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Author Topic: Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard  (Read 15066 times)

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Offline cb951303

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 10:03:21 »
I don't know if you guys have seen this. It's amazing. I always loved the feel of old c64 keyboards. A guy from Denmark made a circuit to connect a c64 to your pc as a usb keyboard. Considering that it has limited and strange keys on it, it may be a little difficult to adapt for every day use but still it's very cool

http://symlink.dk/projects/c64key/
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Offline lowpoly

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 10:40:29 »
Once I saw one like this on ebay. You could switch between PC keyboard and C64 mode for use with emulators. It went for more than 100,- Euros.

The C64 keyboard uses Mitsumi linear switches. The springs are directly under the keycaps. If you want access to a spring you simply pull the cap.
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Offline itlnstln

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 10:44:53 »
Some of these older keyboards really seemed to be made like tanks.  I remembr visiting my dad at work (he was in the Air Force), and the military equipment back then (mid-eighties) was very robust.
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Offline cb951303

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 10:53:05 »
Quote from: lowpoly;18495
Once I saw one like this on ebay. You could switch between PC keyboard and C64 mode for use with emulators. It went for more than 100,- Euros.


fortunately, in my country c64 goes about $10 a piece. I'm very tempted to try this if I can find an atmel programmer around.
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Offline Mercen_505

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 10:57:09 »
While that's pretty geeky (and therefore cool), I have a Commodore Plus/4 and wouldn't dream of typing on it ever again. It's an awesome looking keyboard, but the keys are so mushy it's a nightmare to actually do significant code or data entry.
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Offline cb951303

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 11:17:41 »
actually this project inspires me to dig ebay for old terminal keyboards.
if a c64 can be converted to use as a USB keyboard why not try an old dec vt102 or an hp 2627 :) there are lot of amazing looking terminal keyboards. Of course it would require a little bit of electronics knowledge but it couldn't stop a geek. Here is some kb porn for you

http://www.hpmuseum.net/images/2627Aterminal-33.jpg
http://www.tprthai.net/comps/decvt102.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Televideo925Terminal.jpg
http://www.asciilifeform.com/bolix/bolix.png
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Offline lowpoly

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 11:34:41 »
Quote from: cb951303;18510
kb porn

A Symbolics 'board always does it for me.
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Offline Therac-25

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 15:01:09 »
I pulled out my old Atari 800 XL recently.

Christ, what a horrible keyboard that is.  I don't know what the C64s were like, but if they're anything like the Atari one, history can keep it.
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Offline cmr

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 18:55:19 »
that's pretty cool. that's what i used at school during the days when i had a PC XT at home. i still prefer the model F to it, i think
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Offline cb951303

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 19:06:21 »
if atari and c4+ sucks, there is a big chance that c64 sucks too. My memory may not be as good as I think it is. Since I don't have a c64 anymore I can't test myself. If anyone has a c64 lying in their garage, I would appreciate if he/she could tell how the keyboard feels.

thanks
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Offline cb951303

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 19:15:34 »
Quote from: cb951303;18510
actually this project inspires me to dig ebay for old terminal keyboards.
if a c64 can be converted to use as a USB keyboard why not try an old dec vt102 or an hp 2627 :)


apparently someone is already on it :) great list of non-pc keyboards
http://www.kbdbabel.org
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Offline cb951303

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 17 January 2009, 19:17:58 »
Quote from: lowpoly;18521
A Symbolics 'board always does it for me.

I want that symbolics keyboard bad :mad: and it already works with a pc :..(
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Offline lowpoly

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 18 January 2009, 07:15:55 »
Quote from: cb951303;18564
I want that symbolics keyboard bad :mad: and it already works with a pc :..(

It needs a converter for the pc. Symbolics had a Symbolics to ADB converter. I think it was for their MacIvory machines. You could use an iMate after that but would probably lose all the cool meta keys. The kbdbabel project looks promising though.
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Offline lowpoly

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 18 January 2009, 07:51:03 »
Quote from: lowpoly;18495
The C64 keyboard uses Mitsumi linear switches. The springs are directly under the keycaps. If you want access to a spring you simply pull the cap.

Looks like I was wrong and the keyboard uses carbon contact switches:

http://www.bjtechserv.com/Magazine/C64/C64_Keyboard_Clean.htm
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Offline kliclak

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 18 January 2009, 21:38:35 »
If you want to pull this conversion off with no soldering whatsoever, just Google "Keyrah".  It's a little board that neatly fits into the c64 case (once you take the motherboard out), and replaces the power connector with a usb connector.

http://www.vesalia.de/e_keyrah%5B4824%5D.htm

I must admit I tossed this idea around, but the c64 keyboard (and the two earlier variations that were in the vic 20's)...well let's just say the keyboard was not the reason they sold so many 64's.

I have a pile of 64's and Vic's (including a couple empty cases and keyboards) but I don't think I'll be doing this conversion any time soon.
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Offline lowpoly

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 19 January 2009, 04:46:51 »
Quote
"Keyrah"

I guess that was what I saw on ebay once. Thanks  for the link.
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Offline alpslover

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 19 January 2009, 11:00:28 »
the c64 keyboard was designed by someone who knew that the c64's primary input device would be a joystick.
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Offline armenws

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Sun, 27 February 2011, 17:59:30 »
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Offline Surly73

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #18 on: Sun, 27 February 2011, 18:16:57 »
I don't recall typing pleasure being one of the features of my C64 back in the day.
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Offline hemflit

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Commodore 64 as a USB keyboard
« Reply #19 on: Sat, 12 March 2011, 10:35:37 »
Hey,

I'm actually in the middle of doing something like this right now, if we define "right now" as "20 minutes over every other weekend, for a few past weekends".

I can confirm the switches are carbon contact (want pictures?). The build is very bottom-outie, if that's a word, and contrary to my rosy-filtered recollections, the typing experience is not a pleasure by any standard. And I'm not even a keyboard snob.

The keycaps, though, are very pleasant and pretty. (An old version, large upright font, spherical, double-shot chocolate and beige.)

Keyrah is apparently a plug-and-play solution if you're ready to pay 40 euro (~$55) for it. The C128D version of Keyrah (31 euro, ~$43) would probably do the job too, but it would call for a modicum of soldering.

Possible reasons to ignore it and roll your own would be:
1) get by a little cheaper ($20-25)
II) customize your own logical layout
c) fun/learning

That Danish dude's project is a cool solution but requires you to have a programmer board for the AVR, and make your own circuitboard, and some other stuff that may be a non-issue for you, but in my case went a little too far out of the "fun" zone.
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