DK'tronics Keyboard

The following review was taken from ZX Computing Apr/May 84

The DK'tronics keyboard is a sturdy, solid-looking, black ABS case with a set of grey alphanumeric keys on the left and a 3x4 red numeric keypad set on the right. The Spectrum is removed from its case by unscrewing the case halves, gently pulling out the two keyboard connecting ribbon cables and unscrewing the two small circuit board screws. The reverse process is then undertaken with the DK'tronics keyboard. Precise instructions are supplied so any incompetent can do it - even I managed !

The keys have a pleasant feel to them, the spring pressure was just about right to allow for my fumbling efforts, and generally the legends supplied on transparent stick-on plastic labels, are easy to read. Some of the smaller red characters - $ %& - may give rise to eyestrain.

My main problem came from the design of the back of the case. The sides slope out slightly but the back slopes out a lot making it difficult, sometimes nigh impossible, to connect units to the user port. I had to make a saw to the case to remove several cm's from between the port and the save/load sockets. Even so, some units that had ridges which normally fir over the top of the Spectrum would not fit without major surgery. The only way to use items such as the Microdrive or the Prism VTX modem which normally fit beneath the Spectrum, was to buy a ribbon cable extension.

Irritating though these problems are, the keyboard is still worth having for general use and is invaluable for any serious typing on the computer.