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Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

sonderdesign.com

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Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#201

Post by codezero »

SonderDesign wrote: post #171
codezero wrote: post #115

This site is totally devoid of technical details. Does anyone have any? What's the ppi on the keys? etc... We're in Q4 so is there a more precise estimate of availability?

Did you click on the /keyboard page, it has the technical details. We're coordinating with E ink but schedule is shipping around Christmas.

I did check. I didn't see anything about the eInk tech being used. What's the resolution, ppi, contrast ratio, refresh capability, etc?

Also, who are you? It's pretty rare for an engineer working on a cool project on HN to be reticent in sharing who they are, but maybe I missed the thread.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#202

Post by Flenser »

masklinn wrote: post #33
the8472 wrote: post #9

Not exactly a novel idea, the optimus maximus keyboard has been a concept design in 2005 and saw a limited production run in 2007. And it supported colors to boot. I think its main problem was that it was too expensive.

They're taking preorder for the followup (Popularis http://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/popularis/ ), for the same $1500.

It's available to buy: https://store.artlebedev.com/electronics/devices/optimus-pop...

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#203

Post by Mister_Snuggles »

Animats wrote: post #120

"With Sonder all your settings are saved automatically to the cloud." Just what we need. Computer peripherals slaved to some external cloud server. You have a computer right there, able to store stuff. Run programs, even. You don't want to be tied to some here-today, gone-tomorrow service. Also, how do you know it isn't sending your keystrokes somewhere? An API would make more sense. Programs which change the meaning…

I wish that "cloud", for many applications, would mean "You can tell us where to save the file and if it happens to be your Dropbox folder it will do the expected thing."

The syncing random data across computers thing is a solved problem. There are different solutions that meet different needs - some people may have their data stored on a company file server, some like to use Dropbox, some are happy with iCloud Drive, some use OwnCloud or Box.net or any number of other things.

Instead of developing cloud services to sync stuff, manufacturers should just let you pick where to save the settings and let some other sync mechanism do the job.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#204

Post by gambiting »

SmellyGeekBoy wrote: post #188
gambiting wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You already can't use your Razor mouse(not to the fullest, anyway) without signing in with your Razor account. And recently, Nvidia started requiring that you create an Nvidia account to use their GeForce Experience application. Super annoying.

I thought I'd had to sign up for some kind of account to upgrade my graphics drivers a couple of weeks back but I'd convinced myself it was just a bad dream... Agreed it is indeed annoying - not to mention that the GeForce Experience "optimal" settings nearly always seem to be far from optimal on my hardware.

Yeah, I downloaded it to get "optimal" settings to play Titanfall 2 on my GTX750Ti, and GeForce Experience just told me that my GPU doesn't match the minimum requirements and it can't help me. So I ran the game, it selected default settings for me(mixture of low and medium) and it runs perfectly fine, at 60fps. Really great help GF Experience there, really fine.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#205

Post by garyclarke27 »

SonderDesign wrote: post #97
anexprogrammer wrote: post #15

An interesting idea, but I just don't look at my keyboards. Even so, I can't help feeling this is a much better approach than replacing F-keys with the Mac Touchbar. The touchbar could have been a great idea if above the pre-existing keys. However, if it was a Model M chassis, sculpted full travel loud mechanical keys, E-Ink, and a modern selection of media keys and volume I'd probably buy one. Regardless of how sill…

Hi, appreciate the feedback; I'm one of the engineers working on the project at Sonder. Our CEO actually has a Model M and an Apple Extended Keyboard II as reference designs in the office; they're probably the pinnacle of good keyboard design and construction however the product you're asking for (a mech switch display keyboard) already exists and it costs $1500. The reality is, that approach is not optimised for mas…

I've been wanting a keyboard like this for years, well done I hope you make a success of it. I use a steelseries keyboard because it has lots of macro keys and great macro software. It's amazing how benficial macro keys are, even for simple macros, like copy paste or paste values, relieves strain of always using ctrl key combinations. I often forget which macros I have assigned especially on programs less frequently used so e-ink for macro keys would be a huge benfit for me.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#206

Post by 0xCMP »

So here I am about to pre-order and I think: "This render looks a little thicker than the magic keyboard I have" and it makes me wonder if it's different.

According to the page this keyboard is physically the same to the Magic Keyboard in height, width, depth, and weight. Somehow I don't believe that, but I'd love confirmation cause it'd be awesome. I could just swap this in for where I have my magic keyboard now.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#208

Post by zodPod »

Mister_Snuggles wrote: post #203
Animats wrote: post #120

"With Sonder all your settings are saved automatically to the cloud." Just what we need. Computer peripherals slaved to some external cloud server. You have a computer right there, able to store stuff. Run programs, even. You don't want to be tied to some here-today, gone-tomorrow service. Also, how do you know it isn't sending your keystrokes somewhere? An API would make more sense. Programs which change the meaning…

I wish that "cloud", for many applications, would mean "You can tell us where to save the file and if it happens to be your Dropbox folder it will do the expected thing." The syncing random data across computers thing is a solved problem. There are different solutions that meet different needs - some people may have their data stored on a company file server, some like to use Dropbox, some are happy with iCloud Drive…

I thought there was a relevant xkcd for this but I can't find it. Something about too many cloud services or something. Basically like "we'll save it to the cloud!" then someone going "which one?!

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#209

Post by anexprogrammer »

SonderDesign wrote: post #182
anexprogrammer wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting idea. I can think of a couple of uses I'd put that to. If it wasn't cloud config I'd back it enough to get one.

Appreciate the feedback, it's just an option; if the user just wants to rely on the mappings stored on flash they can.

To clarify, I was disliking the DAS keyboard he linked having config that's crowd sourced and appears to be permanently connected.

For your keyboard I would highlight how the config only optionally uses cloud and that your settings are quite happy offline. I see cloud and keyboard or mouse and think "avoid". A couple of gaming devices and their awful connected software has caused that reaction. I'd expect some others to make similar association! :)

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