Difference between revisions of "Keyboard Versions"

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 +
[[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:Hardware]][[Category:CPC Plus]][[Category:CPC History]][[Category:Amstrad Products]][[Category:Picture Gallery]][[Category:Input Device]]
 +
 +
 
= Regions =
 
= Regions =
  
 
== English ==
 
== English ==
 +
 +
''Amstrad Colour Personal Computer''
  
 
[[File:GA high res.JPG|200px|left]]
 
[[File:GA high res.JPG|200px|left]]
Line 8: Line 13:
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:CPC 464 old logo bilgisayarlarim.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''English CPC 464'''
+
* '''English CPC 464 (old logo)''' ([[Media:MarkRandallCPC464 old logo.jpg|other lowres picture]])
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 
 +
[[File:Grimware cpc464 version3 case top.jpg|200px|left]]
 +
* '''English CPC 464 (new logo)'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:English Amstrad CPC664 keyb Gryzor.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:English Amstrad CPC664 keyb Gryzor.jpg|200px|left]]
 
* '''English CPC 664'''
 
* '''English CPC 664'''
 +
* Tested and confirmed that keyboard clash doesn't occur on English CPC664 keyboard.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:English CPC 6128 keyboard yoshi doshi.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''English CPC 6128'''
+
* '''English CPC 6128 (new logo)'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Nightfallcrew CPC464 plus english keyboard.jpg|150px|left]]
 
* '''English 464 Plus'''
 
* '''English 464 Plus'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Amstrad 6128 plus museum ebenthal.jpg|150px|left]]
 
* '''English 6128 Plus'''
 
* '''English 6128 Plus'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
Line 30: Line 40:
 
== French ==
 
== French ==
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
''Amstrad Ordinateur Personnel Couleur''
−
* '''French CPC 464''' (should exists)
+
 
 +
Early french models had french plaques on the keyboard and tape/disc drive, but still had english QWERTY keyboards. The french AZERTY keyboards were invented around 1986.
 +
 
 +
[[File:CPC464-French-QWERTY Gerald.jpg|200px|left]]
 +
* '''French CPC 464''' (qwerty)
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Nightfallcrew CPC464 french azerty.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''French CPC 664''' (exists?)
+
* '''French CPC 464''' (azerty)
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 
 +
[[File:CPC664 french qwerty.jpg|200px|left]]
 +
* '''French CPC 664''' (qwerty)
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 
 +
[[File:CPC 6128 French (QWERTY - 1st Serie).jpg|200px|left]]
 +
* '''French CPC 6128''' (qwerty)
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:Gerald CPC6128 French.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:Gerald CPC6128 French.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''French CPC 6128'''
+
* '''French CPC 6128''' (azerty)
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 
 +
[[File:CPC6128 awerty grim.png|200px|left]]
 +
* '''French CPC 6128''' (awerty)
 +
* An AWERTY keyboard (not QWERTY, not AZERTY), with spanish (not french) plaque on the FDD, despite of that without spanish Ñ key on keyboard. Most likely a homebrew modification, not an official product.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:PV250X French CPC 6128 - Qwerty.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:PV250X French CPC 6128 - Qwerty.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''French CPC 6128'''
+
* '''French CPC 6128''' (qwerty/rebadged)
 
* Exotic variant: French 6128 with QWERTY keyboard (english 6128 bundled with french manual & french sticker on FDD - this unit was sold in a french shop, when AZERTY keyboards were out of stock)
 
* Exotic variant: French 6128 with QWERTY keyboard (english 6128 bundled with french manual & french sticker on FDD - this unit was sold in a french shop, when AZERTY keyboards were out of stock)
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:French464plus.jpg|150px|left]]
 
* '''French 464 Plus'''
 
* '''French 464 Plus'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
Line 56: Line 83:
  
 
== German ==
 
== German ==
 +
 +
''Schneider Colour Personal Computer''
  
 
German CPCs have normal english keyboards. The keyboards (or case) is only different in so far that it is labeled Schneider instead Amstrad, and the 664/6128 have german colour tables on the disc drive. And, the keys are gray, unlike the more colorful Amstrad ones.
 
