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.