Here are some pictures:
Upper side:
Back side (3rd key on right side on upper row is pressed):
Siggi
Rubber "overlay" for keyboard - producing?
Re: Rubber "overlay" for keyboard - producing?
My ZX81 web-server: online since 2007, running since dec. 2020 using ZeddyNet hardware
http://zx81.ddns.net/ZxTeaM
http://zx81.ddns.net/ZxTeaM
Re: Rubber "overlay" for keyboard - producing?
I guess the question is all down to cost and how many would be sold....
What do you base the market on? I have sold over 750 ZX81 keyboard membranes since 2009 - I think (SirMorris can check, or I can do so tomorrow) we have sold about 250-300 ZXpands.
Based on that, I would guess the market would be around 120-150 units at a price of about £10 each - same as the membrane...
I really doubt that this would be economic...
What do you base the market on? I have sold over 750 ZX81 keyboard membranes since 2009 - I think (SirMorris can check, or I can do so tomorrow) we have sold about 250-300 ZXpands.
Based on that, I would guess the market would be around 120-150 units at a price of about £10 each - same as the membrane...
I really doubt that this would be economic...
Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
Re: Rubber "overlay" for keyboard - producing?
Well - I think a good keyboard takes a price especially if not manufactured in big series (1000+ or 10.000+).
The best way would be a rubber replacement keyboard for the ZX81 combining a rubber surface and manufactured electrical contacts with this flexible maxtrix connector. This way you have a rubber surface and a foil or even better small switches geared to each other.
Putting the rubber surface on a new or old ZX81 keyboard membrane is maybe not a good solution. If you have a new one you have to press the keys the first few hundred times to get it "easy working". This would be harder with a rubber on it. If you have an old membrane it could be some keys maybe stuck with that rubber pressed on it.
As Rich said, it is always a matter of price. In the 80ies it would be a super product but nowadays people maybe do not take extensive use of the build in keyboard rather than starting programs and press some action keys. I think development is made in emulators mainly and there are too less enthusiasts writing there memories or autobiography on the Zeddy. By the way this would be a funny idea.
The best way would be a rubber replacement keyboard for the ZX81 combining a rubber surface and manufactured electrical contacts with this flexible maxtrix connector. This way you have a rubber surface and a foil or even better small switches geared to each other.
Putting the rubber surface on a new or old ZX81 keyboard membrane is maybe not a good solution. If you have a new one you have to press the keys the first few hundred times to get it "easy working". This would be harder with a rubber on it. If you have an old membrane it could be some keys maybe stuck with that rubber pressed on it.
As Rich said, it is always a matter of price. In the 80ies it would be a super product but nowadays people maybe do not take extensive use of the build in keyboard rather than starting programs and press some action keys. I think development is made in emulators mainly and there are too less enthusiasts writing there memories or autobiography on the Zeddy. By the way this would be a funny idea.

Re: Rubber "overlay" for keyboard - producing?
Well, I use - hence my question.
OK then, it was worth to ask anyway.
OK then, it was worth to ask anyway.
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/