Editing Commodore VIC-20

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{{infobox dkeyboard
| name         = 
| image name   = Commodore-VIC-20-FR.jpg
| pn           = 
| fcc          = 
| branding     = [[Commodore]]
| manufacturer = [[Mitsumi]] (keyboard)
| switch       = Various, including [[Mitsumi KSR Type]]
| layouts      = 
| features     =
| interface    = Integrated
| weight       = 
| years        = 
| keycaps      = Spherical double-shot
}}

The '''Commodore VIC-20''' was an 8-bit home computer, with a MOS 6502 CPU and 5 KB RAM.

The integrated keyboard is interchangeable with that in the successor [[Commodore 64]], and some late VIC-20 and early C64 even have the exact same keyboards.

Like many other 8-bit computers of the time, there is no separate keyboard controller. The matrix is scanned by the main CPU using an I/O chip.

==Keyboards==

===PET-derived Mitsumi hybrid: Microgramma===
This appears to be the original and most common keyboard, using the guide shaft plate, sliders and keystem adapters from a [[Commodore PET|PET]] keyboard (like that of the [[Commodore 8032-SK]]), but a revised keyboard matrix. The shift lock switch is likely to be [[Futaba lock]] the same as in the later keyboards. Black tape covers up the unused holes for switch positions not used.<ref name="t1a" /><ref name="t1b" />
The keycap profile is very angular with the same profile for each row and the very wide ''Microgramma Extended'' font.

===VIC-1001: PET-derived Japanese===
The VIC-20 was first introduced in Japan as the '''VIC-1001''', sporting Japanese characters on the front of keycaps and in character ROM.<ref name="denial1001">Denial WIKI—[VIC-1001 http://sleepingelephant.com/denial/wiki/index.php?title=VIC-1001]. Last update at time of retrieval: 2015-06-07</ref> 
The keyboard uses the same switches and keycap style as the earlier [[Commodore PET|PET]], with squarish keycaps and the Latin font being the very wide and angular ''Microgramma Extended''.

===Mitsumi hybrid: Eurostile===
The keycaps are rounder and have a contoured profile. The font is known as ''Eurostile'', which is not as wide as the previous but still squarish.
The switches are similar to the more common [[Mitsumi KSR Type]] with cruciform mount and spring between key and keycap, but the stem is shorter.<ref name="lemon60002">lemon64.com forum—[https://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=60002 Vic 20 later Eurostile keyboard restore :)]. Posted 2016-03-18.</ref>

===Discrete rubber domes: Narrow font===
Rounder font, similar to Helvetica Narrow. The keycaps are also rounder than the Eurostile variant.
Found in a 1983 Revision D VIC-20, from below this has the same general design as the later keyboard (and that of the [[Commodore 64]]), but instead of using "hybrid" switches, it has sliders over discrete rubber domes that appear to be glued to the PCB. The shift lock switch is still [[Futaba lock]].<ref name="t2" />

===Mitsumi KSR Type: Narrow font===
Rounder font, similar to Helvetica Narrow. The keycaps are rounder still than the Eurostile variant.
This has an identical arrangement to early "bread bin" [[Commodore 64]], with cruciform mount conductive foot Mitsumi hybrid switches, and a non-keyboard switch for shift lock.<ref name="t3" /> The keyboard PCB model is KSR-A66YF.<ref name="t3-2" /><ref name="t3-3" />

Most VIC-20 have orange function keys but some have grey function keys like most [[Commodore 64]]. Similarly some early Commodore 64 have orange function keys.
Whether these variations were intentional or not is unclear.

==Lookalikes==
===My Vic20===
The '''My Vic20''' is a variation of the [[Commodore_64#C64x_.2F_My64|Commodore 64x / MyC64]] mini-ITX PC case with integrated keyboard, but styled in VIC-20 colours.
The integrated keyboard, made by [[TG3 Electronics|TG3]] has a layout updated for a modern PC and has [[Cherry MX]] switches.

* [https://myretrocomputer.com/product/my-vic20/ Official site].

===The VIC 20===
The '''The VIC 20''' is similar to the actual-size [[Commodore_64#TheC64|TheC64]] "retro-console", styled as a VIC-20. Both have the same internal hardware and can emulate both a VIC-20 and a [[Commodore 64|C64]] but have different installed games.
The keyboard has orange function keys and a Microgramma-like font similar to, but not exact to that of early VIC-20's and [[Commodore_8032-SK|PETs]].
<ref name="hutchinsyt201012">Chuck Hutchins on YouTube—[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pFfQ-I3tjQ The VIC 20]. Released 2020-10-12.</ref>

* [https://retrogames.biz/thevic20 Official site]

==Replacements==
See also [[Commodore 64#Replacement_keyboard]].
===VIC-2020===
Dan Werner's [https://bitbucket.org/danwerner21/vic2020/src/master/ VIC-2020] project is new  rendition of the VIC-20 (in the year 2020), with PCB, keyboard PCB and 3D-printed case design.

The keyboard PCB fits [[Cherry MX|Cherry MX switches]], but is for standard Cherry MX keycap sizes, and will thus not fit in a real VIC-20 or C64 case.
A template is available for getting keycaps with VIC-20 legends from [[Max Keyboard]].

==See also==
* [[Commodore 64]] — Used an interchangeable, or even the same keyboard in some models. A replacement keyboard or keyboard-adaptor for the C64 will also work with the VIC-20 and vice versa.

==External links==
* [http://sleepingelephant.com/denial/wiki/index.php Denial Wiki] — a wiki dedicated to the Commodore VIC-20
* [https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/VIC-20 VIC-20] on The C64 Wiki
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_VIC-20 Commodore VIC-20] on Wikipedia

==References==
<references>
<ref name="t1a">The Future was 8bit — [https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/index.php/silver_vic20 Silver VIC20]</ref>
<ref name="t1b">Tynemouth Software — [http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2015/05/commodore-4032-editor-rom-for-business.html Commodore 4032 Editor ROM for Business keyboard]</ref>
<ref name="t2">The Liberator — [http://www.the-liberator.net/site-files/retro-games/hardware/Commodore-VIC-20/commodore-vic-20-rev-d.htm Commodore VIC-20 Disassembled]</ref>
<ref name="t3">Oldcomputr.com — [http://www.oldcomputr.com/cleaning-the-keyboard-of-a-vic-20/ Cleaning the keyboard of a VIC 20]</ref>
<ref name="t3-2">Eski Bilgisayarlarım — [http://bilgisayarlarim.com/Commodore/VC20/index.html Commodore VC20]</ref>
<ref name="t3-3">Eski Bilgisayarlarım — [http://bilgisayarlarim.com/Commodore/VIC20/index.html Commodore VIC 20]</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Commodore keyboards]]
[[Category:Mitsumi OEM keyboards]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Mitsumi switches]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Integrated keyboards]]
[[Category:List of all keyboards]]