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Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 17:57
by Dave
stansteph54 wrote: 21 Oct 2023 15:01

you’re right, it seems my french Keyboard has 3 keys with the typical french “à”, “é” and “è” character that the belgian hasn’t !
I am really surprised that there were different keyboards for France and Belgium. Is written French in France really different to the way that it is written in Belgium?

I think it just more likely that Memotech were not entirely consistent when making up the keyboards, perhaps due to short supply of keycaps as they started to run out of money

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 19:29
by stansteph54
Dave wrote: 21 Oct 2023 17:50

put 64122 in brackets, i.e., PRINT PEEK (64122)
whooops what for a newbie I am ! 🙄

So, here is the answer : 0
6AA10E83-EBBD-42FF-A29C-2976EFDB0275.jpeg
6AA10E83-EBBD-42FF-A29C-2976EFDB0275.jpeg (6.37 MiB) Viewed 27402 times

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 19:32
by gunrock
I think it just more likely that Memotech were not entirely consistent when making up the keyboards, perhaps due to short supply of keycaps as they started to run out of money
Yeah, but they would have to have a ROM that supports it, right?

I do know what you mean though, Dave, look at this keyboard:
20231021_193144.jpg
20231021_193144.jpg (227.19 KiB) Viewed 27401 times
What's that over the "3" key? Total UK layout, bar that key, must have been whatever was in the parts bin? :shock:

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 19:34
by gunrock
So you have 32k as expected, Stéphane. The clean up looks great, what a machine!

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 20:08
by gunrock
stansteph54 wrote: 21 Oct 2023 15:01
you’re right, it seems my french Keyboard has 3 keys with the typical french “à”, “é” and “è” character that the belgian hasn’t !
Actually, the keys on the Belgian keyboard are there, but in different locations on the keyboard. Stéphane Schmitt, kindly gave us a close up:
1697885752194.jpg
1697885752194.jpg (818.53 KiB) Viewed 27394 times
Same accented letter keys, different locations. Amazing!

I have the feeling that Memotech made the localisation much harder than it had to be! Or maybe like the Danish/Norwegian key differences, perhaps Belgian and French users expected those keys in different positions?

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 20:13
by Martin A
Dave wrote: 21 Oct 2023 17:50
stansteph54 wrote: 21 Oct 2023 14:50
I did check the motherboard version as you requested and the result is : « Params » so ???

3A7EDA2F-50C0-4961-A379-952B9175EA6C.jpeg
put 64122 in brackets, i.e., PRINT PEEK (64122)
Sorry, us old folk forget things when we start messaging late at night (ie after 6pm)

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 21:21
by stansteph54
Thanks to you all for your comment and feedback,

no problem @Martin, we found the mistake and now we have your answer : result was 0

I agree the difference between French and Belgian Azerty is strange.
I will double check that the keycaps are right related to the key pressed.. maybe Stephane Schmitt could proceed the same ?
To me, my keyboard looks more usual/ more similar to AZERTY keyboard with the accented letter close to the M, before the return on the second line of keys and the dots etc close to/after the N on the 3rd line of lettered keys

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 21:27
by Dave
It would also be helpful to know if any labels that might be on the piggy-back ROMs look similar

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 21 Oct 2023 21:49
by gunrock
Yes, Stéphane, if you are happy opening the machine, could we have a couple of fairly hi-res pictures, please?

Re: Stéphane from France (MTX500)

Posted: 22 Oct 2023 09:25
by stansteph54
Sure, I will do some when I open the machine.

I also read some pages of the very amazing website of Dave and found another french collector and web friend Gilles Bronchain may have a MTX512. I will check his keyboard configuration.

I also understood by the way that the DIN plug I have on the right side too should be the out of an internal french rvb scart adding card inside the machine.

I’m very happy being part of your family with this original 32k 500 version, I guess they shouldn’t be so much sold back in the day here in France.