05-08-2024, 09:10 PM
If the stretch goal #8 is met I will be able to include a case into the family mold for the frame assembly, and create an entirely new product (perk), and that is a complete stand alone keyboard in a case. I call this the BlingBox™.
The BlingBox™ features the same main circuit board that the Blingboard64 uses. The same switches and keycaps are all used. The control board is completely different!
Keyboard Features:
There is LED lighting, macro key recording and playback, firmware updates via WiFi, etc. All the same basic features as the Blingboard64.
The BlingBox™ can function as a keyboard with any device that can use a USB keyboard (PC, Mac, Linux, Rpi, etc.). There is a DB25 port interface that lets you use it with the Commodore SX-64 and Commodore C128D computers using a standard DB25 male to male parallel printer cable. Using different special DB25 cables you can also use it to emulate a keyboard for:
There are two expansion ports inside, on the BlingBox™ control board. One is for an external TFT display (any size), and the other could be used for a variety of functions, but an SD card socket (with an audio port?) might be a good choice. There are recesses in the case to pass out a cable for wiring so that the display can be mounted on the keyboard (typically to the back/center). With a TFT attached the CPU system is powerful enough to run many different computer emulations, arcade machine emulations, and more - so it could actually be a game station (even able to play DOOM) when it wasn't be used as a keyboard.
There is currently no support for Bluetooth, because there is no ability to make this a fully portable/wireless keyboard (yet). The reality is that it is actually too low of profile currently to house a battery. I am looking at some options. The size is 405mm (L) x 130mm (W) x 21mm (H). I am currently working on the flip-out leg design so that it is at the correct typing angle.
If the stretch goal is not reached, then I won't make this a product and I will have to show off my one-off at various retro events.
The BlingBox™ features the same main circuit board that the Blingboard64 uses. The same switches and keycaps are all used. The control board is completely different!
Keyboard Features:
There is LED lighting, macro key recording and playback, firmware updates via WiFi, etc. All the same basic features as the Blingboard64.
The BlingBox™ can function as a keyboard with any device that can use a USB keyboard (PC, Mac, Linux, Rpi, etc.). There is a DB25 port interface that lets you use it with the Commodore SX-64 and Commodore C128D computers using a standard DB25 male to male parallel printer cable. Using different special DB25 cables you can also use it to emulate a keyboard for:
- Any computer that uses a PC/XT port
- Any computer or device that uses a PS/2 port
- Any Amiga with a remote keyboard (A1000, A2000, A3000, and A4000)
- External keyboard for your C64
There are two expansion ports inside, on the BlingBox™ control board. One is for an external TFT display (any size), and the other could be used for a variety of functions, but an SD card socket (with an audio port?) might be a good choice. There are recesses in the case to pass out a cable for wiring so that the display can be mounted on the keyboard (typically to the back/center). With a TFT attached the CPU system is powerful enough to run many different computer emulations, arcade machine emulations, and more - so it could actually be a game station (even able to play DOOM) when it wasn't be used as a keyboard.
There is currently no support for Bluetooth, because there is no ability to make this a fully portable/wireless keyboard (yet). The reality is that it is actually too low of profile currently to house a battery. I am looking at some options. The size is 405mm (L) x 130mm (W) x 21mm (H). I am currently working on the flip-out leg design so that it is at the correct typing angle.
If the stretch goal is not reached, then I won't make this a product and I will have to show off my one-off at various retro events.