Z88 FAX NEWS – June 1990 – Page Three
Publisher……….Curtis Claar
Facsimile……….Promo Productions
1820 MacTavish Ct. #112 • Rawlins, Wyo. 82301
Fax or voice (307) 324-6600
Another new column: Jim Hunkins gives technical assistance
Keeping the keyboard working
Z88 TECH HELP – James Hunkins
It is amazing what portability does for productivity. As do many people, I find myself constantly on the run. My faithful Z88 follows me nearly everywhere, which is a good thing. My best ideas come at the strangest times, so I type them into their proper file on the Z88 whenever they come. This goes not only for work but also for program development and now, for this column.
This new column will offer usage tips, point out useful sources of information, and answer readers’ questions. For this first column, I concentrate on keyboard related items.
Cleaning the keyboard
There are many ways to clean the Z88 keyboard, including the often mentioned strips of Scotch tape to remove dust. This is a bit tedious but works extremely well. My favorite way, however, is to use Armor-All, which tends to give the keyboard the wet look If Armor-All gets on the screen, though, glass cleaner is needed to clean it off.
Cleaning inside the Z88
Eventually, depending on the use and environment of the Z88, some keys on the keyboard may become a bit hesitant in responding.
I know many users buy replacement keyboards to fix this, but this is expensive and often unnecessary. What usually has happened is the contact surfaces between the rubber part of the keyboard and the membrane itself have become dirty (dust is attracted to surfaces that conduct electricity).
It is usually possible to clean these surfaces, but please only attempt the following procedure with care or find someone to help you. Accidents will likely damage your Z88. Also back up your data and disconnect the unit from the mains before starting.
CAUTION: To clean these surfaces requires removal of the keyboard which will void your warranty. Neither ZFN nor James Hunkins is responsible for damage you may cause to your Z88 by following these steps.
You must first remove the screen holder so you can completely remove the rubber keyboard.
With the Z88 upside down, remove the top three screws, the two screws underneath the stand (one behind the serial number label), and the screw near the serial connector.
Now, holding the screen cover in place, carefully turn the Z88 over. Gently lift the screen cover from the unit and place aside.
Now gently pry the rubber keyboard up, starting from in front of the space bar. The keyboard may be lightly secured with a type of “rubber” cement but it will eventually come loose. Additionally, the edges are wedged in place and there are three plugs along the horizontal middle which need to be gently popped loose.
After the rubber keyboard is removed, take some isopropyl rubbing alcohol and, with a soft cloth, clean both the back of the keyboard and the membrane it contacts. Do not use any other solution or damage will occur to the membrane. Also avoid lint.
When dry, reverse the steps, making sure that the keyboard is securely anchored along its edge. This can be difficult and may require loosening the other screws on the back of the Z88.
If your keyboard still does not work, you probably do need either a new rubber portion and/or a new membrane.
How to reach me
Send questions for me either through Z88 Fax News to my attention, directly to me, or across the Z88 BBS located in Torrance, Calif. If you want a personal answer, please use the bulletin board or include an SASE.
Teller
from page one
version built in to the calculator proved especially useful there.
Teller bought his Z88, serial number 034862, from Sharp’s and his system also includes a 128K RAM card and the PC-Link ROM.
So what does his partner Penn think of all of this?
Teller said Penn admires the Z88 a great deal “off and on.”
But he said Penn is one who asks “isn’t something perfect going to come out soon?” And until it does, Teller said, Penn is willing to lug his Zenith Super Sport with him.
Teller, however is happy with the Z88, even with its shortcomings. A Z88 with a Walk-Man and a book would keep you occupied until hell freezes over, he said.
[The beginning of the Teller story is on page one of Z88 Fax News, which was not reproduced in Update.]
People mentioned here:
Cambridge Group
200 Stonehinge Lane
Carle Place NY 11514
1-800-458-9008
Fax: 516-334-7973
Drummond Woodsum
Plimpton & MacMahon
245 Commercial Street
Portland ME 04101
(207) 772-1941
Sharp’s Inc.
Box 326
Mechanicsville VA
23111
(804) 730-9697
Fax: (804) 746-1978
James Hunkins
3375 Homestead Rd. #15
Santa Clara CA 95051
Torrance Calif. BBS
(213) 370-2754
Tell them you saw them here.
Z88 FAX NEWS
The international newspaper for the users of the Cambridge Z88 – distributed monthly via fax
1820 MacTavish Ct. #112 Rawlins, Wyoming 82301 USA (307) 324-6600 Fax or Voice
Dear Timex/Sinclair Users Group Members:
If any of you have a Z88 — or are about to get one — you’ll each want to subscribe to Z88 Fax News.
Z88 Fax News is the exciting new monthly newspaper all about the Z88. It features all the latest news, rumors, products, tips, and ads featuring the Z88 and related products. And to be timely, it is distributed via fax.
In Z88 Fax News, you can read reviews of new Z88 products from all over the world for the. You can read answers from Cambridge to questions from Z88 Fax News readers. You can read about other people who use a Z88. You can shop for things for your Z88 in the advertisements. You can learn new things about your Z88. You can read letters to the editor. And you can even be a part of it all by writing letters or columns.
Trust me, you simply won’t want to miss another issue. That’s why I’m personally (okay, so this is a form letter, but I still wrote it) inviting you to try us out.
And if you don’t have a fax machine, ask your employer if you can use theirs. If there isn’t one where you work, ask a friend if you can use theirs or go to a local fax receiving service. You may be able to arrange for a special price if you tell them you’ll be receiving two to four pages every month.
Or if you absolutely cannot come up with a fax number, we can mail your Z88 Fax News to you each month. (But you would get your Z88 Fax News a little later than everyone else.)
The normal subscription rate is $8.00 per year, but if at least three members of your group subscribe, it’s $6.50. To subscribe and get the special group discount, simply complete the attached form and send it to us with payment. It’s that simple. We’re sorry, but we can not accept Visa.
I know you all will enjoy Z88 Fax News, but if you aren’t quite sure, try a sample issue with no further obligation just for the asking.
Celebrating the
Wyoming Centennial,
Curtis W. Claar
Publisher
