Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
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- Posts: 62
- Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 7:23 pm
Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
Is there an easier way to type on the ZX-81 keyboard other than tough typing. I can't seem to get good tactile feedback from the keys and must look at them, hold them down for a millisecond, and then it gets printed to the screen. But typing isn't fast. Is there an easier way to use the membrane keyboard on the ZX-81? On the emulator I also notice a slight pause between keypress and what gets repeated to the screen.
Paul
Paul
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
Sounds about right to me LOL; in the old days when we used real telly's typing in fast mode was the only way, you could concentrate on what your fingers where doing and everytime a keypress was accepted you could see in you peripheral vision the screen flickering so you didn't have to look up to often.
I often wonder how i managed to sit there for hours on end in the early eighties writting utter rubbish that at the time i thought was wonderful. many of my games where so slow you could go downstairs grab some pop and still be back before it was your turn again !
The Joy...
Regards Andy
I often wonder how i managed to sit there for hours on end in the early eighties writting utter rubbish that at the time i thought was wonderful. many of my games where so slow you could go downstairs grab some pop and still be back before it was your turn again !
The Joy...
Regards Andy
what's that Smell.... smells like fresh flux and solder fumes...
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
Hehe.
Actually, after I bought the real hardware, I find the keyboard better then the one from ZX48 or ZX+.
However You are right that You have to look on the keyboard while using it. Because You can't "feel" it with fingers, hehe.
Actually, after I bought the real hardware, I find the keyboard better then the one from ZX48 or ZX+.
However You are right that You have to look on the keyboard while using it. Because You can't "feel" it with fingers, hehe.
IN NIHILUM REVERTERIS - a big text-adventure game for ZX81: http://tiny.pl/g2m6m
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
I used to 'stroke' the keys in a gentle top-down manner. It was quite therapeutic and it improved my lurve technique no end
- BrunoFlorindo
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 2:46 am
- Location: Anaheim, CA, USA
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
If you really want to use the TS1000 you have two options:
1-Get an alternate keyboard or an add-on (that sticks on top of the keyboard but adds tactile feedback) - Almost impossible to find
2-Do a hardware mod to connect a PC keyboard to the ZX-81 - Difficult if you're not into hardware, soldering, etc.
Now, if you want to find something that works like the TS1000 but is easier to work with, I would suggest the TS1500. I've seen these on eBay at least once per month. I have one, and it's basically a ZX81 with internal 16K memory but the outside looks like a Silver 48K Spectrum. The other nice thing about the TS1500 is that you can use the 16K add-on and get a total of 32K of ram.
I used to have two but sold the other one last year. All I have extra is some TS1000s.
1-Get an alternate keyboard or an add-on (that sticks on top of the keyboard but adds tactile feedback) - Almost impossible to find
2-Do a hardware mod to connect a PC keyboard to the ZX-81 - Difficult if you're not into hardware, soldering, etc.
Now, if you want to find something that works like the TS1000 but is easier to work with, I would suggest the TS1500. I've seen these on eBay at least once per month. I have one, and it's basically a ZX81 with internal 16K memory but the outside looks like a Silver 48K Spectrum. The other nice thing about the TS1500 is that you can use the 16K add-on and get a total of 32K of ram.
I used to have two but sold the other one last year. All I have extra is some TS1000s.
- BrunoFlorindo
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 2:46 am
- Location: Anaheim, CA, USA
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
Well, it seems I spoke too soon. Here's something I found on eBay, but the seller is in the U.K. and it's not just the keyboard, it comes with the ZX81:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ZX81-Computer-in- ... dZViewItem
If you really, really want to use the TS1000 but with a better keyboard this is a good choice, but it might be expensive and the keyboard doesn't have a space bar.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ZX81-Computer-in- ... dZViewItem
If you really, really want to use the TS1000 but with a better keyboard this is a good choice, but it might be expensive and the keyboard doesn't have a space bar.
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
Yes, Timex 1500 is a ZX81 with rubber keyboard and 16Kb of RAM. Very beautiful, however I still think that touch-pad has its own advantages. And keys will not be erased, hehe.
Anyway I would agree that more regular keyboard would be maybe better for games.
But as Andy wrote - the joy is to use original hardware. I would never repleace my touch-pad with some additional keyboard - again: unless we talk about games.
Surely there is a PC-keyboard interface for ZX81. You can ask guys from ZX-TEAM.
