
MEMOTECH KEYBOARD AND BUFFER PACK

Hello User

We hope you like the look of the Memotech Keyboard. This booklet will 
help you get the best out of it.

What you will find very quickly is that, instead of having to prod patiently 
at the ZX81 plastic membrane and check the character on the screen every 
time, the Memotech Keyboard with its light-touch positive stop keys will 
allow you to go faster, more accurately and more confidently.

To speed you even faster, we have added an extra key to the array; at the 
top right there is a SHIFT key which mimics the one at bottom left. This 
new key will for example enable you to operate DELETE (shown as DEL 
RUBOUT on our key) as a simultaneous stroke with SHIFT.

If you want to get started now, just disconnect your ZX81 power supply 
and plug the Memopak Keyboard Buffer into your ZX81. If you have 
other Memopaks they can be plugged onto the back. Reconnect the 
power supply and off you go!

Good luck from all at Memotech!

HOW IS THE MEMOTECH KEYBOARD ARRANGED?

The ordering of the alphanumeric keys is exactly the same as the standard 
QWERTY typewriter layout: the keys are set at full-sized typewriter pitch 
and are raked and terraced to give a natural typewriter 'feel'. The 
terracing allows the placing of legends on the front as well as on the top 
of the keys.

The 'shift' mode labels (printed in red on the ZX81 membrane) are printed 
on the key face at the top, and the 'command' labels (like PRINT) at the 
bottom. The 'function' mode labels are printed on the front of the keys.

HOW FAST CAN I GO?

Limitation on your speed of program and data entry is no longer the 
durabllity of your fingertips or the keys themselves (which are actually very 
fast); but there is a debounce routine within the ZX81 - part of its software. 
If you find you are 'losing' characters at the input stage, try adopting a more 
even tempo of keystroking (just like a good typist).

The constraint on stroke rate will be most apparent when entering text, 
rather than data or program. MEMOTEXT, the new word processor pack from 
Memotech, incorporates software which lifts this ZX81 barrier and replaces 
it with a very much faster debounce routine of its own.

DO I NEED TO BREAK INTO MY ZX? DO I NEED TO SOLDER THINGS 
MYSELF? DO I NEED TO SQUEEZE MY ZX INTO ANOTHER BOX? DOES 
IT LIMIT WHAT ELSE I CAN ADD ON?

No, no, no and no!

HOW DO I INTERPRET THE GRAPHlCS SYMBOLS ON THE KEYS?

The background colour of the keys (blue) is equivalent to the background 
colour of the screen (white on a TV, green on a monitor probably). What 
is printed on the keys is equivalent to what gets printed on the screen.

The printing on the keys is extremely durable and will not wear off in 
normal use.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ZX PLASTIC MEMBRANE?

Nothing. Plugging in the Memotech Keyboard Buffer does not disable 
the ZX membrane, so two people can interact with the ZX at the same 
time (gamesplayers take note).

IS THE ORDER OF THE MEMOPAKS IMPORTANT?

Not terribly, but the 'big' Memopaks containing 16K, 32K, or 64K should 
come last. If you've got a Memopak HRG (High Resolution Graphics), 
it's best to put that first, next to the ZX81. All Memopaks come with 
extender boards at the back, so adding on to your add-ons is no problem.

Keep a lookout for our ads to see what is coming next.

NOTE

The Memotech Keyboard has been designed to work with all our units 
as well as with the ZX81 and the Sinclair 16K RAM pack.

With some ZX81s of recent issue and a Memopak 16K, the user may find 
a series of 32 vertical lines appearing on the screen. In this event, place 
the keyboard buffer pack behind the MEMOPAK 16K and set the switches 
into SLAVE mode ( I and 4 UP and ON; 2 and 3 DOWN and OFF).

GUARANTEE           January, 1983

This product is guaranteed free from defects in material and workmanship 
for a period of six months from the date of purchase subject to the following 
conditions: 
1. The guarantee does not cover any damage caused through neglect, 
   incorrect adjustment, accident or misuse and will be invalidated if the 
   the product is modified or altered in any way or repaired by anyone 
   other than Memotech Ltd.

2. Claims under this guarantee must be made by sending the product (well 
   packed preferably in its original packing) to the address below. 
   Memotech Limited, 
   Station Lane, Witney, Oxon.              NOTE both keyboard and
   OX8 6BX. England.                        buffer units must be returned
   Telephone: (0993) 2977                   for a valid claim.
   Telex: 83372 MEMTEC G;
  
This Guarantee does not affect the customer's statutory rights.

Model: Memopak Keyboard
Serial No: (if any) ...............................................
Date of purchase    ...............................................
Owner's Name        ...............................................
Owner's Address     ...............................................
                    ...............................................
                    ...............................................
Method of Purchase*   .............................................
Point of Purchchase ...............................................

* Please enclose evidence of purchase (receipt etc) as without this we 
we will be unable to give a refund of replace this item.
 
 
