JPT-PANAKEY-V2 Panasonic MSX2+ and turbo R keyboard replacement by Leonardo Padial

350€? OMG!!

For half the money I would be really interested

I think this is something else than a new membrane. Maybe you have evert encountered the model-m keyboards (part of the IBM PS/2 system series, like model 55, model 56, model 76 etc. computers with mca architecture and tokenring network). There are also used inside the base of the Stargate movie and series.

Also known as the clicky keyboard. If you type as fast as I do it will sound like a machinegun (and you will also get complaints from your neighbours). The great thing is that you can hear multikeypress typo's . And once properly trained you can even hear it if you hit the wrong key cause they all sound just a little different.

I had a lot of these keyboards but they all died and I haven't been able to buy new ones. I remember when they were sold en mass for only 5 guilders (about 2 euros) on the PC Dumpdag a man had containers full of them. Now you can get about 100 euro for them on ebay

If my turbo-r can have such a keyboard I'm interested but only if it will have a US layout and not the shitty retardlayout japan uses.

Well, this isn't related to the keyboard itself. but to it's keymap and keycaps. The trickier part is the keycaps, as we already have some info on changing keyboard key mappings on BIOS and patching it would be a piece of cake on a Turbo-R machine (using DRAM mode)

if you're BRAVE, (I mean pretty-f*ckin-badass-brave. You have been warned!) you can re-do the keycaps by sanding or using some paint-remover on the top of the keys, then painting them again (or using one of those letter-decals) and apply a top coat (could be nail polish or wood/plastic veneer). Then, you can write a program to patch the keymap (using DRAM mode), or you can make it permanent replacing the Main ROM with an EPROM with a patched version. Even if I would want a more comfortable (to me) keyboard layout on my beloved GT, I would NEVER do that. Your call.

@wernerkai Makinavaja tryed to clone the Turbo-R membrane with bad luck.
The manufacturer did a lor of revisions and never worked as desired
The full story (in spansih) here http://www.msx.org/node/46310

The nice thing about mechanical keyboards is their individual key switches, which can be wired / re-wired or replaced individually. Keyboard membranes can only be replaced for the entire keyboard at once.

IBM Model M uses a specific mechanism ("buckling spring") to give nice tactile feedback, and annoying typing noise to go with it. But it's not a mechanical keyboard in the above sense, as the 'switches' are a membrane underneath.

Just the other week I found an old mechanical PC keyboard in a 2nd hand store, and disassembled / modded / rebuilt in into a ZX81 keyboard. Looks like crap, but it's among the best keyboards I've ever used with a ZX81 (and some 50+ spare key switches left over ).

Problem is mostly the work required. Or price in the case of a ready-made product. Or those key caps.

For lowest cost (= maximum # of buyers), a simple replacement for original membranes would be preferable I think. Would probably outlast the electronics.

The thickness of the micro-switch do not he change too much the feel of the keyboard?

Is this means that I can order the black Keboard of Panasonic MSX2+ and replace it with the current gray keyboard in turbo R GT, in order to have a special black turbo R GT ... If so ... Then I am ready to order now.

Regards,

Sniper

@usuario_msx2: what is the current way to contact Padial? His website last update was in 2011.

How to swap membrane for gold switch keyboards. You can see it at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGHNy6TmX7g&feature=youtu.be

Anyone know if these are available somewhere?
I know he passed away unfortunately, but perhaps someone else sells these now?