14 Apr
2001
14 Apr
'01
4:49 p.m.
I've seen attempts by others to repair keypads of the KIM-1 sort. It's doomed
to frustration. They cost MUCH less than $1 US in the quantity in which they
were purchased in '76, and that was >50% shipping and packaging. The KIM-1 was
designed more as a novelty than as a computer, since it was really just a
demo/evaluation kit for their ROM/I/O etc. devices. It was designed to see <
1-2 hr of power-on time. Clearly they didn't need a seriously serviceable
keypad for that.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Duell" <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: Kim / Commie keypads
If
Well, clearly, one has to know what sort of switches are in place before
Exactly. I can think of a few keyboards that I know to be made up of
individual switches, but all of them are over 10 years old, and hence
should be restored themselves, not stripped.
> deciding to use a given keyboard. Being Microswitch, it's NOT genuine IBM.
> the IBM real-McCoys are unuseable there's no
point in attempting to use one
of
That was my original comment. The true IBM 'clicky' keyboards are not
suitable for this, for all they have a lovely feel (I am using one right
now).
> them. Hall-effect switches are probably too expensive to appear in a
cheapie
as
> one would expect to see on a PC clone.
What's called for in the KIM-1 case
is
Again, agreed, but you might come across them in some (high-end) classic
computers.
> clearly a switch, however. There's some question as to whether the
relatively
We're agreeing on everything. Yes, no point in making life difficult. The
Kim was designed to use a switch, and that's what should be used to make
a new keypad -- especially as suitable switches are available.
Incidentally, has the chap with the Kim tried taking the old keypad
apart. Somethimes they can be mended -- broken contacts resoldered or
replaced, for example.
-tony