Memotech Keyboard

ZX80 / ZX81 hardware and software requested for either sale or swapping
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Memotech Keyboard

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Moggy wrote: Fri Jul 20, 2018 11:06 pm White key one just like mine, but if you give it some stick and not use it once a year like most people the legends come off faster than a hookers drawers and the crappy thin sliding switch contacts likewise (had mine 30 years along with other external keyboards so know the difference).

Memotech look the part but sorry have to disagree that they are the best, Fuller every time for me , they are shoddily built but the key action is solid and unlike the Memotech the contacts are not made out of cheese. :lol:
I wish I had remembered your sage advice when I clicked buy on this lot... Maybe the black keys version will fair a little better. If not I may be chasing you for repair advice!

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On the plus side it is all boxed and lovely. No idea if any of it works though.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
Moggy
Posts: 3231
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:00 pm

Re: Memotech Keyboard

Post by Moggy »

Don't get me wrong,Lardo, as from a collectors point of view they are an excellent acquisition but just not up to par mechanically.

The contacts apart from being very thin and flimsy seem to oxidise/wear quickly and this manifests itself after a time by certain keys needing a second or more firm press to operate and luckily I have spares to replace them, but in fairness my keyboards are used everyday and are well hammered as opposed to just typing "HELLO WORLD" once or twice then put back into the box. :lol:

The switches are a simple two piece press together fit that can be dismantled with a view to cleaning the contacts but be aware that they are an absolute pig to reassemble. The legends are just simply inked onto the key caps and in my case I used clear nail varnish to protect them but be aware also that too much painting with the brush smudges the ink so one quick sweep over the cap,let it dry and do it again should suffice.

One last thing. The don't play well with custom keyboard routines, just load up Toddy Forth and try typing commands at a normal speed and let me know how you get on? HINT you will use backspace quite a bit. :lol:
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Memotech Keyboard

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Well, all the stuff above arrived. Finally. I think they posted it in 1982.

The zeddy is DOA but the RAM pack works as does the keyboard. It may not be the best but it is pretty awesome!

C9B52410-86A3-48BF-B1CD-7AA12C09B372.jpeg

At least compared to a membrane. :D

It came with the white outer box, inner box (near perfect), polys (near perfect), instructions and keyboard. This is also in pretty good shape - just a few scuffs underneath.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
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