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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: murple on May 21, 2008, 06:24:20 AM

Title: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: murple on May 21, 2008, 06:24:20 AM
I have an A4000 with no keyboard... I'm wondering if there are any options other than waiting for one to turn up on ebay. Can a 2000 keyboard be hooked up with an adapter of some kind, perhaps even something as simple as a PC DIN-to-PS2 adapter? I've got 2 or 3 A2000 keyboards, so this would be easiest. Is there a way to make a PC keyboard work? I think I've heard of some kind of adapter that lets this work.

Are there any non-ebay sites that have good prices (or even any prices) for A4000 keyboards? None of the Amiga shops I've used seem to have them.

On an unrelated note, whats the best way to get more RAM in one of these than the max 16MB of SIMMs? I assume some sort of Zorro card is the way to go. I know of some Zorro II RAM boards, are there any Zorro III ones and is there an advantage to using them? My 4000 has a Commodore-made 68040 CPU card in it with no RAM slots, and I'd prefer not to have to hunt down and pay for a fancier CPU card if there's a good Zorro solution.

Getting a keyboard on it is much more urgent, however.
Title: Re: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: countzero on May 21, 2008, 06:33:44 AM
Quote

murple wrote:
I have an A4000 with no keyboard... I'm wondering if there are any options other than waiting for one to turn up on ebay. Can a 2000 keyboard be hooked up with an adapter of some kind, perhaps even something as simple as a PC DIN-to-PS2 adapter? I've got 2 or 3 A2000 keyboards, so this would be easiest.


yes, it works.

Quote
Is there a way to make a PC keyboard work? I think I've heard of some kind of adapter that lets this work.


you need something like mmkeyboard (http://www.geit.de/eng_mmkeyboard.html)

Quote
On an unrelated note, whats the best way to get more RAM in one of these than the max 16MB of SIMMs? I assume some sort of Zorro card is the way to go. I know of some Zorro II RAM boards,


you can't have any more than 8mb in zorro 2 cards (even if you put 5 zorro2 boards there). this is a permanent address space limitation of zorro2. And it will be slow.

Quote
are there any Zorro III ones and is there an advantage to using them?


yes, there are zorro3 ram boards, but they will cost you not less than a CPU card with RAM.

Quote
My 4000 has a Commodore-made 68040 CPU card in it with no RAM slots, and I'd prefer not to have to hunt down and pay for a fancier CPU card if there's a good Zorro solution.


the best solution is to have a CPU board with RAM, like a cyberstorm or warp engine. The RAM is fast and plenty, and easier to find than zorro3 ram boards.
Title: Re: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: Darrin on May 21, 2008, 10:03:25 AM
I just bought an A4000 off eBay with no keyboard.  I ordered one of these to use a PC keyboard:

http://www.vesalia.de/e_lyra[1115].htm
Title: Re: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: amigakit on May 21, 2008, 10:34:22 AM
We also stock Lyra (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=228) Big Box here:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=228
Title: Re: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: Darrin on May 21, 2008, 10:56:41 AM
Quote

amigakit wrote:
We also stock Lyra (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=228) Big Box here:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=228


I checked your site first and couldn't find it listed under the keyboard adapters - just the A1200 one.

I must be going blind or something.
Title: Re: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: Darrin on May 21, 2008, 11:01:31 AM
Nope, it's not me.

I just tried again by going into your USA shop, clicking on the keyboards/mice/mats and I get 27 items and none of them list an A4000 keyboard adapter (plenty of choices for the A1200 and A600).

Edit:  And  could have saved some cash if I'd known.   ;-)

Edit:  Doh!  Yes it is!  How did I miss that!!!

OK, my fault.  :(
Title: Re: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: amigakit on May 21, 2008, 11:16:47 AM
They are listed under adapters (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=42) section - the Lyra is now cross linked in the keyboard section after your feedback
Title: Re: A4000 keyboard solutions?
Post by: murple on May 21, 2008, 08:42:05 PM
Excellent, the DIN-to-PS2 adapter worked great. Saves me some money and effort.