Commodore Amiga 500

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Template icon--Illustration.png This article requires additional photographic illustration — Need more photos of the Mitsumi version(s), and the caps lock and space bar switches for the Hi-Tek version

Commodore Amiga 500 and Amiga 500+ computers had the keyboard integrated in the computer's enclosure. The controller is part of the keyboard and talks the same serial protocol as stand-alone keyboards for e.g. the Commodore Amiga 2000.

Uniquely among the Amiga keyboards, the controlled board also has the computer's Power and FDD activity LEDs.

Amiga 500 keyboard
A500-full-keyboard.jpg
Branding Commodore Amiga
Manufacturer Hi-Tek, Mitsumi
Keyswitches Hi-Tek Series 725
Mitsumi hybrid switch
Price n/a (included with system)


Hi-Tek Series 725 version

This version is recognisable by the left Amiga key having a "Commodore" logo instead of the common "Amiga" legend. There is also a rivet visible in-between the Del and Help keys. Keycaps are made of PBT and don't yellow.

Mitsumi KPR Type

Most Amiga 500s and presumably all Amiga 500+ have keyboards with linear Mitsumi "hybrid switches".

Keycaps are made of ABS and vintage examples can be very yellow, more so than the computer's enclosure. Keycaps with LED windows are double-shot with clear plastic, but all legends are printed.

Samsung spring-over-membrane

Recognisable by the keycaps having square corners whereas other Amiga 500 keycaps have rounded corners. The most unusual type, supposedly made by Samsung. The switches have a plunger and spring over two membranes[1] The keycap mount is rectangular, somewhat in-between a Mitsumi and Alps-mount.[2]

Availability

Commodore Amiga 500 computers came with an integrated keyboard installed.

Original

An aftermarket computer cases and keycaps are offered by A1200.NET, originally in a crowdfunding campaign that ended mid-May 2018. They are available in other colours than the original, and the cases have enhancements not in the original.

A replacement "hard membrane" in form of a thin circuit board for Mitsumi switches is available from Retro Ready and Serdan. It also fits the Amiga 1200.

Mechanical replacement

  • The Kipper2K from Amiga On The Lake is a replacement keyboard kit with Cherry MX Brown switches. Original ISO layout. Prototypes shown have lacked stabilisers for the longer keys, instead using additional switches for the Space Bar. There is also version for the Amiga 1200.
  • (2023-07) A1200.net has a prototype in progress that will use Mitsumi switches that support original keycaps.

Mods

Several kits have been available through the years for modding the Amiga 500 into a desktop or tower case, with the keyboard in a separate enclosure.

Checkmate in the UK has a crowdfunded Amiga 3000-like desktop computer case on Kickstarter. As part of the run, a sheet metal keyboard case for Amiga 500 and 1200 is also on offer. After the run, it will be available separately in white and black.

See also

Other Amiga computers with integrated keyboards:

The other Amigas from the same generation:

References

  1. Adrian's Digital Basement on Twitter—I’m trying to figure out what kind keyboard this #Amiga 500 has. Posted 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2021-12-29
  2. The Belgian Amiga Club—[http://www.amigaclub.be/knowledgebase/hardware/34/amiga-keyboard-types Amiga Keyboard types