Amstrad Keyboard Interface

When Amstrad built the PC1512 in 1986, they were careful to avoid any conflict with IBM and so were sure not to infringe any of IBMs patents on the IBM PC. In fact there were very few patents registered other than the keyboard interface.

Amstrad therefore designed a new keyboard interface that was quite different (and hence incompatible) with the IBM interface. The connector and the protocols were different, so an Amstrad keyboard cannot be used (even with an adapter) with an IBM PC, or vice-versa.

The proprietary keyboard interface was used on all 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 series machines. Thereafter (from the 5000 series), Amstrad followed what had become common practice and switched to the IBM PS/2 keyboard interface.

See Also

• Servicing Amstrad 2000 Series Keyboards
• Early PC Keyboard Protocols