Owners of ZX/TS and Atari 400 computers probably find membrane keys the weak point. Non-responsive keys, from misplaced or weak finger pressure, sneak errors into programs. To avoid dropped characters, one must watch the screen while entering. This slows keying.
Several vendors offer add-on, full-movement keyboards or overlays to position the fingers correctly.
But the problem really comes from treating membrane keyboards as typewriters. Typing skills, even ideas of how typing movements look, mislead us. Tapping membrane keys often produces errors. Never mind the similarities, a membrane isn’t a typing keyboard.
Upset at this shortcoming, I experimented. I now cut errors and speed programming by pressing a key near its upper edge, and rubbing my finger over the key with enough force to make a slight “pop.”
I can now type in–or should I say rub in–several lines with no need to check my screen for errors. With practice, this method proves fast and not especially awkward.
So, before you invest in an add on keyboard, try this method. You may save yourself the price of that peripheral you’re saving for.