keyboard a >few extra features are available but the small size of the characters >and their placement in the top left hand corner of the key lead me to a >large proportion of typo errors and I have often wished to find a >keyboard like the QL's. Almost fulfilled this wish with a "Standard >keyboard", black, from Tesco for 3 quid. The letters are not much >bigger than those on PC keyboards but they are more visible, white on >black instead of grey on ivory. It has a PS2 plug but works fine with >an adapter to the 5 pin DIN plug required by my interface. It is >certainly an improvement and pleasant to use with either QL or PC. >Tomorrow I shall buy another and improve my typing in both. Hi John, The QL keyboard on the black box QL was a special order from a manufacturer of that type of flat keyboard, rather than the sculptured keyboards common for IBM style PC's at the time. I remember seeing the manufacturers catalogue, yet I cannot now recall the name of the company that it was sourced from It was a compromise on cost and functionality, lower cost that a separate IBM PC style keyboard, and better function than the previous ZX81 or Spectrum keyboards that had membranes. That Sinclair had used on previous products. I have link to the Sinclair industrial designer who worked on the Sinclair QL, on my web site at : http:www.mcad.demon.co.uk/lquanta.htm The other design point was that it was an integrated unit, with the keyboard being a part of the whole computer, and not separates. I have a Di-Ren interface in one of my black box QL's which gives access to a PC style keyboard. As you say, the modern low-cost PC style keyboards, especially if they are in black, give a nice match to the QL computer. -- Malcolm Cadman _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