German CPCs have normal english keyboards. The keyboards (or case) is only different in so far that it is labeled Schneider instead Amstrad, and the 664/6128 have german colour tables on the disc drive. And, the keys are gray, unlike the more colorful Amstrad ones.
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Schneider464keyboard.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''German CPC 464'''
+
* '''German CPC 464''' (Schneider)
 +
* With Schneider logo and grey text on tape drive.
 +
* Grey control keys (unlike multi-colored ones found in other countries).
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 
 +
[[File:German Amstrad CPC464 (with gray keys).png|200px|left]]
 +
* '''German CPC 464''' (Amstrad)
 +
* Produced after the Amstrad-Schneider partnership ended in 1988. Now having an Amstrad logo on keyboard, but still with Schneider-style grey control keys. Some other lowres pictures are [[Media:WalgenbachAmstrad CPC464 grey Large.jpg|here]] and [[Media:Amstrad CPC464 User Manual German.jpg|here]].
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:German Schneider CPC664 keyb Gryzor.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:German Schneider CPC664 keyb Gryzor.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''German CPC 664'''
+
* '''German CPC 664''' (Schneider)
 +
* With Schneider logo and german colour table on disc drive.
 +
* Grey control keys (unlike Blue ones found in other countries).
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Schneider CPC6128 linux user.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''German CPC 6128'''
+
* '''German CPC 6128''' (Schneider) (one variant)
 +
* With Schneider logo and german colour table on disc drive.
 +
* In this version, the text layout resembles that of the english 6128.
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 
 +
[[File:Schneider6128keyboard.jpg|200px|left]]
 +
* '''German CPC 6128''' (Schneider) (other variant)
 +
* With Schneider logo and german colour table on disc drive.
 +
* Slightly rearranged text/layout (eg. "Disc Drive" instead of "DISC DRIVE").
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 
 +
[[File:Markus_cpc_6128.jpg|200px|left]]
 +
* '''German CPC 6128''' (Amstrad)
 +
* Produced after the Amstrad-Schneider partnership ended in 1988. Now having an Amstrad logo on keyboard, but still having a german colour table on the disk drive.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
== Spanish ==
 
== Spanish ==
 +
 +
''Amstrad Ordenador Personal en Color''
 +
 +
Initially, the normal english CPC 464, 664, and 6128 have been sold in spain (with normal english keyboards, and normal english text on the case). The special "spanished" models were invented when spanish laws led to the 72K fake and to the spanish keyboard.
  
 
[[File:CPC 472 es.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:CPC 472 es.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish CPC 472''' [[472|(more info)]]
+
* '''Spanish CPC 472 without Ñ key''' [[472|(more info)]]
 
* Early version, still with english keys
 
* Early version, still with english keys
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Colossus CPC472 keyboard.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish CPC 472''' [[472|(more info)]]
+
* '''Spanish CPC 472 with Ñ key''' [[472|(more info)]]
 
* Later version, with spanish keys
 
* Later version, with spanish keys
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:Robcfg CPC464 SP 08.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:Robcfg CPC464 SP 08.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish CPC 464'''
+
* '''Spanish CPC 464 with Ñ key'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:SpanishSchneider464 robcfg cpcmaniaco keyboard.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:SpanishSchneider464 robcfg cpcmaniaco keyboard.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish CPC 464 (Schneider)'''
+
* '''Spanish CPC 464 with rebadged Ñ key (Schneider)'''
−
* Actually a German Schneider model with gray keys.
+
 
* With rebadged "spanish" keys (see [[Media:SpanishSchneider464 robcfg cpcmaniaco rebadged keys.jpg|closeup]]). And fitted with spanish ROM (see [[Media:SpanishSchneider464 robcfg cpcmaniaco detail1.jpg|inside]]).
 
