I have ZX81 sitting doing nothing because I could not get used to the keyboard and replacements are thin on the ground. I have noticed on eBay empty ZX Spectrum cases, are they compatible with the ZX81?
Thanks
ZX81 work with a Spectrum keyboard
Re: ZX81 work with a Spectrum keyboard
This is rather nice [mention]zack4mac[/mention] , but ends very soon.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3115937175
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3115937175
Re: ZX81 work with a Spectrum keyboard
£86 spondoolies my G@% 
I just bought a Rainbow Bluetooth with cherry keys that lights up from ebay for £20. Although the Memotech case is quite smart :rol: is that the going rate?
I just bought a Rainbow Bluetooth with cherry keys that lights up from ebay for £20. Although the Memotech case is quite smart :rol: is that the going rate?-
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Re: ZX81 work with a Spectrum keyboard
Often if in good condition, yes £50 and upwards...
From the electrical side of things, the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum rubber key keyboards are the same. Both are a 8 x 5 matrix giving 40 keys. However the tails of the membranes are physically in different places, and the order of some of the electrical connections on the tails of the membranes are in a different order.
Plus the key legends are different... (yes, 1 to 0, Q to P, etc is the same, but the keywords are different, as are some special function keys).
So if you are willing to make up an adaptor, yes you can use a rubber key keyboard (or even a ZX Spectrum+ keyboard).
You may however wish to wait for a bit. A new proper keyboard for the ZX81 / TS1000 has just finished being developed. Once the new keycaps have been produced, they will be made available for sale.
This is not my project. When the developers announce more information, I’ll post more information.
Mark
From the electrical side of things, the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum rubber key keyboards are the same. Both are a 8 x 5 matrix giving 40 keys. However the tails of the membranes are physically in different places, and the order of some of the electrical connections on the tails of the membranes are in a different order.
Plus the key legends are different... (yes, 1 to 0, Q to P, etc is the same, but the keywords are different, as are some special function keys).
So if you are willing to make up an adaptor, yes you can use a rubber key keyboard (or even a ZX Spectrum+ keyboard).
You may however wish to wait for a bit. A new proper keyboard for the ZX81 / TS1000 has just finished being developed. Once the new keycaps have been produced, they will be made available for sale.
This is not my project. When the developers announce more information, I’ll post more information.
Mark
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Re: ZX81 work with a Spectrum keyboard
That sounds great Mark, cheers for that