[Info-vax] Vax Station 4000 VLC

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 12/28/18 12:53 AM, Dave Froble wrote:
> 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, 

And that design and tooling may be available, but only to the
holder of the IP.  If they wanted to use it to manufacture keyboards
we wouldn't be having this conversation.

>                   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?

A business case?  well, I would guess the first would be the ability
to sell more than 3 a year.  Just how many people do you think there
are looking for non-standard keyboards?  I imagine the desire for DWORAK
keyboards is higher and they aren't easy to find either.

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

bill