* With rebadged "spanish" keys (see [[Media:SpanishSchneider464 robcfg cpcmaniaco rebadged keys.jpg|closeup]]). And fitted with spanish ROM (see [[Media:SpanishSchneider464 robcfg cpcmaniaco detail1.jpg|inside]]).
 +
* Actually a German Schneider model with gray keys. After the Amstrad-Schneider partnership ended, remaining Schneider models were sold all across europe.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Spanish6128 old logo.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish CPC 664''' (exists?)
+
* '''Spanish CPC 6128 with Ñ key''' (old logo)
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:Spanish 6128 Keyboard Robcfg.jpg|200px|left]]
 
[[File:Spanish 6128 Keyboard Robcfg.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish CPC 6128'''
+
* '''Spanish CPC 6128 with Ñ key''' (new logo)
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Spanish464plusLaRetrotienda.jpg|150px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish 464 Plus'''
+
* '''Spanish 464 Plus with Ñ key'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:6128plus es.jpg|150px|left]]
 
[[File:6128plus es.jpg|150px|left]]
−
* '''Spanish 6128 Plus'''
+
* '''Spanish 6128 Plus with Ñ key'''
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
== Danish ==
 
== Danish ==
  
−
Older danish 464s had english keys, newer ones (with flat keys) had danish keys...
+
''Amstrad Colour Personal Computer''
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Cpc464_danish.jpg|200px|left]]
−
* '''Danish CPC 464''' (should exist)
+
* '''Danish CPC 464'''
−
<br style="clear:both;">
+
−
 
+
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
−
* '''Danish CPC 664''' (exists?)
+
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
Line 126: Line 177:
  
 
== Other ==
 
== Other ==
 +
 +
[[File:Awa CPC464.jpg|150px|left]]
 +
* '''Australian AWA models''' were shipped with normal english keyboards (with the standard Amstrad logo above the ESC key), the only difference is that [[LK-selectable Brand Names|LK1 and LK2]] are shortened on the mainboard, so the BIOS displays [[Awa]] instead of Amstrad in the boot message.
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
 +
 +
* '''Greek CPCs''' are standard english Amstrad models, without any customized logos or keyboard.
 +
* '''Other countries''' ... ''please add some info on Austria, Belgium, USA, etc.''
  
 
[[File:Kcc top.jpg|150px|left]]
 
[[File:Kcc top.jpg|150px|left]]
Line 142: Line 200:
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
== Mechanics ==
+
= Mechanics =
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Grimware cpckeys.jpg|380px|left]]
−
* '''Early 464 with PCB (non-membrane) keyboard'''
+
* '''Some of the different key caps'''
 +
* The '''BIG''' keys are found on '''PCB''' keyboards and '''single-foil''' keyboards (CPC 664 and early CPC 464)
 +
* The '''FLAT''' keys are found on '''dual-foil''' keyboards (CPC 6128, CPC Plus, and late CPC 464)
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
+
[[File:Z70102_disassembled.jpg|380px|left]]
−
* '''Normal 464 with membrane keyboard'''
+
* '''First 464 Keyboard Circuit (PCB)'''
 +
* PT NO Z70102
 +
* Printed-circuit-board with wire-cables.
 +
* Other pic: [[:Image:Z70102 bot.jpg|bottom side]]
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
 
[[File:NoPicture.png|100px|left]]
−
* '''Later 464 with "flat" keyboard'''
+
* '''Second 464 Keyboard Circuit (CPC664-style single-foil)'''
 +
* Single "membrane" foil (with 19pin connector)
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
= Character Sets =
+
[[File:Third_464_Keyboard_Circuit_(CPC6128-style_dual-foil)_0598.JPG|380px|left]]
 +
* '''Third 464 Keyboard Circuit (CPC6128-style dual-foil)'''
 +
* PT NO Z70211
 +
* Two membrane foils (with 2x10pin connector)
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
== English ==
+
[[File:CPC664 D-o-S membrane unrotated.jpg|380px|left]]
−
[[File:Charset english gray.gif|left]]
+
* '''CPC 664 Keyboard Circuit'''
 +
* [https://deskthority.net/wiki/Mitsumi_KPR_Type Mitsumi KPR Type] Keyboard similar to the [https://deskthority.net/wiki/Commodore_Amiga_500#Mitsumi_KPR_Type Amiga 500]
 +
* Single foil (with 19pin connector).
 +
* Connections are closed when the key touches the contacts on the foil.
 +
* Amiga 500 Plungers work, but the central hole is a little bigger, a little adhesive putty allows the smaller prong on the keycaps to fit.
 +
* Not actually a membrane keyboard (since the foil doesn't move), seems to work more like the old PCB keyboard.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
−
== French ==
+
 
