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Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

blogs.microsoft.com

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Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#51

Post by userbinator »

cbeach wrote: post #2

It's neat, but Microsoft has not reinvented the keyboard. There's much prior art: https://www.google.co.uk/search?safe=off&client=safari&hl=en... I wonder how much MS paid Time.com for that article?

If anything, I'd prefer using the many other folding keyboards out there, ones that don't have a huge gap between the two halves when unfolded and thus feel far more like a regular (laptop) keyboard with respect to key spacing etc.

The B key is usually in the middle, and I've always used my right hand to hit it, so this isn't a keyboard I'd want to use.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#52

Post by joshu »

yourad_io wrote: post #41

This is almost perfect. They didn't reinvent the keyboard of course, and I expect the typing experience to be somewhat crap but still ... compared to a 5inch touchscreen and for $99? Wait - how in the world is a bluetooth keyboard not be compatible with Android 4.2, iOS 6, etc? [1] Isn't a bluetooth keyboard, a bluetooth keyboard? Is "support" defined as "exactly what is says on the label" (months of battery life), o…

BLE and Bluetooth are not really that related.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#53

Post by miguelrochefort »

thrownaway2424 wrote: post #44
easyd wrote: post #33

Seems cool, but the order they list the supported devices (iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows) tells everything about their current self-esteem.

They guy who is marketing this keyboard is responsible for selling keyboards, so he lists them in the order of likelihood that the reader owns one. Speaking exactly, only 71 people on Earth actually have Windows tablets, so mentioning them first would only serve to make the author seem like a corporate toolbag of the highest order.

> Speaking exactly, only 71 people on Earth actually have Windows tablets

Was that necessary?

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#54

Post by melling »

jacobolus wrote: post #5

Reinvented is pretty strong language here, this idea is far from new. I think this new keyboard looks convenient enough for those needing extreme portability, but also probably a pretty mediocre typing experience. In any case, this time.com post is just blogspam. Here’s Microsoft’s page that all the content comes from: http://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/03/02/get-more-done... And here’s another third party page…

Smartphones and tablets are at least 15 years old too. Bill Gates used to run around CES telling everyone that tablets were the future.

Anyway, for the "Post PC era" to truly take off, we're going to need portable wireless keyboards that "just work". Tablets are going to replace desktops for most people, once we figure out how to attach better input devices. The Microsoft keyboard does appear to be a big step in the right direction, if it actually works.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#55

Post by Mithaldu »

jacobolus wrote: post #5

Reinvented is pretty strong language here, this idea is far from new. I think this new keyboard looks convenient enough for those needing extreme portability, but also probably a pretty mediocre typing experience. In any case, this time.com post is just blogspam. Here’s Microsoft’s page that all the content comes from: http://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/03/02/get-more-done... And here’s another third party page…

Are there any detailed reviews on textblade from actual humans? Googling around i find only copy-paste advertisements, and to say that their website doesn't fill me with confidence would be a massive understatement.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#58

Post by walterbell »

hcarvalhoalves wrote: post #28
walterbell wrote: post #8

Microsoft once made an awesome trackball and then discontinued it, leaving the remaining supply to be auctioned at high prices on eBay. If you're lucky, you can now find one of these extinct $50 MSRP rarities for the low price of $550 on Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer... Why they won't bring this trackball back to the market is a mystery.

Because it's a sure way of getting a RSI? I've used of the thumb type and it was awful, couldn't stand a week.

The MS Explorer trackball had a large surface area, was located at the top and could be used by multiple fingers or even the palm.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#59

Post by ars »

miguelrochefort wrote: post #49

Yet another keyboard with staggered keys. How come are all keyboard manufacturers going out of their way to complicate the layout by staggering the keys? It makes absolutely no sense, and only contributes to inefficient typing and wrist fatigue. I would pay so much for a notebook with straight/matrix keyboard. This is what it could look like: http://imgur.com/9KomLMg

I used a device with a keyboard like that.

It's horrible! Very uncomfortable, and it's missing a sort of "feel" that tells you where the keys are.

Re: Microsoft's new foldable keyboard

#60

Post by pornel »

easyd wrote: post #33

Seems cool, but the order they list the supported devices (iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows) tells everything about their current self-esteem.

I like that. That's the reality and they face it.

That's much better than corporate-speak from lala land where there's only Surface tablet and Windows phones.

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