wampler@unmvax.UUCP (Bruce Wampler) (08/01/86)
I have at last found the almost perfect keyboard for my AT (clone).
The original was a copy of IBM's first AT keyboard. I couldn't stand
where ESC was, and was constantly hitting \<backspace>. The new AT
is much worse, hiding CTRL off somewhere and movine ESC even farther
away. There is a solution! The Heathkit HK-200 for about $125 is
as about a perfect keyboard as I've ever used. Most of the keys
are perfectly placed - ESC is right next to 1, the Return key is big,
and so is the BackSpace (next to +/=). The \/| key is next to
the right shift (a bit wierd, but to the right of the shift key),
and the `/~ is right left of the space bar. The only problem is that
it has an electronic click, but I think that you can take the back
off the keyboard and cut the trace to the speaker. The only kit
part of the keyboard is taking the backing off the name plate and
sticking it on. Oh yeah, it has good autorepeat - starts off slow,
then gets very fast. All in all, this is the keyboard I've been
wanting for years! The touch is very good, too. Not too mushy, but
not so sharp like some. So, if you have been searching for the
ultimate keyboard for an AT, I'd suggest the Heathkit. Considering
all the time I spend at the keyboard, it is worth paying for a good one.
I have no relationship to Heath other than as a satisfied customer.
--
Dr. Bruce E. Wampler
University of New Mexico
Department of Computer Science
Albuquerque, NM 87131
..{ucbvax | seismo!gatech | ihnp4!lanl}!unmvax!wamplersandersr@ecn-pc.UUCP (Robert C Sanders) (08/04/86)
In article <374@unmvax.UUCP> wampler@unmvax.UUCP (Bruce Wampler) writes: >[ talk about the Heathkit AT clone keyboard] The only problem is that >it has an electronic click, but I think that you can take the back >off the keyboard and cut the trace to the speaker. [...] Try depressing the ALT and the ESC keys at the same time. This is a toggle, and first time after power-up will turn the click off, the second time back on, and so on. It is one of the best features of the heathkit keyboard -- to be able to have the click or not. (They have a ucpu in there for a reason..) -- Continuing Engineering Education Telecommunications Purdue University ...!ihnp4!pur-ee!pc-ecn!sandersr Let's make like a BSD process, and go FORK-OFF !! -- bob (and "make" a few children while we're at it ...)