−
[[File:Charset french gray.gif|left]]
+
[[File:CPC6128 Keyboard membrane unrotated.jpg|380px|left]]
 +
* '''CPC 6128 Keyboard Circuit'''
 +
* Two membrane foils (with 2x10pin connector)
 +
* Connections are closed when the key presses the two foils against each other.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
−
== Spanish ==
+
 
−
[[File:Charset spanish gray.gif|left]]
+
[[File:Nightfallcrew CPC Plus keyboard membrane.jpg|380px|left]]
 +
* '''CPC Plus Keyboard Circuit'''
 +
* Two membrane foils (with 2x10pin connector)
 +
* Same as in CPC 6128, but with connection cable at rear side.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
−
== Danish ==
+
 
−
[[File:Charset danish gray.gif|left]]
+
[[File:Kcc open.jpg|380px|left]]
 +
* '''KC Compact Keyboard Circuit'''
 +
* PCB with real mechanic switches, possibly the most robust CPC keyboard, even more robust than the early 464 PCB keyboards. Only downside is that it lacks the F5..F9 keys.
 
<br style="clear:both;">
 
<br style="clear:both;">
  
−
= ROMs =
+
'''Keyboard / Case Dimensions'''
 +
* CPC 464 - 580x170x70 mm (according to 464 service manual)
 +
* CPC 664 - 580x170x70 mm (according to 664 service manual)
 +
* CPC 6128 - 510x170x48 mm (according to 6128 service manual)
 +
* CPC Plus - 398x297x46 mm (according to 464+/6128+ service manual)
 +
* GX 4000 - 250x184x44 mm (according to 464+/6128+ service manual)
 +
* KC Compact - 388x218x49 mm (according to [[Media:Deepfb keyb size kcc.jpg|drawing]])
 +
* Aleste 520EX - 428x250x49 mm (according to [[Media:Deepfb keyb size aleste.jpg|drawing]])
 +
 
 +
'''Note''' - There's some funny confusion concerning the width of the KC Compact - different sources say: 388 mm (gerätebeschreibung), 399 mm (serviceanleitung), or even 3388 mm (some webpages, exceeding 3 meters!) - of these, 388mm is correct & verified.
 +
 
 +
= Character Set ROMs =
 +
 
 +
Together with the customized keyboards, the BIOS ROMs character sets were changed accordingly. The new characters are potentially useful for home-use, but may result in compatibility problems when importing/exporting software to/from other countries - or even within the same country (the new character sets were invented around 1986, so older french/spanish/danish CPCs didn't support the new symbols).
  
 
== English ==
 
== English ==
 +
[[File:Charset english gray.gif|left]]
 +
'''English BIOSes'''
 
* 40009 English 464
 
* 40009 English 464
 
* 40022 English 664
 
* 40022 English 664
 
* 40025 English 6128
 
* 40025 English 6128
−
* 40???-? English Plus
+
* <span style="color:#ff0000">41???-?</span> English Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)
 +
'''Default Symbols'''
 +
The english BIOSes are also used in german models. Until around 1986 (when localized keyboards/BIOSes were invented), the english BIOSes were also used in spanish/french/danish CPCs.
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
== French ==
 
== French ==
−
* 40??? French 464
+
[[File:Charset french gray.gif|left]]
−
* 40??? French 664
+
'''French BIOSes'''
 +
* 40050 French 464
 
* 40051 French 6128
 
* 40051 French 6128
 
* 130Z001 41090-1 French Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)
 
