rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Reid Priedhorsky wrote in message
...
Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

Have the keys failed roughly in order of letter/function frequency or did a
number of them fail about the same time ?
If discrete keyswitches then you could swap good, rarely used, for bad.
Anyone ever spilt liquid , even sweat of the brow down under the keys?

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Reid Priedhorsky wrote:
Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

Others might give you better detail on repairing the keyboard; but I'd
suggest eBay as a source for a replacement....

jak

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Meat Plow writes:

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:09:10 -0500, Reid Priedhorsky wrote:

Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the middle
and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you have
something very unique there are no replaceable switches.

Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no tactile
feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped out,
and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled and
cleaned.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

On 8 Jun, 22:14, Sam Goldwasser wrote:
Meat Plow writes:
On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:09:10 -0500, Reid Priedhorsky wrote:

Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the middle
and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you have
something very unique there are no replaceable switches.

Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no tactile
feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped out,
and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled and
cleaned.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

You can buy a new keyboard for a few pounds !
Why are you messing around with this ancient one?

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Marra writes:

On 8 Jun, 22:14, Sam Goldwasser wrote:
Meat Plow writes:
On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:09:10 -0500, Reid Priedhorsky wrote:

Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the middle
and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you have
something very unique there are no replaceable switches.

Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no tactile
feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped out,
and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled and
cleaned.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/

You can buy a new keyboard for a few pounds !
Why are you messing around with this ancient one?

Perhaps if you ever had used a KB with good tactile feedback you would
not be so quick to throw it away.

I have a pile of modern KBs I'd happily give away.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Sam Goldwasser wrote:
Marra writes:

On 8 Jun, 22:14, Sam Goldwasser wrote:
Meat Plow writes:
On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:09:10 -0500, Reid Priedhorsky wrote:
Hi folks,
I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".
Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.
I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?
I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.
Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.
(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)
Thanks in advance,
Reid
Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the middle
and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you have
something very unique there are no replaceable switches.
Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no tactile
feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped out,
and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled and
cleaned.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/
You can buy a new keyboard for a few pounds !
Why are you messing around with this ancient one?

Perhaps if you ever had used a KB with good tactile feedback you would
not be so quick to throw it away.

I have a pile of modern KBs I'd happily give away.


Hear, hear! I'm a big fan of the old AT style 'clickity-clacks'. I dig
through every pile of thrift store keyboards, yard sales etc; to pick up
every one I can find. So far, I've not been 'without', but I dread the
day when I have to shell out for a new one (I understand they're still
available).

I happily eschew the modern special-key functionality available
(including the now-standard 'Windows' key) in return for a keyboard
which *feels* like a keyboard.

jak

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

For those of us who like tactile feedback, here's a keyboard that comes
highly recommended:

http://www.duntemann.com/january2007.htm#01-23-2007

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Meat Plow writes:

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:14:09 -0400, Sam Goldwasser wrote:

Meat Plow writes:

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:09:10 -0500, Reid Priedhorsky wrote:

Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the middle
and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you have
something very unique there are no replaceable switches.

Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no tactile
feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped out,
and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled and
cleaned.

Yes I suppose the kind that have the little metal plate on top do indeed
solder to the board. Where do you get replacements? How good are your eyes?
Only keyboard I ever fixed was one of those Dvorak jobs for a gal at a non
profit org that I used to do some work for.

Actually, there are two through-hole pins on each switch, which then simply
pop out. I usually just take switches from locations that are rarely used
like F12 :), or my parts KB.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Meat Plow writes:

On Sat, 09 Jun 2007 08:18:57 -0400, Sam Goldwasser wrote:

ubject: rebuilding a computer keyboard
From: Sam Goldwasser
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.repair
Date: 09 Jun 2007 08:18:57 -0400

Meat Plow writes:

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:14:09 -0400, Sam Goldwasser wrote:

Meat Plow writes:

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:09:10 -0500, Reid Priedhorsky wrote:

Hi folks,

I have a keyboard which I love, and which is beginning to wear out. (It's
a DataDesk SmartBoard.) I am trying to get a hold of a replacement, but
the company has been apparently imploding for years -- none of the linked
distributors have it (except perhaps a company in Canada), the web
ordering system has been "under construction" since 2001 -- and now phone
calls are unanswered, with a message saying "... until May 1, we are
relocating...".

Anyway, I can't imagine going back to a different keyboard, so I wonder if
it would be possible to rebuild the one I've got. The symptoms are that
various keys are no longer reliable, giving zero or many logical
keypresses for one physical keypress. Different keys are differently
reliable. Some keys feel a little wonky too, esp. the spacebar.

I was thinking I might disassemble it, desolder all the keyswitches, and
replace them with new ones. Is this feasible? If so, is there a better
source for keyswitches other than another keyboard? Or is there a better
strategy?

I'm no electronics expert, but I've managed to successfully build a couple
of simple battery-powered switching power supplies, including soldering an
SOIC-package IC.

Please let me know what questions you have or what additional information
would be helpful.

(Alternately, a reliable source to buy one of these suckers would be very
helpful!)

