[Info-vax] Vax Station 4000 VLC

[Dave Froble]

On 12/27/2018 10:07 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Dave Froble  <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>> On 12/27/2018 1:53 PM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
>>> In article <q007ms$9oq$1 at dont-email.me>, Dave Froble
>>> <davef at tsoft-inc.com> writes:
>>>
>>>> So Phillip, what are your suggested solutions.  First, you wish VSI to
>>>> provide a GUI with VMS.  And now you want a "true" VT style keyboard.
>>>> Just who are you asking to provide this keyboard?
>>>
>>> What does a keyboard cost?  $10?  Probably less.  This shouldn't even be
>>> an issue.  Hopefully I can connect one of my LK keyboards via some sort
>>> of adapter into an x86 system running VMS.
>>
>> No, the real question is what does it take to set up a production line
>> for a specific keyboard, and to sell enough to make it other than a vast
>> money pit.
>
> It's harder than that, because there are basically three technologies
> involved.  If you make a few keyboards, it's cost-effective to use
> mechanical switches because your up-front engineering cost is really just
> board layout... if you make a lot you go to a totally different technology
> where you have high up-front costs molding the rubber pads but lower per
> unit costs.  And in-between, dome spring switches are a win.
> --scott
>
>

Pure speculation ....

The keyboards for the VT500 terminals, and USB based keyboards were once 
produced.  I don't know by whom.  But I'd ask, do those entities still 
exist, and perhaps they would have preserved the tooling.  Maybe not. 
If so, then the design and tooling would be available, and from that, 
how hard would it be, should a valid business case exist, to start up 
the mfg of more keyboards?  I'd also wonder what would be required for a 
valid business case?

Of course, there might be components no longer available ...

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486