* 130Z001 41090-1 French Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)
 +
* <span style="color:#ff0000">?????-?</span> French "Basic Cartouche" (EPROM in the "downgrade from Plus-BIOS to 6128-BIOS" cartridge)
 +
'''Special Symbols'''
 +
* chr(40h) "à" instead "@"
 +
* chr(5Ch) "ç" instead "\"
 +
* chr(5Eh) "^" with different shape
 +
* chr(7Bh) "é" instead "{"
 +
* chr(7Ch) "ù" instead "|"
 +
* chr(7Dh) "è" instead "}"
 +
* chr(82h) "°" instead umlaut symbol
 +
Changed chr(7Ch) means RSX commands become ùCPM instead |CPM.
 +
The keyboard itself does have both "ù" and "|" keys, but, the default BIOS/BASIC tables do map "ù" to both of them.
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
== Spanish ==
 
== Spanish ==
 +
[[File:Charset spanish gray.gif|left]]
 +
'''Spanish BIOSes'''
 
* 40037 Spanish 464/472
 
* 40037 Spanish 464/472
−
* 40??? Spanish 664
 
 
* 40038 Spanish 6128
 
* 40038 Spanish 6128
 
* 130Z001 41091-1 Spanish Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)
 
* 130Z001 41091-1 Spanish Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)
 +
'''Special Symbols'''
 +
* chr(81h) "Ñ" instead "´"
 +
* chr(83h) "Pt" instead "£"
 +
* chr(8Bh) "ñ" instead "±"
 +
The changed pound/peseta currency symbol may result in some confusion, since the actual exchange rate is unlikely to be 1:1.
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
== Danish ==
 
== Danish ==
−
* 40??? Danish 464
+
[[File:Charset danish gray.gif|left]]
−
* 40??? Danish 664
+
'''Danish BIOSes'''
−
* 40??? Danish 6128
+
* <span style="color:#ff0000">40???</span> Danish 464
−
* 40???-? Danish Plus
+
* <span style="color:#ff0000">40???</span> Danish 6128
 +
* <span style="color:#ff0000">40???-?</span> Danish Plus (probably doesn't exist?)
 +
'''Special Symbols'''
 +
* chr(30h) non-slashed zero, to avoid confusion with letter "Ø"
 +
* chr(5Bh) "Æ" instead "["
 +
* chr(5Ch) "Ø" instead "\"
 +
* chr(5Dh) "Å" instead "]"
 +
* chr(7Bh) "æ" instead "{"
 +
* chr(7Ch) "ø" instead "|"
 +
* chr(7Dh) "å" instead "}"
 +
Similar as in french, RSX commands like "|CPM" become "øCPM".
 +
<br style="clear:both;">
  
 
= Notes =
 
= Notes =
  
−
According to soft968 the official language variants are:
+
* According to soft968 the official language variants are: English, Spanish, French and Danish.  
−
Spanish, French and Danish.
+
* Although french/danish charsets don't support "|", even newer user manuals (like french cpc+ manual from 1990) still refer to RSX commands as "|CPM" and describe to press shift+"@" to get the "|".
−
And, presumably, English was official, too. --
+
−
''Is that true? The (imcompletely) scanned [[SOFT 968]] document doesn't seem to say anything about Danish.''
+
  
 
= See Also =
 
= See Also =
  
 +
* [[Programming:Keyboard scanning]]
 
* [[CPC6128 Keyboard Disassembled]]
 
* [[CPC6128 Keyboard Disassembled]]
 +
* [[Keyboard Membrane Repair/Replacement Guide]]
 
* [[Mainboard Versions]]
 
* [[Mainboard Versions]]
 +
* [[Amstrad part numbers]]
 +
* http://www.sellmyretro.com/ - Buy new keyboard membranes for CPC664 from RWAP software
 +
* http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/ - RWAP Software, makers of membranes for Sinclair, Enterprise and CPC664
 +
* http://www.tradeinpost.com/ - Buy new keyboard membranes for Amstrad 464/6128 Plus

Latest revision as of 20:40, 20 June 2024


Regions

English

Amstrad Colour Personal Computer

GA high res.JPG
  • English CPC 464 (prototype) (more info)
  • Prototype with gray case


CPC 464 old logo bilgisayarlarim.jpg


Grimware cpc464 version3 case top.jpg
  • English CPC 464 (new logo)


English Amstrad CPC664 keyb Gryzor.jpg
  • English CPC 664
  • Tested and confirmed that keyboard clash doesn't occur on English CPC664 keyboard.


