Busybub Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 Does anybody have any suggestions for a keyboard with lower case letters, different colour keys for letter numbers and primary keys such as enter,shift and space? I've seen an RM jobbie which is cheap but only comes on PS/2 I have investigated getting keycaps custom manufactured to spec but I am looking at over 100 bucks each for 25 sets, going down to 75 for over 100 sets. I am looking at dedicated units rather than stick-on labels. Any thoughts?
Norphy Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 Get the RM ones and some PS/2 to USB convertors? Hills sell them for a couple of quid each iirc.
Midget Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 /me wonders who is "special" enough to require lowercase letter keyboards
Elky Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 We have lower case USB keyboards in stock but they are in black, they don't have different colour keys I'm afraid.
Lee_K_81 Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 Get the RM ones and some PS/2 to USB convertors? Hills sell them for a couple of quid each iirc. Sounds like the best idea to me. PS/2 to USB convertors also usually have 2 connectors so you could connect a PS/2 mouse and keyboard to the same USB socket. Unless somebody in an infants school etc. has any contacts.
Geoff Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 who is "special" enough to require lowercase letter keyboards Quite a common request by primary school teachers. Especially KS1. Kids are taught using lowercase first then move on to capitalised letters later (KS2?). Thus when presented with an upper case keyboard they simply do not recognise some of the letters. A cheap but time consuming alternative is to get a set of lower case keyboard stickers. For example. http://www.inclusive.co.uk/catalogue/acatalog/alphabet_keyboard_stickers.html
Busybub Posted February 22, 2007 Author Posted February 22, 2007 Get the RM ones and some PS/2 to USB convertors? Hills sell them for a couple of quid each iirc. That did cross my mind, assuming that the keyboard itself can actually operate through a USB adaptor. I have a few here which simply refuse to do anything through USB... Should get confirmation from RM soonish. Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming!
webman Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 There are some on the Keyboard Company website - scroll down to the 'Education' section near the middle of the page.
Norphy Posted February 22, 2007 Posted February 22, 2007 Get the RM ones and some PS/2 to USB convertors? Hills sell them for a couple of quid each iirc. That did cross my mind, assuming that the keyboard itself can actually operate through a USB adaptor. I have a few here which simply refuse to do anything through USB... Should get confirmation from RM soonish. Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming! I think that is dependant on the convertor you're trying to use. If it is just a plain straight through convertor like you get with some mice, it probably won't work. However, if it is a convertor which has some logic which turns the PS/2 device into a proper USB one like this it should work fine. I actually own the item linked, it's worked with all the keyboards I've tried it with from the cheap and nasty things we get with PCs to decent Microsoft and Cherry keyboards.
Busybub Posted February 23, 2007 Author Posted February 23, 2007 Cheers Norphy That explains a lot, been using the widgets we use with our older Smartboard leads to try it out! *DOH* Looks like this is a goer despite getting a useless reply from RM which didn't answer my question at all!
chrbb Posted February 25, 2007 Posted February 25, 2007 We bought lowercase covers that go over existing keyboards, then they are removed for the children that don't need them.
crc-ict Posted February 25, 2007 Posted February 25, 2007 Quite a common request by primary school teachers. Especially KS1. Kids are taught using lowercase first then move on to capitalised letters later (KS2?). Thus when presented with an upper case keyboard they simply do not recognise some of the letters. A cheap but time consuming alternative is to get a set of lower case keyboard stickers. For example. http://www.inclusive.co.uk/catalogue/acatalog/alphabet_keyboard_stickers.html I can vouch for this - the stickers work pretty well, although they need quite a bit of patience to get them stuck on straight! We stuck 5 sets on Apple iBooks and they seem to be holding up reasonably well.
titch Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 We got these ones from RM. RM.com Shop: RM Multicoloured Lowercase Keyboard - USB Are everything you asked and reasonable price 1
Jon Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 RM do the keyboard you are talking about with a usb connection. I have recently fitted a load in one of the primary schools I work in.
Jamo Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_Maximus_keyboard]Optimus Maximus keyboard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] Just get one of those!!! Does everything you need plus MORE!!!! Whats that you say? Over $1000 dollars too much? Damn.....
PeterW Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 Hi Paul are you affiliated in any way with Wishtrac? Hi Sorry - I was referring to the large lower case keyboards The exact link is Wishtrac House Limited 1
contink Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 Just as a small note... whatever you do, avoid the ones from Scan.co.uk I bought 5 from there a couple of years ago and all failed with seized keys in less than 3 months... Not exactly cheap either...
Jon Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 This is the one I have recently fitted in one of the primarys I work in. RM.com Shop: RM Multicoloured Lowercase Keyboard - USB It is £6.83 + VAT
BatchFile Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 Reminds me of the Amstrad CPC464 my mate used to have! I had the 6128:D http://www.steveb.co.uk/images/cpc464_400w.jpg Apologies for the offtopic I just had to say 1
Haptic Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 Rm do sell a similar keyboard to the one I was referring to, as follows: http://www.rm.com/_RMVirtual/Media/Images/jumbo-keyboard-lowercase-200150.jpg However, whilst REMOVED sell these keyboards at £24.99 (REMOVED), Rm charge £48.46 - see RM.com Shop: Jumbo Board Black Lowercase Colour USB for details it would be interesting to see if you are affiliated with this company as you are based locally to them ?
PeterW Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 it would be interesting to see if you are affiliated with this company as you are based locally to them ? I think his failure to reply to my question speaks for itself. 1
Haptic Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 I think his failure to reply to my question speaks for itself. after a quick call to the linked company I can confirm the poster does actually work for the company!
Haptic Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 And he is also spamming a post from 2007 - fail! reported to admin:cool:
OverWorked Posted May 8, 2009 Posted May 8, 2009 I'm just looking for one for a nonogenarian man I help out. I did see a great supplier at BETT 2009 on the upper floor, but I can't remember their name. They were selling all kinds of special needs keyboards (USB and PS/2) at under £25. After 20 minutes of Googling, I've found Valatech, who sell through an Ebay shop. They look to be the best bet so far, with USB at reasonable prices. Select keyboards from the left hand menu.
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