The Lo-Profile Keyboard from Advanced Memory systems is a fairly large unit which is, as the name implies, quite slimline. However, its length and width are excessively proportioned but, having said that I must add that the overall look is rather elegant.

Using a unique system, the keys are sprung by a rubber bubble, this makes them the most sensitive to press that I have ever encountered, but at the same time they have a very positive feel and spring back quickly. A touch typist could outpace the Spectrum's input speed. The key tops themselves feature engraved legends rather than the cheaper, more common sticky labels and have a nice tactile feel. A full-sized space bar is a feature of this unit and it is very well balanced. A numeric keypad is also included and this is situated to the right of the main keys.

An extra Caps Lock is added to the left above the Caps Shift key, though both keys still need to be pressed at the same time. On the numeric pad, an extra "." key is included but again this still needs to be pressed at the same time as the Symbol Shift key. Both sets of keys are slightly stepped and have an unusual but effective concave curve to them. The base, unseen in use, is shiny plastic but the top has a classy matt finish to it.

Fitting the Spectrum is very easy and all that is required is that you unscrew the two keyboard halves, unscrew the two spectrum case halves and remove the top, carefully pulling out the keyboard ribbon cables. Finally, undo the single screw holding the PCB in place and transfer it to the base of the AMS where it is held by the four screws supplied, push in the AMS keyboard ribbons and screw the two halves of the case back together.

I have used this keyboard for some time now and it has performed perfectly, in fact I am writing this review on it! At £49.95 it is one of the cheaper keyboards on the market, and as such it lacks some of the features of the more expensive ones, such as single key E mode, dot and comma. But, in contrast it has a superb set of keytops with the engraved legends. If you are planning to upgrade from the standard Spectrum keyboard and, unless you really feel that you need the missing features, then I suggest that you give this keyboard due consideration. This reviewer is impressed!

AMS can be contacted at Green Lane, Appleton, Warrington WA4 5N.