English CPC 6128 keyboard yoshi doshi.jpg
  • English CPC 6128 (new logo)


Nightfallcrew CPC464 plus english keyboard.jpg
  • English 464 Plus


Amstrad 6128 plus museum ebenthal.jpg
  • English 6128 Plus


French

Amstrad Ordinateur Personnel Couleur

Early french models had french plaques on the keyboard and tape/disc drive, but still had english QWERTY keyboards. The french AZERTY keyboards were invented around 1986.

CPC464-French-QWERTY Gerald.jpg
  • French CPC 464 (qwerty)


Nightfallcrew CPC464 french azerty.jpg
  • French CPC 464 (azerty)


CPC664 french qwerty.jpg
  • French CPC 664 (qwerty)


CPC 6128 French (QWERTY - 1st Serie).jpg
  • French CPC 6128 (qwerty)


Gerald CPC6128 French.jpg
  • French CPC 6128 (azerty)


CPC6128 awerty grim.png
  • French CPC 6128 (awerty)
  • An AWERTY keyboard (not QWERTY, not AZERTY), with spanish (not french) plaque on the FDD, despite of that without spanish Ñ key on keyboard. Most likely a homebrew modification, not an official product.


PV250X French CPC 6128 - Qwerty.jpg
  • French CPC 6128 (qwerty/rebadged)
  • Exotic variant: French 6128 with QWERTY keyboard (english 6128 bundled with french manual & french sticker on FDD - this unit was sold in a french shop, when AZERTY keyboards were out of stock)


French464plus.jpg
  • French 464 Plus


Gerald CPC6128Plus French.jpg
  • French 6128 Plus


German

Schneider Colour Personal Computer

German CPCs have normal english keyboards. The keyboards (or case) is only different in so far that it is labeled Schneider instead Amstrad, and the 664/6128 have german colour tables on the disc drive. And, the keys are gray, unlike the more colorful Amstrad ones.

Schneider464keyboard.jpg
  • German CPC 464 (Schneider)
  • With Schneider logo and grey text on tape drive.
  • Grey control keys (unlike multi-colored ones found in other countries).


German Amstrad CPC464 (with gray keys).png
  • German CPC 464 (Amstrad)
  • Produced after the Amstrad-Schneider partnership ended in 1988. Now having an Amstrad logo on keyboard, but still with Schneider-style grey control keys. Some other lowres pictures are here and here.


German Schneider CPC664 keyb Gryzor.jpg
  • German CPC 664 (Schneider)
  • With Schneider logo and german colour table on disc drive.
  • Grey control keys (unlike Blue ones found in other countries).


Schneider CPC6128 linux user.jpg
  • German CPC 6128 (Schneider) (one variant)
  • With Schneider logo and german colour table on disc drive.
  • In this version, the text layout resembles that of the english 6128.


Schneider6128keyboard.jpg
  • German CPC 6128 (Schneider) (other variant)
  • With Schneider logo and german colour table on disc drive.
  • Slightly rearranged text/layout (eg. "Disc Drive" instead of "DISC DRIVE").


Markus cpc 6128.jpg
  • German CPC 6128 (Amstrad)
  • Produced after the Amstrad-Schneider partnership ended in 1988. Now having an Amstrad logo on keyboard, but still having a german colour table on the disk drive.


Spanish

Amstrad Ordenador Personal en Color

Initially, the normal english CPC 464, 664, and 6128 have been sold in spain (with normal english keyboards, and normal english text on the case). The special "spanished" models were invented when spanish laws led to the 72K fake and to the spanish keyboard.