Thanks in advance,

Reid

Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the middle
and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you have
something very unique there are no replaceable switches.

Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no tactile
feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped out,
and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled and
cleaned.

Yes I suppose the kind that have the little metal plate on top do indeed
solder to the board. Where do you get replacements? How good are your eyes?
Only keyboard I ever fixed was one of those Dvorak jobs for a gal at a non
profit org that I used to do some work for.

Actually, there are two through-hole pins on each switch, which then simply
pop out. I usually just take switches from locations that are rarely used
like F12 :), or my parts KB.

Makes sense until you need F12 :p

Usually, they are flakey, not totally dead. So, maybe a bit of a
stutter. :)

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:14:09 -0400, Sam Goldwasser wrote:

Meat Plow writes:

Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the
middle and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you
have something very unique there are no replaceable switches.

Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no
tactile feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped
out, and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled
and cleaned.

The keyswitches are small black cubes around 1/2" on a side, with a little
plunger on top that the key cap fits onto.

They can indeed be disassembled and cleaned, but there's a number of very
tiny parts inside, including a very tiny coil spring, and it's extremely
difficult to put them back together. (No sign of any rubber domes.) So, I
think replacement is the only reasonable option.

It sounds like the strategy is to find one or a few garage sale keyboards
that seem to have the right kind of switch, and scavenge keyswitches from
them.

Question: Are all the switches in a keyboard uniform? In other words,
should I use a rarely-used keyswitch from the donor keyboard for
heavily-used keys like Backspace, because they'll be less worn, or should
I use e.g. the Backspace key from the donor keyboard for Backspace,
because it's a tougher keyswitch?

Thanks again,

Reid

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:29:46 -0700, Marra wrote:

You can buy a new keyboard for a few pounds !
Why are you messing around with this ancient one?

Without attempting to sound snarky... in this case, you get what you pay
for. :)

This keyboard costs over $100 (£50), and it's worth every penny. Nice
tactile feel aside, what is really great is the arrangement of keys:
instead of the rows being staggered, they form a grid -- i.e., the keys
are where your fingers want to go, not 1/4" off to the side.

Photos: http://www.datadesktech.com/media_photo_base.html

Take care,

Reid

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

Reid Priedhorsky writes:

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:14:09 -0400, Sam Goldwasser wrote:

Meat Plow writes:

Typically the switches in a keyboard are a rubber dome (for lack of a
better word) on the bottom of the key with a conductive pad in the
middle and a contact area on a pc board for all the keys. Unless you
have something very unique there are no replaceable switches.

Rubber dome or other capacitive sensor on modern keyboards with no
tactile feel. :)

Actual mechanical switches on my favorite Northgate and clone KBs.

In the latter case, the individual switches can be unsoldered, popped
out, and replaced easily. In many cases, they can even be disassembled
and cleaned.

The keyswitches are small black cubes around 1/2" on a side, with a little
plunger on top that the key cap fits onto.

They can indeed be disassembled and cleaned, but there's a number of very
tiny parts inside, including a very tiny coil spring, and it's extremely
difficult to put them back together. (No sign of any rubber domes.) So, I
think replacement is the only reasonable option.

It sounds like the strategy is to find one or a few garage sale keyboards
that seem to have the right kind of switch, and scavenge keyswitches from
them.

Question: Are all the switches in a keyboard uniform? In other words,
should I use a rarely-used keyswitch from the donor keyboard for
heavily-used keys like Backspace, because they'll be less worn, or should
I use e.g. the Backspace key from the donor keyboard for Backspace,
because it's a tougher keyswitch?

In the KBs I'm referring to, the switches are all the same, but some of
the sttictly mechanical stuff for the spacebar and return keys differ.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:41:01 -0500, jakdedert
put finger to keyboard and composed:

I'm a big fan of the old AT style 'clickity-clacks'. I dig
through every pile of thrift store keyboards, yard sales etc; to pick up
every one I can find. So far, I've not been 'without', but I dread the
day when I have to shell out for a new one (I understand they're still
available).

I happily eschew the modern special-key functionality available
(including the now-standard 'Windows' key) in return for a keyboard
which *feels* like a keyboard.

jak

Be aware that the presence of tactile feedback doesn't necessary imply
that the key switches are "mechanical". You could still have a
"membrane" keyboard with a "buckling spring" mechanism to provide the
"clicky" feel.

See http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tec...ngspring_e.htm

"IBM 5576-A01,003 and Enhanced 101 model M generate clicking sounds
when we type. These keyboards actually use 'Membrane switches'. But it
seems that many people misunderstand that these keyboards use
so-called 'Mechanical switches', so I decided to let people know the
truth about 'buckling keyboards'".

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

rebuilding a computer keyboard
 

On 09 Jun 2007 10:20:52 -0400, Sam Goldwasser
put finger to keyboard and composed:

Meat Plow writes:

I usually just take switches from locations that are rarely used
like F12 :), or my parts KB.

Makes sense until you need F12 :p

Usually, they are flakey, not totally dead. So, maybe a bit of a
stutter. :)

Why not use a key which is essentially duplicated, such as one of the
keys in the numeric keypad?

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.