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Blingboard64 - New keyboard for the Commodore 64

M

Marcio D.

Experienced Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2022
Messages
70
If you're in the market to replace your old, broken C64 keyboard, check out this campaign:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keyboard-for-your-commodore-computer#/


The campaign originally ended May 31, 2024, but has been re-opened for a limited time due to overwhelming demand from Commodore fans worldwide.

In addition to the Blingboard64 keyboard replacement, also check out the BlingBox on the same page, which is a standalone keyboard that can be attached to SX-64, C128D, Amiga, PC, MiSTer, BMC64, etc.
 
NeXT said:
.......but........why?
I wasn't aware the keyboard on a C64 was that bad.
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One of the whys is explained in my first line, "broken C64 keyboard". Unless you enjoy typing on broken keyboards?

Secondly, the C64 keyboard wasn't bad, but it wasn't terrific either. Here's a chance to endow it with a better keyboard, if you've got the money and are willing to spend on improving your typing experience.
 
indecisive-i-dont-know.gif


Fair enough.
 
ClassicHasClass said:
I bet a Commodore 128D or SX-64 keyboard would sell, but I've yet to see one?
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You'll probably never see one.

I don't think enough 128D and SX-64 were produced and sold back in the 80's to warrant someone investing in making new dedicated ones today.

The BlingBox is probably the closest you'll get!
 
Lardlad said:
I missed the campaign, but I'd love to pick up a blingboard and a blingbox. Hopefully he offers them on cbmstuff once the backers have their purchases.
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The campaign was reopened in June and is still running now in mid-July !
 
Thanks, I signed up for a blingboard. Can't wait! I saw that a company called Retro Fuzion is also doing a campaign for brand new improved breadbin cases. A range of colors, and brass inserts for the screws instead of straight into the plastic. I'll be grabbing one or two of those as well.
 
The printing cost for the keycaps ended up being more than double of what was budgeted during the campaign. To offset the difference in printing costs without paying more out of pocket, the project manager is offering a pre-order of 60 additional Blingboard64 units at the campaign price. That means you can pre-order and pay the same price as folks who backed the crowdfunding campaign last year. After these 60 units are gone, the product will be sold at a higher price.


Kit: https://www.cbmstuff.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_87&product_id=163


Fully assembled: https://www.cbmstuff.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_87&product_id=164
 
A couple of months ago, Jim Drew offered a pre-order of 60 additional Blingboard64 units at the campaign price to offset the increase in printing costs. Now in July 2025 and heading into August 2025, he's offering you another chance at pre-ordering a Blingboard64.

As you know, the upcoming Commodore 64 Ultimate (https://www.commodore.net) will use the basic Blingboard technology developed by Jim. However, Jim refers to the C64 Ultimate keyboard as "Blingboard64 Lite Edition". In other words, that keyboard in the C64 Ultimate will be less powerful than the keyboard offered in the crowdfunding campaign and recent pre-orders. Jim explains it this way:

The Lite Edition is really a VERY stripped down version of the keyboard from this campaign. It has basically none of the advanced features. You can think of the Lite Edition as just a very nice keyboard with LEDs and a 4 pin connector that plugs into Gideon's U64 board. The U64 itself provides the features.

The Blingboard64 in this campaign is very different because it has support for USB and Bluetooth BLE, a dual core CPU, expansion port, wireless programming, macros (recording and playback), 2MB of RAM fully accessible from the C64 side, ability to off-load calculations to the keyboard's CPU, and much, much, more!
Click to expand...


Kit: https://www.cbmstuff.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_87&product_id=163

Fully assembled: https://www.cbmstuff.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_87&product_id=164

Campaign page: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keyboard-for-your-commodore-computer#/
 
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