chiclet keyboard

2 definitions found

chiclet keyboard - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  chiclet keyboard
  
     <hardware, abuse> A keyboard with a small, flat rectangular
     or lozenge-shaped rubber or plastic keys that look like pieces
     of Chiclets chewing gum.  Used especially to describe the
     original IBM PCjr keyboard.  Vendors unanimously liked these
     because they were cheap, and a lot of early portable and
     laptop computers were launched with them.  Customers
     rejected the idea with almost equal unanimity, and chiclets
     are not often seen on anything larger than a digital watch any
     more.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1997-05-16)
  

chiclet keyboard - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  chiclet keyboard
   n.
  
     A keyboard with a small, flat rectangular or lozenge-shaped rubber or
     plastic keys that look like pieces of chewing gum. (Chiclets is the
     brand name of a variety of chewing gum that does in fact resemble the
     keys of chiclet keyboards.) Used esp. to describe the original IBM
     PCjr keyboard. Vendors unanimously liked these because they were
     cheap, and a lot of early portable and laptop products got launched
     using them. Customers rejected the idea with almost equal unanimity,
     and chiclets are not often seen on anything larger than a digital
     watch any more.