The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 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.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
chiclet keyboard
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)