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Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Blogs & guides and tales of woo by forum members.
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stephen_usher
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Re: Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Post by stephen_usher »

:dualthumbup: :crossed1:
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Post by rubber_jonnie »

They're here!!!

PXL_20260903_101649119.jpg
PXL_20260903_101649119.jpg (220.71 KiB) Viewed 39 times

All in decent condition, though I do have to say I paid over the odds IMHO.

However I also just found out something rather annoying that Enterprise Computers have made the keys 'keyed' to their specific spots:

PXL_20260903_103147846.jpg
PXL_20260903_103147846.jpg (323.3 KiB) Viewed 39 times
PXL_20260903_103154288.MACRO_FOCUS.jpg
PXL_20260903_103154288.MACRO_FOCUS.jpg (274.12 KiB) Viewed 39 times

If you look closely at the keyboard spots, and it's quite subtle in some spots, the 3 keys, ESC, 1 & 2 all have a specific position for the 'fins' around the post hole but the left { [ key next to enter has different fin positions, so only certain keys fit in certain places.

I wanted to use the spare } ] key as the replacement for 1.

Here is the CTRL key to the right of it's spot:

PXL_20260903_104146998.jpg
PXL_20260903_104146998.jpg (378.71 KiB) Viewed 39 times

And I wanted to use that as the replacement for ESC as it's the only green key that is a single cap in size.

Compare the 'fins' on that spot to the ESC key spot at top left between Function 1 and TAB and the fins are different.

I hadn't noticed this before but it explains why my own home made keys were difficult to fit.

So I need to do some fettling to make the keys fit.

Bit annoying but what can you do.

It seems the one consistency is the larger 'fin' that seems to be the same in all positions as best I can tell.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Post by rubber_jonnie »

It's more apparent here on the keytop injection molding - 'fins' in the keys too.

PXL_20260903_105344694.MACRO_FOCUS.jpg
PXL_20260903_105344694.MACRO_FOCUS.jpg (248.23 KiB) Viewed 35 times

But with a little fettling it's all good:

PXL_20260903_110204537.jpg
PXL_20260903_110204537.jpg (371.57 KiB) Viewed 35 times

Just need to figure out how I can re-label the keys now.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Post by HigashiJun »

Yeah, looks good.

Would be nice to smooth out that scratched keys before attempting to letter them.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2026 11:44 pm Yeah, looks good.

Would be nice to smooth out that scratched keys before attempting to letter them.
I subsequently changed both F1 & F2 for better ones that came today.

Lettering will need doing, but looks a lot better.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Post by HigashiJun »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2026 11:52 pm Lettering will need doing, but looks a lot better.
Maybe some clues here:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=96010.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR1BwcFyexQ

But in your case, you need white letters on dark or green keycaps...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Another Egyptian Enterprise 64

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 1:02 am
rubber_jonnie wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2026 11:52 pm Lettering will need doing, but looks a lot better.
Maybe some clues here:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=96010.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR1BwcFyexQ

But in your case, you need white letters on dark or green keycaps...
Thats some pretty lateral thinking and I like it. Unfortunately I don't have a laser engraver though, so that's going to be difficult, need to have a think about it.

We don't seem to have hacker/maker spaces here in the UK otherwise that might have been an option.

Thanks for the info though.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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