Chiclet keyboard: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A chiclet keyboard is a computer keyboard built with an array of small, flat rectangular or lozenge-shaped rubber or plastic keys that look like erasers or pieces of chewing gum. The term comes from "Chiclets," the brand name of a variety of chewing gum.

Vendors unanimously liked the chiclet keyboard because it was cheap to produce, and many early home, portable and laptop computers were launched with it. However, consumers rejected it with almost equal unanimity. After 1985, chiclet keyboards were not often seen other than on some digital calculator watches, small handheld calculators, and cheap, nonexpandable PDAs.

List of home computers with variations of chiclet keyboards

• Cambridge Z88 (arguably a mix between a membrane and chiclet keyboard)
• Commodore PET 2001 (the original 1977 PET)
• Commodore 116 (version of the C16 sold only in Europe)
• IBM PCjr
• Jupiter ACE
• Mattel Aquarius
• Multitech Microprofessor I (MPF 1) and MPF 2 (the latter an early Apple II compatible)
• Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16/48K (later models had slightly improved keyboards)
• Texas Instruments TI-99/4 (predecessor of the TI-99/4A, which had a full-travel keyboard)
• Timex Sinclair 1500 (U.S. ZX81 derivation)
• Timex Sinclair 2068 (U.S. ZX Spectrum derivation)
• VTech Laser 200

See also: membrane keyboard

This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing and is used with under the GFDL.