chiclet keyboard

hardware 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 especially to describe the original IBMPCjr keyboard. Vendors unanimously liked these because they

were cheap, and a lot of early portable and laptopcomputers 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)