CPC 472 es.jpg
  • Spanish CPC 472 without Ñ key (more info)
  • Early version, still with english keys


Colossus CPC472 keyboard.jpg
  • Spanish CPC 472 with Ñ key (more info)
  • Later version, with spanish keys


Robcfg CPC464 SP 08.jpg
  • Spanish CPC 464 with Ñ key


SpanishSchneider464 robcfg cpcmaniaco keyboard.jpg
  • Spanish CPC 464 with rebadged Ñ key (Schneider)
  • With rebadged "spanish" keys (see closeup). And fitted with spanish ROM (see inside).
  • Actually a German Schneider model with gray keys. After the Amstrad-Schneider partnership ended, remaining Schneider models were sold all across europe.


Spanish6128 old logo.jpg
  • Spanish CPC 6128 with Ñ key (old logo)


Spanish 6128 Keyboard Robcfg.jpg
  • Spanish CPC 6128 with Ñ key (new logo)


Spanish464plusLaRetrotienda.jpg
  • Spanish 464 Plus with Ñ key


6128plus es.jpg
  • Spanish 6128 Plus with Ñ key


Danish

Amstrad Colour Personal Computer

Cpc464 danish.jpg
  • Danish CPC 464


Amstrad 6128 Danish Johnny Olsen.jpg
  • Danish CPC 6128


Other

Awa CPC464.jpg
  • Australian AWA models were shipped with normal english keyboards (with the standard Amstrad logo above the ESC key), the only difference is that LK1 and LK2 are shortened on the mainboard, so the BIOS displays Awa instead of Amstrad in the boot message.


  • Greek CPCs are standard english Amstrad models, without any customized logos or keyboard.
  • Other countries ... please add some info on Austria, Belgium, USA, etc.
Kcc top.jpg
  • KC Compact (more info)
  • East german CPC clone - lacks some function keys.


Aleste.jpg
  • Aleste 520EX (more info)
  • Russian CPC clone with russian keyboard - with additional MSX-style function keys.


GX4000 Top.jpg
  • GX4000
  • Has only one || Pause button (mapped as "P" key in keyboard matrix)


Mechanics

Grimware cpckeys.jpg
  • Some of the different key caps
  • The BIG keys are found on PCB keyboards and single-foil keyboards (CPC 664 and early CPC 464)
  • The FLAT keys are found on dual-foil keyboards (CPC 6128, CPC Plus, and late CPC 464)


Z70102 disassembled.jpg
  • First 464 Keyboard Circuit (PCB)
  • PT NO Z70102
  • Printed-circuit-board with wire-cables.
  • Other pic: bottom side


NoPicture.png
  • Second 464 Keyboard Circuit (CPC664-style single-foil)
  • Single "membrane" foil (with 19pin connector)


Third 464 Keyboard Circuit (CPC6128-style dual-foil) 0598.JPG
  • Third 464 Keyboard Circuit (CPC6128-style dual-foil)
  • PT NO Z70211
  • Two membrane foils (with 2x10pin connector)


CPC664 D-o-S membrane unrotated.jpg
  • CPC 664 Keyboard Circuit
  • Mitsumi KPR Type Keyboard similar to the Amiga 500
  • Single foil (with 19pin connector).
  • Connections are closed when the key touches the contacts on the foil.
  • Amiga 500 Plungers work, but the central hole is a little bigger, a little adhesive putty allows the smaller prong on the keycaps to fit.
  • Not actually a membrane keyboard (since the foil doesn't move), seems to work more like the old PCB keyboard.


CPC6128 Keyboard membrane unrotated.jpg
  • CPC 6128 Keyboard Circuit
  • Two membrane foils (with 2x10pin connector)
  • Connections are closed when the key presses the two foils against each other.


Nightfallcrew CPC Plus keyboard membrane.jpg
  • CPC Plus Keyboard Circuit
  • Two membrane foils (with 2x10pin connector)
  • Same as in CPC 6128, but with connection cable at rear side.


