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From: kimes@cbnewsc.att.com (Kit Kimes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Transkey -- IBM keyboard on an 8-bit
Message-ID: <1990Nov8.070030.20492@cbnewsc.att.com>
Date: 8 Nov 90 07:00:30 GMT
References: <1990Nov6.120127.559@contact.uucp>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 38

From article <1990Nov6.120127.559@contact.uucp>, by rrwood@contact.uucp (roy wood):
> 
> Thanks to everyone who replied to my request for information about the
> Transkey keyboard.
>  
> One person I spoke to told me that there's a problem with the Transkey board:
> if you type too quickly, characters are skipped or missed.  The person who
> told me this doesn't actually own one of the boards, so this is simply
> hearsay.  Does anyone out there actually own one of these boards?  And if
> so, could you please tell me what problems you've had with it?

The latest issue of STart magazine (which now incorporates an 8bit
section) has a fairly long review of the TRANSKEY that is written
by Matt Ratcliff, so I tend to trust his judgement.  He gave it a
very positive review.  He did say (and I quote) "The only flaw I
discovered with the Transkey is the keyboard 'roll-over' feature; it's
too sluggish.  When typing on the PC keyboard and Transkey, I must
slow my typing noticably, as compared to my average typing speed on 
an IBM PC system.  This takes a minor bit of getting adjusted to, and 
will probably only be noticed by fast touch typist.  It is still far
more responsive than the original Atari 800XL keyboard."

He didn't explain what was meant by keyboard roll-over or if typing
too fast caused you to loose letters.  It does sound though like the
average user would see a big improvement.  I have a hard time getting
much typing speed on my 800XL because the springs are so stiff.  I
am typing on it now and this message is starting to bother me.

Hope this helps.  He did mention that with the cost of IBM compatible
keyboards being so low, you can get set up for about $100.  The
Transkey is $48 for the solder in version and $58 for the plug in
version.  Don't spend the extra $10 unless you have a computer with
sockets in it.

Kit Kimes
AT&T Bell Labs
Naperville, IL
...!att!iwtsa!kimes