[NTLK] Newton keyboard alternatives and/or cleaning?

[John Heinrichs]

Forestalling Grant:
	http://www.splorp.com/newton/stowaway/

Cleaning could be done with warm soapy water, soak and swish for a minute or so, then rinse well in soft water and rain-dry thoroughly.
	Except if Frank says this is a bad idea …

Cheers
John
 minicapt1 at mac.com

On 06 Jul 14, at 22:01, Aron Hsiao <leapdragon at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> 
> After much technological soul-searching, I'm working my way back toward Newtonland.
> 
> Now that I'm more or less up and running I've realized that both of my Newton keyboards are not performing as I'd like them to.
> 
> Specifically, they STICK something fierce. That is to say that while typing, about every third or fourth key, my finger hits the key, but the key (whichever one I'm trying to hit) doesn't budge and thus no keystroke appears on the screen. With a additional force behind my keyboarding I can generally eliminate the problem, but that seriously disrupts my touch-typing flow, which is important (I touch-type at about 110-130 wpm).
> 
> I've been banging my head against Google for the last hour, but I give up. I have the following questions:
> 
> 1) Can a Newton keyboard be cleaned/lubricated somehow so as to restore the keys to smooth (non-sticky) operation? I could try to pick up a new Newton keyboard (these come up on eBay regularly) but if we're talking the volume of writing that I do, I'm afraid that even a replacement keyboard would quickly develop "stickiness" of this kind with use, unless there is some way to refurbish/clean these keyboards regularly to eliminate the stickiness.
> 
> 2) Are there any other alternative keyboards that were made to work with the newton, without needing actual hardware hacking? I'm way beyond the point in my life at which I'd prefer to bring out the soldering iron for "projects." I realize that I can use my Mac's keyboard when docked, but I'm looking for something mobile. I presume not, but just in case Google is letting me down, I'd be interested in hearing about any alternatives.
> 
> 
> Best,
> 
> Aron
> 
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