Kcc open.jpg
  • KC Compact Keyboard Circuit
  • PCB with real mechanic switches, possibly the most robust CPC keyboard, even more robust than the early 464 PCB keyboards. Only downside is that it lacks the F5..F9 keys.


Keyboard / Case Dimensions

  • CPC 464 - 580x170x70 mm (according to 464 service manual)
  • CPC 664 - 580x170x70 mm (according to 664 service manual)
  • CPC 6128 - 510x170x48 mm (according to 6128 service manual)
  • CPC Plus - 398x297x46 mm (according to 464+/6128+ service manual)
  • GX 4000 - 250x184x44 mm (according to 464+/6128+ service manual)
  • KC Compact - 388x218x49 mm (according to drawing)
  • Aleste 520EX - 428x250x49 mm (according to drawing)

Note - There's some funny confusion concerning the width of the KC Compact - different sources say: 388 mm (gerätebeschreibung), 399 mm (serviceanleitung), or even 3388 mm (some webpages, exceeding 3 meters!) - of these, 388mm is correct & verified.

Character Set ROMs

Together with the customized keyboards, the BIOS ROMs character sets were changed accordingly. The new characters are potentially useful for home-use, but may result in compatibility problems when importing/exporting software to/from other countries - or even within the same country (the new character sets were invented around 1986, so older french/spanish/danish CPCs didn't support the new symbols).

English

Charset english gray.gif

English BIOSes

  • 40009 English 464
  • 40022 English 664
  • 40025 English 6128
  • 41???-? English Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)

Default Symbols The english BIOSes are also used in german models. Until around 1986 (when localized keyboards/BIOSes were invented), the english BIOSes were also used in spanish/french/danish CPCs.

French

Charset french gray.gif

French BIOSes

  • 40050 French 464
  • 40051 French 6128
  • 130Z001 41090-1 French Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)
  • ?????-? French "Basic Cartouche" (EPROM in the "downgrade from Plus-BIOS to 6128-BIOS" cartridge)

Special Symbols

  • chr(40h) "à" instead "@"
  • chr(5Ch) "ç" instead "\"
  • chr(5Eh) "^" with different shape
  • chr(7Bh) "é" instead "{"
  • chr(7Ch) "ù" instead "|"
  • chr(7Dh) "è" instead "}"
  • chr(82h) "°" instead umlaut symbol

Changed chr(7Ch) means RSX commands become ùCPM instead |CPM. The keyboard itself does have both "ù" and "|" keys, but, the default BIOS/BASIC tables do map "ù" to both of them.

Spanish

Charset spanish gray.gif

Spanish BIOSes

  • 40037 Spanish 464/472
  • 40038 Spanish 6128
  • 130Z001 41091-1 Spanish Plus (EPROM in System Cartridge)

Special Symbols

  • chr(81h) "Ñ" instead "´"
  • chr(83h) "Pt" instead "£"
  • chr(8Bh) "ñ" instead "±"

The changed pound/peseta currency symbol may result in some confusion, since the actual exchange rate is unlikely to be 1:1.

Danish

Charset danish gray.gif

Danish BIOSes

  • 40??? Danish 464
  • 40??? Danish 6128
  • 40???-? Danish Plus (probably doesn't exist?)

Special Symbols

  • chr(30h) non-slashed zero, to avoid confusion with letter "Ø"
  • chr(5Bh) "Æ" instead "["
  • chr(5Ch) "Ø" instead "\"
  • chr(5Dh) "Å" instead "]"
  • chr(7Bh) "æ" instead "{"
  • chr(7Ch) "ø" instead "|"
  • chr(7Dh) "å" instead "}"

Similar as in french, RSX commands like "|CPM" become "øCPM".

Notes

  • According to soft968 the official language variants are: English, Spanish, French and Danish.
  • Although french/danish charsets don't support "|", even newer user manuals (like french cpc+ manual from 1990) still refer to RSX commands as "|CPM" and describe to press shift+"@" to get the "|".

See Also

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