RISC OS Open: Forum: Wanted: Acorn Electron (not working)

Apr 13, 2015 11:42am

Richard Walker (2090) 431 posts

Ahh… I have one of those keyboards somewhere. I didn’t realise that it was quite so big. Deffo worth a look. Mind you, I’m coming round more to the tray idea, since you really need somewhere to put the mouse, don’t you?

Apr 14, 2015 6:43am

Glen Walker (2585) 469 posts

Nice to see the old tech isn’t dead yet – serial is still useful for things…

We use serial all the time for talking to equipment at work so still heavily used in industry. My old company also relied heavily on ARCNET to talk to their equipment.

Those Acorn keyboards do look nice – are they mechanical switches or rubber dome types? I had a quick scout around on eBay earlier this year before work got manic but there were only a handful of German ones. Not sure I’d be allowed any more beige components in the house right now since I am still a recovering beigeoholic….

Apr 14, 2015 9:28am

Steve Drain (222) 1620 posts

are they mechanical switches or rubber dome types?

The keys and mounts are quite substantial, but appears to be dome and membrane underneath. Unlike cheap new keyboards it has a nice ‘dished’ shape. It is nothing like a good old Cherry mechanical and re-wirable keyboard. ;-)

Apr 16, 2015 9:29am

Steve Drain (222) 1620 posts

I had a quick scout around on eBay earlier this year …

I had a look, too, and at CJEMicros. From the prices asked I suddenly feel reluctant to start adapting such a valuable piece of kit. ;-)

On the other hand, a RiscPC can use any PS2 keyboard, so I do not have to retain it for that purpose, and I am extremely unlikely to ever want to realise its value. Decisions, decisions …

complete with PS/2 to USB adapter

I got one of the very cheap adapters, less than £1 with postage, and it seems to work very well. From the reviews of these, it might be a bit hit and miss whether you get a good one.

Apr 16, 2015 10:27am

Chris Evans (457) 1614 posts

complete with PS/2 to USB adapter

I got one of the very cheap adapters, less than £1 with postage, and it seems to work very well. From the reviews of these, it might be a bit hit and miss whether you get a good one.

The problem isn’t the quality some use a chip that isn’t RISC OS friendly:-(

We can supply ones that are RISC OS friendly.
We can also supply cheaper some of those we have bought that aren’t!

Apr 17, 2015 8:59am

Steve Drain (222) 1620 posts

There seem to be two problems with these adaptors. The first is as you describe, where the chip does not do all that you want. A particular case reported being their failure with gaming keyboards. The second is poor fabrication. The circuit board in mine is the size of a fingernail and the possibility of bad soldering is evident. However, neither applies to the one I have, so I am happy. ;-)

Wanted: Acorn Electron (not working)

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Apr 13, 2015 11:42am Richard Walker (2090) 431 posts	Ahh… I have one of those keyboards somewhere. I didn’t realise that it was quite so big. Deffo worth a look. Mind you, I’m coming round more to the tray idea, since you really need somewhere to put the mouse, don’t you?

Apr 14, 2015 6:43am Glen Walker (2585) 469 posts	Nice to see the old tech isn’t dead yet – serial is still useful for things… We use serial all the time for talking to equipment at work so still heavily used in industry. My old company also relied heavily on ARCNET to talk to their equipment. Those Acorn keyboards do look nice – are they mechanical switches or rubber dome types? I had a quick scout around on eBay earlier this year before work got manic but there were only a handful of German ones. Not sure I’d be allowed any more beige components in the house right now since I am still a recovering beigeoholic….

Apr 14, 2015 9:28am Steve Drain (222) 1620 posts	are they mechanical switches or rubber dome types? The keys and mounts are quite substantial, but appears to be dome and membrane underneath. Unlike cheap new keyboards it has a nice ‘dished’ shape. It is nothing like a good old Cherry mechanical and re-wirable keyboard. ;-)

Apr 16, 2015 9:29am Steve Drain (222) 1620 posts	I had a quick scout around on eBay earlier this year … I had a look, too, and at CJEMicros. From the prices asked I suddenly feel reluctant to start adapting such a valuable piece of kit. ;-) On the other hand, a RiscPC can use any PS2 keyboard, so I do not have to retain it for that purpose, and I am extremely unlikely to ever want to realise its value. Decisions, decisions … complete with PS/2 to USB adapter I got one of the very cheap adapters, less than £1 with postage, and it seems to work very well. From the reviews of these, it might be a bit hit and miss whether you get a good one.

Apr 16, 2015 10:27am Chris Evans (457) 1614 posts	complete with PS/2 to USB adapter I got one of the very cheap adapters, less than £1 with postage, and it seems to work very well. From the reviews of these, it might be a bit hit and miss whether you get a good one. The problem isn’t the quality some use a chip that isn’t RISC OS friendly:-( We can supply ones that are RISC OS friendly. We can also supply cheaper some of those we have bought that aren’t!

Apr 17, 2015 8:59am Steve Drain (222) 1620 posts	There seem to be two problems with these adaptors. The first is as you describe, where the chip does not do all that you want. A particular case reported being their failure with gaming keyboards. The second is poor fabrication. The circuit board in mine is the size of a fingernail and the possibility of bad soldering is evident. However, neither applies to the one I have, so I am happy. ;-)