electronizer Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I bought an Atari 400 for my collection because I love the design, but using the membrane keyboard is a challenge. I have to type _slowly_, and even then, I often have to go back and press a key again because the key press didn't get picked up the first time. My question is, are all 400 membrane keyboards universally poor in terms of sensitivity, or are there some that are better than others? It would be great to have every key press register on the first try; would installing a NOS membrane keyboard accomplish this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorclu Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Huh, I'm running to the same problem on the Odyssey 2 membrane keyboard. I know that keyboards after they sit for a while need some "exercise" to clean off the contacts, but aside from typing on them a lot not sure what else you can do for membrane keyboards. Love the Atari 400 though. Started on that computer. Recently adapted a Atari 400 keyboard for an Atari 800, mainly because it was a parts 800 and needed a keyboard for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundGammon Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I remember typing in LIVEWIRE, a Tempest clone, on my 400 keyboard years ago! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electronizer Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 @SoundGammon, that sounds familiar. Was that in Antic magazine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ZuluGula Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Don't know it it can be installed in 400, but i would live stock keyboard in place and use external keyboard http://atariage.com/forums/topic/240686-transkey-ii-in-development/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIO2 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 @SoundGammon, that sounds familiar. Was that in Antic magazine? Analog magazine. I typed Livewire also on 400. I bought my 400 new. The keyboard always required slow and firm key presses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I remember them to be better than the Odyssey keyboard but still needing a rather firm touch to register. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 @SoundGammon, that sounds familiar. Was that in Antic magazine? I did the same thing. I used to get ANALOG, so that was probably it. Lot's of numbers since it was programmed in assembly but wasn't that difficult to do on my 400. Nice little game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Because they put the speaker right below the keyboard, you can feel and hear the click when each key registers. The best typing technique is to touch lightly and feel the raised edges, then push firmly until it clicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodByteXL Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 My question is, are all 400 membrane keyboards universally poor in terms of sensitivity, or are there some that are better than others? For the 400 there is just one solution, if you like to use it for typing: A Cherry keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yell0w_lantern Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 For the 400 there is just one solution, if you like to use it for typing: A Cherry keyboard. That would be great. I bet they are as rare as rocking horse crap though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towmater Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 (edited) I'm tempted to bid, if only for the Indus, but I don't really need all of that junk, however here is the keyboard you seek: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-400-Computer-Game-System-w-joysticks-Books-/151896504093?hash=item235dbcb71d:g:yg4AAOSwv-NWV235 and oddly, the same keyboard, although a tad more expensive: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WORKING-Atari-400-Computer-System-Floppy-1050-Disk-Drive-Power-Adapter-Acs/252180285995?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150604093004%26meid%3De5c3d04c15f044e2bfc3c3f58f1a9f35%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D151896504093&rt=nc Edited December 4, 2015 by towmater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electronizer Posted December 4, 2015 Author Share Posted December 4, 2015 @towmater, that brings back memories! The first 400 I saw had a keyboard like that. It was at a MAAUG meeting and I remember my dad commenting on how the owner had installed a real keyboard. Atari marketed the 400 as a kid-friendly computer (easy to clean up keyboard spills), but I can easily see a kid getting frustrated playing a game on a keyboard that only registers every other keypress at best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 I'm tempted to bid, if only for the Indus, but I don't really need all of that junk, however here is the keyboard you seek: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-400-Computer-Game-System-w-joysticks-Books-/151896504093?hash=item235dbcb71d:g:yg4AAOSwv-NWV235 and oddly, the same keyboard, although a tad more expensive: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WORKING-Atari-400-Computer-System-Floppy-1050-Disk-Drive-Power-Adapter-Acs/252180285995?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150604093004%26meid%3De5c3d04c15f044e2bfc3c3f58f1a9f35%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D151896504093&rt=nc Careful, that first auction has two keys missing. There is also the B-Key keyboards (Almost identical to the Cherry) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towmater Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 Careful, that first auction has two keys missing. That's what 3d printers are for! Well, that and engineering jets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yell0w_lantern Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 (edited) That's what 3d printers are for! Well, that and engineering jets. Has anyone modeled them, yet? I have a B-key keyboard and made some replacements the old-fashioned way - molding and casting. Edited December 8, 2015 by yell0w_lantern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towmater Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Has anyone modeled them, yet? I have a B-key keyboard and made some replacements the old-fashioned way - molding and casting. I dunno if Shapeways is the best place to put our nascent library of retro-refurb 3D printed part files, or will they get lost in the noise? Perhaps the sysops at AtariAge could create a repository for 3D print files. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max_Chatsworth Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 On 12/1/2015 at 4:01 AM, GoodByteXL said: For the 400 there is just one solution, if you like to use it for typing: A Cherry keyboard. I just got a 400, but not looking forward to using the keyboard (my youth brings back bad memories with that keyboard). Can I still get a keyboard like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpeter Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 20 minutes ago, Max_Chatsworth said: I just got a 400, but not looking forward to using the keyboard (my youth brings back bad memories with that keyboard). Can I still get a keyboard like this? Very occasionally come up on Ebay, often already installed in a 400. Ironically, there's a 400 with a B-key keyboard fitted up on UK Ebay this week- £299 or best offer ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max_Chatsworth Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 On 10/30/2020 at 1:15 PM, drpeter said: Very occasionally come up on Ebay, often already installed in a 400. Ironically, there's a 400 with a B-key keyboard fitted up on UK Ebay this week- £299 or best offer ? I mean..I would love if I could get some sort of exernal/plubbale one..so i didn't have to change the classic original design. Wonder if it'd be possible to build one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NISMOPC Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-400-Console-48K-2-Controllers-410-Cassette-Console-Switch-AS-IS/233767016712 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 (edited) 22 hours ago, Max_Chatsworth said: I mean..I would love if I could get some sort of exernal/plubbale one..so i didn't have to change the classic original design. Wonder if it'd be possible to build one. You mean something like the TK II so you can use a ps/2 keyboard? https://ataribits.weebly.com/tk-ii.html Edited November 3, 2020 by mimo spellin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 5 hours ago, mimo said: You mean something like the TK II so you can use a ps/2 keyboard? https://ataribits.weebly.com/tk-ii.html The Brewing Academy sells these, btw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornchip Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 8 hours ago, NISMOPC said: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-400-Console-48K-2-Controllers-410-Cassette-Console-Switch-AS-IS/233767016712 That sold fast. Wonder what the overall condition was? The listing said a few keys didn't work aside from the single key that was missing. Had a 48k upgrade also.....always a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 (edited) On 11/2/2020 at 11:17 AM, Max_Chatsworth said: I mean..I would love if I could get some sort of exernal/plubbale one..so i didn't have to change the classic original design. Wonder if it'd be possible to build one. Yes. BITD I got a surplus 1200XL keyboard and wired it in parallel with my 800's keyboard, with a ribbon cable which passes through a thin slot cut into the seam between the case halves. Ahhh, I could sit back and type on my lap. It would work just as well with a 400. Edited November 4, 2020 by ClausB 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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