From: Johannes Wolf (mp2100_at_mail-gw.estec.esa.int)
Date: Wed Nov 05 2003 - 08:18:51 PST
In my opinion there is at least one point to think about:
A standard PC keyboard needs to be powered.
If you intend to power the keyboard from the Newt (which would be the most
convenient thing to do), take into account that the keyboard will draw a not
negligible amount of current from the Newt then.
In case of the Keyboard I actually have this is 50mA @ 5V.
If you consider that the Newt typically draws below 60mA w/o backlight this
is double the current.
So it would be recommended to power the Newt from the adapter while using
such a keyboard.
Cheers
Johannes
> -----Original Message-----
> From: newtontalk-bounce_at_newtontalk.net
> [mailto:newtontalk-bounce_at_newtontalk.net]On Behalf Of Martin Klein
> Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 4:48 PM
> To: newtontalk_at_newtontalk.net
> Subject: Re: [NTLK] Audio In/Out Adaptor and Keyboard
> <snip>
> >Except that there is an exchange between the Newton keyboard and
> the Newton when it is plugged in. Without a software
> >hack, the keyboard won't be recognized. (Well I guess a truly
> serial device could be seen by a terminal program but you
> >lose a lot of functionality that way).
> >The best way to do this is to interface a key matrix with a
> small pic device and program it to look like a Newton
> >keyboard. That way you would retain all the existing
> functionality. The output of the pic would just connect to the
> >serial port as normal. It doesn't matter if this is internal or external.
> >Nice project for someone.
> This is already a project. :-)
> Jochen Schäfer and I are currently working on this. We are developing an
> adapter to use a PC-keyboard with the Newton. We will release more
> information as soon as our prototype is working.
> Martin
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