45 replies to this topic

[aliking]

Can you shed some more light on what the keys will actually be like?

Problem is no one here has ever actually used an assembled Pandora, since one doesn't exist yet.

If Craig or perhaps ED stop by, maybe they'd have more exact info.

I meant more like - what other devices have a keyboard like this so that we could get an idea. ZX Spectrum? Or are the keys hardened to such a degree that they feel like plastic?

[TaG]

Unless you are not one of the most crazy modders we have seen here who attempts to cut the membrane to switch the buttons around, yes it does.

Perhaps OpenPandora can sell blank keypad templates? That would be a nice solution, and somewhat "1337".

It's possible. Maybe we can sell blank key mat as an extra part in the future. So you can open and change the default mat with blank one.

Hmmm, that could be pretty cool - totally minimalist!

Thanks for the update mfk.

[nikkopt]

It was probably answered, but I can't seem to find it. I was a little disappointed to find out that the buttons (Not the actual key you press) be using rubber instead of a real tactil-feedback button.

What? What are you trying to say? The buttons will have tactile feedback.

Not as he (and me) was hoping

Unfortunately, they will not feel like normal cellphone keypads aswell since cellphones use bended metal instead of rubber..
I'm sure i will miss these guys: Here

Anyway, most of computer keyboards have rubber mats instead of mechanical buttons
If the Pandora buttons don't get stuck when i press them on a corner, they are fine to me..

Edited by nikkopt, 19 November 2008 - 08:58 PM.

[God Ginrai]

It was probably answered, but I can't seem to find it. I was a little disappointed to find out that the buttons (Not the actual key you press) be using rubber instead of a real tactil-feedback button.

What? What are you trying to say? The buttons will have tactile feedback.

Not as he (and me) was hoping

Unfortunately, they will not feel like normal cellphone keypads aswell since cellphones use bended metal instead of rubber..
I'm sure i will miss this guys: Here

Anyway, most of computer keyboards have rubber mats instead of mechanical buttons
If the Pandora buttons don't get stuck when i press them on a corner, they are fine to me..

It's better utility to make the keyboard buttons so that they can function and feel like extra gaming buttons, since we didn't get a 6 button layout for the gaming controls.

-God Ginrai

[nikkopt]

that's also true.. but i'm guessing that lots of people will use the keyboard intensively, to write

[God Ginrai]

that's also true.. but i'm guessing that lots of people will use the keyboard intensively, to write

Yes, but these types of keys should be fine as far as thumb-typing is concerned.

-God Ginrai

[Bryce Leo]

It's possible. Maybe we can sell blank key mat as an extra part in the future. So you can open and change the default mat with blank one.

Sweet!

On my to buy when available list:
Blank keyboard mat.
Spare pandora shell.
Spare battery.

[Chip]

It's possible. Maybe we can sell blank key mat as an extra part in the future. So you can open and change the default mat with blank one.

Sweet!

On my to buy when available list:
Blank keyboard mat.
Spare pandora shell.
Spare battery.

We have intentionally over-ordered on the first batch so as to have spare parts available for purchase. It's not at the top of the list of things to be sorted out right now, but I'll let you know how it will work once it's done.

[VRAndy]

I can't decide if a entirely black keyboard would be cool like "Das Keyboard" or unusable because you're not touch-typing.

[Bryce Leo]

On my to buy when available list:
Blank keyboard mat.
Spare pandora shell.
Spare battery.

We have intentionally over-ordered on the first batch so as to have spare parts available for purchase. It's not at the top of the list of things to be sorted out right now, but I'll let you know how it will work once it's done.

Haha, I'll pre-order those now if it gets me the first slot in line for them

[belthos]

When I learned to type they used typewriters (I know it dates me), and they all had blank keycaps to keep students from cheating.

I imagine dvorack typists will know the layout from memory with only a couple of reference points to situate their fingers.

After all if you are a hunt and peck typist does it even matter what the layout is?


What gets my geek sense tingling is several prototype laptops and netbooks that are a clamshell design with 2 touchpad screens.
Multi configurations possible.

top screen is the 'screen', bottom screen shows a picture of a keyboard and you type on it.
Top screen and bottom screen lay flat and both are used as a double tall screen.
Dual displays both used seperately
or finally a head to head mode for two people to both use the machine at once with the top screen displaying upside down for the second person.

Belthos

[OrR]

Typing on a touchscreen doesn't work that well, though. Maybe with a transparent overlay keyboard... A fast and working touchscreen input system still has to be developed, especially for one-thumb-usage. I think an implementation of Quikwriting could be it.

[daveski]

I meant more like - what other devices have a keyboard like this so that we could get an idea. ZX Spectrum? Or are the keys hardened to such a degree that they feel like plastic?

Excellent. I could put a small rainbow stripe on the top and jump into a timewarp and run a speccy emulator.

[White Demon]

totally off topic for a minute

After all if you are a hunt and peck typist does it even matter what the layout is?

I prefer the term 'Columbus typist', ie discover and land

[craigix]

They keys are very similar to keys on a mobile phone.

Also similar to keys on top end remote controls.

There are reasons why it's all one piece:

Price, ease of assembly/disassembily, speed, easy replacements & reliability.