Chloe 280SE

[cheveron]

Well it looks like ZX-Uno will support this model. Therefore I've designed a keyboard for it that can be produced by WASDkeyboards.com. It's a 10-keyless with PS/2 support and NKey rollover (required for full decoding). Not cheap at USD 145, but it uses Cherry MX mechanical keyswitchs and it's fully customizable from the key color down to the key legends:



And to support this new layout I've updated SE Basic 4.0 by backporting the keyboard code from the unstable version (4.1):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vbjgqzkvllpwf ... sic405.zip

[Hark0]

Good!!!

[cheveron]

Good!!!

As you are a graphic designer I am very pleased you like it. The keyboard text is also done in Gill Sans (as is the logo type). I used your vector version of the Chloe logo so thanks for that. I took my inspiration from a variety of sources, but particularly the Atari ST keyboard, especially for the size of the characters. Designing keyboard legends turns out to be rather more complicated than just picking a font as the symbols have to be scaled to be a uniform size. I'm waiting to hear back from WASDkeyboards.com if the modifier keys will be ok in Gill Sans Light. I hope so as I really don't want to break Caps Lock across two lines if I can help it.

[Hark0]

Good!!!

As you are a graphic designer I am very pleased you like it. The keyboard text is also done in Gill Sans (as is the logo type). I used your vector version of the Chloe logo so thanks for that. I took my inspiration from a variety of sources, but particularly the Atari ST keyboard, especially for the size of the characters. Designing keyboard legends turns out to be rather more complicated than just picking a font as the symbols have to be scaled to be a uniform size. I'm waiting to hear back from WASDkeyboards.com if the modifier keys will be ok in Gill Sans Light. I hope so as I really don't want to break Caps Lock across two lines if I can help it.

About font for the keyboard... no problem... i'm know it!

Where is the estimated prize of the keys at WASDkeyboards.com? 145 USD for a complete set fo 101 keys?


And... I look your new avatar on ZDP forum...

hmmm Do you need it in pixel format (like zx-uno)?

[cheveron]

145 USD is for the 88 key version. It's 150 USD for the 105 key version. I don't like the long plus ( + ) key on PC keypads so I'm going for the 10-keyles. I've also been thinking about a couple of new video modes for the machine if there's room on the FPGA. I know some people want a per-pixel mode so I've come up with one that can be used to recolor original mono games without any code hacking required.

[cheveron]

Possible box art:

[Hark0]

Possible box art:

hmmm Have you a estimated size of a box?

[cheveron]

hmmm Have you a estimated size of a box?

Well, it will be the size of a tenkeyless keyboard box. But I was going for the look of the Spectrum 128 box. I also have an alternate design that uses only three colors and looks a bit like the Atari ST box. In practice I don't think I'll be selling them. I think I'll just be making the vector art available so people can order their own keyboard from wasdkeyboards.com. That way they can have whatever color keys they want.

[Hark0]

Aha... ok!

[cheveron]

This would be closer to the box shape.

[Hark0]

Good!

[cheveron]

Update: SE Basic IV 4.0.7 seems to work fully with esxDOS 0.8.5 except for the NMI autoloader.

I've decided to map tokens to the 16 function keys, still deciding which ones though (see thread in progams).

I've figured out how to print onto the frontside of the keys. I'll use laser printed water slide decals:

http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/.- ... er_155.htm

[cheveron]

Changed my mind about the color. Referencing back to the TC2048 that was the basis of the prototype.

[cheveron]

Here's how the manual's cover might look. Really nothing more I can do until the production ZX-Uno is finished or the esxDOS author gets back to me. Hope it's this year.

[cheveron]

I'll just add a line here in case anyone finds this thread in a Google search.

The Chloe 280SE is now a microcomputer in its own right and not directly related to the Spectrum.