The earliest personal computers were a mixed bag in terms of usability. There were very few standards, and each manufacturer decided what they thought the future of computing should look like. Keyboards, in particular, were a fertile area for experimentation. Some machines, like early IBM PCs, had pretty nice keyboards that were comfortable to type on. Others, like the Sinclair ZX81 and Atari 400, had membrane keyboards. These helped to cut costs, but they were absolutely miserable to type on.
Despite the awful user experience, the team over at 3dkeycap has never lost their love for the ZX81. But let’s be honest — you don’t want to use one of these little machines to do any real work in today’s world. So instead, they designed ZX81-inspired keycaps for a mechanical keyboard that let modern computer users relive the 1980s experience — only this time with the machine and keyboard they wish they had back in the day.
A set of keycaps (📷: 3dkeycap)
The Kilozed is a modern keycap set that draws heavily from both the ZX81 and the Timex Sinclair 1000. The design stays faithful to the original layout, capturing the quirky, function-heavy aesthetic that defined the machines. However, unlike the flat membrane keyboards of the past, these keycaps are built for MX low-profile mechanical switches, offering a vastly improved typing experience. The use of durable PBT plastic and UV-printed legends ensures both longevity and visual clarity, while a uniform profile provides consistency across the board.
Kilozed keycaps are available now on Kickstarter for $33. Shipments are expected to begin in May 2026.
