Product: ZX81 Keyboard
From: Memotech Corp.
7550 West Yale Ave.
Denver, CO 80227
303/986-1516
Price: $99.95 (assembled only)
When UPS delivered my new keyboard, I hastened to see what marvel Memotech developed this time.
Inside I found a full-size keyboard with legible, all-white ZX/TS legends on the keys. The keyboard duplicates Sinclair’s keyboard, but with full-travel keys and an extra shift key in the top right corner.
It took longer to unpack the keyboard than to connect it to the computer. The keyboard attaches to your edge connector via an interface in Memotech’s standard product housing. The “black box” sandwiches between their other products. Besides attractive to the eye, the functional metallic blue board is immune to the “wobble and die” syndrome common to most products connecting by the edge connector. The 12-inch flat cable between the keyboard and interface gives the keyboard free movement.
All Memotech products are FCC-approved so that no unwanted RF emissions bother your TV or stereo. I recommend it to anyone who values his or her system enough to buy only the best.
At SYNTAX we also enjoy our Memotech keyboard. I like the shift key in the upper right corner–I can delete or move the cursor with just one hand. Contrary to Jeff’s report, we find the interference level on TVs high. We use a monitor with little trouble. Also we find another change from the original ZX/TS keyboard–the legends are located a little differently. Each key performs the same functions, but the command appearing over a key on the original now appears on the key and below the other legends. Those below keys are on the key fronts. So you need to light your keyboard from the front so you can read the keys.
Our keyboard came with a sticky row of keys on the right side that we fixed by sliding the circuit board left. Now the keys operate smoothly. The connecting cable is a little short, so you must put your computer to the left of the keyboard.
Said Fateh of Memotech tells us that Bill Wright of Sinclair Users’ Network (SUN) called about the TV interference. Bill suggested replacing the computer’s video cable with a good quality coax cable, preferably gold-plated at both ends. Memotech tested this solution with a Radio Shack 59/U (#15-1535) coax cable, not gold-plated, $3.99. Said says it clears up interference caused by any add-on. We have not tested it.–AZ