The best place is German ZX81 forum http://forum.tlienhard.com/phpBB3/viewf ... 04cd1395c0
I would say that German ZX81 scene is very strong and active (envy, envy!! ).
About the reaction for key-press. On emulz it's kinda slow. But when I use real hardware I don't actually notice it. Hm. Probably emulators' fault.
Anyway remember that ZX81 is *really* old computer so don't expect it to be as fast as modern stuff.
I did the mistake once and now I have to but another tv-set, especially for ZX81, hehehe.
Anyway I would agree that more regular keyboard would be maybe better for games.
But as Andy wrote - the joy is to use original hardware. I would never repleace my touch-pad with some additional keyboard - again: unless we talk about games.
Surely there is a PC-keyboard interface for ZX81. You can ask guys from ZX-TEAM.
The best place is German ZX81 forum http://forum.tlienhard.com/phpBB3/viewf ... 04cd1395c0
I would say that German ZX81 scene is very strong and active (envy, envy!! ).
About the reaction for key-press. On emulz it's kinda slow. But when I use real hardware I don't actually notice it. Hm. Probably emulators' fault.
Anyway remember that ZX81 is *really* old computer so don't expect it to be as fast as modern stuff.
I did the mistake once and now I have to but another tv-set, especially for ZX81, hehehe.
IN NIHILUM REVERTERIS - a big text-adventure game for ZX81: http://tiny.pl/g2m6m
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
Paul, now I think I know what You mean. If You have Timex1000, it might show such behaviour because - as emulator shows - TS1000 is a bit slower (because of NTSC vision system).
In this case I don't know what to advise You in fact, except buying some PAL TV-set and ZX81. But is isn't rather any good idea for USA-based guys.
In this case I don't know what to advise You in fact, except buying some PAL TV-set and ZX81. But is isn't rather any good idea for USA-based guys.
IN NIHILUM REVERTERIS - a big text-adventure game for ZX81: http://tiny.pl/g2m6m
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
yerzmyey wrote: Anyway remember that ZX81 is *really* old computer so don't expect it to be as fast as modern stuff.
I did the mistake once and now I have to but another tv-set, especially for ZX81, hehehe.
hi!
you´re right. it is on of the oldest computers ... but: it is THE BEST!!!!!!
greetings
jens
eyerything will be okay in the end.
if it´s not okay, it´s not the end.
and: uıɐbɐ ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ɹǝʌǝ ɹǝʌǝu ןןıʍ ı
if it´s not okay, it´s not the end.
and: uıɐbɐ ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ɹǝʌǝ ɹǝʌǝu ןןıʍ ı
Re: Membrane keyboard on ZX-81?
Oh, of course I ment nothing wrong.
The TV subject is related to another thread, where we were talking about old ULA version (too weak signal for modern TV-sets). But now I have a micro-TV and it works perfectly and the screen is sharp like a shark's tooth.
Anyway - I always say that ZX81's games are the best. One would never believe that such highly-playable games can fit in 4Kb or 16Kb. Or even 1Kb!!
I also like ZX81's graphic very much. I have seen many fine pictures for it and several of them were simply outstanding.
These ones I found recently
http://hooyprogram.republika.pl/sley.gif
http://hooyprogram.republika.pl/mario.gif
made on ZX81 Image Maker (they should add some saving on disk, not only WWW editor).
I regret I can't make such pics by myself, hehe, but I'm crap graphician.
The TV subject is related to another thread, where we were talking about old ULA version (too weak signal for modern TV-sets). But now I have a micro-TV and it works perfectly and the screen is sharp like a shark's tooth.
Anyway - I always say that ZX81's games are the best. One would never believe that such highly-playable games can fit in 4Kb or 16Kb. Or even 1Kb!!
I also like ZX81's graphic very much. I have seen many fine pictures for it and several of them were simply outstanding.
These ones I found recently
http://hooyprogram.republika.pl/sley.gif
http://hooyprogram.republika.pl/mario.gif
made on ZX81 Image Maker (they should add some saving on disk, not only WWW editor).
I regret I can't make such pics by myself, hehe, but I'm crap graphician.
IN NIHILUM REVERTERIS - a big text-adventure game for ZX81: http://tiny.pl/g2m6m
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/
"MONOCHROME" issue 5 - (Spring 2014) free paper/PDF magazine about ZX81: http://tiny.pl/q2m44
ZX81 COMPETITIONS 2007/2009: http://zx81.republika.pl/