Commodores all black keyboard for the CDTV.

Commodore made the CDTV a set top box but they knew that a set top box without any upgrade potential would fail, a set top box had to be upgradable to an extent that if the owner wanted it could be turned into a fully blown computer, It wasnt that hard as the CDTV was based on an Amiga 3000/500 combination, The keyboard was external on the A3000, As was the mouse on both the 3000 & 500, Infact everything could be mounted externally if needed and convertion for use on the CDTV would not have been a hard job, The diskdrive for example was a standard Amiga external disk drive, the only difference was it was black.

So what has this got to do with the Commodore CDTV's keyboard? Simple its not a CDTV keyboard, Its an Amiga 3000's keyboard, its just black, Now before you go out and buy an Amiga 3000 keyboard and try plugging it in the connector is different but the case is not, nether is the actual keyboard matrix (The PCB with the keys on it), Just the connector which uses an Amiga 4000 style mini Din connector, infact if you wanted a black Amiga 3000 (Or 4000) keyboard all you need to do is change the wire from the keyboard to the computer for the one out of the A3000 (or 4000), The connector inside the case is the same. (Note: It may look strange as the wire on the A3000 and A4000 keyboards are white to match the computer and keyboard but it works).

The keyboard was one of the first upgrades available for the CDTV (How early it was I dont know, My recolds only go back to just before the developers release but it had it by then.), It was also available in Commodores Pro pack along with the CDTV, an external diskdrive, mouse & joypad.

The keyboard was available from most Amiga shops seperatly up to the very end but are now quite hard to find. If you are looking try oldsoftware.com.

The keyboard, like all Amiga keyboards, have the caps lock light built into the caps lock key, This turns on when in capitals and off for lower case letters but it also doubles up as a diagnostic tool, If there is a problem with the keyboard then the light will flash a certain number of times to show an error has occured.

In 1994 the Commodore original CDTV keyboard selled for on average £55

A keyboard is essential for someone wanting to make there CDTV do more.

In smaller countries the keyboard had the keys off the Amiga 3000 keyboard fitted to cut costs, These keys where white to match the A3000 so do stand out when used in the black CDTV keyboard case and connected to a CDTV. For more information on this keyboard click here or selecting it from the CDTV upgrades page.