VIC20 with Pet keyboard article on oldcomputer.com

[nippur72]

while googling found this nice sharp picture of an early vic20 with pet keyboard:

http://www.oldcomputr.com/commodore-vic-20-1981/

check out the rest of the blog, there are lot of other commodores

[rgrocha]

Very nice photos!!!

[Jeff-20]

I have one of those! I'm afraid to use the keys though. Too precious.


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[orion70]

I really like that blog. It's run by an Italian guy, wonder if he ever lurked around here
It's very focused on design, which is one of my soft spots. Makes me want every single retrocomputer depicted...

[rgrocha]

BTW, were all PAL VICs with the PET keybard shipped with the VIC-1001 like box?
Mine is not but I don't know if it was repackaged later by an user or was factory shipped this way.

[nippur72]

I always wondered what is like to type on a VIC20 pet keyboard, are there any the differences with normal keys? how is the touch like?

In the old days I remember an acquaintance of ours had a PET in his office and once I went to visit it briefly. I can remember the black screen and the green text with the bootup screen similar to my VIC20. But don't remember anything about the keys.

[rhurst]

I had one S/N in the 200k range. The keyboard was ok, flatter caps with a little jiggle, longer travel. My younger brother bought the later model, I envied the curvature and tighter key caps, but as a typist the feel was awkward. Built for the masses not the classes, right?

[Jeff-20]

The pet keys also feel "tilted upward" a little too much. The hands must be held at a higher angle. Not as comfortable as later models.


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[vicist]

I have a Pet keyboard Vic - serial no. WGB 1606. The keys are made of a Bakelite type material, very bouncy travel and noisy as hell when typing anything. I still remember my wife shouting from the bedroom to be quiet when she was trying to sleep while I was walloping in a listing from a magazine.
I also have a later model given to me by a friend. The keys are plastic and more rounded, softer to the touch, feel tighter with less bounce and much quieter to type on. I hardly ever use it though as I prefer my noisy original Vic.

[oldcomputr]

Hi all... I do lurk here from time to time, especially when I search for some specific info about the VIC 20.
I never registered to the forum, but it was about time to correct that mistake

[orion70]

And yet another Italian guy!!! WELCOME aboard and have fun with us VIC lovers!
Please feel free to ask / tell your experience / fiddle with games and programs, and of course write your own

[rgrocha]

Oldcomputr, hello and congrats for a so fantastic work at your site! I spend (nit waste!) my dead times there just contemplating such pieces or art!

[orion70]

..oh, and of course congratulations for your site(s)

[oldcomputr]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the flattering compliments :-)
The next article on the site will be about the Macintosh Plus, but then I'll be back on Commodore with some pictures and a short video of a Commodore MPS 801. I found the print ribbon on Amazon at a decent price, I'll order it because I'd like to show the printer... well, printing: I don't like when items are shown turned off like giant paperweights or "collectibles".

[nippur72]

love your avatar!