Vtech Precomputer

zrrion · 20 May 2018, 03:22

Picked it up from goodwill for next to nothing since it clacked. It is dome and slider like I expected, and appears to use mx mount. I haven't powered it on yet (don't have batteries or the ac adapter) but It typed much better than I was expecting something like this to type and it is surprisingly loud for a rubber dome.

chip chop · 20 May 2018, 11:01

Looks the same as the switch on my Caleco Adam keyboard, kind of like them. Sounds like wood/bamboo being hit together bit like the Apple M0110.

Platfus · 23 Jul 2018, 21:17

Found a similar computer in my basement after all those years. Was excited for the stems but turns out they dont really fit over normal MX switches. Might work with box switches but I don't have those on hand.

Blaise170 · 23 Jul 2018, 22:18

Those might fit SKCC switches - might be too small though. Those look like Mitsumi sliders though based on what I've seen.

snuci · 24 Jul 2018, 02:48

Platfus wrote: Found a similar computer in my basement after all those years.

If you find one of these preschool computers, be aware that there is a very rare one that is sought after by vintage computer collectors. I happen to have one but it is not complete. Known as the "Tiger Learning Computer", it was technically the last production Apple II. It used Apple II technology and was pulled from a small test market after Steve Jobs returned. If you have one, I am interested

For the record, I don't know what the key stems look like.

Spoiler:

Platfus · 24 Jul 2018, 10:03

snuci wrote:
Platfus wrote: Found a similar computer in my basement after all those years.
If you have one, I am interested For the record, I don't know what the key stems look like.

Probably nothing like that. It is the Precomputer 1000, just a blue machine with one line of display. Actually got it at a British thrift store, we didn't have anything like that inported here in the Czech Republic. The caps are also pretty yellowed which is a bummer.

zrrion · 24 Jul 2018, 18:57

Blaise170 wrote: Those might fit SKCC switches - might be too small though. Those look like Mitsumi sliders though based on what I've seen.

They do not fit SKCC or Mitsumi. I don't own an MX compatible board so I can't test then on that, but I imagine that they would fit.

EDIT: I have tried them on MX switches and they are not compatible.