Acorn Atom
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This article requires additional photographic illustration — need photos of Issue 5 |
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| Manufacturer | MEI (switch grid only) |
|---|---|
| Keyswitches |
MEI Sabrecoil Futaba MR-6C series |
| Switch mount |
PCB mount (Sabrecoil) Plate mount (Futaba) |
| Keycaps | Double-shot spherical |
| Interface | None (on motherboard) |
The Atom was an 8-bit home computer made by Acorn from 1980 to 1982. It is presently the only device known to use MEI Sabrecoil switches, and the only other computer besides the Acorn BBC Microcomputer known to use Futaba MR-6C series switches.
Keyboard
Issues 1–4
Issue 4 keyboards are confirmed to use MEI Sabrecoil switches. Issues 1 through 3 likely also used MEI switches, but no pictures of these issues seem to be readily available.
The keycaps are identical to those used with "WEAB" MEI T-5 series switches.
Issue 5
Issue 5 keyboards used cruciform mount Futaba MR-6C series switches.
The issue 5's Futaba keyboard comprises only a plate and switches; the PCB traces are on the motherboard, just as it was with the Sabrecoil variant(s).
External links
- Flickr — Acorn Atom Keyboard, a picture gallery by John Honniball depicting a MEI T-5 series vs MEI Sabrecoil keycap comparison. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- BeebMaster — My Atoms — pictures of Issues 4 and 5. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
Issue 4
- YouTube — Changing keyboard contact on an Acorn Atom Computer by compandcons. Dated 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- Chris' Acorns — Acorn Atom
Issue 5
- OLD-COMPUTERS.COM Museum — Acorn Computer ATOM pictures (Wayback Machine) Archived 2021-01-16.
- 8-bit Software — Inside The Atom Retrieved 2024-04-08.
