Swap Keyboards?
11 messages in this thread
My Amiga 2000 keyboard is starting to cause problems. Have cleaned etc., but
they still persist. Tried to get a replacement keyboard, but without much
success.
Heard… or read… somewhere that there is some form of adaptor which allows
one to use a PC type keyboard with the Amiga.
Does anyone know anything about it ?
Thanks and regards, Hilary.
>Heard… or read… somewhere that there is some form of adaptor which
>allows one to use a PC type keyboard with the Amiga.
it's called the KA-1 Enhanced Keyboard Adapter and it works with an IBM XT
keyboard. you'll need to find an ibm keyboard that has an XT/AT switch on
it, like a keytronics keyboard. it is made my Top Secret Device
606.276.3779 and lists for $54.95 in the winter94 AC Guide.
or you can use a northgate ultra keyboard which has an Amiga/IBM switch.
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
Thanks so much for the info' Bob.
$55.00 seems a hell of a price to pay for an "adaptor" ??? I can get a
complete PC keyboard for less.
Going the Northgate route seems to be the way to go.
Thanks again for your trouble Bob.
Bye-the-way… What's all that jazz after your signature ??
Regards, Hilary.
Hilary,
If you end up replacing your old Amiga keyboard, I'd like to get a
hold of it for spare parts. With yours and mine together, I should be able to
cobble up a working unit.
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/__) ,_ _ _
_/__) / /__/ /_ /_-'
Thanks for the suggestion Bruce.
In fact I took the damn thing completely apart. Found lots of my missing pipe
tobacco inside, plus enough dust and dirt to fill an ancient tomb.
The keyboard did not at all like being taken apart, as it thrives on provoking
me to strike the keys harder. However… the clean up did work and I am back in
business… but will change my brand of pipe tobacco in future.
All the best, Hilary.
I'm sorry . . . er, happy to hear all is well with your keyboard.
Don't give up Bruce.
Am considering getting an Amiga 4000…. WHEN I have saved up enough from my
pension and Social Security. As my 2000 has fast become a worn out hulk… it
is probable and possible that I will take the damn thing apart and then sell
what I do not need of its guts. So bear with me.
Hope I did not upset you too much about your beloved Startrek. It's just that –
despite heading to my 80th year – I am still an engineer and a realist!
All the best, Hilary.
>$55.00 seems a hell of a price to pay for an "adaptor" I can get a
>complete PC keyboard for less.
i remember paying less, but i can't remember the exact amount. it is on
the expensive side considering that it doesn't work with AT keyboards.
the northgate is a "noisy" keyboard like the original ibm pc keyboards, so
the adaptor was a better option for me since i like nice & quiet
keyboards. 🙂
the nice thing about the northgate is that it comes with stickers for the
special amiga keys. the adaptor just remaps the keys like this:
alt = amiga
ctrl = alt
caps lock = ctrl
del = delete
home = help
there are a few northgate users here who can give your more feedback on
it.
>Bye-the-way… What's all that jazz after your signature ??
well, i'm a star wars fan and cheered for the empire through all the films
& books. 🙂 since i use autopilot, i figured why not say that i was flying
through compuserve in my tie interceptor, my favorite tie fighter [only
seen in return of the jedi, it was the one with bent "wings" as opposed to
the regular tie which as straight ones]. 🙂 since i'm also a fidonet
point, i decided what the heck and added my fido address. 🙂
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
Again…. thanks for the information Bob.
Regret to say that the Star Trek things annoy me more than entertain. For 10
years I did work under NACA and DOD contracts for advanced propulsion systems
for space travel – including ion and photon propulsion systems, also
magnetohydrodynamics (MHD).
The systems shown in the movies and TV are so childish and unreal, I just
cannot watch. All the flickering panel lights and the outmoded TV type data
screens. I can never get over the garb they all seem to wear…. rather like
cut down superman suits.
Ah well… it's only entertainment I suppose.
Again thanks and best regards, Hilary.
>Regret to say that the Star Trek things annoy me more than entertain.
understandable. 🙂 though i caution you that there are people out there
who would be deeply offended when people confuse star wars with star trek.
🙂 it is sad, but true. i am not one of those people. 😉 i find them to be
entertaining pieces of fiction. i watched them when i was young because of
the neat ships, now i watch them for the characters & stories.
>The systems shown in the movies and TV are so childish and unreal
yep, they are pretty bad at times. i still think it's funny that the
makers of the original 1960's star trek assumed computers would always use
relays that "clicked". 🙂 though they were clever enough to use small
cards as "disks". i often want to ask the writers if they have used a
computer. 🙂
>Ah well… it's only entertainment I suppose.
uh-huh, though there are some who take it a wee bit too seriously for
their own good, but that just my opinion. 🙂
fortunately, over time i have developed the ability to filter out all the
"techno-babel" and have learned where the script is concerned, physics is
expendible. 🙂
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
Bob,
actually, my Northgate came with replacement keycaps and the tool to
replace them. That's handy when I need to strip it down for cleaning.
Another advantage is that you can, using a custom keymap, take advantage
of all those extra keys. Mine are defined for MicroEmacs and Emacs.
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