[NTLK] Newton keyboard alternatives and/or cleaning?

[Tony Kan]

Aron,

I've never heard of this before.  Hope you find a fix.

Tony.

________________________________
From: Aron Hsiao<mailto:leapdragon at gmail.com>
Sent: ‎07/‎07/‎2014 17:11
To: newtontalk at newtontalk.net<mailto:newtontalk at newtontalk.net>
Subject: [NTLK] Newton keyboard alternatives and/or cleaning?

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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