{"id":696,"date":"2022-11-15T19:28:09","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T00:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mgreene.org\/?p=696"},"modified":"2022-11-15T19:28:09","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T00:28:09","slug":"vortex-pc66-68-key-follow-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mgreene.org\/?p=696","title":{"rendered":"Vortex PC66 (68 Key) Follow-up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Vortex PC66 is a retro-ish PCjr keyboard. The PCjr<\/a> was sold March 1984 to May 1985 and first used a chiclet keyboard<\/a> that was junk. In 1984, the PCjr was shipped with a new keyboard. The following picture is an original 1984 PCjr keyboard and a Vortex PC66 (68 key)<\/a> keyboard. The Vortex 66 (66 key)<\/a> is more like the original without the left Ctrl and Windows\/Super key which I do not think would be usable for me. I first saw the PC66 in a YouTube video A Modern IBM PCjr style Mechanical Keyboard! Vortex PC66<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The keyboard can be connected 2.4 wireless via USB dongle, wired via USB cable, and Bluetooth. I had problems using the wireless and wired connections on my desktop, but it did work on my laptop. Just a hazard of running Gentoo, I would need to configure and recompile the desktop kernel. However, I settled for using Bluetooth which was one of the reasons I bought this keyboard. Bluetooth can be paired with three devices, and I can easily switch between the paired systems. I have my desktop and an Intel NUC at my computer desk and connect temporary systems as a third device at times. The following are the connection instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PC66 Connection Instructions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Up to the point of using the keyboard, I worried about the lack of dedicated keys I was used to having. After using the keyboard for a week, I am incredibly happy with the key combinations. What makes the special key usage easy, in my opinion, is having the Fn key in the lower right section of the keyboard. For example, I am already used to dropping my thumb on Fn and tapping Backspace for Delete. Again, the 68 key version of the PC66 has a “Windows” key and it serves as the Super Key to bring up Gnome Overview. The following lists the key combinations for the PC66.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keyboard Combinations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The keyboard is small, but I have used a Logitech K780<\/a> for a few years and I like the small size. The PC66 does not have a number pad, but I rarely if ever use the keyboard number pad. The positive is that without the keypad the actual keys are larger in the same footprint of the K780. I have not used my PC66 on MAC or Windows, but it works well on Linux\/Gnome. Finally, while I am not a retro computer collector, I do like the mechanical keyboard click. Enough of my ramblings, interspersed with pictures, here is the condensed list: <\/p>\n\n\n\n